Can Mods Save the Behringer Fuzz Bender?!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/HelloSailorFX/shop?asc=u&utm_campaign=share-artist&utm_medium=android&utm_source=rb-native-app The Behringer Fuzz Bender is one of the cheapest fuzz pedals out there—but can it actually sound great? I’m taking a budget-friendly approach to upgrading it with vintage capacitors to see if we can unlock boutique-level tones. Will the mods be a game-changer or a total waste of time? Watch the before-and-after tone test and decide for yourself!
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Timecodes
0:00 – Intro
0:17 – Fuzz Bender
2:59 – Inspiration
3:44 – PCB
5:36 – Capacitors
20:43 – Rebuild the Fuzz
32:05 – It’s broken!
34:51 – Most important part
36:21 – Sound test
37:31 – Stock
37:56 – MOD
38:21 – Sound with other pedals
#Mods #Save #Behringer #Fuzz #Bender
Originally posted by UCuJLugw0PI3HKWjMeAVxSEA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QEaAGct5nU
So what technical reason could you give that the old capacitors would stand any chance of sounding different or better to the modern capacitors ? I'm not being dismissive of your experiment, I'm just interested in knowing your thinking behind why old caps are better?
I didn't think it was bad on its own I haven't gotten to get one yet myself they won't be in America until like June it sucks I want to get everything they have put out lately I can't wait to see what else they come up with maybe a budget tape delay or ADA type flanger and I don't think they have a rat clone yet
I bought a demo! When it's in mod position there I'd no scratchy sound in the attack nob. But when in normal mode , there's a scratchy in the attack pot! Do you think it is in the pot or the toggle between normal and mod? Please help! I figured you my have on answer! I enjoyed your video and thought you may have some advice? Thank you!!!
Interesting mod. Basically, what you did was to exchange high quality PTPE capacitors for a mix of old, leaky capacitors. And you added the inductance and capacitance of the wires connecting the tag board. (You should have compared the leakage current of old and new capacitors.)
I'm always amazed at the tonal differences you achieve with such an unorthodox style. Bravo!
Haters lament
The ones to the right!! "Dumble style .."? I like them!
Nice video. There isnt really anything wrong with the pin construction. ITs just a switch. Many pedal companies now are using push fit multi-stacked PCBS with similar connectors which stand up to world touring (example, Chase Bliss). Behringers stuff is also also screwed down, so likely actually more robust.
Did you trace the schematic ? , is it a mk1 , mk1,5 mk 2 ? The best mod would be to make it a pure mk1.5 and the switch goes to mk2
Great video! Thanks!
Man you really f'd this think up! It sounded fine to begin with!
You should have played live into it since it sounds totally different that way. Tone benders and fuzz faces sounded better being first in the chain due to their loading on the pickup. Using the loop pedal is like have a guitar going into a buffer then into the fuzz and it changes the tone of the pedal a lot.
I know film/foil caps sound better (quieter too) I replace caps in the Boss DS-1, improves sound.
I just want to modify the MOD switch on mine.
Yes, spotted the mother mary strap! they're such gorgeous straps
How m7ch for the pedal? I would like buy it.
G'day Joe,
You should know better than to let yourself be torpedoed by anything that sails out of the Royal Aust Naval yards…. LOL I don't know exaclty what they do to the fleet, but I have a lot of time for them.
Anyhow, thanks for a great video. I'm going get the latest vintage Behringer pedals soon, and it's good to see them on the inside. I'll remember not to mod them.
Catch ya
Andrew
Really cool mod project Joe, need to get my hands on one of these, we've got the CE-1 clone on pre-order for pedalboards of doom so looking forward to checking that out too.
Rip the whole modern PCB out and replace with a vintage PCB populated with vintage components.
Cool pedal!
Fun fact: the gray houses you see around San Francisco was the old gray paint used on Battleships after they were decommissioned and the surplus paint needed to be removed.????????✨
I always figured the combination of smd and through hole had to do with what music tribe is actively producing component-wise in behringer’s case.
They’re also big on bringing music to the world, keeping the electrolytics through hole certainly guarantees a longer period of easy maintenance abroad.
Maybe related, I reached out to wampler about their apparent combo of through hole and smd, iirc they were kind enough to explain it has to do with noise floor.
So SMD transistors matters less than polyester capacitors? Jheeheueueeueheue
I promise I wasn’t criticizing you using the tropical fish caps I’m just very new to this and was confused. I appreciate these videos very much, I’ve learned a lot already. You’re a great teacher! Also I’d love a video on the SF300, I play that pedal to death almost daily lol.
Close enough for rock'n'roll. To my ears the vintage caps leave it much less scratchy sounding. Fab.
Brown knobs please
Before: It should sound better.
After (once all the wiring, the switch and the pad were sorted (!)): MUCH BETTER!
Neve knobs!
I have a FUZZBENDER on order for the housing. Years ago, I built a tonebender MK1.5 circuit with period components and germanium transistors and bought a replica folded steel housing for it, but the thing is huge. I like how the Behringer Fuzzbender sounded stock, and with your military experience perhaps another tack would be to '"ruggedize" the thing to make it bullet-proof. What would a mil-spec FUZZBENDER look-like under the hood?
The vintage hi-fi knobs are the one, the dumble ones are a close second. Great vid and always gent, what a faff you had to endure to get there ????
I like the chicken head knobs…. but in a different color. Perhaps color matching a predominant color from the decal…
Working in waste I will say there is merit using old components. We throw soooo much usable stuff into WEEE waste.
Knobs: the burgundy ones looked best…but they always do.
Sounds: your changes make it sound a bit fatter.
Other pedals: the Memory Lane pedal does sound amazing and you're right, I do want one.
Killer build Joe, another great video.
I love the paper n oil caps in my humbucker guitar. Some ppl may say it makes no difference and to them I say spend time training your ears/test your ears to find out what frequencies you have left in your hearing due to noise damage over the years.
I tried the soviet silver mica in a strat and def brighter than the standard cap that came with it with similar readings on the meter. I didn't like the extra presence, so I changed material.
I find the more complicated a circuit is the harder it is to hear differences.
You should def continue to play your guitar more in the sound clips????. Sounds great to me, I can hear how it responds to your guitar better.
The Memory Lane pedal sounds awesome.