This is a very high quality Vox Tone Bender replica that has all the splendid raspy fuzz tones of the original but with a few modern touches that make a lower noise and more flexible unit. The "1966" is a replica of the Vox Tone Bender that was produced between 1966-68 and featured the grey hammerite casing with the large logo black face plate. Originally made in 1966 the Vox Tone Bender had the longest run of any of all and was still being made in some form or another in the mid to late 1970's. While this pedal was branded as a Vox is was made in Italy. It could have been possible that the earliest units were made in England, as with the early Vox Wah pedals, but there is no direct proof for this. The very first Vox Tone Benders did have slightly different component values but most obvious of all had an OC76 transistor in the second position within the circuit. These early Vox units were fitted with a SFT337 and an OC76 and also had the input capacitor mounted beneath the circuit board. Models from approx 1967 still used the SFT337 but in place of the OC76 used a SFT363E and featured a top mounted input capacitor. The tone produced by this circuit can be a little shocking at first if you are expecting a deep brick wall type of fuzz tone. The treble content is quite high for a fuzz pedal but makes for a very unique sounding effect and an excellent pedal to be used with dark sounding British valve amplifiers. The D*A*M "1966" is fitted with either an AC125 or OC75 in the first stage which ensures lower noise levels and a OC76 in the second stage to guarantee that genuine Vox style fuzz tone. Very special gain selected pairs are used to produce a very wide dynamic response with creamy organic overtones with a strong output level. The 1966 is a excellent device for melodic playing styles and is perfect match for a Beatles style fuzztone. Housed in a high grade hammerite finished enclosure it has a real "retro" feel that goes hand in hand with the juicy fuzz tones that ooze out of this pedal. Original Vox Tone Benders can sound fantastic but due to the rigours of age some old timers can sound pretty bad and don't produce a pleasing tone at all. As the Vox Tone Bender is now a collector's item it is not uncommon to pay upwards of £400+ for an original. The D*A*M "1966" features... 1. High quality gain selected pair of germanium transistors that are correctly set up to produce a bold clear dynamic tone with a good amount of sustain. An OC76 is always used in the second position. The transistor in the first position will vary depending on stock levels usually an AC125, OC75 or SFT 353 will be used. 2. High grade parts including Ero Vishay metallised polyester film capacitors and isolated Cliff jack sockets all of which help to reduce noise within the circuit. 3. A heavy duty cast aluminium enclosure with an easy access slide out battery drawer and low noise circuitry featuring internal shielding the 1966 has an excellent noise floor for such a high gain distortion device. 4. A unique two position rotary tone switch for numerous flavours of fuzz and tone control, from the original "wasp in a jam jar" tone to a bolder and more full bodied "Super Bee" fuzz tone 5. A reasonable price tag so you don't have to sell your body parts to science to afford one! THE CONTROLS "Level" sets the output volume and volume it has, this thing can get loud in the Super Bee switch mode! "Attack" controls the amount of fuzz and sustain from 60's style fuzz to full on screaming filth. "66" mode, with this switch setting the 1966 is running exactly like the original Vox Tone Bender. The output level will be quite low and there will be little bass response. For huge amounts of sustain use into an overdriven amplifier or place a Tube Screamer type overdrive on the output of the 1966. "Super Bee" with this switch setting the circuitry is running into a larger output capacitor. This gives the '66 a full range bass response, more sustain and a massive output level. If you want the 60's fuzzy rasp but with more volume just run the '66 in "Super Bee" mode but with the level control backed of some. For the best results use Zinc batteries.