Build Your Own Clone Message Board

A moddification of the Don Mare scematic, (alleged to be how Jimmy Page's Tonebender was modified - see the thread over at FSB for full story) with the addition of switchable input caps, the tonestack from the Vox Supa Tonebender and the bias adjustment for Q3 placed externally.



Stripboard layout.



Positive ground, use a polarity converter ICL7660S. You'll need 3 germanium transistors in the usual bender ranges, you can use Si for Q2 & 3 but it doesn't sound the same.

My build.

so? is it sozo? looks great!

Awesome, how does it sound?
looking at the schem-you need a 1m pulldown and the 100k needs to come after the 10uf(to bias the base of q1)-dam uses 10k there but I couldnt tell a difference between 100k/10k
Doesnt the 560r go between the two trimmers like in a ff? or does it not make a difference?
Good choice with the 10ufs, I think they make the circuit a bit beefier

Thanks for posting this.

Thanks guys. I think this one is awesome, whether you are looking for Zep tones or not. I have built a fair few Benders, but maybe I got lucky with this one because I really like it a lot.

The basic scheme is as Don Mare posted it, I'm thinking the 100K is the pulldown for this - I built mine as is and it doesn't pop, and if it could it darn well would in my experience

I think the 560R is acting like a slight voltage sag, usually you'd use 50-100R for power filtering so I don't think its that - and yeah Vick, I'm loving the fatty 10uf too

I'm getting very low voltage readings at the collectors of Q2&3 on both my builds, but it sounds great, so I'd suggest tuning by ear.

I posted this up over at FSB too, and theres been a little discussion on it. For a stock version, the input cap should be a polarised 10nf (I don't think NP will make an audiable difference) I'd certainly suggest using the 10uf polarised on a switch too, as that sounds nice as well.

Seems that the 100K to ground on the input should go on the base side of the input cap and not the input side and there you should add the usual 1M pulldown. Something to do with transistor biasing, I've built two as is and no problems, but I may have just got lucky!

Heres a clip of the stock, no tonestack version with the 10nf input cap Tele into Marshall JCM:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/7s3w0wu27888v87/MOBY DUCK.MP3

I've been feeling A Whole Lotta Love for tonebenders lately, but have been a little Dazed and Confused by The Ocean of versions and layouts. I'd been saying to this layout for sometime, You're Time is Going to Come.
I had some Good Times, Bad Times building it, but this particular one gives No Quarter to the others, and the bias control allows it to go from Custard Pie to Rock and Roll.

I live Down by the Seaside, Over the Hills and Far away, but had some spare time, so, Friends, here is a slightly modified layout that incorporates a negative power IC.



Thank You for allowing me to Ramble On, but now Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You, This one's verified, here's my completed build, now I just need to find the perfect set of transistors...

Ok 'maggedon, that was awesome.

D'Yer Maker that one In The Evening? Before A Night On the Tiles?

Looking forward to hearing it.

Prize for anyone getting Moby Dick out

Very lovely. Is the pinout oriented for the Rusky transistors?

The layout is C B E, top to bottom, for both trannies.
The Russian one's I've got have that pinout too.

Cool. Sorry for the "Communication Breakdown". (Et tu, Geekus?)

Haha - you guys are the best. And Kaycee the clips sounds awesome! Have to think a Tele into the JCM would sound awesome anyway of course but that is FAT CITY!