Hello Sailor Effects delivers unique High Fidelity Leia Rebel-Rebel take on the Vox Tone Bender - with primo vintage components onboard - including Sangamo Capacitors and Newmarket NKT CV7001 Transistors

So this is the pedal that completes my current snapshot Hello Sailor Effects Dirty Dozen. I long wanted a Leia Rebel-Rebel variant - and this one is absolutely perfect for me - the look is spot-on and those old-school Russian Muff knobs are a perfect match to the design. I would have quite liked an external Bias too - but it would totally ruin the look of the pedal - it’s perfectly balanced as is.

I love those over-sized green Sangamo Capacitors - those chunky caps always deliver a more mojo output and those Newmarket NKT CV7001 are MilSpec equivalent to the NKT275. So you really can’t get a better pedigree for a Vox Tone Bender - every facet and element is top top quality!

It’s a 9V Battery only unit - there is no power socket for a power-supply connection. Also there is no LED - which has caused me some confusion as it’s not visible as to whether the pedal is on or off. But wholly understandably from its mode of construction.

This is the only HSE pedal where I’ve felt the need to adjust the Bias - and I moved it up from circa 12 o’c to circa 2 o’c - as I like my Tone Benders full-on and a little wiry - while Joe is ever the classicist!

It’s a pretty distinct 2-Transistor voicing - and not really that reminiscent of Fuzz Face. There is q lot less low-end in this circuit - it’s very finely balanced and somewhat focused somehow. It’s certainly sufficiently distinct from my other 2-Transistor HSE Fuzzes - the Xenomorph and Hybrid Abbey Road Fuzz.

There’s just 2 external controls - Level and Fuzz, where I mostly have Level maxed out, and Fuzz at around 3 o’c - that’s where I get the best texture for my preferences. And as a 2 x Germanium Transistor circuit - it has excellent guitar volume gain cleanup too.

All-round a fantastic experience, and a great milestone for my Hello Sailor Effects Capsule Collection. 12 is a significant number - while it certainly doesn’t signify a slow-down in HSE acquisitions, perhaps I will take my foot off the accelerator a little when I get to 20 - while Joe still consistently brings out intriguing new pedals - so there’s no sign of a slow-down.

The Floral Companion Vox Bender to mine is still available for £300 on the Hello Sailor Effects Webstore, and there are 4 other mid-size Vox Benders with additional external Bias - which range from £230 - £250. So only one Mojo edition remaining!

This was one of two pedals I picked up at the recent Brighton Guitar Show - the full selection of 12 is as in the below imahge!

Possibly I have enough 2-Transistor fuzzes for now - but there are plenty of categories that could do with further additions!