The JMI Tone Bender MKIII is a modern recreation of one of the legendary fuzz pedals that helped define the sound of late-'60s rock. Faithful to the original 1968 design while presented in a modern enclosure, this MKIII delivers the raw, musical character Tone Bender fans are after, with a versatile tone control that gives you plenty of room to shape the sound.

This particular pedal is pristine, complete, and practically new in the box. It includes the original box, denim bag, certificate, stickers, and paperwork. It was purchased from Backstage Music GmbH in Winterthur, Switzerland, in 2018.

The MKIII is loaded with three OC75 germanium transistors, producing warm, responsive fuzz with plenty of character. Roll back your guitar's volume and it cleans up beautifully; open it up and you get everything from smooth, woolly saturation to a more focused, cutting fuzz.

The MKIII was a significant evolution from the earlier Tone Bender models. Introduced in 1968, it featured a different fuzz circuit and added a dedicated tone control, giving players a broader range of sounds and a tighter, more mid-focused character. The same basic circuit was also released under the Rotosound, VOX, and Park brands.

Features

• Three OC75 germanium transistors - a faithful reproduction of the original 1968 Tone Bender MKIII circuit
• Hand-wired circuitry
• True-bypass switching
• Volume, Fuzz, and Tone controls - broad EQ range and versatile tone control with warm, smooth, harmonically rich germanium fuzz
• Runs from a 9V battery — no power-supply input
• Includes original box, denim bag, certificate, stickers, and paperwork

Tone & Applications

Compared with the MKII's rich, creamy sustain and harmonically complex fuzz, the MKIII offers a somewhat smoother saturation and broader EQ range. It's equally at home with vintage-inspired guitar tones and more modern applications.

This is also a great pedal for players chasing the kind of fuzzy, blown-out bass textures associated with My Bloody Valentine, and it has been used by players including J Mascis. If you're a Tone Bender enthusiast, a collector of classic fuzz circuits, or simply looking for an exceptionally musical germanium fuzz, this MKIII is a special one.