Tonebender Owners: Assistance Needed

TrooperFarva · #1 05-01-2008, 09:17 AM

I just finished a build on a Colorsound Tonebender 3-Knob Clone. It came out awesome, I think, I'll post a new thread about the build later.

What I'm interested in is soundclips from a real Tonebender, but with details about the clips, specifically, what bass was used, what amp was used, what the EQ was, if any, and most importantly, what the settings on the Tonebender were.

I'm basically looking to compare the sound of my pedal to a real Tonebender. I think it should be close, I used high quality parts and gain matched germanium transistors, but as it stands, I have no means for comparison.

Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

TrevorOfDoom · #2 05-01-2008, 09:24 AM

in all fairness, i don't think you should much care how is sounds compared to a "real tonebender". all that should matter is if you like the sound it makes. IMO

TrooperFarva · #3 05-01-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorOfDoom

in all fairness, i don't think you should much care how is sounds compared to a "real tonebender". all that should matter is if you like the sound it makes. IMO

I definitely plan to keep it, I like the sound, but as it is a clone, I would be interested to know how it compares to the original.

Part of the reason I built it was because I just couldn't find an original Tonebender, not teh 3-Knob anyway.

sonicvi · #4 05-01-2008, 12:11 PM

Are you talking about the 3-knob 3 Germanium transistor version?

TrooperFarva · #5 05-01-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonicvi

Are you talking about the 3-knob 3 Germanium transistor version?

Yes

KarateKid25 · #6 05-01-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

What I'm interested in is soundclips from a real Tonebender...

I think most people round here have the re-issue silicon tranny version thats modelled off of the old 70's silicon Jumbo Tonebender. You might get lucky though

Chronicle · #7 05-02-2008, 09:19 AM

Yeah i've got the new one only....

Using my Rickenbacker 4003. GK2001 amp with Avatar 410 cabinet. EQ is treble 12:30oc, high mid 1oc, lowmid 3:30oc, bass is 1oc.

Tonebender starts at tone knob 12oc, fuzz is 4oc, volume is 3oc. Then i play with the Fuzz and tone knobs.

http://media.putfile.com/tonebenderforthread

Do ya mind telling me how much you spent on it and how ya did it? :]

TrooperFarva · #8 05-02-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Yeah i've got the new one only....

Using my Rickenbacker 4003. GK2001 amp with Avatar 410 cabinet. EQ is treble 12:30oc, high mid 1oc, lowmid 3:30oc, bass is 1oc.

Tonebender starts at tone knob 12oc, fuzz is 4oc, volume is 3oc. Then i play with the Fuzz and tone knobs.

http://media.putfile.com/tonebenderforthread

Do ya mind telling me how much you spent on it and how ya did it? :]

Awesome, that's what I was looking for. I'll compare it to mine when I get a chance, later on tonight. I'll also post the thread about the build.

As for how I did it, I'll get into more specifics in the build thread, but here are the basics. At the bottom of this page are a PCB trace, a PCB layout, and a parts list. I gathered up the parts, I made my own PCB (never did it before, pretty bad the first time, but the second time, much better) and put everything together. All tolled, I'm guessing the parts are around $80-90, I can get a solid number later on. I bought enough parts to do 2 pedals, I'll make the second one soon enough, I just have to buy a housing for it.

As for tools, I probably bought $100 in tools, on top of the mound of tools I already had, and total time I have in it is probably around 12 hours. But a lot of that is trial and error, so I'll see how long it takes for the second one. But I am very happy with the results. Like I said, I'll post a thread about the build later, complete with pics and hopefully some soundclips.

Chronicle · #9 05-02-2008, 08:24 PM

If you wanna sell me that second TB you're making

I tried making one but it didnt work in the end! I got really frustrated. I may try again another day if you refuse or i don't find a builder ;]

TrooperFarva · #10 05-03-2008, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

If you wanna sell me that second TB you're making

I tried making one but it didnt work in the end! I got really frustrated. I may try again another day if you refuse or i don't find a builder ;]

I'm not opposed to selling you the second one.

But I'm still running some sound tests, and I don't want to sell something I don't think is great. The fuzz is pretty good, I do like it, but the pedal I made seems to lose some low end. But so far, I've only tried it with active basses, my P Bass was at my friends house. I got it back a little while ago, but it'll be tomorrow before I get to see how it sounds.

Your clip sounded very good, I liked the tone. I saw in your profile that you have an MIM Jazz, could you record a quick clip with that, straight into the computer, no amp? I have a Jazz, it has a J Retro in it, but it has a bypass, just record the clip with both volumes up and the tone wide open. I don't have a Ric, or access to one, unfortunately, and I'm not sure just how much of the tone in your clip is the Ric. I know the neck pickup on the Ric is a lot closer to the neck than on my Jazz or Sterling, so it could get more natural low end. If your jazz into the tonebender sounds like mine, then it's my basses that are the problem, not the pedal. Otherwise, it's the pedal. I'm not sure, just yet.