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Gary Hurst Designs Tonebender MKI

Gary Hurst Designs Tonebender MKI

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This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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Page last updated Dec 16, 2025

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Description

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Step back in time with the Gary Hurst Designs Tonebender MKI, a legendary fuzz effects pedal that has shaped the sound of rock music since the 1960s. Known for its distinctive and raw fuzz tone, this pedal is a faithful recreation of the original design that put British fuzz on the map. The Tonebender MKI delivers a harmonically rich, gritty sound that is perfect for players looking to add vintage character to their performance. Constructed with high-quality components, it maintains the classic sonic footprint while ensuring reliability and durability for modern musicians. The pedal’s simple control layout allows for easy tweaking, letting you dial in that perfect fuzz without fuss. Whether you're a collector of vintage gear or a guitarist seeking that iconic tone, the Tonebender MKI stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of fuzz.

Key Features:

Faithful reproduction of the original 1960s design
Raw and harmonically rich fuzz tone
Simple control layout for easy tone adjustments
Built with high-quality components for durability
Ideal for both vintage tone enthusiasts and modern players

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gary Hurst Designs Tonebender MKI.

Features and functionality

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The Tonebender MKI's attack knob can be used to find a sweet spot for each guitar, adjusting bias and input volume for optimal sound.
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For optimal Q3 biasing, aim for -8V on the collector; closer to -9V may introduce artifacts, while increasing the 15k collector resistor reduces volume and high end.
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Mods and upgrades

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A kit version includes leaky Russian transistors which, while spitty, can be adjusted for preferred tone by modifying the attack settings.
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Adjusting the 470k resistor in the voltage divider before Q2 to values around 180k can achieve maximum gain earlier on the Attack pot.
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Reducing the 2M2 resistor at the end of the circuit to 2M or 1M8 increases output, providing more volume.
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AC128 and GT402 transistors from StompBoxParts are recommended for varied gains and leakages, enhancing the Tonebender MKI's versatility.
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A 2nd schematic version, known as the Gary Hurst version, includes a different voltage divider at the Attack pot and an extra 25uF cap.
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Comparisons

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Owners note the MKI circuit is distinct from later Tonebender versions, providing a unique sound experience that some prefer over newer iterations.
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Build quality

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Eyelet boards used in builds are lighter and easier to solder, though their small size limits the number of leads that can be attached.
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Users caution that some PCB layouts might have issues and require verification before using in complex builds.
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Setup and maintenance

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A log pot, specifically an A50k, is recommended for the Attack knob to achieve a more gradual gain onset.
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It's crucial to allow transistors to cool before testing, as body heat affects leakage and hFE readings.
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For transistor testing, spreading them on a tray and using tweezers prevents body heat interference, ensuring accurate hFE and leakage readings.
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User experience

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Owners report difficulty finding leaky Russian germanium transistors for biasing, noting Smallbear as a potential source for matched sets.
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Artist usage

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Jimmy Page

Guitarist

Led Zeppelin

Verified via YouTube

According to Ant Macari, Led Zeppelin bandmate John Paul Jones recalled Page bringing in a MKI to early rehearsals.

I spoke to John Paul Jones a couple o' years ago and I said "Do You remember Jimmy Page with his first fuzz box, when he first brought it in to rehearsals?" And he said something that absolutely flattened me, he said "Yeah, I remember it looking like a piece of cheese." Which makes me think he had a MKI.

Paul McCartney

Singer, Bassist

The Beatles

Verified via Pinterest

A Pinterest post features a photo of Paul McCartney with his bass, amp, and the original Gary Hurst Designs Tonebender MKI pedal, captioned "Paul McCartney with an original Gary Hurst Tonebender."

J Mascis

Singer, Guitarist

Dinosaur Jr

Verified via reverb.com

Sold on Reverb.com in 2017.

This Gary Hurst Design Tone Bender is part of the private collection of J Mascis.

One of several incredible fuzz pedals in J's ever expanding collection is this: Questionably the closest design to the original, the Gary Hurst Designs Tone Bender. Developed by Gary Hurst one of the lead designers over at Vox, this all germanium fuzz is as good as it gets in regards to warm, rich and lush fuzz tones. This is a replica of the 1965 classic.

This pedal is immaculate. Practically new in box with all associated paperwork. It doesn't appear that J ever brought this on the road, but knowing his massive collection it is likely this may have found it's way on to a recording or two. This pedal is like new. Does not ship with a power supply.

All items in J's Reverb Shop ship fully insured with a signed and embossed Certificate Of Authenticity by J Mascis.