The Electro-Harmonix Bender Royale is a vintage-inspired germanium fuzz that delivers everything from thick, saturated sustain to ripping, gated chaos. Based around the classic 3-transistor fuzz design, it captures the raw, aggressive character players love while adding modern controls that greatly expand its range. The Bias and Clip controls make it easy to move from smooth and wooly tones into sputtery, broken-speaker-style textures, while the Blend control helps retain clarity and attack when needed. Wild, dynamic, and packed with personality, the Bender Royale feels equally at home delivering huge vintage fuzz tones or completely unruly sonic destruction.

The history of the 3-transistor fuzz is storied and colorful with many makers and iterations. EHX submits its chapter in the story as the Bender Royale fuzz! A take on the Mkiii version of the vintage germanium-based circuit, the Bender Royale takes the splendidly saturated sound of the original and opens up a world of fuzz tones from thick and smooth, to brash and sputtery. If you’re into trashy, ripping fuzz or big, fat saturated tones, the Bender Royale will get you there.

The original 3-knob control set can be found in the VOL, FUZZ, and BASS knobs. VOL controls output, FUZZ adjusts the input gain, and BASS acts as a passive bass frequency going from full wool to a tightened bass response. With these controls, you already have a massively versatile pedal great for huge rhythm tones and ripping leads.

Leading the outfit of the modern upgrades is the massive FAT switch which adds a massive bass and low-mids boost to your tone providing the perfect thickening agent tonal stew. The CLIP switch changes the clipping structure of the final germanium transistor stage. Switching the transistor’s biasing diode from Ge to LED makes for a rougher and rowdier edge to the tone which really accentuates the unpolished vibe of earlier fuzz pedals. The Bias control takes the fuzz from smooth to sputtery, adjusting the overall voltage of the circuit with the ability to create those addicting gated, rippy tones that tickle your fuzz bone. The TREBLE is an active treble shelving filter used to rein in high frequencies. Employ the BLEND knob to mix clean signal back into your sound to retain attack and clarity when using with other dirt sources, or keep your low-end clean and clear when bending your bass tone.

The Bender Royale features mechanical true bypass switching with a soft footswitch that employs latching and momentary action. Click the footswitch for standard latching action or hold the footswitch for more than half a second and the footswitch acts momentarily and will switch back upon release, useful for a quick burst of fuzz or clean. The pedal comes equipped with a standard EHX 9 Volt power supply.

EHX feature-rich homage to the Tone Bender Mkiii

Modern controls for expanded tonal possibilities

FAT switch adds bass and low-mids boost

CLIP switch rebiases clipping structure from Ge (smoother) to LED (rougher)

BIAS controls adjust circuit voltage to achieve gated, ripping tones

BLEND mixes dry signal back into tone

TREBLE is an active treble shelving EQ for taming highs

VOL, BASS, and FUZZ adjust volume, bass frequencies, and input gain

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