BRIERLY TONE BENDER (MK1.5)

I call my MK1.5, BRIERLY, and each one is tuned against my original. Like my other fuzzes, don’t expect refinements. Brierly’s voice is rough, ragged, and full. You’ll get a little clean up, but not like you would with some Fuzz Faces. You won't find extra resistors, caps, or trim pots in a Brierly (unless part of a special request)—they’re harder to tune the old-fashioned way, but it’s important to me.

Please note that the MK1.5, MKII and Fuzz Face do not achieve loud output levels. They’ll get you above unity, but, if I cheat in extra output, proper bias is compromised, and the circuit will lose some of its special personality.

A Standard Series build will feature enclosure, color, parts selection, and circuit construction of my choice.

Brierly is available in Standard, Focus, and Old Pal construction.

*All units come in a Hammond enclosure. Wedges are available as a separate product when available.

NOTE: Orders currently take ~6-8 weeks to fulfill. Thanks for your understanding!

A TONE BENDER (MK1.5) HISTORY

Referred to as the MK1.5 by modern collectors, this two-transistor fuzz supplanted the MKI (though they may have been made concurrently for a short time). This effect was simply called Tone Bender, but a collector named Dennis called his an MK1.5 on Dave Main’s forum, and the name stuck (Dennis’ vintage MK1.5 is now in my possession).

The MK1.5 probably preceded the nearly identical Arbiter Fuzz Face by a few months. In contrast to the MKI, the parts schedule in these units was consistent: Piher resistors, Wima capacitors, and a complement of Mullard-branded OC75 transistors (though a unit with factory Impex transistors exists). Some units have 500k (instead of 100k) output pots. MK1.5 were also installed into high-quality, sand-cast enclosures. With this line, Sola Sound established a consistent product.

Vintage MK1.5 generate a ragged, full-frequency fuzz effect, and don’t really clean up with the guitar volume control. They gate just enough to inhibit some noise, and, like its forebears, the gating creates unpredictable artifacts in note decay.

Check out The Beatles Revolver album for examples of what was probably the MK1.5

Brierly is built to order. Please allow ~6-8 weeks for me to get it built. Thanks!