The A/B comparison of the Sovtek Big Muff (Civil War version) and the Supercollider

[TheWoodShed]

Just FYI, this isn't a review.

So I received my Supercollider yesterday, and thought I would post a couple of initial impressions sa compareed to my Sovtek blue and gray version "Civil War" Big Muff.



I got this to replace my Sovtek, as I don't want to have a nice vintage pedal hacked up and rehoused. I woud rather sell it to someone who would appreciate it.

But I have to say I am having seconds thoughts here.

The Supercollider hits the muff fuzz head on, the saturation and texture is very, very good. But the EQ is what is giving me fits.

While the SC can get some the Sovtek can not, it still pales when it comes to getting a very bass focused fuzz sound. Neither gets too muffled of a sound to me, but it seems the SC can not attain the level of focused bass, the all out low end tight "roar" that the Sovtek can get. I thought that since the depth knob was so nice, it would be able to do so.

Anyone who has suggestions, or input as to the EQ functions of the SC? This is a fine quality pedal, but I don't think I can keep both unless I sell a couple of other pedals.

[dannybuoy]

What bass are you using it with? I found the heaviest bass sounds cone from having the depth between minimum and 9 o'clock, mids cranked and tone set to taste (mine's at 3 o'clock), but if you have a high output bass you end up overloading the pedal and it doesn't sound too great. If that happens you have to eithe turn down the volume on your bass or raise the depth control a bit. I've tried mine with various basses, and it sounds best with my P-Bass & flats!

If you don't mind the size of it, check out the Fender Sub-Lime bass fuzz, the clips I've heard sound amazing.

[theunknowndude]

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

Just FYI, this isn't a review.

So I received my Supercollider yesterday, and thought I would post a couple of initial impressions sa compareed to my Sovtek blue and gray version "Civil War" Big Muff.



I got this to replace my Sovtek, as I don't want to have a nice vintage pedal hacked up and rehoused. I woud rather sell it to someone who would appreciate it.

But I have to say I am having seconds thoughts here.

The Supercollider hits the muff fuzz head on, the saturation and texture is very, very good. But the EQ is what is giving me fits.

While the SC can get some the Sovtek can not, it still pales when it comes to getting a very bass focused fuzz sound. Neither gets too muffled of a sound to me, but it seems the SC can not attain the level of focused bass, the all out low end tight "roar" that the Sovtek can get. I thought that since the depth knob was so nice, it would be able to do so.

Anyone who has suggestions, or input as to the EQ functions of the SC? This is a fine quality pedal, but I don't think I can keep both unless I sell a couple of other pedals.

all I can think of is try scooping out all the mids, put depth to left and tone to the right and adjust the gain and volume... or maybe try experimenting with the tone with everything else in 'full' position... I actually use mine more for 'cutting' than expecting ultra heavy,... I have my depth around 9ish with full mids and tone just around noon with gain and volume to tatste... that said the depth is lower than using the 'low' control on the PD7 (which I find adds plenty of lows)... almost thought I was using a guitar distortion when I ab'd to the PD7

[TheWoodShed]

An Acacia Custom 4 with an 18v EMG's 35P and 35J pups.

The active electronics shouldn't be an issue. We are talking about a silicon fuzz based on the same circuit as the muff is based, but perhaps this is the wrong muff as it seem to be more like a Ram's Head/EHX and not a Sovtek.

As I said, the fuzz texture and saturation is fine, but it is the low end tone that is a noticeably less. It is the beauty of this muff that the lowend cuts like a mother... I thought the depth knob on the SC would address this.

And don't get me wrong either, the SC is a very fine pedal, a great fuzz, but it appears initially not to be a replacement for this pedal.

I'll diddle with it more before I come to conclusions. I'll try your setting as well.

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

What bass are you using it with? I found the heaviest bass sounds cone from having the depth between minimum and 9 o'clock, mids cranked and tone set to taste (mine's at 3 o'clock), but if you have a high output bass you end up overloading the pedal and it doesn't sound too great. If that happens you have to eithe turn down the volume on your bass or raise the depth control a bit. I've tried mine with various basses, and it sounds best with my P-Bass & flats!

If you don't mind the size of it, check out the Fender Sub-Lime bass fuzz, the clips I've heard sound amazing.

[Pitbull Growl]

The depth knob is nothing more than a variable resistor selecting a blend between 2 input caps... it decides how bassy of a signal is introduced into the path.

It sounds to me like you might want some kind of swap in the coupling caps (the 4 li'l yellow boxes that say 100 on 'em...100nf or 0.1 uf). I dunno what value is gonna work for you since it's a subjective taste thing, but those li'l yellow Nichons are cheap and easily located.

Maybe talk to Mark (the builder) and see if he can help you out w/a mod or recommend values for your situation.

[Bootzilla]

If you want tight focused bass than putting the depth knob to the right (less bass) might help. I believe that thats the setting of the original sovtek muff.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Whether or not its actually based on the Sovtek Muff, as a Supercollider owner, I'd say Bootzilla's got the right idea. Left on the depth knob is not at all what I'd call "focused" low-end.

[TheWoodShed]

After twiddling it and putting it p for sale last night, I have decided I am going to try this route so I took it off the chopping block.. I contacted Mark just a few minutes ago and am awaiting a response.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Originally Posted by Pitbull Growl

The depth knob is nothing more than a variable resistor selecting a blend between 2 input caps... it decides how bassy of a signal is introduced into the path.

It sounds to me like you might want some kind of swap in the coupling caps (the 4 li'l yellow boxes that say 100 on 'em...100nf or 0.1 uf). I dunno what value is gonna work for you since it's a subjective taste thing, but those li'l yellow Nichons are cheap and easily located.

Maybe talk to Mark (the builder) and see if he can help you out w/a mod or recommend values for your situation.

[dannybuoy]

If you want roaring focused low end without too much top end sizzle, and don't mind carrying a small tank around, check out the Fender Sub-Lime. Or experiment with a blend pedal - I find it adds low end, punch and definition when using heavy fuzz.

[TheWoodShed]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

If you want roaring focused low end without too much top end sizzle, and don't mind carrying a small tank around, check out the Fender Sub-Lime. Or experiment with a blend pedal - I find it adds low end, punch and definition when using heavy fuzz.

I found that blends don't really work to my liking with muff style fuzzes but thanks.

The problem isn't with the CW muff, but the problem is finding a fuzz with that much low end. I am going to speak with Mark, who makes the SC, to see if he has a solution. It is a great pedal as is, just not CW muffish enough.

As for the Fender, thank but it isn't my cup of tea. I have witnessed a lot of "hot" effects items come and go, from the POD to the Muff'n to the Little Big Muff that pretty much adds up to fads and the Fender just seems to me to be another one. The Sovtek Muffs are enduring classics for a reason.

No offense intended. If it is your thing then cool, and I do appreciate the suggestion!

[dannybuoy]

I'd love to hear some clips of your CW Muff then! By the way I found this in another thread, a CW clone:

http://www.stompunderfoot.com/MUFFS.html

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Originally Posted by Pitbull Growl

The depth knob is nothing more than a variable resistor selecting a blend between 2 input caps... it decides how bassy of a signal is introduced into the path.

It sounds to me like you might want some kind of swap in the coupling caps (the 4 li'l yellow boxes that say 100 on 'em...100nf or 0.1 uf). I dunno what value is gonna work for you since it's a subjective taste thing, but those li'l yellow Nichons are cheap and easily located.

Maybe talk to Mark (the builder) and see if he can help you out w/a mod or recommend values for your situation.

no point going larger than 0.1 thats already bypassing well below what you need, you'd do better to tame the high end a bit more to increase the percieved low end

[Bootzilla]

If you want focused lows then you want to go smaller than 0.1 so more lows get cut.

[rcubed]

The key to the CW Muff sound is the size of the feedback caps going from the collector to the base of the transistor. The larger the values, the more highs are cut and thus there is more perceived bass in the sound.