Electro-Harmonix Bender Royale Germanium Fuzz
Expanded Fuzz Tones for the modern player
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Electro-Harmonix has officially launched its newest creation, the Bender Royale Germanium Fuzz pedal. The pedal pays homage to the iconic 3-transistor fuzz circuits of yesteryear while integrating a suite of modern features designed for today’s musician. It’s an evolution, not just a simple clone.
Bender Royale Germanium Fuzz
Staying true to the core sound of the original circuit, the Bender Royale is far more than a simple fuzz pedal clone. The graphics suggest it’s based on the Tone Bender (I’m surprised they copied that logo so closely, as that could be expensive from a legal perspective, lol).
Electro-Harmonix has transformed this classic pedal into a versatile fuzz machine, capable of everything from the “ripping fuzz” of early rock and roll to “fat saturated tones” perfect for modern lead playing.
Expanded Controls
At its core, the Bender Royale features the classic three-knobs configuration, which will be familiar to fuzz aficionados of the original circuit: Vol, Fuzz, and Bass. These controls offer the foundational tools for shaping your sound, from output volume and gain to the overall low-end response.
Beyond this classic foundation, EHX has packed the pedal with a host of powerful and innovative new features that unlock a new level of control and creativity. This is where the fun starts.
A Bias knob gives players the ability to adjust the circuit’s voltage, creating everything from smooth, creamy fuzz to gated, sputtery, and even broken-sounding textures. The addition of a Treble knob provides an active treble shelving filter to help tame harsh high frequencies, ensuring your tone remains clear and articulate.
For bassists and guitarists who want to preserve their low-end clarity, a dedicated Blen knob mixes a clean signal back into the effect. I think this control will make this fuzz very versatile, especially for low frequencies from the bass guitar and baritone guitars.
A FAT switch provides a massive boost to the bass and low-mids, perfect for adding girth to rhythm parts or thick lead solos. The CLIP switch changes the clipping structure of the final transistor stage, allowing players to choose between the smooth, classic germanium (Ge) sound and a more aggressive, rougher tone via an LED.
Latching Modes
The Bender Royale also introduces a modern, player-friendly bypass system with a soft footswitch that offers both latching and momentary action.
A quick tap engages the effect in standard latching mode, while holding the switch for more than half a second activates momentary mode, ideal for quick bursts of fuzz during a performance.
The pedal runs on a standard 9-volt battery but also accepts a standard EHX 9-volt power supply. With its blend of vintage soul and modern innovation, the Electro-Harmonix Bender Royale is available now, setting a new standard for versatile germanium fuzz pedals. I think I may have to pick one of these up myself.
There is the standard black version and a limited-run orange version available from select dealers.
Price & Availability
Get the Electro-Harmonix Bender Royale Fuzz in orange or black for $147 / £132 / €149 at Thomann*.
More Information
This might also interest you
