Behringer releases Fuzz Bender, a Tone Bender clone, for $62

November 11, 2024 · 2 sources

Behringer announced the release of the Fuzz Bender on November 11, 2024, a clone of the Tone Bender fuzz pedal. Guitar World described it as a "visually faithful and ultra-affordable clone of the iconic Tone Bender"¹.

The pedal has an all-analog circuit with two controls, Level and Attack, and a Mod/Orig switch between them. The parameters set the output volume and amount of fuzz¹. The Original mode is based on the Mark 1.5 version of the Tone Bender, which Guitar World says the Beatles used on Rubber Soul, and has what the site calls a throatier tone than other vintage fuzz machines. The Mod position is based on the Mark 2, a sound Guitar World calls more recognizable through its use by Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton¹. Gearnews describes the Mod switch as allowing higher outputs and additional mids².

Guitar World says the Fuzz Bender's tonal palette ranges from "a bit of hair that responds to your pick attack" to velvety sounds that work with humbucker and single-coil guitars, and that maxing out the Attack knob delivers "aggressive fuzz" with sustain suited to stoner rock¹. The enclosure is all metal and smaller than the original pedal to save pedalboard space, while retaining the original's almost coffin-like shape¹. Gearnews lists gloss black dials, a chrome true bypass footswitch and 1/4-inch jack inputs and outputs².

The sources give different prices. Guitar World's headline says $65, its opening paragraph says $60, and its closing line says the pedal is available now for $62¹. Gearnews lists $49.00, while also noting that the site says the pedal will be available in several months². Guitar World traces the original Tone Bender to British builder Gary Hurst¹.