Vintage Tone MK1 - Classic MK1 Tone Bender Build
The one that started it all, the legendary MK1 Tonebender. Produced by Sola Sound in reasonably small amounts, you are more likely to pick-up rocking horse sh*t than one of these!
Used by Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and famously also used by Mick Ronson, the MK1 really has it's own distinctive tone. Less dense than a MK11 but very defined and chords ring out beautifully whilst single notes also react superbly to touch. A very musical fuzz that can make you work sometimes but when it's good it is very, very good!
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A very different circuit to all following Tonebender's, the MK1 used an OC75 and 2 Texas Instrument 2G381 transistors. Although OC75's are still reasonably easy to obtain, TI 2G381's are a different matter and usable ones are super scarce. Why did it have TI 2G381's in it? Likely for no other reason that they were cheap at the time. The circuit itself is often considered by far the trickiest of the Tonebender's to build well and this could be one reason why Sola Sound dropped the MK1 and replaced it with the far more stable MK11. The Fuzz pot doesn't really alter the mount of Fuzz available so much as adjust the bias on the 2nd transistor but it does help to open up more tones from the pedal.
Most originals I have played tend to 'gate ' the sound pretty early, resulting in shorter sustain than many other germanium's, although this isn't always the case and depends bias of the circuit. The MK1 should be able to clean-up nicely, again adding to the great range of tones available.
I sometimes use original TI 2G381's or other transistors from the same TI 2G family, I may also use AC125's or OC72's in there as both of these have proven to sound excellent and have generally low leakage. Where possible I use Hunts and Mullard capacitors although sometimes I may also use vintage WIMA or another high quality brand.
Features:
A selection of the finest vintage capacitors from manufactures such as Hunts and Mullard
Highest quality electrolytic capacitors.
Carbon Comp resistors throughout.
Neutrik Sockets, Alpha pots, high quality Stomp Switch
True-bypass
Strip board soldered board, like the original
Tough Grey Hammerite painted Eddystone / Hammond box
Bulgin style chicken head knobs.
Hand-Labeled Design
Individually numbered / signed Pedal
Life-time warranty on all Williams Audio parts and work
£169 + FREE Worldwide Insured & Tracked Shipping