Tonebender MK1.5? Like a fuzz face?

[marvelboy_04]

ok, well im a big fuzz face fan, as i love how it can clean up with the volume knob to almost a complete clean, but ive heard the tonebender is like a fuzz face but sounds just a bit different, and i wonder if thatd make it right for me?
1.how does the mk1.5 compare to a fuzz face? im using a 69 clone.
what makes it different?
2.whats the best cheap but quality mk1.5? im not looking at a dam type budget. ive heard the monsterpeice mkii is actually a mk1.5, but is it a good clone? is it an exact clone or just based on a mk1.5? thanks

[Jeremy47]

The Monsterpiece mkii is a great pedal. Don't know how faithful it is to the 1.5. I'm sure the builder would answer any questions.
Monsterpiece mkii sounds like chocolate dirt. Fuzz face sounds like burning metal. To my ears.
I Love my Monsterpiece pedals- the most musical fuzzes ive played. The mkii definitely stands out. Try it!
Peace

[marvelboy_04]

does it clean up as well as a fuzz face? im sorta wanting the fuzz face cleanup but a little bit less wooly sounding fuzz. think a little bit tighter sounding like a tonebender.

[Panacea]

Yes. Although others will paint it as a unique circuit. (Yes, I know the Fuzz Face came after the ToneBender came after the Maestro...)

[Jeremy47]

Yes the Monsterpiece mkii has great clean up. IMO, it behaves alot like a fuzz face. Just more of a dirt than fuzz sound. One of my fave fuzzes. Peace

[imguitardan]

You could also try to find a Skinpimp 3 knob MKII/FF like the one I have.
http://thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=755243

With the extra Attack knob, it can lower the output of one of the transistors (or something like that). For a true MKII, it cleans up better than a fuzz face with the center knob backed down a tad.

Look for an early model Skinbender MKII/FF (the FF denotes that one of the transistors can be shut off to give a two transistor option (probably more like a I.V than a Fuzz Face (but not exactly a I.V either))

As for the MK I.V sounding like a FF, few can say for sure as the I.V was such a rare pedal. They do have very similar circuitry.

[ChickenZombie]

The monsterpiece mkii is like a rawer fuzz face, depending on how it is biased, but very flexible. It does not clean up nearly as well as a Ge FF - it loses sustain and becomes glitchy. Tonebenders just don't clean up like fuzz faces, i reckon it's the trannies.

[candletears7]

The MK1.V Tonebender is essentially a Fuzz Face circuit with some component changes, mainly the input and output caps. This cuts off the amount of bass in the circuit, so the end result is a fuzz that sounds less woofy, and thus a little more mids and cut, particularly in a live band application.
Due to the nature of the Fuzz Face circuit, the amount of gain slamming the circuit can be regulated by the guitars volume control, so yes, it will clean up like a mofo. If you purchase any Fuzz Face or clone and you are happy with the quality of that sound, but would like it leaner and more 'there', modding those in and out caps will essentially give you a Mk 1.5, aside from a couple other minor component tweaks.
Reference this info and schematics for confirmation:

http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/fuzzface.php
http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/vox.php

[StuC]

That Vox is the Italian made Tone Bender. Those are nothing like a Sola Sound MkI.V.

The MkI.V has a larger input cap than a Fuzz Face and the same value output cap. I have original examples of both and as you might expect, the Tone Bender has more low end, but it's not a huge difference.

[tonewave]

i have a monsterpiece mkII and it sounds great and cleans up really well.
so much so that the clean you get is a real option for clean sounds, kinda
sounds "hyper-real", with certain frequencies getting special treatment.

[candletears7]

Originally Posted by StuC

That Vox is the Italian made Tone Bender. Those are nothing like a Sola Sound MkI.V.

The MkI.V has a larger input cap than a Fuzz Face and the same value output cap. I have original examples of both and as you might expect, the Tone Bender has more low end, but it's not a huge difference.

Didnt know he was after the Solasound...can you provide a link to a Solasound Mk1.5 schematic?

[drolling]

Very interesting, guys - My Tonebender clone sounds NOTHING like any FuzzFace I've owned (currently, a Dunlop JH-F1) - Not as different as, say, a BigMuff type fuzz, but clearly a whole 'nother animal

It's a Soulbender (Fulltone) and must be based on another version of the circuit

Do I need a MkI.5, too?

[marvelboy_04]

the soulbender is i think a mkiii tonebender.

[imguitardan]

Originally Posted by StuC

That Vox is the Italian made Tone Bender. Those are nothing like a Sola Sound MkI.V.

The MkI.V has a larger input cap than a Fuzz Face and the same value output cap. I have original examples of both and as you might expect, the Tone Bender has more low end, but it's not a huge difference.

There you go guys!

Stu knows his sh!t.

Welcome to the other side Stu.

[mjkk]

Originally Posted by marvelboy_04

ok, well im a big fuzz face fan, as i love how it can clean up with the volume knob to almost a complete clean, but ive heard the tonebender is like a fuzz face but sounds just a bit different, and i wonder if thatd make it right for me?
1.how does the mk1.5 compare to a fuzz face? im using a 69 clone.
what makes it different?
2.whats the best cheap but quality mk1.5? im not looking at a dam type budget. ive heard the monsterpeice mkii is actually a mk1.5, but is it a good clone? is it an exact clone or just based on a mk1.5? thanks

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