In a bold move for vintage tone enthusiasts, effects pedal giant Electro-Harmonix (EHX) has unveiled its latest creation: the Bender Royale Germanium Fuzz. This new pedal pays homage to the legendary 3-transistor fuzz circuit, elevating the classic design with a suite of modern features for today’s guitarist and bassist.
Bender Royale Germanium Fuzz
The Bender Royale is not just a clone; it’s an evolution. While retaining the core sound of the revered vintage germanium fuzz, EHX has packed the pedal with an arsenal of tonal controls, transforming it from a one-trick pony into a versatile fuzz machine. Whether you crave the “trashy, ripping fuzz” of early rock and roll or “big, fat saturated tones” for modern leads, the Bender Royale promises to deliver.
Classic Feel, Modern Control
At its heart, the Bender Royale features the essential three-knob layout of the original circuit:
- VOL: Controls the overall output volume.
- FUZZ: Adjusts the input gain for everything from a light rasp to full-on saturation.
- BASS: A passive bass control that allows you to dial in your low-end, from a thick, wooly warmth to a tight, focused response.
Beyond these classic controls, EHX has added an array of powerful new features:
- FAT Switch: A massive bass and low-mids boost that thickens your tone, perfect for adding girth to rhythm parts or lead solos.
- CLIP Switch: Changes the clipping structure of the final transistor stage. Flipping the diode from germanium (Ge) to LED creates a rougher, more aggressive sound.
- BIAS Knob: Adjusts the voltage of the circuit, allowing you to go from smooth and creamy fuzz to gated, sputtery, and even broken-sounding tones.
- TREBLE Knob: An active treble shelving filter that helps tame harsh high frequencies.
- BLEND Knob: Mixes a clean signal back into your sound. This is an essential feature for bass players who want to maintain low-end clarity or guitarists using other dirt pedals.
Built for the Stage and Studio
The Bender Royale also introduces a modern, player-friendly bypass system. The soft footswitch offers mechanical true bypass and provides both latching and momentary action.
A quick tap engages the effect in standard latching mode, while holding the switch for more than half a second activates momentary mode, ideal for quick bursts of fuzz during a performance.
The pedal comes equipped with a 9-volt battery and also accepts a standard EHX 9-volt power supply. The Electro-Harmonix Bender Royale is available now, setting a new standard for versatile germanium fuzz pedals.
MSRP – $149/£149.99
Available at Sweetwater in Black and limited-run Orange finishes.
Available at Andertons in Black
Available at Thomann in Black and limited-run Orange finishes
More Information
#Electro-Harmonix #Bender Royale #fuzz pedal
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