Bas Big Muff.. might go back to LBM :(

::Saint:: · #1 05-06-2009, 11:19 AM

Well I've been using a Bass Big Muff for awhile now, and while I appreciate the design and the various modes.. I'm finding that I liked my old Little Big Muff better.. it was a little simpler and I just find I'm having an increasingly difficult time getting useful sounds out of the BBM.

Maybe it's just me, but it just doesn't have that same creamy fuzz like the LBM.. it sounds more shrill and brittle than the LBM to my ear, but maybe I'm doing something wrong. Does it not like active basses, perhaps? The only problem I really had with the LBM was that it didn't always cut through the way I would have liked, but the actual sound of it seemed a lot better.

Anyone else having this problem?

vegas532 · #2 05-06-2009, 11:50 AM

I know I'm in the minority here, but I bought thee BBM early on and was underwhelmed, to say the least. I know they claim it's based on the Green Sovtek, but I definitely don't hear it.

RCCollins · #3 05-06-2009, 11:55 AM

turn up the sustain and turn the tone up somewhere past 12

i do think it's a bit lower gain though - like the green russian

::Saint:: · #4 05-06-2009, 11:59 AM

I'll try cranking up the sustain and tone a bit more, but I found turning up the sustain almost makes it more shrill and brittle. Maybe I just need to dig into my strings a little harder.. I just threw my Rotosound flats on my bass to see if they would give a more even response from it, but so far I'm not convinced.

I'm seriously tempted to go back to an LBM..

Basshappi · #5 05-06-2009, 12:01 PM

I have a BMpi (NYC) and used it on bass for quite awhile, when the LBM came out I was very impressed by the way it kept so much more of my lowend intact than the BMpi and bought one.

I have tried the BBM and it is cool but not enough moreso to change. I'll stick with my LBM.

Thunderscreech · #6 05-06-2009, 03:09 PM

Try bass Boost with tone and sustain all the way up.

CapnSev · #7 05-06-2009, 03:12 PM

Bummer. Guess you'd better give it to me.

mattq · #8 05-06-2009, 04:00 PM

i had the EXACT same problem. not enough gain, and the fuzz wasn't interesting sounding enough. on the flipside, the lbm just wasn't cutting through, but it still sounded awesome. due to theft of my pedalboard, i'm currently stuck using the bbm that i had laying around and found the only useful setting for me is either bass boost or dry mode with the tone and sustain just this side of maxed out with the volume at whatever's needed. still not very fun or interesting, but it gets the job done.

i'm going to be investing in a devi ever cherry pop soon, but if i still had my little big muff around i'd probably sell the bbm in order to get either a barge vfb-jr or a used boss ls-2 to blend the little big muff and keep some dry mids. just a thought

kevteop · #9 05-06-2009, 04:15 PM

Yeah I didn't rate it against the green Sovtek Muff either. Doesn't sound as creamy, doesn't go as crazy.

Good news for the investors with green Sovtek Muffs if nothing else.

bassforce · #10 05-06-2009, 04:44 PM

Yup, BBM doesn't go as crazy, but it's great thing to me. I love mine BBM, and in the bass boost mode I CAN HEAR IT in the band. I will not regret selling black russian one.

Deluge Of Sound · #11 05-06-2009, 11:21 PM

I've long been of the opinion that the BBM isn't as good to my ears as the Pi.

on the other hand, I think a lot of bassists find it more useful in fitting into the mix, etc.

gillento · #12 05-07-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::Saint::

... The only problem I really had with the LBM was that it didn't always cut through the way I would have liked, but the actual sound of it seemed a lot better.
...?

Maybe this is the key ....

::Saint:: · #13 05-07-2009, 12:37 PM

So maybe I need both? One for recording a one for live? Either that or I guess I can always use my LS-2 to blend the LBM with a bit of a dry signal.. but then I can't use the LS-2 for switching channels.

Geddyfleaharris · #14 05-07-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassforce

Yup, BBM doesn't go as crazy, but it's great thing to me. I love mine BBM, and in the bass boost mode I CAN HEAR IT in the band. I will not regret selling black russian one.

+1 ^^^ That's where I am. I sold my LBM because the craziness was insane but I just found it noisy even when using a NS-2.

Fullmetal · #15 05-07-2009, 03:05 PM

A bit of a random add on here, but I'm considering getting one of the EHX muff series, however I don't know which one to get.

I have the standard NYC big muff in mind, but I have heard about the LBM and it has interested me, whereas I have heard bad things about the BBM. I'm really stuck for choice.

Can anyone help out?

RCCollins · #16 05-07-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fullmetal

A bit of a random add on here, but I'm considering getting one of the EHX muff series, however I don't know which one to get.

I have the standard NYC big muff in mind, but I have heard about the LBM and it has interested me, whereas I have heard bad things about the BBM. I'm really stuck for choice.

Can anyone help out?

there is more discussion of these pedals than practically any other

Fullmetal · #17 05-07-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

there is more discussion of these pedals than practically any other

But there isn't any real discussion about what each one is good for. I have heard the LBM is slightly better with low end than the NYC Big Muff, I just wanted a little confirmation or something.

mattq · #18 05-07-2009, 03:15 PM

it is better for low end than the standard pi. the little big muff has quite a bit of gain available and sounds super thick and heavy. the bbm has a ton more tonal options but to my ears sounds less interesting. there's not as much gain on hand but you're almost always going to be able to hear yourself in a mix. whereas the lbm will probably be sacrificing some "cut-through" for (in my opinion) a better sounding fuzz

Fullmetal · #19 05-07-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattq

it is better for low end than the standard pi. the little big muff has quite a bit of gain available and sounds super thick and heavy. the bbm has a ton more tonal options but to my ears sounds less interesting. there's not as much gain on hand but you're almost always going to be able to hear yourself in a mix. whereas the lbm will probably be sacrificing some "cut-through" for (in my opinion) a better sounding fuzz

Thanks, very helpful

RCCollins · #20 05-07-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattq

it is better for low end than the standard pi. the little big muff has quite a bit of gain available and sounds super thick and heavy. the bbm has a ton more tonal options but to my ears sounds less interesting. there's not as much gain on hand but you're almost always going to be able to hear yourself in a mix. whereas the lbm will probably be sacrificing some "cut-through" for (in my opinion) a better sounding fuzz

all this is true (though I disagree about the BBM sounding less interesting). There's not as much low end available on the LBM, though (at any setting)