Vox Tonebender Mods

[Wud]

Hi,

I've recently obtained an old Vox Tonebender MKIII -

[url="http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/vox/colorsound/tonebender/mk3"]http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/vox/c.../tonebender/mk3[/url]

Seems to be the later model with silicon transistors.
I like the sound I can get with it, but was wondering if anybody here knew of any info regarding modding it for better use with bass?
I was also wondering if it would be possible to add an LED or Power socket ?

I'm handy with a soldering iron, but know next to nothing about circuits and components etc, but I'm keen to try something new.

Thanks

[nick]

[quote name='Wud' post='591337' date='Sep 6 2009, 12:32 PM']Hi,

I've recently obtained an old Vox Tonebender MKIII -

[url="http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/vox/colorsound/tonebender/mk3"]http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/vox/c.../tonebender/mk3[/url]

Seems to be the later model with silicon transistors.
I like the sound I can get with it, but was wondering if anybody here knew of any info regarding modding it for better use with bass?
I was also wondering if it would be possible to add an LED or Power socket ?

I'm handy with a soldering iron, but know next to nothing about circuits and components etc, but I'm keen to try something new.

Thanks[/quote]

[i]* Edit : Hang on, just read your post properly. If it's an old Tonebender, please leave it stock - quite collectable!
If it's not for you, why not sell it for a good price & buy something more suited to bass or get someone to build you something.
I would not mod it myself.[/i]

Hi,
To increase the bass on this pedal & most other fuzzes, you should look at upping the values of input, & possibly output caps to start with. [url="http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=68999.msg552269#msg552269"](Tonebender mods)[/url]
There is a lot of info on [url="http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/"]DIY Stompboxes[/url] and [url="http://freestompboxes.org"]Freestompboxes[/url]
To add a an LED, would suggest best way forward is to change to a 3PDT footswitch: [url="http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/switch_lo_3pdt_tb_dcjack.gif"]True bypass switching LED & DC jack[/url]
Cheers

Edited September 6, 2009 by nick

[skankdelvar]

[quote name='Wud' post='591337' date='Sep 6 2009, 12:32 PM']Hi, I've recently obtained an old Vox Tonebender MKIII -[/quote]

Stop right there - [b]please don't touch it [/b] - you'll destroy any value it has. These are extremely rare and you'll get bundles more for it in unmodded condition.

Even recent modern re-issues go for circa £200, as do boutique copies like D*A*M, bajatech, etc. In the right circs, I've seen some original benders go for not short of £500 (worldwide).

Please, please don't mod it. Even if you do, it probably won't give you the sound you want.

Edited September 6, 2009 by skankdelvar

[gnasher1993]

Don't do it! Just give it to me

[Wud]

Hi Chaps,

Many thanks for the links Nick.
I'd googled various topics relating to Vox Tonebenders, but never came up with anything relating to them specifically.
there seems to be a lot of info regarding modding fuzzfaces, but not Tonebenders

I think you may all be right though, in that it's probably better to leave it stock if I ever thought about resale value.
I'm not looking at selling, as I do get great tones using it in a blender.

I didn't know they fetched such large sums of money.

[umph]

[quote name='Wud' post='591474' date='Sep 6 2009, 04:00 PM']Hi Chaps,

Many thanks for the links Nick.
I'd googled various topics relating to Vox Tonebenders, but never came up with anything relating to them specifically.
there seems to be a lot of info regarding modding fuzzfaces, but not Tonebenders

I think you may all be right though, in that it's probably better to leave it stock if I ever thought about resale value.
I'm not looking at selling, as I do get great tones using it in a blender.

I didn't know they fetched such large sums of money.[/quote]
wise decision, sell it and buy one of the many tonebender clones or buy a kit and i'll give you a list of mods you can do to it to make it great for bass.