BearFoot FX introduces the NEW Bone Bender MKI Fuzz (3-Knob)!
The first ever Tone Bender, designed by one Gary Hurst in London, came about after he modified a Maestro FZ-1 for more sustain. When he did that, he opened up the floodgates for fuzz enthusiasts everywhere. From that initial opening comes the BearFoot Bone Bender MK1.
Using two NOS AC127 transistors, the Bone Bender combines the old with the new, delivering an extremely vintage-sounding fuzz that does just the trick for searing leads and roaring amps.
The newest iteration of the Bone Bender MK1 has a Bias knob, which keeps the transistors sounding fresh depending on the operating temperature. Yes, the rumors are true—hot or cold rooms can play tricks on your germanium stuff. The Bias keeps things under control. Or, if you’d just like a flavor selector for your fuzz, the Bias knob does the trick there, too.
The original Tone Bender is based on an old Maestro unit, and this is the sound of the MK1…it’s an extremely smooth fuzz where the zippery tone of the FZ-1 meets English engineering. The sound is unmistakably classic rock and solo-focused. The MK1 has also been engineered to stack well, giving it a modern versatility that the old units just can’t match.
From the Sept. 1, 2017 Tone Report, Issue 195…
Now Play This // Buzzworthy Gear
A word from Donner about the NEW Bone Bender MKI Fuzz…
“Bone Bender ~~~~ yes this is a unique one and different from our usual feel.
This should probably just have 2 knobs and did at first.
There is an internal bias trim pot AND the external bias knob.
If the internal trimpot is moved or bumped in transport it will be diminished overall.
So turn the fuzz up all the way and find the sweet spot on the bias knob and if its not peeling paint then take a mini screw driver to the internal trim.
But both the internal and external bias knobs are just ‘sweet spot selectors’ usually
The BearFoot fuzzes as a whole are tweeked for optimal performance in a bandmix – so they may not have they bloomy billowy bottom that sounds great by itself but gets muddy in a bandmix – they are eqd to sound right with a bass/drum/vocal/second guitar set up….
I use it with fuzz full up and the sweet spots selected and then roll off guitar and tone knobs for variation.” ~ Don Rusk
Reviews from TGP BearFoot FX Tourbox Participants
As a Mk 1 fanboy/afficianado, this one is the reason I signed up for the tour, as I’ve owned the other three. (Also, liking Benders in general, why I angled, unsuccessfully, for DonneR to throw a Mk 2 in as well…) The Mk 1 is one of the earliest fuzz circuits, three trannies arranged in a pair + 1. On the traditional 2-knob setup, the first knob is for level/volume and the second is actually a bias knob for the +1 tranny, more open CW and more gated CCW.
Being a fan, I’ve played a fair number of them. I have a Fuzzfaceless built by Tim way back in the day that has fended off all comers over many years. This one is unique in that it also has 2 additional/concentric knobs on the side that are bias pots for the other 2 trannies. Not only can you get pretty much any type of Mk 1 sound out of it with the 3 bias knobs, but the complex character is juicy and addictive. (I haven’t opened it up in a while, but it has tropical fish caps and 3 bastard/mutt ge NOS trannies of uncertain parentage…sounds completely awesome…)
I was curious about Bjorn’s foray into “clones” of Tonebender circuits, based on his history of originality, assumed they wouldn’t be just straight up, but…?
So, surprise, how ’bout actual volume knob cleanup – IN A MK 1 – WHATT?!?!?!
That, my friends, is a holy grail that I have always assumed was impossible, but…
In the early going, just on tone, I had things going to the Fuzzfaceless in a TKO…then thought, maybe a late-round TKO…then, hm…maybe a decision…later, after discovering the cleanup factor, could it possibly be a contested decision?!
For base tone, the BB has more bass, more output (not surprising, most modern Mk 1’s go well beyond the FFL in that department), and is on the more “muscular” side of the Mk 1 spectrum. The FFL has more of that shaved low end, a bit more complexity in harmonic content, and a seems like more bacon/crackle/sizzle available.
The bias knob on the BB is totally off full CCW, then hitch it up just a bit and between 7-8:00-ish gives wide open end of things. As you move more CW, you’re adding more gating, which also adds more of that nastiness/additional brightness/exploding harmonics Mk 1 tone that I know and love.
Best balance for where I like to typically run a Mk 1 seemed to be with the bias in the ~10:00 range. You’d run the fuzz knob up full for this to compensate. There are other cool tones to explore further CW as well that do give some range that may be nearly as much as the FFL, haven’t fully determined that yet.
The magical Mk 1 cleanup is available with the bias more in that wide open range. You then have the full sweep of the fuzz knob available to find the right spot for using your volume knob to go from “clean” to fuzz. With the Mirari, I found running it at about 2:30 gave a great balance for backing off the volume knob and switching to single coils and then cranking up/switching to HB’s. For just HB’s alone, worked well for me in the 12:30-1:00 range, although the foilbuckers are not “typical” HB’s. Generally, Mk 1’s just get skritchier when you dial down the volume knob (can be some cool uses there from time to time, but rarely do so). The Mk 1 motto has always been, “Cleanup? Cleanup?! We don’t need no steenkeeng cleanup!!!”
But…what if you could? Would you?
I would! I can’t wait to play the BB in a band context and employ the cleanup factor. If it works, this is a killer development in Mk 1 history!!
Since I bought my own, no one can stop me from opening it up and checking it out. There were some surprises here, too. A matched pair of ge AC-type trannies are used for the pair, but a silicon tranny for the +1 – interesting and would not have guessed! I’m assuming the bias pot works simultaneously on both trannies in the pair, but who knows.” (USA, 2017)
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