Project · Fuzz Tones
ColorSound™ ToneBenders™ (3-knob)
Here are the 3-Knob Tone Bender™ versions that can be built on the PCB for this project:
Project files
Everything you need to build it
3-Knob ToneBender™ Ready-For-Transfer Printed Circuit Board Layout - For use only if you are a complete DIY person who wants to etch and drill your own PCB. Otherwise, we recommend you ignore this PCB mask and buy the Ready-to-Solder Printed Circuit Board or Complete Kit.
Schematic
Schematic
Parts layout
Parts Layout / Wiring Diagram
What you will need
Bill of Materials
Version 2012November08 · Copyright 2012 JD Sleep · Permission refused for posting/serving this file from any site other than www.generalguitargadgets.com · Trademarks are property of their owners
Resistors
| Resistor ID | Value | 3-band Marking | 4-band Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 1M5 (1.5M) | brown-green-green | brown-green-black-yellow |
| R2 | 47k | yellow-violet-orange | yellow-violet-black-red |
| R3 | 220k | red-red-yellow | red-red-black-orange |
| R4 | 10k | brown-black-orange | brown-black-black-red |
| R5 | 10k | brown-black-orange | brown-black-black-red |
| R6 | 3k3 (3.3k) | orange-orange-red | orange-orange-black-brown |
| R7 (Fuzz Control Potentiometer) | 100k Linear | ||
| R8 | 18k | brown-gray-orange | brown-gray-black-red |
| R9 | 10k | brown-black-orange | brown-black-black-red |
| R10 | 10k | brown-black-orange | brown-black-black-red |
| R11 (Tone Control Potentiometer) | 100k Linear | ||
| R12 | 10k | brown-black-orange | brown-black-black-red |
| R13 (Volume Control Potentiometer) | 100k Linear | ||
| R14 | None | ||
| R15 | None | ||
| R16 | 220k | red-red-yellow | red-red-black-orange |
| R17 | None | ||
| R18 | 1k | brown-black-red | brown-black-black-brown |
| R19 | 0 ohm or jumper wire | black | black |
Capacitors
| Capacitor ID | Value | Type | Possible Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | 0.1µF | Film or Ceramic | 104 |
| C2 | 220pF | Ceramic | 221 |
| C3 | 22µF | Aluminum Electrolytic | 22µF |
| C4 | 0.22µF | Film or Ceramic | 224 |
| C5 | 10µF | Aluminum Electrolytic | 10µF |
| C6 | 0.1µF | Film or Ceramic | 104 |
| C7 | 0.0022µF | Film or Ceramic | 222 |
| C8 | none | ||
| C10 | none |
Potentiometers
| Part ID | Value | Type |
|---|---|---|
| R7 - Fuzz Control | 100k | Linear Taper |
| R11 - Tone Control | 100k | Linear Taper |
| R13 - Volume Control | 100k | Linear Taper |
Other
| Part ID | Part Name |
|---|---|
| D1 | 1N270 (or other Germanium diode) |
| D2 | LED |
| Q1 | PNP Germanium bipolar junction transistor |
| Q2 | PNP Germanium bipolar junction transistor |
| Q3 | PNP Germanium bipolar junction transistor |
| J1 | Stereo quarter-inch jack |
| J2 | Mono quarter-inch jack |
| J3 | DC Jack |
| B1 | 9 volt battery (not included in the Kit) |
| Sw1 | Heavy Duty 3PDT foot switch 9v battery snap, Printed Circuit Board, 24 gauge stranded wire, Enclosure, Knobs |
How to build it
Instructions
3-Knob ToneBender™ Instructions
Version 2013August18 · Copyright 2013 JD Sleep · Permission refused for posting/serving this file from any site other than www.generalguitargadgets.com · Trademarks are property of their owners
This is a replica of the ColorSoundTM ToneBenderTM 3-knob Version referred to as TB3 in these documents. The kit includes transistors to build a complete kit of the NPN Silicon transistor version. The kit also includes transistor sockets for PNP or NPN Germanium transistors that you provide. Follow the General Instructions and the layout diagram for the version you are building. You should set the trimmer to the sound you like. 4.5v is sometimes recommended, but a lower voltage sounds better to us. If you build the PNP version: there is a “down side” to the wiring we use. If you don't have a battery in the battery snap, it's possible that the battery snap can cause the power to short out if it touches the enclosure. We recommend that you cover the battery snap so that it can't short out. You can use tape to cover it or you can use a old used snap that you might have laying around as shown in the picture. Again, this is only for the PNP versions.
Here's an inside view of the unit we built to show some construction details.
Have fun, comments and questions are welcome and can be sent to [email protected] Here is a chart of voltages taken at the transistor pins. This information can be used to help you find and fix problems if your TB3 doesn't work when you test it.
Silicon Version
Component
Location
Voltage
9 volt supply Q1
Q2
Q3
9.4v (One Spot) Collector
6.7v
Base
1.6v
Emitter
1.1v
Collector
6.7v
Base
1.6
Emitter
1.1v
Collector
4.5v (or your trimmer setting)
Base
0.67v
Emitter
0.1v
Germanium Version
Component
Location
9 volt supply Q1
Q2
Voltage
9.4v (One Spot)
Collector
3.43v
Base
1.7v
Emitter
1.6v
Collector
3.4v
Base
1.6v
Component
Q3
Location
Voltage
Emitter
1.4v
Collector
4.2v
Base
0.02v
Emitter
0v
ToneBender™ (3-knob) PNP Germanium with Charge Pump Instructions and Diagram
Version 2014September04 · Copyright 2014 JD Sleep · Permission refused for posting/serving this file from any site other than www.generalguitargadgets.com · Trademarks are property of their owners
We ran across a forum post long ago where R.G. Keen suggested using a charge pump to convert the power input of a PNP circuit from positive ground to negative ground. This provides a solution for those of us who like to daisy chain a power supply to all of our stompboxes. If you've ever tried to daisy chain your modern pedals (Boss™, Ibanez™, etc) with a Fuzz Face™ (or a 70's Big Muff Pi™ or any PNP transistor circuit pedal), you know you can't do it. Now you can! From the DC jack or battery, the charge pump circuit is a negative ground circuit. From the output of the charge pump circuit, we use the ground and -9v outputs to power the ToneBender™. The ToneBender™ circuit sees a positive ground (0v is more positive than -9v). So here is the solution for the TB3 PNP versions in diagram and photo. This is a great “wrapper circuit” to install and probably well worth the time in the long run. Here's a photo of a Tone Bender™ 3 (Boutique version) replica with the charge pump.
Here's the wiring diagram for the ColorSound™ ToneBender™ 3-knob Replica with charge pump (next page).
More about this project
Notes, sounds and related links
- ColorSound™ 3-Knob Tone Bender™ with PNP Germanium Transistors (Positive Ground)
- ColorSound™-like 3-Knob ToneBender™ with NPN Germanium Transistors (Negative Ground)
- ColorSound™-Like 3-Knob Tone Bender™ with NPN Silicon Transistors (Negative Ground)
- "Tone Burner" Modified 3-Knob ToneBender™ verions with PNP Germanium Transistors (Postitive Ground)
- "Boutique" 3-Knob ToneBender™ with PNP Germanium Transistors (Positive Ground)
- 4-Knob Yard Box ToneBender™ with PNP Germanium Transistors (Positive Ground)
This ColorSound™ stompbox may have been sold during the same time period under the name of SolaSound™ ToneBender™ and possibly ™ Vox™ ToneBender™. There seems to be no difference between the circuits inside the different brand names.
For a simple, great sounding project, we recommend the "NPN Silicon Transistor Version". If you want to build a germanium transistor version, get your transistor set from Small Bear Electronics LLC and use the resistor values that he sends with the transistors. Small Bear resistor designations (R2, etc) are the same as the designations on these projects.
If you have a common power supply to power your pedals, the negative ground versions (NPN transistor versions) will work with other pedals on a common power supply. If you build one of the "PNP Germanium Transistor Versions", you can only share the same power supply with other POSITIVE GROUND effects pedals unless you use the Charge pump circuit with is as shown below.
Common Files For All Versions
ToneBender™ (3 knob) PNP Germanium Transistor With Charge Pump Version
The addition of a charge pump on the input power, gives you the ability to daisy chain power to your PNP Positive ground pedal with all your other negative ground pedals! Eliminate any need for special considerations when powering your Tone Bender™ with the other pedals on your pedal board.
ColorSound™ 3-Knob ToneBender™ (PNP Germanium Transistor, Positive Ground)
ColorSound™ 3-Knob ToneBender™ (NPN Germanium Transistor, Negative Ground)
ColorSound™ 3-Knob ToneBender™ (NPN Silicon Transistor, Negative Ground)
Tone Burner, Modified 3-Knob ToneBender™ (PNP Germanium Transistor, Positive Ground)
This is an excellent variation on the 3 knob Tone Bender™ Designed by Tobias Karlsson. Very nice sound.
Tone Burner Sound Sample (Tobias Karlsson)
"Boutique" ToneBender™,(with a lot of "Soul") (PNP Germanium Transistor, Positive Ground)
This is a very good variation on the 3 knob Tone Bender™ Designed by a very successful "boutique company".
"Yard Box" Style ToneBender™ (PNP Germanium Transistor, Positive Ground)
This is also a very good variation on the 3 knob Tone Bender™ Designed by a very successful "boutique company".
"See a Demo of the NPN silicon transistor version of the Colorsound™ ToneBender™
Buy a Kit
Buy a PCB
Ready to build? We have the kit.
Buy a TB3 Complete Kit. Includes all the parts and materials you need to build one, all for about the price you would pay for a PCB and parts. 
Would you like a Ready to Solder Circuit Board for this project?