The Tour Bender is a fuzz pedal from Union Tube & Transistor that takes aim at the classic 60s Tone Bender sound while adding modern usability. The maker describes it as "a silicon version of our Sone Bender," their germanium fuzz, and says it is built for "reliable access to classic fuzz tone." It uses two simple controls for gain and volume, letting you set timbre and output level independently, and lists from $190.001.
Circuit and lineage
The Tour Bender sits in the Tone Bender family of fuzzes. Union Tube & Transistor positions it directly against their own Sone Bender, a germanium fuzz: the Tour Bender swaps the germanium transistors for silicon, which the maker says gives a tighter, more modern tone and a circuit that is less temperamental and more stable across temperature fluctuations1. For players, that is the practical difference between the two pedals: same family of sound, with the silicon version easier to live with on a board and less sensitive to the weather.
The Tone Bender itself traces back to Gary Hurst's modifications of the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone, which led him to design his own circuit2. The Mk1.5 Tone Bender in turn became the inspiration for the Fuzz Face, according to Delicious Audio's history of the Bender family3. The Tour Bender draws on both sides of that family tree: the maker credits the Tone Bender side for its gain structure and the Fuzz Face side for the way it cleans up with the guitar's volume knob1.
Controls
The pedal keeps things to two knobs1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the fuzz intensity and timbre |
| Volume | Sets the output level independently of the gain |
That two-knob layout means you dial the fuzz character with Gain and then match your amp's level with Volume, rather than one control doing both jobs1.
Versions
Union Tube & Transistor offers the Tour Bender in more than one presentation, all sharing the same circuit1:
| Version | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Deluxe | Wooden box, bandana, laser engraved badge1 |
| Bean Counter | Silkscreened graphic made to look like the badge, no special packaging1 |
The Deluxe and Bean Counter differ only in packaging and graphics, not in circuit or sound. The Bean Counter is the plainer enclosure of the two1.
What reviewers said
On That Pedal Show, the pedal was featured among modern Tone Bender-style fuzzes4. In their demo, Dan and Mick compared it directly with the Fuzz Face:
Their demo also describes the Deluxe version's contents: the wooden box, the bandana and the laser engraved badge51.
Power and practicalities
The Tour Bender draws 10mA1, a light load that sits comfortably within what a standard pedalboard power supply output provides. The maker's specification of silicon transistors is the practical headline here: where germanium fuzzes of this lineage can shift with temperature, Union Tube & Transistor says the silicon design stays stable and less temperamental1.
Videos
Real Standard Music
Real Standard Music
CHIE HORIGUCHI
Questions
Is the Tour Bender a silicon or germanium fuzz?
The Tour Bender is made with silicon transistors. Union Tube & Transistor describes it as a silicon version of their Sone Bender, which is a germanium fuzz, aimed at the Tone Bender circuit. The maker says the silicon transistors give a tighter, more modern tone than germanium and make the circuit less temperamental and stable across temperature fluctuations.
How much current does the Tour Bender draw?
Union Tube & Transistor lists the Tour Bender's current draw as 10mA, which is light enough for most standard pedal power supplies.
What comes with the Deluxe Tour Bender?
The Deluxe version of the Tour Bender comes with a wooden box, a bandana, and a laser engraved badge. That Pedal Show's demo of the pedal describes the same contents.
What is the difference between the Deluxe and Bean Counter Tour Bender?
The two versions share the same circuit but differ in presentation. The Deluxe comes in a wooden box with a bandana and a laser engraved badge. The Bean Counter has a silkscreened graphic made to look like the badge and no special packaging.
How does the Tour Bender compare to a Fuzz Face?
On their demo of the pedal, That Pedal Show's Dan and Mick said the Tour Bender has a much more vocal mid-range than a Fuzz Face and that it rolls off the bass really nicely. The circuit itself draws on both the Tone Bender and the Fuzz Face lineage, taking gain from the Tone Bender side and clean-up from the Fuzz Face side.
Sources (5)
- Tour Bender, Union Tube & Transistor
- Tone Bender History, britishpedalcompany.com
- New Pedal: Tampco All-Bender Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2022-02-21
- Modern Tone Bender-Style Fuzz Pedals, That Pedal Show, 2020-08-07
- Union T&T Tour Bender, Fender MTG Tube Distortion, Diamond Vibrato, TC Hall Of Fame2x4, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2019-08-27
