experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender + GUT SHOTS

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Pacafeliz
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experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender + GUT SHOTS

Post by Pacafeliz » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:09 am

Image

Image

picked up this hottie for my "fuzz collection" ;D
the original owner had had it since the 70s, then left it in the cellar for about 30 years. pots and switch need cleaning, but when at the sweet spot, it sounds BRUTAL!

i guess it was made in Italy (by JEN, like my old wah - same font and stuff), but can anyone here tell me more about the version and aprox. age? there are SO many articles on ToneBenders, but i can't find THIS one.

thanks!

Pat. :)
Last edited by Pacafeliz on Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Domm
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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by Domm » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:24 am

Looks like a mkiii, lots of pics online!

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by MechaBulletBill » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:46 am

I think that's a vox v848, made around 1966, I'm guessing two transistors. Quite similar to other 2-transistor fuzzes like fuzz face, mk1.5, fuzzrite...

Put some pics of the inside and outside on the D*A*M forum, there's some real vintage fuzz experts on there. Plus, one or two that can give it an overhaul if it's sounding a bit tired.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by fortytwo » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:50 am

I got a JEN one of those, sounds amazing.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by ludobag1 » Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:47 am

i have the jen one too ,sound terrible ,but not for every one it is brutale ;)
silly with the bypass on it the pot change the sound if you tweak them even if the fuzz is not engage ,i put mine in true bypass (also it is a gremanium pnp don t try to daisy it without isolated alimentation , the tranny are sft …. ,that too bad i have a jen cause if i have the vox carcasse it will cost an eye :fp:

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by Pacafeliz » Wed Aug 01, 2018 12:16 pm

thanks all!

yes i will post pics tomorrow.

it has some colored "tropical fish" thingies on the board and 2 transistors. stay tuned!
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by ludobag1 » Wed Aug 01, 2018 12:38 pm

mine have cracking pot at first and with use it works well (mojo dust)
the more fun was when i try it the first time ,i have to resolder the switch and then plug the thing with a new battery
at first Nothing :wtf: i was thinking ,shit the tranny are dead , but i beguin to turn the pot and boom :w00t:
the little bitch kill my ears :o ,more over at this time i live in appartement :fp: i think all the building know it works :D
i use it sometimes with my band but it is too spécial and Don't work really well on clean amp need an already cruch or overdrived base sound

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by fuzzjunkie » Wed Aug 01, 2018 6:53 pm

MechaBulletBill wrote:
Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:46 am
I think that's a vox v848, made around 1966, I'm guessing two transistors. Quite similar to other 2-transistor fuzzes like fuzz face, mk1.5, fuzzrite...

Put some pics of the inside and outside on the D*A*M forum, there's some real vintage fuzz experts on there. Plus, one or two that can give it an overhaul if it's sounding a bit tired.
V828 model, late 1960s, probably 1968 or so. The early models had a grey hammer case with black decal and chicken heads. It still has the two Germanium transistors the '66-68 models did. I think the input capacitance is different as to compensate for different transistor values on the late '60s pedals though. These are brighter and tighter than a Fuzz Face, but can still clean up a bit. Vox didn't switch over to Silicon transistors like Dallas Arbiter did in '68.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by offsets4life » Thu Aug 02, 2018 2:43 pm

Domm wrote:
Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:24 am
Looks like a mkiii, lots of pics online!
More likely a Mk 2, if not one of the in-between "Mk 1.5"s
Pretty sure most Mk 3s had 3 knobs.

David Main's DAM website should have most of the information you may need about Vox and Colorsound Tone Benders.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by MechaBulletBill » Thu Aug 02, 2018 3:38 pm

the 2-knob vox TB is closest to the mk1.5, but it's not the same thing. It's like an alt mk1.5. There are vox branded 3-knob TBs (mk3/4??) but that's not what this one is.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by Domm » Thu Aug 02, 2018 5:27 pm

offsets4life wrote:
Thu Aug 02, 2018 2:43 pm
Domm wrote:
Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:24 am
Looks like a mkiii, lots of pics online!
More likely a Mk 2, if not one of the in-between "Mk 1.5"s
Pretty sure most Mk 3s had 3 knobs.

David Main's DAM website should have most of the information you may need about Vox and Colorsound Tone Benders.
Ha, an extra i got in there! I actually meant an mkii.there are several pics of it on a few forums. I'm a dumbass

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Pacafeliz
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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:40 am

thanks all! here's some gut shots!

Image

Image

Image

Image
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Pacafeliz
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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:47 am

i was/am a bit worried it had been tampered with, as i hadn't seen another one like it... but here i found another store selling a "JEN Fuzz" with Marquardt switch and "tropical fish" caps:
https://www.tone-nirvana.com/2315/126058.html (no pic though)

...whaddaya think?
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender + GUT SHOTS

Post by ludobag1 » Fri Aug 03, 2018 8:34 am

mine is exactly the same but in Jen carcass :fp: (300 € rather than 650 € ;) )
Image
Image
Image
Image

it beguin to be really rare now ,yours is in a well shape mine is more relics and i have change the footswitch and put plug for alimentation on (the 2 are totally reversible (i have kept the originale 2 positions switch )and also it miss the back plate in aluminium

also i am not sure your switch is original to the fuzz ?
mine have this thing on
Image
and a pics on the net i find long time show this
Image
Last edited by ludobag1 on Fri Aug 03, 2018 8:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Pacafeliz
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Re: experts plz tell me about this old Vox Tone Bender + GUT SHOTS

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Aug 03, 2018 8:40 am

wow cool!
there are so many similarities in looks and "behaviour" between our two pedals!

and... GEEZ do these things REALLY sell for that price they are asking for online (€600-700)?! :wtf:
looks i got mine for a steal! 8)
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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