The Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII is a Sola Sound fuzz pedal, currently around $244.69. Close alternatives include the JHS Legends of Fuzz Bender 1973 London Fuzz and the Dunlop JHM S1. It pairs well with the Peavey Invective 120 and the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head.
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound · pedal
The Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII is a legendary three-transistor germanium fuzz introduced in 1966, adding an extra gain stage in front of the earlier two-transistor design to produce a complex, harmonically rich tone with saturated, soaring gain. Using germanium transistors, typically OC75 or OC81D, and a simple Level and Attack control layout, it delivers a warm, gritty fuzz with a throaty midrange that sits between a Fuzz Face and a brighter fuzz, equally effective for fuzzy leads, rhythmic power-chord passages, and textural feedback and resonance. It achieved immortal status through Jimmy Page, who used it with the Yardbirds and on Led Zeppelin's debut, shaping the sound of heavy rock on tracks like Dazed and Confused and How Many More Times. It suits classic rock, blues rock, and psychedelic players chasing aggressive yet articulate vintage British fuzz.
What stands out
“The Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII is a legendary three-transistor germanium fuzz introduced in 1966, adding an extra gain stage in front of the earlier two-transistor design to produce a complex, harmonically rich tone with saturated, soaring…”
— from the listing
“Like other germanium fuzzes it is dynamic and cleans up with guitar volume and prefers first position in the chain”
— from the community notes
“It is forever tied to Jimmy Page, who used it with the Yardbirds and on the first Led Zeppelin album for tracks like Dazed and Confused, and players use it for aggressive yet articulate leads, thick power-chord rhythm, and textural feedback”
— from the community notes
“It suits classic rock, blues rock, and psychedelic players chasing aggressive yet articulate vintage British fuzz”
— from the listing
“A landmark British germanium fuzz whose three-transistor design adds a front gain stage for a complex, harmonically rich tone with saturated, soaring sustain and a distinctive throaty midrange”
— from the reviews
- gain
- germanium
- aggressive
- lead
- articulate
- throaty
- transistor
- british
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Psychedelic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Peavey Invective 120
Peavey
34% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head
Mesa Boogie
27% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Vibrolux 6G11
amplifier
26% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Vibrolux's warm, vintage breakup gives the Tone Bender's articulate, throaty germanium fuzz a classic Fender amp voice.
Comes later in the signal chain
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
25% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this high headroom tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Bad Cat Hot Cat 45-Watt
Bad Cat
23% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 100
Ceriatone
21% matchInto a transparent tone, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Trem-o-Verb
Mesa Boogie
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Amplified Nation Wonderland Overdrive 100W Combo
Amplified Nation
20% matchInto a transparent tone, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
See all 26 amps that pair with the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII →
Pedals that stack with the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition
Walrus Audio
29% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Put Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Ages
Walrus Audio
29% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Walrus Audio Ages layers clean boost onto an already fuzzy signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3
Jam Pedals
29% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Retrovibe's uni-vibe-style swirl follows the Tone Bender's throaty germanium fuzz naturally — that psychedelic pairing is basically a genre unto itself.
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal
Boss
26% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Cranker Distortion Enhancement Device
EarthQuaker Devices
22% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Rainger FX Minibar Liquid Analyser
Rainger Fx
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maxon BD10 Bass Driver
Maxon
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)
Into a low gain tone, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Crazy Tube Circuits Clean Little Secret
Crazy Tube Circuits
20% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 46 pedals that pair with the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII →
Cheaper alternatives
Orange Coat Fuzz
Orange
64% similarityShared character: hard rock, fuzz, vintage charm
Orange Fur Coat
Orange
63% similarityShared character: hard rock, rich, fuzz
Matthews Effects The Whaler
Matthews Effects
61% similarityShared character: hard rock, rich, fuzz
Zvex Mastotron
Zvex
59% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, rich, thickness
Tru-Fi Two Face
Tru Fi
59% similarityShared character: thickness, simple, fuzz
Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Germanium
Dunlop
58% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, sensitivity, fuzz
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
JHS Legends of Fuzz Bender 1973 London Fuzz
JHS Pedals
62% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, sensitivity, thickness
Dunlop JHM S1
Dunlop
62% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, fuzz, aggressive playing
JAM Pedals Fuzz Phrase
Jam Pedals
61% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, fuzz, vintage charm
Dunlop Joe Bonamassa Fuzz Face JB-F3 Copper Top
Dunlop
60% similarityShared character: attack, fuzz, vintage charm
JHS Fuzz Mary-K
JHS Pedals
60% similarityShared character: sensitivity, vintage charm, classic rock
JHS Pedals JHS 1966 Italy Tone Bender
JHS Pedals
59% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, sensitivity, aggressive playing
See all alternatives to the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII?+
The closest matches in character are the JHS Legends of Fuzz Bender 1973 London Fuzz, the Dunlop JHM S1, the JAM Pedals Fuzz Phrase. Budget picks: Orange Coat Fuzz, Orange Fur Coat, Matthews Effects The Whaler.
What pairs well with the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey Invective 120, Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head, Fender Vibrolux 6G11 — Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII cost?+
Around $244.69 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).