A show I would watch would be having someone like Josh building simple classic circuits and explaining what each component does as it’s assembled. You know like “next we add this resistor with a value of ‘x’ and it affects the signal in this way”. Maybe I’m the only one but I’d find it interesting.
Brian Wampler has posted quite a bit of that sort of thing. Very nicely done, I believe he might have made it interesting for folks, other than myself, who don't ordinarily geek out over Henrys and Farads and cetera.
She is really a good egg, when it comes to my music. But she knew what she was in for: on our second date i took her to a recording studio to watch me produce a demo for friend's band. That was 40 years ago...
Few months ago I was lucky to be visiting london (I´m from Argentina) and I stopped by Macari´s to check out the store and buy a patch cable and a slide. When I was going to pay I asked the salesman if I could try the powerboost and even though he knew I wouldnt buy it he said yes and gave me a guitar and amp to try it out. When I was about to play, Anthony Macari came and told me the whole story about it I was so impressed by how nice they were and it was one of my best experiences ever, I remember leaving so happy. (The sound was the best I´ve ever heard too, no clue why David Gilmour and so many used the powerboost).
Awesome! I've never been to Macaris despite living in London for a while :) I only recently lost my mind and started making replicas of old fuzz circuits though 😂 Which version was it that you tried btw? I've never made or used a powerboost but looking at tbe schematics it seems to be a BC184L circuit and i have some of those pulled from old test equipment from the 70s....if i can successfully clone it i can send you a clone :)
Look at Josh, wearing a Fuzz Face t-shirt with no respect haha I remember Macari from my visit to London. Such a fun and talkative person, I'm sure he's like that with everyone.
Possibly the best ever episode. Tonal gold. The people, the history, the nerdery, the sounds. And I don't even get fuzz pedals!... So where do I buy one of these mk4 things?
Thats what it is, not really a fuzz. a bunch germanium and no clipping, its just a fuzzface with other values, its really amazing how the same two circuits make these icons. they probably didnt understand that 10 components can do what it does. did the TB 1---1,5---2 and 3! they all fit and dont ever feel like mkiii is "better" than the 1. its apples n oranges and i love them!
I'm watching this and hoping against hope that at the end, we have an announcement of a JHS/Solasound collaboration on an "every Tone Bender in one pedal" thing like the Muffaleta.
I've been hoping for that...but with all the different transistors and stuff I'm not sure if it'd be possible - would it...??? If so, I'm gonna get one...
I swear it I came across a Mark 1 that sounded like that -no matter what it cost….I would do anything to get it….I’m not gay and I would give as many hand jobs as it took. They could call me hand job harry…..”the 1965 Tone Bender Mark 1-the pedal you would Whore yourself to get”…..has a ring to it…..that thing is the best Fng pedal I’ve ever heard.
19:22 That’s *DIFFERENTIAL* * *Audio* * *Manifestationz* (not “Dynamic” 🤭 aka D*A*M built by David A. Main). No worries, we all make gaffes.🍻 My only other gripe is that whenever the pedals are on the floor during the demo’s, the pedal is always juuuuuust off camera (“So...which one is this, now?”🥴 If you want to scan around the video, you can’t see which one they’re using, so then you have to listen to the conversation and try to figure out which one it is their playing through...(and they’re understandably not naming it every minute. Also, we can’t see the settings & in addition to rolling off guitar volume, exploring “Attack” on lowest setting is worth investigating on Mk1’s) Just gotta say: Glenn Snoddy & Revis Hobbs should be applauded as the designers of “the first (production) fuzz pedal” in 1962-> Maestro Fuzz-Tone (used on “Satisfaction” which the “Mk1” is directly based on. 3v->9v, Texas Instruments (2) + Mullard (1) in place of RCA (3) + a few diff. part values & voila=TB “Mk1”). I disagree with Josh (“they couldn’t sound more different” Whaaa? A good FZ-1 in a warm environment pushed by humbuckers or P-90’s will *absolutely* change your mynd.😎👍🏼 A Mk1 is basically an FZ-1 on steroids. Not to disparage the Mk1 (I LOVE them & have 10 replicas by 3 top builders) but ya just gotta acknowledge it’s roots properly. Nice video, guys. Thanks all, including Ant for his unending generosity in welcoming these fuzzhounds & continuing the Macari’s legacy of this Tone Bender invasion!! (The RANGEMASTER FUZBUG sounds SICK, btw!! (Been dying to hear that for 10 years? please consider making reproductions, Ant!!) Props to Steve “Pigdog” Williams, Stu Castledine, Ian “Ghost” Sherwen & David A. Main, Tone Bender Mk1 builders for Sola Sound at Macari’s. Cheers, pSyChO*dAvY 🙏🏼🖤😎👍🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The Bender's are def a whole rabbit hole, which leave(more common renditions of) the Fuzz Face and Muff in the dust.When I first really began experiencing them more than a decade ago, my fundamental idea of what was possible tone and sound wise was entirely different, so where once I thought the Pi with Tone Wicker, or the initial Soul Bender,were big steps up, exposure to the early Bender's and the Buzzaround blew those away. But clearly, also, how carefully even those simple Fuzz Face circuits are handled is significant; there's a huge difference between the Dunlop, or Fulltone, and the Analogman (for ex.) takes on essentially the same idea.Fuzz is ,- and clearly began as,- an effect that benefits from "boutique", personal treatment.Currently, there are even some very interesting refinements being made to the Muff that expand upon some of it's well recognized limitations. It's a happy day for those with a thing for sweet dissonances.
Maybe my favourite episode. So interesting. History followed by demos for each. Just amazing. Thanks guys. I'd go buy a Tshirt, but I think I own them all. 😊
So now that the Boss TB-2W is announced ... what price are we looking at ? How long will the entire germanium stockpile last ? 5 min ? 15 ? Man, what a rabbit hole!
The opening Tele licks on that Mark I is the equivalent holy grail tone for fuzz that the Klon Centaur is for transparent overdrive! It just sings,...it rings,...it sputters,...it is totally fuzzolicious! It’s the clip’s chips!
This is amazing!! So much tone and so much history! You could have left out that cheesy delay though - guitar - fuzz - amp, that's the way it's supposed to sound..
Strat Wins = Strat Always Wins!!! ( nah - just kidding ) - it's all personal preference, but it's definitely My Preference. Great stuff guys. Nice shop. Stay safe.
Used to love their store in Charing Cross Road (just a few yards from the Selmer emporium). I dunno whether I used to deal with Anthony's Father or Uncle - he was quite tall - in the sixties from 1967 onwards. Always had an amazing and colourful window! Best, Pete.
@@macaris_official There was always tons of interesting stuff there. One time I saw a horn you could link to a guitar amp. Yes, it was a real brass horn about the length of a trombone connected to a driver which inturn was screwed to a mic stand. Never saw anything like itanywhere else! They used to line up their pedals along the window - real attention grabbers. Did you know the funny little store in Earlham Street (down by the Seven Dials? That was where Clapton used to get his Banjo strings from for his Les Paul - only for the high E. He just moved a light set down one...
@@ptrisonic so cool - you know you are jogging my memory on that horn thing- I KNOW I've heard something about it before !! Thanks for thinking of us and getting in touch - best- Ant
As a guitarist/bassist who has just never been much impressed with distortion pedals, going down the tone bender rabbit hole has really connected me to the music I grew up listening to. On the Mk1 I can hear Ronson on "Width of a Circle"; that exact tone. So, for us with mere mortal-sized wallets, the next question is: what the closest clones are. Also, where does the Burns Buzzaround fit in all this? Great show, as always guys! And loved seeing Josh in the mix.
Tempted to start a pedal company with only fuzz pedals.. The Fuzz This, the Fuzz That, the Fuzz Off, the Fuzz You, the Fuzz Me, and of course the MotherFuzzer...
Thumbs up if you want JHS to give the Tone Benders the same treatment as the Muffuletta Big Muff and the Bonsai Tube Screamer. Every version of the Tone Bender in one box. I'd also like to have a tone knob bypass switch on it like the IC Big Muff has. I love the option of a wide open fuzz.
A Tremendous 58'27" worth of video awesomee! TPS plus Josh and Anthony M. ! That MK 1 and P90's what a sound, noise, sound :) ! and cleans your ears at same time !!! Stay healthy and safe everyone.
Shout out to my wife Karen, it’s her Birthday today! She’s so supportive of me and my tone endeavors! Happy Friday to all. Hope everyone is keeping safe in these crazy time. This one hour video is my stress-free guilty pleasure every week. Thank you Dan & Mick for what you do!
I feel like lots of ppl talk abt how amazing lp tone was especially back in the 60s when it was either cranked amps with tone benders or range masters.. but the strat w fuzz is not talked abt enough. Easily on par w that beano sound or the green, beck, and page tones. I think lps are so legendary bc of their sound straight in, theyre so full they dont need to add anything but maybe a transparent boost to add just that little bit more gain sometimes. The strat was made for pedals and can channel all the gain through its pickups and needs them imo.
I made a bit of a pilgrimage to Macaris last year and tried them all... the MkIIIs etc were great ... but then I played the Mk1 and I felt like I had discovered the most amazing thing ever... unfortunately, I choked... I may never forgive myself.
Hi Malcolm here. Top show, well done lads. Back in the day ( circa 73/76) I used a Tonebender ( can’t remember the mark, I think it was silver grey) into a Marshall stack. Must explain why I’m a bit mutt these days. Sadly the Tonebender fell out of use ( I think that was the disco boom) and fell apart. Oh for hindsight, I think it ended up being chucked! Noisy, unreliable, but when it was working... sensational. I understand that the new ones are more reliable though, perhaps I should reinvestigate. The stack has gone too, although I still use the guitar😊 keep up the good work 😎
If I ever hear a guitar player say ‘what’s the point of fuzz’ or ‘fuzz sounds bad’ I say give up playing guitar and go join a chess club or something :) Fuzz pedals are straight up! The coolest type of guitar pedal you can get
My God! No one has ever been more right. I have two and I need to buy at least five more just to get started on learning what tone really is. So good! Thank God for That Pedal Show and JHS. I’ve been learning so much.
Me: Watches episode, goes digging into pedal box for Magnetic Effects Solar Bender.... realises sold it for a handful of beans before Christmas...hangs head in remorse, recriminations and self-loathing to follow...Consoles self with JHS Pollinator acquired in trade last week. Not the same but still fuzzy glory. Fantastic episode.
Macari's is also important to bassists because of a young drummer from the Isle of Wight named Mark King, who applied for a job there ... but Macari's doesn't sell drums. So he lied and said he played bass, got the job, learned bass while working there, and went on to found Level 42 and become one the greatest slap bassists ever.
Travelled from Brisbane (in Australia) to see Macaris (and the rest of Denmark Street, on Dan’s advice) over a month ago. So cool to see it and the episode together. Like three mates tasting vintage wine. Many Thanks for the great content. Stay safe!
Dear Josh, The Clock-Eyed Lady is an Electric Mistress-type flanger with Delay Time (Manual) control and a Mix control, and two footswitches. One activates the pedal; the other changes from positive to negative flanging (or odd and even, whatever). It fits in the same enclosure as the Lucky Cat. It's finally your turn to redeem yourself for your bad flanger videos. The Clock-Eyed Lady. Let me know when it's ready.
37 minutes in- SO- the MKII reminds me of what I think of when I think tone bender- probably because many clones - like the old big box Fulltone soul bender I once had are based on this design? (should have kept that pedal!) - To my ears, the MKII is smoother and more polite- but less interesting/ expressive than the MKI. Man- I really need to hunt around for a good MKI copy!
I’m going to be watching this over and over again! Cheers guys. So glad that the Tonebender is reclaiming it’s no1 status in the fuzz world after all these years! Pioneering and big boxes rule!
The best part of the video is Dan’s face every time a different version of the pedal is played. He looks like he’s going to break down and cry, out of pure, unadulterated joy,
Great film guys. In It Might Get Loud at 53:40 Jimmy Page is going into a Tone Bender, there is a cut away to a MkII, not sure it's the same pedal though.
Amazing! I was in Macaris a few days after you filmed this and they were all talking about you guys and then my wife and I went to the Peter Green Celebration gig. That was a good day........ hope you guys are well and will be able to keep the content coming in these weird and difficult times
I swear if I came across a Mark 1 that sounded like that -no matter what it cost….I would do anything to get it….I’m not gay and I would give as many hand jobs as it took. They could call me hand job harry…..”the 1965 Tone Bender Mark 1-the pedal you would Whore yourself to get”…..has a ring to it…..that thing is the best Fng pedal I’ve ever heard.
I swear it I came across a Mark 1 that sounded like that -no matter what it cost….I would do anything to get it….I’m not gay and I would give as many hand jobs as it took. They could call me hand job harry…..”the 1965 Tone Bender Mark 1-the pedal you would Whore yourself to get”…..has a ring to it…..that thing is the best Fng pedal I’ve ever heard.
Good Tone! I love these crossover episodes! I'm not much of a fuzz guy but since the Fx-loop episode i've been thinking about my setup, tried a lot and ended up using a Revv G3 distortion instead of my fx-loop because i get rid of many issues, i just had to find the right distortion pedal for me. I still have the option to wire my Delay into the loop when i want the amp distortion channel, all my Flangers are now in front of the amp and after the G3. Keep on doing great work for the guitar community!
I am so happy you had Steve Coogan as a guest star in this episode of TPS. The best british pedal show finally got the best british humor. Anywayt, I paid visit to Denmark Street and Charing Cross road last month after 4 years and my heart was heartbroken by the fact Macari’s are not in business anymore (well, they claim they will be, but not in the minute). Thanx very much for this comprehensive review and history learning. I own Josh’s Bender and BPC MkII and like them both, but JHS is really way more multi-functional.
Josh is so good, his channel is surely the second best guitar pedal channel on RU-vid? I work a few minutes walk from Macari's - had a play of the rosewood Tele you can see in the window. Utterly glorious guitar and shop.
Gah... what a great video. I have a D*A*M Sola Limited Run Copper Tone Bender Mk 1.5 that I bought from Macaris in 2015 (#18) and it is fantastic... a 'forever pedal'.
I bought a Sola Sound Tonebender MK1 by Ian Sherwen of Ghost FX. It has eliminated my Sun Faces, kingtone Fuzz, Myriad Fuzz and Dan drive Secret Weapon from my board. The MK1 is soooo special and sounds uniq...Mick a Mk1 before your SA350 into your Two Rock 🎸🤘🏻💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Amazing episode. Felt like the best field trip ever. Really love how you guys show the versatility of fuzz. Like a wise man said, “All you need is fuzz. Fuzz is all you need.”
My Mk1 Tone Bender from Maccaris landed on my doorstep the day before you filmed this . I got number 39 built by David Main and I’ve not yet stopped grinning .. absolutely incredible... no, that don’t even sum it up ... it’s just fxxxxxxk
I’m unsure I think most were pre ordered but occasionally someone put deposit and dropped out , that’s how I got mine , I couldn’t afford it , sold a 60s gretsch to get it ... but fuck you only need one guitar but more than one pedal.. no regrets , by far the most beautiful pedal I’ve ever had . It’s a Till death do us part affair
