OC71 & OC75 Version:

$229.00Add to cart Buy now with PayPal

OC602 & OC75 Version:

$229.00Add to cart Buy now with PayPal

Jan 2023 – The tone obsession knows no bounds. In obsessing with finding “that sound”, essentially the OC81D transistor, we dipped into a package of Telefunken OC602 transistors. Some years ago I had picked these up, thinking they’d be cool for a fuzzface. Well, the low-ish gain of 40-50 Hfe or so wasn’t quite right for a two-transistor fuzz. Just not enough hair on top!  So I shelved them. In a moment of inspiration brought on by a brilliant fellow from Indonesia, I grabbed the OC602 and tried them in the MK2 circuit, instead of OC71, and the magic happened! At maximum gain, the OC602 rip with the best of ’em, but at lower gain, there’s a great dynamic happening.  With our “mod” switch, they allow this pedal to clean up with the guitar’s volume just like a fuzzface! Write to me if you can’t decide – but for now we’ll offer the option of OC71 or OC602. -joe

Our OC75 Edition of the “Elektrika” (Mk1 style fuzz) was a runaway hit, with the limited run of 50 units sold out as of last week. The Mk1 required us to use up all the high gain transistors out of our limited supply of Valvo OC75. The good news is that a proper Tonebender MK2 build sounds best with transistors in a slightly lower gain range, so we are also able to offer a limited run of these beauties. The originals often used the lower gain OC81D transistor, which is a close cousin of the also moderate-gain OC71 & OC602 transistors which we are lucky enough to have a stash of as well. So we are now offering a MK2 fuzz using 1960’s vintage OC602, OC71 & OC75 transistors for the full frontal fuzz fabulousness you NEED to have on your pedalboard. The character of these pedals varies depending on the type of transistors used, so drop us a line if you have trouble deciding!

Get ready for the most gorgeous Mk2 tones you can imagine. This beast is utterly Zeppelicious – all those classic guitar tones are lurking in this box *plus* we have added the bias control for fine-tuning the texture to your taste, and a “vintage/mod” switch, allowing you to switch in the popular mod to the circuit that we feature on our “Vindicator” pedal, making the intensely saturated fuzz more adjustable via the “fuzz” control, and increasing the input dynamics, especially with humbucking pickups.

“JDM Mk2” Limited Edition OC71/75 TB MkII, top jacks

Top quality Vintage “Black Glass” transistors Oooh yeahhhh

Each offering in our “Limited Editions” pedals will be a limited run of from 25 to 50 pedals based on the original transistors used to make the classic pedals.

Is this just “mojo talk”, all this about “original true” transistors and such? Honestly after many, many hours spent fine tuning vintage fuzz circuits, I know that it’s possible to get *very* close to the sound of vintage units using substitute components or modern equivalents. What is always missing for me in these cases is both the fine details and the response of the originals.

* If you’re familiar with our “standard” MK2 (in the ‘Vindicator” pedal), you may wonder, “Why the price bump?” It comes down to the transistors. Vintage OC75 Valvo transistors are very hard to find, and prices are skyrocketing as supplies disappear. We’re lucky to have a few hundred of each, but even these won’t last long, as it takes about a dozen transistors to find the right values for one pedal.

Specs:

– Vintage OC-series Valvo “Black Glass” OC71 & OC75 transistors

– Enclosure Size “Tall 1590A”, Finished in Gold Hammerite, Silkscreened Graphics

– Powered by 9v “Block” battery, or +9vDC power jack. We have built in an analog 9v power inverter, so you may power this with a standard negative ground power supply! (aka “Boss Style” adapter). This means the pedal integrates seamlessly with modern pedalboards.

– All the trimmings: Hand wired, Top Jacks and input/output wired with solid-core vintage wire, low power consumption LED, “Vintage/Mod” switch for original Mk2 or more dynamic modded tones, and a bias control in case of temperature fluctuations, and to adjust the overall sound “texture”.

Thanks for checkin it out!

joe