Looking at some amps for fuzz…

unit11 · #1 08-18-2010, 09:09 PM

Equipment: The only bass equipment I really have is my bass, a Fender MIM Deluxe Active Jazz. Borrow pretty much everything else right now. On to my actual post:

Basically, I'm not sure what helps or hurts the tone for a fuzz bass. The sound my band is shooting for is a kind of low-fi garage-punk rock sound. Mild distortion on vocals, heavy growl and distortion on guitars (rhythm and lead respectively, for the most part), and a thick fuzzy bass.

I've been listening around and think that the tone I want is somewhat middy - from what I've read around, fuzz on bass tends to eliminate lows anyhow, so I suspect that is what I'm hearing.

I just went to Guitar Center today and didn't play anything with pedals yet, just played around on some amps - here are the two amps I liked so far:

1. Mesa Boogie M6 Carbine (through an Ampeg cab, don't remember what sort) - Awesome tone, very tight, versatile enough for me to get all the sounds I want out of it clean easily with some twisting on the bass's active controls.
2. Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout (1x12) - Very nice, definitely a warmer character as has been noted around. Not quite what I like as much, but it seemed pretty versatile and I will be giving it another go soon.

(3. Also, enjoyed a GK 1001RB-II though a GK cab, but it didn't feel very versatile with the small amount of time I played with it. Kind of think I should have spent more time with it, kept going back to the Mesa Boogies…

)

I also played a Acoustic B200H through an Acoustic 8x10 cab, which sounded pretty good, but I couldn't quite dial it where I wanted, and some Ampeg 700W combo that I wasn't too impressed with - it was nice just not what I was looking for.

ALL THAT SAID - I haven't played any pedals into anything yet. I've heard that the darker amps do better with fuzz because of the fuzz's tendency to kill the lows.

Other amp I'm interested in a lot is the Orange Terror Bass - video clips sound very nice and it's gain seems to pick up a nice fuzz on its own so hopefully it will work nice with a pedal (so I can switch the fuzz on an off, obviously

). Problem there is that locally I never get a chance to play Orange, ever. I bought my Tiny Terror for guitar and it ended my immediate quest for guitar tones, though, so I'm hopefully for a nice complement from the bass…

Short version: I was a reasonably versatile amp that takes well to fuzz, I like a tighter bass sound dry but also want a good thick fuzz tone that won't become a fizz tone. I don't know where to go exactly because I don't know bass amps and I have no idea what pedals to try yet either!

Any help/comments/discussion is very appreciated!

JimmyM · #2 08-19-2010, 01:03 AM

for fuzz, tube amps and no tweeters are the usual config. however, i think as long as you don't have a tweeter on in your cab, fuzz will sound good even with a ss amp.

heath_r_91 · #3 08-19-2010, 07:42 AM

When you start cranking the gain on an Orange AD200 you can get it VERY fuzzy.

If you want to go the cheaper pedal route I would recommend the EHX Bass Big Muff.

tombowlus · #4 08-19-2010, 07:45 AM

From what you are describing as your tone goals, you really need to audition an Orange Terror Bass (500 or 1,000 watts). The Ampeg SVT-7Pro might also float your boat. That Walkabout can dial in some killer overdriven tones, as well. Did you try it with any other cabs, or just the internal combo? GK-wise, you'd want to try the Fusion 550 (or MB Fusion, once it becomes available).

livinglow · #5 08-19-2010, 07:50 AM

I have an all tube Peavey Alphabass head and with the pre cranked it gets real fuzzy. The Alphabass is about the cheepest/best value tube bass head I have found also.

tombowlus · #6 08-19-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livinglow

I have an all tube Peavey Alphabass head and with the pre cranked it gets real fuzzy. The Alphabass is about the cheepest/best value tube bass head I have found also.

Yup, that would do it!

sirpug · #7 08-19-2010, 08:02 AM

I searched for a similar sound for my band and went through hundreds of $$$ on pedals (BBM, BM, VT Bass, Bassmaster, English Muff'n) before I just spent the cash on a Peavey VB-2. That was what I was missing. The only pedal I kept around was the English Muff'n for an overdrive. I run it through an Ampeg 810 with the clean channel gain turned to about 6 and all I get are compliments from friends and fans. Check out the VB-2!!

rhopper · #8 08-19-2010, 08:06 AM

The Orange amps and cabinets really nail what you describe in my opinion. I am very happy with my Terro Bass 500 for this very reason.

jordie65 · #9 08-19-2010, 08:57 AM

yeah another vote for the orange. i dont have much experience with the overdriven tones of the terror but ive heard great things about it from others! i can say the AD200B into a single 15 (obc115) absolutely kills for big fuzzy tones. my current rig and there is nothing quite like it when i crank the tone on my P and open up the amp. if you try the AD200B be aware that the fuzz from just cranking the gain is very different to the fuzz from cranking the master. the power tubes overdriving sounds much bigger and fuller to me. rather loud though

im not sure if that difference applies to all tube amps because i havent had the time to experiment with others over a long period.

Jared Lash · #10 08-19-2010, 09:49 AM

If I'm reading the OP correctly, he wants an amp/rig that will sound good with a fuzz pedal such that he can turn the fuzz on and off with a stomp.

That being the case, something like the GK Fusion or Aguilar AG500 might appeal because of the clean/dirty channel switching.

Outside of that type of setup I think JimmyM's got the right idea. If you're going to use a fuzz pedal the first step is to get cabs without tweeters. Step two is see if tube amps are in your price range as they generally sound great with fuzz.

Of the three amps you listed the Walkabout (a tube/ss hybrid) sounds best to me with fuzz. The GK and Carbine are much quicker and great for rock but wouldn't be my first choice for "fuzz" amps. And by the way the GK is VERY versatile, but it is also clean, quick and modern even with some GK growl going.

The Little Mark II/III (especially with tweeterless cabs and using the VLE knob) is a good low cost, solid state option for use with fuzz.

unit11 · #11 08-19-2010, 11:17 AM

You have me right, Jared, I do in fact want a switchable fuzz, although the clean doesn't have to be pristine necessarily. (So a growling amp is fine if it will make an awesome fuzz tone when I use a fuzz or overdrive into it.)

I'm going to hit up Sam Ash and GC again tomorrow and pretty much try everything again - hopefully trying a pedal or two as well so I can really get a better idea.

I'll definitely try the Walkabout again, although the only one they have at my local Guitar Center is the Scout combo 112. Is it easy to hook the head up to other cabs without removing it from the combo box? If it is, I'll see if they don't throw a fit over it at the store so I can try out some different cabs.

I'm pretty sure they had a GK Fusion head and it just wasn't hooked up, so I'll look at that tomorrow; they didn't have anything Aguilar that I recall.

Also no Peavey bass amps at the local GC but I didn't hit Sam Ash yesterday so I'm hopeful they might have something.

I'm also going to go up to an Orange dealer in about two weeks and play the Terror Bass, if they have one. With 500W, does it stay reasonably clean as it gets louder? The Tiny Terror guitar head definitely loses the clean as it cranks. I guess I'll find out anyhow…

unit11 · #12 08-20-2010, 10:33 PM

I replayed the Walkabout Scout 112 combo and played an Ampeg SVT-7Pro through (if I'm remembering this right) an Ampeg SVT-410HLF.

The 410HLF has a horn - that's the same thing as a tweeter, right? I admit to being completely ignorant, never had to worry about this with guitar speaker cabinets. Anyhow, it sounded pretty good regardless. I didn't check to see if the tweeter was off because I didn't notice until after I was heading out and looking at the names of everything I enjoyed and noticed that a horn was mentioned on the features… but since it didn't suck with a Big Muff Pi in front, I assume it was off.

Since it has been mentioned two or three times that a cab without a tweeter is important, it is really important that the tweeter isn't there or is it just that it should be turned off? I didn't really rip it volume wise while I was at Guitar Center today, so I wouldn't have caught it if this is a problem with performance level volumes of playing.

Anyhow, the Big Muff Pi sounded good in front of both the Ampeg and the Walkabout, but better through the Ampeg. I really enjoyed the SVT-7Pro a lot, actually, it was easier to dial in than the Mesa (which is usually my experience with Mesa, but that's part of the fun of their amps, right?). What I noticed with the Mesa, though, was exactly what you guys said about using a guitar fuzz, that the Big Muff Pi killed the bass freqs. I wanted to try the Bass Big Muff, but the local Guitar Center pretty much stocks no bass effects other than the DigiTech boards. Tempted to just order a BBM, going to call up another store a little further away before I just blindly pull the trigger though.

Also wanted to try an English Muff'n, but they don't stock them (surprised me, I remember seeing them there previously).

JimmyM · #13 08-21-2010, 12:25 AM

you can just turn it off, no problem.

you also might want to check the effects forum for suggestions on muff style fuzzes that work well with bass.

Mudfuzz · #14 08-21-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

for fuzz, tube amps and no tweeters are the usual config. however, i think as long as you don't have a tweeter on in your cab, fuzz will sound good even with a ss amp.

I agree.

Mudfuzz · #15 08-21-2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

you also might want to check the effects forum for suggestions on muff style fuzzes that work well with bass.

Ah yes, the most common subject in the EX forum that

Hutzbordello · #16 08-21-2010, 12:36 AM

Orange or even better American Electric makes Green Amps

Mudfuzz · #17 08-21-2010, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unit11

nyhow, the Big Muff Pi sounded good in front of both the Ampeg and the Walkabout, but better through the Ampeg. I really enjoyed the SVT-7Pro a lot, actually, it was easier to dial in than the Mesa (which is usually my experience with Mesa, but that's part of the fun of their amps, right?). What I noticed with the Mesa, though, was exactly what you guys said about using a guitar fuzz, that the Big Muff Pi killed the bass freqs.

Depends on the Mesa. My main amp is a Mesa 400+ I set it pretty flat with the highs rolled off a little, works with just about every fuzz I can think of.

Where did you have the tone on that muff? NYC muffs lose some lows inless you have the tone down.

unit11 · #18 09-10-2010, 08:04 AM

Well, two days ago I bought myself the Terror Bass and an Orange SP212 cab. I admit to being a little nervous about the SP212, but it got very loud at the store and sounded good so I thought I might as well give this gimmick a try or else remain forever curious. Yesterday I went to band practice and I'm happy to report that the SP212 gave me no problems volume wise and seemed to allow for a decent amount of spread despite having the profile of a 112 cabinet.

More importantly, the combination of that cab with the Terror Bass sounds great! I've been trying this thing out with a couple of guitar overdrives and it takes pedals really well. For the band I'm in, I can pretty much leave the gain up a little bit to give my bass a mild overdrive from the amp and then just use a distortion pedal to move into a very raunchy and fat almost-fuzz sound. The overdriven clean works well in this group, too.

The actual cleans are good, although not something I'll really be using with my present band. The hybrid build combined with the Orange tone make for a dark and juicy but still articulate clean. I prefer the faster clean of a SS amp (love the M6!) but I agree totally that overdrive sounds better on darker amps, which tend to be tube hybrids (or completely tube, but that usually too expensive). I do agree with something someone else around here said, the single unmovable mid knob is a bit annoying for bass, but that's the only niggle.

Short version: I settled on the Terror Bass + SP212. It rocks hard for my band and everyone was like "will that be loud enough for this" and then was like "DUDE THAT IS COOL." Love my new amp!

taurus1 · #19 09-10-2010, 08:50 AM

there's a few good fuzz pedals for bass out there. one of the best is the ZVeX Wooly Mammoth, massive is all I can say. I use a Fender Blender RI, it's awesome, has a blend knob so you can dial back in as much of your clean tone as you want (to retain bottom end).

fu22ba55 · #20 09-10-2010, 09:39 AM

Mmmm... fuzz.

Congrats on your new amp.

Just to make sure you've also done the obvious... roll the tone all the way off on the Jazz Bass, and turn down the bridge pickup entirely. I've gotten a respectable fuzz tone from a Jazz bass for years with this method.

The EBO pickups and Mudbuckers also exaggerate the fuzz since the neck pickup is further forward, but a standard jazz bass will get you there for sure.