Tone Bender fuzz pedal
Pete Townshend used a 1965 Sola Sound Tone Bender (mkI) fuzz pedal on stage — occasionally (there many photos from this era showing Pete with no effects pedal) — in 1965 and 1966.
The Sola Sound Tone Bender, first designed by electronics engineer Gary Stewart Hurst in 1965, was the first British-made fuzz pedal, and was based on the Gibson-built Maestro Fuzz-tone. Besides Pete, other users include Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds, the Beatles and Mick Ronson.
The Tone Bender featured two controls: Level and Attack, and a footswitch. The circuit contained a single Mullard OC75 and two Texas Instruments 2G381 devices, true bypass switching, and used a 9-volt power supply. (See Tone Bender history for full spec.)
Pete would next go on to use the Marshall Supa Fuzz, which was in fact manufactured by Sola Sound for Marshall and was based on the Tone Bender MkII.
Photo Gallery
In July 1966, with Tone Bender MkI fuzz pedal visible at bottom right. Cabinets are two Marshall 8x12 cabinets (being impaled by a Fender Telecaster fitted with a non-Fender rosewood neck). Amps are two Marshall JTM45 100 Tremolo (1959T JTM100 Tremolo Super Lead) amplifier heads.
Closeup of fuzz pedal from previous photo.
Resources and Information
- D*A*M Stompboxes Sola Sound/Tone Bender history: stompboxes.co.uk/gpage1.html2.html
- Max The Mod equipment review: westminsterinc.com/who1965/equip.htm