Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Today we're demoing a spin on the Tonebender MkII - a silicon variant with stabilized bias requiring only minor tweaks from the original germanium version. The original germanium version is very picky about transistor specifications, making it a little tricky to clone well. This version can tolerate a wide range of transistor specs with negligible bias changes, and it can be built on the original stripboard layout for a similar appearance.
Compared to the germanium version, this silicon variant is very temperature-stable, and will have little to no noticeable variation in sound for any reasonable temperature it would be used in.
Layout, schematic, and any other info you need to build your own can be found below:
amplifiedparts.com/pedal-guides/build-project-tonebender-mk2-silicon
This MkII redesign was created using principles from our in-depth Silicon and Germanium Transistor biasing tech article. If you'd like to learn more about transistor use and design in guitar pedals, check it out here:
amplifiedparts.com/tech-articles/silicon-germanium-transistor-biasing-part1
Today we're demoing a spin on the Tonebender MkII - a silicon variant with stabilized bias requiring only minor tweaks from the original germanium version. The original germanium version is very picky about transistor specifications, making it a little tricky to clone well. This version can tolerate a wide range of transistor specs with negligible bias changes, and it can be built on the original stripboard layout for a similar appearance.
Compared to the germanium version, this silicon variant is very temperature-stable, and will have little to no noticeable variation in sound for any reasonable temperature it would be used in.
Layout, schematic, and any other info you need to build your own can be found below:
amplifiedparts.com/pedal-guides/build-project-tonebender-mk2-silicon
This MkII redesign was created using principles from our in-depth Silicon and Germanium Transistor biasing tech article. If you'd like to learn more about transistor use and design in guitar pedals, check it out here:
amplifiedparts.com/tech-articles/silicon-germanium-transistor-biasing-part1
