'70s Fuzz Effect of Choice

xray · #1 09-30-2009, 11:17 PM

Today there are hundreds of so called fuzz/distortion effects out there. Probably a new one created every week. But if you had to turn back the clock 30+ years - way before all the boutique pedals hit the market what was the pedal of choice for bass players? Given the infancy of pedals in the 70s and when NPNs and PNPs were plentiful, I'd think it had to be guitar related pedal that the bassist tried and liked.

Anyone know what some of these legends are? Fuzzface? Muff?

selfblessed · #2 10-01-2009, 12:30 AM

I think like today depended on the player. Bootsy was know to use a Big Muff...IIRC

JimmyM · #3 10-01-2009, 12:31 AM

Fuzz pedals were woefully inadequate and not at all in fashion for bass in the 70's. Those who used fuzzes were rare.

The Lurker · #4 10-01-2009, 06:49 AM

the other two that come to mind were the fuzz built into various Acoustic amps, and the Univox Superfuzz.

JBTucci · #5 10-01-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selfblessed

I think like today depended on the player. Bootsy was know to use a Big Muff...IIRC

I believe he also used some Maestro Fuzz Tones. Probably the FZ-1S for that over the top wall of chainsaws. The Maestro Brassmaster was also popular back in the day. Would be cool if Malekko or somebody else made an updated version of the FZ-1S!

markjazzbassist · #6 10-01-2009, 09:12 AM

ones that bassists used i'd say were

fuzz face
big muff
univox superfuzz
maestro brassmaster
ampeg scrambler (?)

you're probably good with a fuzz face or big muff. those were the big 2 IMO.

Pilgrim · #7 10-01-2009, 09:30 AM

I know exactly what fuzz people used in the 60's and early 70's, because I still have mine.

Univox Superfuzz. Nastiest fuzz ever. Had to be used with moderate settings, as it tends to diffuse the attack and you can get lost in the mix - but a really nasty fuzz.

bigchiefbc · #8 10-01-2009, 10:58 AM

The Shin-ei Companion was around back then too, though I'm not sure if any prominent bassists ever used one. It sounds pretty damn nasty on bass, though

kevteop · #9 10-01-2009, 01:06 PM

I'll have whatever Larry Graham's having.

d180fuzz · #10 10-01-2009, 01:12 PM

Let's not forget Wetton and his:

Foxx Fuzz Wa Volume

and / or

"cheap little Italian fuzz-wah".

JBTucci · #11 10-01-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

I'll have whatever Larry Graham's having.

I think most of his early fuzz tones were from the built in fuzz on the 360.

JimmyM · #12 10-01-2009, 03:33 PM

There was no 360 when Larry Graham was cutting those early Sly songs. He used Sunn and Fender amps for most of it. And I don't know what kind of fuzz he used, but it was definitely a pedal.

MAMMOTHvolume · #13 10-01-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xray

Today there are hundreds of so called fuzz/distortion effects out there. Probably a new one created every week. But if you had to turn back the clock 30+ years - way before all the boutique pedals hit the market what was the pedal of choice for bass players? Given the infancy of pedals in the 70s and when NPNs and PNPs were plentiful, I'd think it had to be guitar related pedal that the bassist tried and liked.

Anyone know what some of these legends are? Fuzzface? Muff?

personally i'd've just cranked my amp up for a bit of fuzz

but if it had to be a pedal i'd go with a tonebender mkII or III

fightthepower · #14 10-01-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Soetoro

I believe he also used some Maestro Fuzz Tones. Probably the FZ-1S for that over the top wall of chainsaws. The Maestro Brassmaster was also popular back in the day. Would be cool if Malekko or somebody else made an updated version of the FZ-1S!

In case you were interested in them, Maestro still produce an FZ-1S reissue.

BigOldHarry · #15 10-01-2009, 04:44 PM

Back in the '70s (when started out), Bassist were stuck using guitar fuzzes - - which mean most didn't use a fuzz. I tried it a few times, hated it, returned it to my buddy. I tried a Maestro, a Big Muff, a RATT - all sounded like crap to me.

The real way to sort this seems to me to find a recording with distorted bass that sounds good (ELP's Greg Lake on "The Barbarian") and research what they used.

But for every good sounding fuzz bass, there were some awful ones... The buzz Roger Glover used on the live version of "Smoke on the water" leaps to mind as a really icky '70s bass fuzz sound...

AltGrendel · #16 10-01-2009, 04:44 PM

Most in my area used the Foxx tone machine: http://www.foxxpedals.com/products.htm

groooooove · #17 10-02-2009, 12:58 AM

am i the only one that hears two bass tracks on "dance to the music?" clean and fuzz? this leads me to suspect guitar fuzz, maybe a fuzz face?

and the muff was around in the early days, ala bootsy in the 70's.

JimmyM · #18 10-02-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groooooove

am i the only one that hears two bass tracks on "dance to the music?" clean and fuzz? this leads me to suspect guitar fuzz, maybe a fuzz face?

and the muff was around in the early days, ala bootsy in the 70's.

Big Muff came out in late 70, which means it couldn't have been on any Sly hits. And yes, there are two bass sounds on it, but it's Larry hitting a pedal, not two separate tracks.

groooooove · #19 10-02-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Big Muff came out in late 70, which means it couldn't have been on any Sly hits. And yes, there are two bass sounds on it, but it's Larry hitting a pedal, not two separate tracks.

i always thought it was a complete overdub.. ill have to listen again.

and yeah, thats what i meant by big muff "back in the day." the 70s.

is there anyone with a clue what larry was using on that track?

Grooveman1961 · #20 10-02-2009, 02:00 PM

Apollo Fuzz Wah, or the Big muff.