The D*A*M 1965 Tone Distorter is a hand-built fuzz box that replicates the Sola Sound Tone Bender MKI, the rare early fuzz circuit from the mid 1960s. D*A*M, the British builder behind D*A*M Tone Bender MKII SCB and the D*A*M FZ-673, dates the inception of the 1965 project to February 2007 and describes the 2023 version as the culmination of 17 years of study and research on the original1. It sits in the maker's range alongside other Tone Bender-based builds such as the D*A*M System Tone Bender MKI and the D*A*M Tone Bender MKIV.
Controls: Level and Attack
The pedal carries just two controls, Level and Attack, in the manner of the original MKI circuit it reproduces1. Level sets output volume and Attack sets the amount of fuzz. There is no tone control, no internal trimmers mentioned and no switching beyond the footswitch, so the differences between the three variants come from the build itself rather than from extra knobs.
The three variants: Agent H, Q2 and VZM
The 2023 1965 is available in three model variants, each tracing a different path back to the original circuit1.
| Variant | What defines it |
|---|---|
| Agent H | A sonic reproduction of the first Hurst MKI the maker studied, a dry letter transfer labeled unit bearing no company moniker1 |
| Q2 | Higher gain selection of the transistor in the Q2 position, with irregular selection of the associated bias resistors1 |
| VZM | Circuit features a Valvo OC78, a Mullard OC45 and a NKT 2811 |
Of the Agent H, the maker's page describes the character in detail:
"The overall tone is much darker than what would occur soon thereafter. The fuzz timbre is sturdy, thick and pleasingly sticky."
The maker adds that the Agent H bears tonal traits of the Maestro FZ-1, with percussive choppiness and richness, and a little less in overall output volume1.
Transistors and construction
Transistor selection across the range is new old stock from miscellaneous British manufacturers, and each unit is individually tuned with a mixture of new stock and NOS parts1. The VZM variant is the one with a named complement: a Valvo OC78, a Mullard OC45 and a NKT 2811. Construction is point-to-point wiring on Tufnol Kite sheet, a board material in keeping with the period build style1.
Power and enclosure
The 1965 Tone Distorter runs on a PP3 battery only. There is no power supply input, so it cannot be run from a pedalboard supply or daisy chain.
The pedal is presented in the classic D*A*M enclosure format and installed with a slide-out Bulgin battery drawer, and it measures 152x82x50mm1. The finish is Tri-mite Hammertone1.
Production and price
The maker lists 206 units produced to date1. Guitar World's review, by Trevor Curwen, lists the price as £384 GBP2. As with other limited D*A*M projects such as the D*A*M Dark Flesh MKII, runs are small and individually tuned, so units are not interchangeable.
Videos
gearmanndude
楽器好きにはたまらない! フーチーズ 渋谷店 / Guitar Shop Hoochie's
The Front Room Fuzz Lounge
Questions
Does the D*A*M 1965 Tone Distorter run on a power supply?
No. The maker specifies a PP3 battery only, with no external power option. The pedal is built in the classic D*A*M enclosure format with a slide-out Bulgin battery drawer, so changing the battery means sliding the drawer out rather than removing the back plate. Players who run daisy-chained supplies on their boards will need to plan around this.
What are the Agent H, Q2 and VZM variants?
The 2023 1965 Tone Distorter is available in three model variants. Agent H is a sonic reproduction of the first Hurst MKI the maker studied, a dry letter transfer labeled unit bearing no company moniker, with a darker overall tone. Q2 differs through a higher gain selection of the transistor in the Q2 position and irregular selection of the associated bias resistors. VZM uses a Valvo OC78, a Mullard OC45 and a NKT 281.
What transistors does the D*A*M 1965 Tone Distorter use?
The general transistor selection is new old stock from miscellaneous British manufacturers. The VZM variant specifically features a Valvo OC78, a Mullard OC45 and a NKT 281. Each unit is individually tuned and built with a mixture of new stock and NOS parts.
What is the difference between a Tone Bender MKI and MKII?
The 1965 Tone Distorter replicates the Tone Bender MKI, the earlier and rarer of the two circuits. D*A*M has also built MKII replicas: the maker made its first few replicas of the Sola Sound Pro MKII in 2004, and since July 2009 it has produced the Tone Bender Professional MKII for Sola Sound. The MKI project itself dates to February 2007.
How many D*A*M 1965 Tone Distorters were made?
The maker lists 206 units produced to date on its product page. Each one is individually tuned and features a mixture of new stock and NOS parts, so no two are identical.
Sources (2)
- 1965, stompboxes.co.uk, 2025
- SM Fuzz review, Guitar World, 2021-08-17
