The Best NOS Tone Bender MKI?! | Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI
Expresso FX makes its channel debut with the Fuzz Bender MKI — Sof's immaculate reproduction of the original three-transistor Tone Bender MKI circuit. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI takes center stage — featuring the Wide Sky Guitars P125C Cutaway with Curtis Novak P90s and Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds, into the Cunningham Amps Custom 35 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.
Reach out to Sof on Instagram DM for current inventory — he works in batches and drops small quantities at a time: https://www.instagram.com/expressofx/
Learn about the Fuzz Bender MKI: https://expressofx.com/product/fuzz-bender-mk-i/
Expresso FX is Sof, building in the UK with zero compromise on components. The Fuzz Bender MKI is his recreation of the earliest three-transistor-based fuzz circuit from the Bender family — the 1965 Sola Sound Tone Bender MKI, the circuit that predates the Fuzz Face derivations and produces the distinctive nasty, spitting, cutting, midrange-forward character that defined the earliest British fuzz tones. In Sof's own words: "an immaculate reproduction of a classic pedal, but with a few tweaks for performance and reliability improvements."
Transistors: Newmarket CV7007 in Q1, Mullard OC82D in Q2, and Mullard OC42 in Q3 — all hand-selected NOS. NOS Mullard Mustard C296 polyester capacitors. Philips electrolytic capacitors. NOS Allen Bradley carbon composition resistors. Premium Cliff UK jacks. 22 AWG solid core silver-plated copper wire with Teflon insulation. Lead-free silver-based solder. True bypass. Genuine Hammond aluminium enclosure, powder-coated. 3 years warranty.
Three controls: Level, Filter, and Attack. The Filter knob is the key addition over the original MKI two-knob layout — it controls the low-end content feeding the fuzz stage, explored from 03:03 for tightening and shaping the circuit's bottom end. The Attack knob is explored across its full range from 03:21. Lower Amp gain with the MKI level reduced produces a ragged, more open-top end character explored from 05:24.
🎛️ Expresso FX: https://expressofx.com/product/fuzz-bender-mk-i/
🎸 Wide Sky Guitars: https://www.wideskyguitars.com
🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com
🔊 Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz
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🎸 Wide Sky Guitars P125C | Curtis Novak P90s | Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds
🎛️ Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI | CV7007 (Q1) + OC82D (Q2) + OC42 (Q3) NOS Mullard Ge | Mustard Caps | Allen Bradley Carbon Comp | Level / Filter / Attack | Hammond Enclosure
🔊 Cunningham Amps Custom 35 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12
