Phobos

Aion FX from Des Moines, IA has helped guitarists build studio-quality effects since 2011. Their germanium fuzz boards include comprehensive biasing guidance for temperature-sensitive circuits.

The Phobos recreates the Tone Bender Mk III from Colorsound/Sola Sound (late 1960s). This circuit descended from the Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround but represents a completely different topology than earlier Tone Benders, featuring a distinctive Darlington-pair transistor configuration driving a third transistor, plus a tone control section absent from earlier versions.

The Mk III delivered fatter, more saturated tones than the Mk II while adding tonal flexibility. Its unique transistor arrangement created different harmonic characteristics than Fuzz Face or earlier Tone Bender designs. The Aion PCB makes this rare germanium variant accessible with detailed component selection and biasing instructions.