Total Bender

Project overview

Since the first release of the classic Tone Bender, many different versions have been popping up all over the place. That’s why we decided to make the “Total Bender,” one of our most ambitious projects yet! This PCB allows you to pick from a whole bunch of those versions and get three on the same board, one for each MKI, MKII, and MKIII. The board includes a control for you to switch between versions on the spot.

Choose between silicon and germanium options and use the trimmers for setting the transistors to your taste, so you can really make this pedal your own.

Introduction

The Tone Bender is one of the most admired and unique fuzz pedals in music history. Chosen by many of the best guitarists in the world, its sound is a fundamental element of the most influential music of the last five decades.

The signature sound of the Tone Bender is hairy, spitting, and aggressive. It doesn’t have problems cutting through a live mix as scooped Muff-style fuzzes, and while it doesn’t clean up as elegantly as a Fuzz Face, it has a unique compression and bloom when responding to pick attack. Players such as Mark Ronson, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Ernie Isley, Syd Barrett, Kevin Shields, and of course, Jimmy Page have all used the Tone Bender to create iconic recorded and live guitar tones.

Since the first Tone Bender hit the scene, a bunch of updates and versions have been popping up like crazy, each one boasting a unique flavor while holding on to that amazing core tone of the original. Our “Total Bender” gives you the chance to experience a whole bunch of them in a single pedal.

Read everything below to make sure you get the most out of this project:

This build works as follows: Total Bender offers a choice among 3 versions of MKI, 6 versions of MKII, and 8 versions of MKIII, resulting in a total of 144 combinations using the same board.

Notice that there is a common section for the three Benders that you will populate as usual. Below, you will see the Shopping list with all the values needed.

The next step is t select one of the 3 possible builds for the MKI section, followed by one of the 6 possibilities for the MKII section, and finally, one of the 8 options for the MKIII section. This document has all you need to build any of the versions.

As you will notice, each individual section (MKI, MKII, MKIII) comes with a dip switch and can be built using either NPN or PNP transistors. Each dip switch comes with both -9V and +9V options. This means that both switches of every dip switch should NEVER be turned on at the same time.

When you’re using NPN transistors, set those dips at +9V. On the other hand, when you’re dealing with PNP transistors, go for -9V. This is a set-and-forget switch. Once you’ve sorted out your selected transistors, there is no need to keep fiddling with that switch.

If you are sure which type you will use for your build, you can use straight wire jumpers for selecting each voltage mode instead of placing the DIP.

Have a great build.

Controls

Common Section

• BOOST Potentiometer
• Mode Switch

MK I 

• 1.ATTACK
• 1.LEVEL
• 1.Voltage (internal switch)

MK II

• 2.ATTACK
• 2.LEVEL
• 2.Voltage (internal switch)

MK III

• 3.FUZZ
• 3.LEVEL
• 3.TONE
• 3.Voltage (internal switch)

For any technical questions regarding this build don’t forget to check out our Facebook Group and our forum at Free Stomp Boxes.

Total Bender – Building Docs

Total Bender – Drilling template