High Quality Near Equivalent Alternatives to the Boss TB-2W Tone Bender MKII Waza Craft Fuzz

Controls : Gain, Bias, Fuzz.

Transistors : 3 x OC72 Germanium

I've been following Andrew at Arcane Analog for a while - but have still to start adding his fuzzes to the reference collection. I can only do so much at any given time, but Arcane Analog pedals are undeniable impressive - in particular the recent 3 and 4-knob compact fuzzes which are entirely my scene. This is a great example of a classic MKII - with all the controls you need to get the most our of it.

Controls : Level, Tone, Fuzz (Gain), Bias, Fat (Low End).

Transistors : 4 x BC549B Silicon

John Lyons needs no introduction to readers of this site - as I've featured him several times already, and he is pipped only by Boss for the Brand which I have the most pedals from . I've recently acquired the Spooky Tooth - which brings my Basic Audio collection to 18. The Scarab Deluxe is a fantastic versatile Tone Bender style fuzz - using a quartet of Silicon Transistors, and with some very smart controls. This is really a multi- Tone Bender - while it mostly covers the MKII and MKIII styles.

Controls : Range (Tone/Pre-Gain/Oscillation), Bias, Sag, Fuzz, Expression, Level, Second Sag/Exp footswitch.

Transistors : 3 x 2N5088 Silicon

This is a pretty wild and unusual Tone Bender which leans towards the extreme - while you can dial it back nicely to a perfect MKII voicing. This pedal can really be driven hard into self-oscillation and can produce some weird and wonderful tones as well as more vintage inspired tones too. A really cool version of MKII for sure.

Controls : Filter, Gain, Volume, Input.

Transistors : 4 x 2N5088 Silicon

Here is another really cool circuit hybrid - which mixes up MKII sensibilities with Rat style crunch. Again you can easily tune it more towards vintage MKII style tones - while is produces some very distinct tones of its own. A great execution of a smart idea.

Controls : Volume, Gain, Mode : FF/VTB/3÷2/2/RM/RMFF.

Transistors : 3 x OC41 Germanium

This is another brand that my readers should be very familiar with - I first compared my original OC45 version to the newest CV7003 (OC44), and then added the current OC41 and compared them all together. The current OC41 delivers a splendid MKII voicing as I commented on in the interview. This is sort of the odd one out here - as strictly speaking it doesn't exactly have 3 controls in the same way as the Boss - as the 3rd one here is the different voicings - but it's still easily good enough to qualify!

Controls : Volume, Beam (Bias), Gain.

Transistors : 3 x OC41 Germanium

In many ways the Limelight is preferable to the Constellation as it deploys those same OC41 Germanium Transistors - but here has a 3rd 'Beam' actual Bias knob for really very broad tone control. You can get everything from the most wonderful germanium overdrive - all the way up to FZ-1 and MKI tones. Of course sounds great for MKII with a little more fine-tuning than the Constellation offers.

Controls : Attack, Bias, Hi-Cut, Impedance, Mode : MKII/MKI.V, Volume, Pickup Sim, Type : SC/Humbucker.

Transistors : MП20 + П416 + OC1074 All Germanium

When I first saw this I immediately though it was slightly reminiscent of the Ramble FX Twin Bender with slightly different controls. While they have entirely different Germanium Transistors onboard and where the tone controls look vaguely similar in some ways - both those pedals sound distinctly different - with the Taras Bulba (named after a Ukrainian folk hero) coming across slightly thicker and rawer - you can of course temper and tone that down however you like - but I really like this pedal run to its extremes - it sounds glorious!

Controls : Level, Attack, Buzz, Bias, Q3 : Si/Ge.

Transistors : 3 x OC75 Germanium +/ optional OC202 on Q3

Sof created a masterpiece when he made me this custom edition - which up until then was only available in BB-size enclosure. He was able to cram all that goodness - proper vintage specs OC75 Transistor MKII with a couple of extra features. A swappable Silicon OC202 on Q3 - with give you more attack and stridency. And the aptly named 'Buzz' switch produces a buzzier timbre and tonality by mis-biasing the transistor on Q2 as such. I mostly prefer it with the Buzz off, and the Q3 set to Silicon OC202!

Controls : Attack, Level, Bias.

Transistors : 3 x MП20 Germanium

This was a cool second hand find for me - I think I got all my early Hudson Electronics fuzzes off Reverb.com in one way or another. This is loaded with really rich and vibrant sounding Soviet transistors - not dissimilar to the ones used in the Spaceman Sputniks to such great effect. I'm usually not a fan of battery-only devices - because of their impact on the environment. While this is a relatively rare version with a 3rd Bias Control on the right-hand edge of the pedal. Again I don't particularly like knobs on the sides of my pedals - but this one really sounds great enough to overcome those reservations.

Controls : Cut (Highs), Bass : I/II/III, Input, Anger (Gain), Output.

Transistors : МП16Б + МП21A + AC125 All Germanium

This is not exactly a straight up MKII circuit clone as Enrico states that there is some Super Fuzz -inspired circuitry in their too to produce a much wider palette of tones. You can still dial it in very easily to produce the perfect MKII voicing - rich and with that endearing breakup character. This is for sure a really cool variation on this theme.

Controls : Level, Bias, Low, High, Attack.

Transistors : 2 x MП20 Germanium + 2 x 2N7000 Silicon

I'm a huge fan of Chris Livingstone's output and I have 7 of his pedals in he collection to-date - including the previous version of this Solar Bender. For my version the Bass control is a 3-way switch, while recently Chris has updated that to a fully variable mini knob. Not enough of a difference though to warrant an upgrade. This is unique here in having a hybrid Mix of equal numbers of Germanium and Silicon Transistors - combined with those 5 controls this delivers significantly more range and versatility than most, and at a significantly lower price point. Easily the most affordable and best value here - and it properly delivers on that vintage MKII texture too!

Controls : Level, Attack, Impede, Mode : MKII Pro/MK I.V, Tone : Mids/Stock/Fat, Bias.

Transistors : 3 x П402 Germanium

I've noted the superficial similarities in control topology between this and the Drunk Beaver Taras Bulba - that obviously takes some inspiration from the Twin Bender. While the circuit and core transistor are quite distinctly different and as mentioned - the Taras can go a little rawer and thicker if you need it. Both deliver excellent MKII voicings and are really smart and versatile varieties within this genre - obviously both priced identically too!

Controls : Level, Bass, Bias.

Transistors : 2 x TO106 + 1 x 2N3053 All Silicon

I have waxed lyrical about Markus Reeves' point-to-point-wired pedals several times on this site already, and have showcased my own exceptional BlackHatSound MKI voiced fuzz. Markus gets incredibly Germanium-like textures out of his specially selected and matched Silicon Transistors - the circuit construction and smart component curation delivers the most amazing results - with plenty of range on the volume and gain - like I really like it. Both the BlackHat and RedHat Sounds Fuzzes have the same topology of Volume, Bass Boost and Bias - where the gain is default set to max within the circuit - and you can temper that with your guitar volume knob! I will most certainly be ordering a RedHatSound too on the 28th, when Markus opens up his order book for just 24 hours - from 00:00 to 23:59 Hrs BST.

Controls : Fuzz, Tone, Volume, Bias.

Transistors : 2 x Tesla 106NU70 + K30 R-J04 All Germanium

I think this was the first fuzz range as such that I got properly stuck into - obviously showcased in last year's SGFX Compact Fuzz Overview. I particularly like the limited edition / custom shop Germanium limited editions as this one is - using premium East European Germanium Transistors to great effect - of course with 3 knobs including Bias, and a 3-way Tone Toggle switch - which mostly moves the mids around. This is a fitting end to the overview and this looks really gorgeous with its copper facia. Delivering still more exceptional and authentic MKII tones.