WarmBender - Guitar Warm Audio - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Fuzz pedal for electric guitar
Brand	Warm Audio
Model	WarmBender
Dimensions	15.2 x 5.7 x 8.9 cm
Weight	0.68 kg
Power Supply	9V battery or 9V center-negative AC adapter (6 mA)
Current Consumption	6 mA (9V)
Selectable Fuzz Circuits	NOS 76 (2 germanium transistors), NOS 75 (3 germanium transistors), Silicon (3 silicon transistors)
Controls	Attack, Level, Version (3-way selector), SAG (switch)
Switching	True bypass
Construction	100% through-hole, discrete components
Connectors	Input and output 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) jacks
Housing Material	Metal with hammered powder coating
Care and Maintenance	Clean with a dry, soft cloth. Avoid moisture and solvents.
Safety	Use only regulated 9V AC adapters. Do not expose to water or extreme temperatures.
Spare Parts and Repairability	No user-serviceable parts. Repair by authorized service center.
Warranty	1 year for the first registered buyer (non-transferable)
General Information	Faithful reproduction of two legendary Tone Bender-style fuzz sounds with a bonus modern circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions - WarmBender Warm Audio

What are the three available circuits on the WarmBender?

The WarmBender offers three selectable fuzz circuits: NOS 76 (2 germanium transistors, aggressive and cutting sound), NOS 75 (3 germanium transistors, warm and wooly sound), and Silicon (3 silicon transistors, smoother sustain and compression).

What is the difference between germanium and silicon transistors?

Germanium transistors (NOS 76 and 75) offer a vintage, dynamic, touch-sensitive sound with round lows and soft highs. Silicon transistors produce longer sustain, more uniform compression, and a more modern sound, closer to distortion.

What does the SAG switch do?

The SAG switch reduces the supply voltage from 9V to 6V, recreating the 'sag' effect of vintage pedals with dying batteries. This increases touch sensitivity and compression, especially when the guitar volume is turned down.

What is the best order to place the WarmBender in the effects chain?

Place the WarmBender at the beginning of the chain, ideally directly after the guitar. Avoid placing buffered pedals before the fuzz, as they alter impedance and reduce volume sensitivity. Pedals after the fuzz are acceptable.

Can the WarmBender be powered by a battery or adapter?

Yes, it can be powered by a 9V battery or a regulated 9V AC adapter (center-negative) consuming 6 mA. Both options are compatible.

Is the WarmBender true bypass?

Yes, the pedal features True Bypass switching, meaning your guitar signal passes directly without alteration when the effect is off.

How do I maintain the WarmBender?

Clean the enclosure with a dry, soft cloth. Avoid moisture, excessive dust, and extreme temperatures. Do not use chemical or abrasive products.

What is the warranty of the WarmBender?

Warm Audio offers a one-year warranty from the date of purchase for the first registered buyer. It covers defects in materials and workmanship, but not damage due to misuse or unauthorized modifications.

Can I use a different power cable?

Use only a regulated 9V AC adapter with center-negative polarity. Incorrect voltage or polarity may damage the pedal.

Is the WarmBender compatible with single-coil and humbucker guitars?

Yes, it works with all pickup types. Guitar volume adjustments allow controlling touch sensitivity, especially in NOS 76 or NOS 75 modes which are responsive to impedance variations.

USER MANUAL WarmBender Warm Audio

Thank you for purchasing the Warm Audio Warm Bender. We feel this product delivers an accurate recreation in terms of sound, function, and vibe of a legendary pedal. We don't cut corners when it comes to what goes into our products, and Warm Bender is no exception.

Bryce Young

President

Warm Audio

Austin, Texas USA

REGISTER YOUR WARM BENDER!

Before we begin, please take the time to visit www.warmaudio.com to register your product. To ensure you receive proper and uninterrupted warranty support for your product, please register your unit within 14 days from purchase.

NOW LETS GET STARTED!

INTRODUCTION

The Warm Audio Warm Bender features dedicated, selectable circuits that accurately deliver two of the most iconic Tone Bender fuzz tones in one stomp box. Choose between an NOS 76 setting for cutting, present tone and an NOS 75 setting for Mark II Professional-style Bender fuzz tone, plus a bonus silicon 3-transistor topology circuit for a more modern take on this legendary flavor of fuzz. With the added SAG control starving the voltage and the smaller pedal footprint, Warm Bender is the ultimate Bender fuzz experience.

BASIC PEDAL LAYOUT & CONTROLS

1. ATTACK

The ATTACK control determines the level of distortion/sustain of the fuzz. Moving the knob clockwise will INCREASE the amount of fuzz applied to the signal.

2. LEVEL

The LEVEL control adjusts the output volume of the pedal. It increases the overall loudness of the effect when moving the control clockwise.

3. VERSION SELECT

The rotary knob labeled VERSION will select between the three distinct fuzz pedal circuits inside Warm Bender

a. Setting 1 - NOS 76: This setting is a two-transistor, Tone Bender fuzz circuit featuring an NOS OC76 Germanium transistor paired with an NOS SFT337 Germanium transistor. Like the original silver and black Tone Bender style of fuzz, the NOS 76 setting on Warm Bender delivers aggressive fuzz with raw grit and sharp attack.
b. Setting 2 - NOS 75: This setting is a three-transistor Tone Bender fuzz circuit featuring 3X NOS OC75 Germanium transistors. The NOS 75 setting on Warm Bender boasts thunderous bass with smooth, wooly, and fat fuzz tones. Like the vintage 3-transistor, Professional MKII Tone Bender fuzz pedals, the NOS 75 setting on Warm Bender reveals a saturated, round, "darker" sound reminiscent of the most riff-worthy British-made fuzz tones.
c. Setting 3 - SILICON: This setting is a three-transistor Tone-Bender topology fuzz circuit using silicon transistors in place of Germanium transistors. This setting sounds like a cross between traditional Tone Bender fuzz and more modern distortion-like tone known for smoother sustain, compression, and more control.

4. SAG

The top-mounted SAG switch on Warm Bender recreates a special and unique sound lauded by fans of Tone Bender and vintage Germanium fuzz pedals. When these vintage pedals would lose power due to dying batteries or poor power performance, an added "Sag" was noticed as playing intensity would fluctuate. This change in sound based on the player's actions amplified (pun intended) the touch-sensitivity of the pedals, giving artists more ways to express themselves. This can also be even more present when the player rolls the volume off just a bit. The voltage starves the 9V power supply to 6V.

Close-up of a metallic audio amplifier with three knobs and control buttons (no visible text or symbols)

A NOTE ON VINTAGE-STYLE GERMANIUM FUZZ PEDALS

Vintage-style Germanium fuzz circuit designs were built to simply sit between a guitar and a tube amplifier. One of the key features of these fuzz circuit designs is the ability to roll the guitar volume off for added touch sensitivity. Depending on pedal settings and guitar pickup construction, this can almost sound like a tweed tube amp at the edge of breakup.

Where things get funky is determining pedal order in the signal chain. Adding buffered pedals IN FRONT of old school Germanium fuzz pedals is a big "no no." The impedance mismatch from the buffered pedal's output into the fuzz pedals input will essentially remove the touch-sensitivity expected between the guitar pedals volume knob and the fuzz pedal.

Most players and gearheads even recommend foregoing all pedals, even true bypass, in front of the fuzz. Adding pedals after these fuzz circuits is totally OK and yields awesome results.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Selectable Three-Circuit, NOS Transistor Tone Bender-Style Fuzz Pedal
  • Accurately Recreating Two Of The Most Iconic Tone Bender Fuzz Pedals + A Bonus Modern Circuit
  • Premium Components, Including All-NOS Germanium transistors: (1X) OC76, (1X) SFT337, & (3X) OC75.
  • Controls: Level, Attack, Version, SAG
  • 100% Through-Hole Construction
  • True-Bypass Switching
  • 9-Volt Battery Or External 9V Regulated DC Adapter (center-negative)
  • Current Draw: 6 mA (9V)
• Custom Enclosure With A Durable Hammered Metal Powder Coat Finish
  • 1/4" Input And Output Jacks
  • Dimensions: 6" x 2.25" x 3.5"
• Weight: 1.5lbs

WARRANTY STATEMENT

Warm Audio warranties this product to be free from defect in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase, for the original purchaser to whom this equipment is registered. This warranty is non-transferrable.

This warranty is void in the event of damage incurred from unauthorized service to this unit, or from electrical or mechanical modification to this unit. This warranty does not cover damage resulting from abuse, accidental damage, misuse, improper electrical conditions such as mis-wiring, incorrect voltage or frequency, unstable power, disconnection from earth ground (for products requiring a 3 pin, grounded power cable), or from exposure to hostile environmental conditions such as moisture, humidity, smoke, fire, sand or other debris, and extreme temperatures.

Warm Audio will, at its sole discretion, repair or replace this product in a timely manner. This limited warranty extends only to products determined to be defective and does not cover incidental costs such as equipment rental, loss of revenue, etc. Please visit us at www.warmaudio.com for more information on your warranty, or to request warranty service.

This warranty applies to products sold in the United States of America. For warranty information in any other country, please refer to your local Warm Audio distributor. This warranty provides specific legal rights, which may vary from state to state. Depending on the state in which you live, you may have rights in addition to those covered in this statement. Please refer to your state laws or see your local Warm Audio retailer for more information.

NON-WARRANTY SERVICE

If you have a defective unit that is outside of our warranty period or conditions; we are still here for you and can get your unit working again for a modest service fee. Please visit us at www.warmaudio.com to contact us about setting up a repair or for more information.

With proper care, your Warm Audio gear should last a lifetime and provide a lifetime of enjoyment. We believe the best advertisement we can have is a properly working unit being put to great use. Let's work together to make it happen.

FRANÇAIS

MERCI!

Close-up of a metallic audio amplifier with three knobs and labeled buttons (INPUT, SAG, OUTPUT), no readable text beyond labels.

UNE NOTE SUR LES PÉDALES FUZZ AU GERMANIUM DE STYLE VINTAGE

Close-up of a metallic audio amplifier with three knobs and labeled buttons (INPUT, SAG, OUTPUT), no readable text beyond labels.

Close-up of a metallic audio amplifier with three knobs and labeled buttons (INPUT, SAG, OUTPUT), no readable text beyond labels.

EINE ANMERKUNG ZU GERMANIUM-FUZZ-PEDALEN IM VINTAGE-STIL

Close-up of a metallic audio mixer with three knobs and control buttons (no visible text or symbols)

关于老式锗法兹效果器的说明

Close-up of a metallic audio amplifier with three knobs and labeled buttons (INPUT, SAG, OUTPUT), no readable text beyond labels.

© 2023 Warm Audio™ LLC.

Austin, Texas USA | www.warmaudio.com