The BLAMMO! Electronics Tomb Sender is a germanium fuzz pedal aimed at low noise vintage fuzz tones. BLAMMO! describes it as a "new-meets-old" take on the classic and beloved Sola Sound Tone Bender MkIII, with an added make up gain stage for more output1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio called it "a modern take of the venerable Tone Bender MkIII" and summed up its pitch as "Break your signal a little…..or send it six feet underground."2
A Tone Bender MkIII with an extra gain stage
The Tomb Sender follows the three-germanium-transistor Tone Bender MkIII layout. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, covering the pedal in its Transparent Lexan Edition, described it as "a 3 Germanium Transistor TB MKIII variety"3. What BLAMMO! adds to that foundation is a make up gain stage for more output, which pairs with what Delicious Audio describes as a beefed-up EQ section12.
The extra output matters in practice: Delicious Audio notes that the Volume control "offers more output so your signal won't dip below unity gain on the skronkier settings"2. That addresses a common complaint with vintage-style germanium fuzzes, where extreme settings can leave the effect quieter than the clean signal.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack | Controls the fuzz gain: more bite and compression when set high, a more open and raw tone when dialed left1 |
| Bias | Controls the voltage level of the second germanium transistor: zippy, Velcro-like splattery and gated wonkyness when set lowest, familiar Tone Bender MkIII sounds when turned all the way up1 |
| Tone | More bass frequencies without cutting the highs when turned left, more highs with some bass cut when turned right1 |
| Volume | Standard volume function, with enough output to stay above unity gain on the skronkier settings2 |
| Toggle switch | Operates a simple noise gate that cuts a good portion of the background noise and muck between notes, and works with the Bias knob to finely tune broken and dying battery sounds1 |
The Bias knob is the one to experiment with first. Because it sets the voltage on the second germanium transistor, it spans the whole range the circuit can cover, from the gated, splattery textures germanium fuzzes are known for up to the standard MkIII voice1. The noise gate toggle is aimed at the same territory: BLAMMO! positions it both as a way to cut between-note muck and as a tool for shaping those dying-battery sounds alongside the Bias control1.
Switching, power and build
The Tomb Sender uses an updated relay based true bypass switching system with a no-click footswitch1. It runs on the standard 2.1mm center negative power supply, Boss style2. The circuit sits in a 125b enclosure measuring 4.8 x 2.6 x 1.58 inches, with top mounted jacks2.
BLAMMO! says the pedal is carefully handmade in Portland, Oregon, and Delicious Audio likewise describes it as designed and soldered by hand in Portland, Oregon12.
Versions
Guitar Pedal X covered a Transparent Lexan Edition of the Tomb Sender in its 2020 roundup of new fuzz pedals, with the same control set: Volume, Q2 Bias, Tone, Gain, and a Noise Gate toggle-switch3. The standard edition covered on this page uses the Attack name for its gain control1.
Elsewhere in the BLAMMO! fuzz range
BLAMMO! Electronics builds a line of germanium and vintage-style fuzzes alongside the Tomb Sender, including the Fuzz Banger, a reimagining of the Sam Ash Fuzz-Stainer MK II, and the Jordan Bosstone, a recreation of the 1966 Jordan Boss Tone. For more circuits in the same family, see the site's Fuzz Pedals page.
Videos
AndyDemos
Harsh Tones, Inc.
Iga Massardi
Questions
What circuit is the BLAMMO! Tomb Sender based on?
BLAMMO! Electronics describes the Tomb Sender as a new-meets-old take on the classic Sola Sound Tone Bender MkIII. Guitar Pedal X calls it a 3 germanium transistor Tone Bender MkIII variety, and Delicious Audio describes it as a modern take of the venerable Tone Bender MkIII, with BLAMMO! adding a make up gain stage for more output.
Does the Tomb Sender use germanium transistors?
Yes. Both BLAMMO! Electronics and Delicious Audio list the Tomb Sender as using NOS MP38a germanium transistors. The Bias knob controls the voltage level of the second germanium transistor, which is where much of the pedal's character comes from.
Is the Tomb Sender true bypass?
Yes. BLAMMO! Electronics lists the Tomb Sender with an updated relay based true bypass switching system, and Delicious Audio likewise describes the bypass as relay based true bypass. The footswitch is also listed as no-click.
What does the toggle switch do on the Tomb Sender?
The toggle switch operates a simple noise gate that cuts a good portion of the background noise and muck between notes. BLAMMO! notes it also works with the Bias knob to finely tune the broken and dying battery sounds the pedal can produce.
What does the Bias knob do on a germanium fuzz?
On the Tomb Sender, the Bias knob controls the voltage level of the second germanium transistor. Set lowest, BLAMMO! says it offers zippy, Velcro-like splattery and gated wonkyness; turned all the way up, it produces the familiar Tone Bender MkIII sounds.
Where is the BLAMMO! Tomb Sender built?
BLAMMO! Electronics says the Tomb Sender is carefully handmade in Portland, Oregon. Delicious Audio likewise describes it as designed and soldered by hand in Portland, Oregon.
Sources (3)
- Tomb Sender, BLAMMO! Electronics
- BLAMMO! Electronics Tomb Sender Ge Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2020-12-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2020-12-18
