Anyone tried EHX Metal Muff with a clean blend?

[Willem]

I want to create a sound like Rob Trujillo's. He uses an Ampeg SVT stack and a Mesa Boogie rectifier stack. To approach this I thought of a heavy distortion pedal and a clean blend. My eye fell on the Metal Muff. Anyone tried this pedal in a clean blend? How did it work out for you?

Thanks

[sutarappa]

all this to-do going around about needing a separate blend pedal... if you want, y'know, rock that. but, na. i use the EHX Metal Muff (big box with 3band EQ) by itself. plenty of lows you can dial in. that's why i picked one up. well, that and nice, used $50 tag... tried it at guitar center on the playground. i use the MM with an Ibanez ATK 700 tuned BEAD. massivenasty!

[Willem]

Thanks, but I really want my clean sound in there and I am going for the pocket metal muff. Funny though, I tune BEAD too!

New years bump!

[rratajski]

sutarappa - it's not about lows...it's about retaining the mids that a muff scoops out of the signal. You can tune as low as you want and fuzz the signal 'til the cows come home, but it's not going to help you push through distorted guitars any better. Mids and low mids will help and yes, a clean blend pedal will help.

Willem - If you have GC or Sam Ash near you, pick up a Boss LS-2 and the Metal Muff that you want and keep your receipt. If you like them, keep 'em. If you don't, get your money back. I use a GGG-tuned muff w/ Wounded Paw blend and love it. I couldn't play heavy music w/out it. I also tune BEAD and play heavy music.

[René_Julien]

I like the Metal Muffs. They are nice pedals.
But they won't be my first choice personally, definately not as only drive-pedal you would have on tap.

I'm not an expert on Rob's tone...

But you say SVT and Mesa Boogie.

The Sansamp Character series pedals are very nice.
My guitarist was so satisfied with the California he bought the 3 other guitar pedals.

How about a BOSS LS-2, with a Sansamp VT Bass and a Sansamp California mixed togheter.
Lots of gain/grit/overdrive/distortion available from those Sansamp Character series pedals.



Although personally, I prefer other sounds and I like the sound of the BDDI and PDDI more.
edit:... and I prefer GK Growl over SVT and Mesa grind.

You got to try all these possibilities out I guess.
Maybe just the BDDI on it's own can deliver a sound that you want.

[Willem]

I really want a clean signal and a metaldistortion mixed together.
I already have a good clean tone, so now I'm out for a distortion and a blender.
The sansamps are interesting, but not what I'm looking for.

rratasjki, unfortunally we don't have GC's in Belgium. And stores here don't work with money back guarantuees.

[rratajski]

What about using a US vendor that will ship overseas. Sorry, I just saw that you're from Belgium.

[PunkRocker33133]

I love mine, but I agree that a clean blend would be useful, even though it has ridiculous amounts of lows

[rratajski]

Originally Posted by PunkRocker33133

I love mine, but I agree that a clean blend would be useful, even though it has ridiculous amounts of lows

Remember...it's not always lows...it's mids too. Muffs scoop out mids...

[Willem]

Originally Posted by rratajski

What about using a US vendor that will ship overseas. Sorry, I just saw that you're from Belgium.

Now that I think of it. There are some German webstores who may have the 30 day thing. Thanks for making me think!

Originally Posted by PunkRocker33133

I love mine, but I agree that a clean blend would be useful, even though it has ridiculous amounts of lows

You have the nano version?
How does it sound in the mix? What kind of music do you play and in what kind of passages do you use it?
Thanks

Originally Posted by rratajski

Remember...it's not always lows...it's mids too. Muffs scoop out mids...

Yep, there's even a midscoop switch. My bass is quite middy, so maybe a scooped distortion will sound great with it!

[PunkRocker33133]

I have the big box, 3 eq version. I play hardcore and doom metal, and it retains the lows and mids well, I believe the eq is active. I use it in ambient parts with the top boost cranked for backing, and breakdowns without the top boost for added heaviness. In both situations it cuts through pretty well, but a clean blend would make it even more present I believe

[sutarappa]

Originally Posted by rratajski

sutarappa - it's not about lows...it's about retaining the mids that a muff scoops out of the signal. You can tune as low as you want and fuzz the signal 'til the cows come home, but it's not going to help you push through distorted guitars any better. Mids and low mids will help and yes, a clean blend pedal will help.

i agree about the mids in a mix/band setting, but have you tried a Metal Muff? it's quite a different beast from more traditional muff circuits. The big box with Top Boost has a 3 band EQ (treble, mid, bass) so the user can dial in or out as much mid as desired.

in my experience, when folks talk about trying a blender pedal with a distortion, the prime issue is usually low end retention/clarity, ymmv. i wouldn't look to blend in clean mids so much because i find distorted mids can really give a drive its cutting character!

Originally Posted by PunkRocker33133

I have the big box, 3 eq version. I play hardcore and doom metal, and it retains the lows and mids well, I believe the eq is active. I use it in ambient parts with the top boost cranked for backing, and breakdowns without the top boost for added heaviness. In both situations it cuts through pretty well, but a clean blend would make it even more present I believe

my experience is similar with the big box. i have not tried the XO or pocket versions. Willem, i think a clean blend would only enhance your tone options, pocket MM or otherwise. i suppose my original sentiment was aimed at downplaying the need to resort to extra blender hardware in attaining great tone from non bass-specific distortions...

apologies for the wordiness... rock out, bass fuzzers!