Bored with my Big Muff

[insomniac2295]

So, my very first dirt pedal was a General Guitar Gadgets Big Muff. I still have it and I use it quite a bit. However, I don't think it really quite gets into fuzz territory. Just really heavy distortion. Right now, I have 2 distortion pedals on my board and everything just kind of blends together.

Personally, I feel like my big muff is just too "blah" for my tastes. The distortion across it is really even and lackluster. Ideally, I'd like to have something that's fairly versatile and that can go from somewhat more "traditional" fuzz tones to some really weird "hey I think that thing is broken" fuzz tones. Any thoughts?
I've tried a wooly mammoth and a fuzz factory. Both sounded fairly blah to me.

[rratajski]

Change the last stage of diodes to germanium (do a 3 way center off toggle). Add a gate (won't work with the germ diodes though).
So many mods for muffs to make them not sound like typical muffs.

[Ibanezsr500]

Originally Posted by insomniac2295

...I've tried a wooly mammoth and a fuzz factory. Both sounded fairly blah to me.

A fuzz factory sounded "blah"? I don't think there are many dirt pedals out there that are more entertaining than a fuzz factory...

EDIT: I know where you're coming from though. Try blending it in parallel with some different dirt pedals. Thats how I use mine, I found it produced some nice results.

[slobake]

I'm always willing to take a hit for my talkbass brothers. If you want you can send it to me.

[Swift713]

I had a muff with the tone circuit bypass-it had a lot more life in it.

[skulletwhip]

When I got bored of my big muff, I started getting into stacking different overdrives and distortions for my more heavy/disgusting sounds.

[insomniac2295]

Originally Posted by rratajski

Change the last stage of diodes to germanium (do a 3 way center off toggle). Add a gate (won't work with the germ diodes though).
So many mods for muffs to make them not sound like typical muffs.

I suppose I'll have to youtube it up to check some of these mods. I actually hadn't thought of doing mods because I didn't think it would end up altering the sound that much. Won't know until you find out, I suppose!

Originally Posted by Ibanezsr500

A fuzz factory sounded "blah"? I don't think there are many dirt pedals out there that are more entertaining than a fuzz factory...

EDIT: I know where you're coming from though. Try blending it in parallel with some different dirt pedals. Thats how I use mine, I found it produced some nice results.

Yeah, yeah, the fuzz factory has some gate-y sounds and some squealy sounds, but I'm after just a really offensive sounding fuzz... or something
What other kinds of dirts are you using?

Originally Posted by skulletwhip

When I got bored of my big muff, I started getting into stacking different overdrives and distortions for my more heavy/disgusting sounds.

Yeah, I've stacked my stuff, but since they're all so similar sounding, it essentially sounds like adding more gain, which isn't what I'm after.

[insomniac2295]

May be looking at building a Mid-Fi Clari(not)

[odineye]

The Fuzz Factory not offensive??? Funny, mine seems to find some new way to offend me every time I turn it on... It does take a good bit of tweaking to realy get a usable sound though. And, like Ibanezsr500, a lot of times I'll run it parallel with another, dirt pedal.

The clari (not), with that it's pitch shifting warbling delay, can definitely sound broken if you want, and I have a lot of fun with mine. But, the fuzz part of the circuit doesn't have anything in the way of control except volume.

Now, the Fuzz Factory through the Clari(not)??? If that doesn't offend you, well... Man, you're just plain dead inside.

[Ibanezsr500]

Originally Posted by insomniac2295

What other kinds of dirts are you using?

CM-2, Woolly Mammoth, Fuzz Factory and Animato. Mainly the CM-2 (till I sold it) and the Animato though.

Originally Posted by insomniac2295

Yeah, I've stacked my stuff, but since they're all so similar sounding, it essentially sounds like adding more gain, which isn't what I'm after.

Try using a distortion (not another fuzz) that has a completely different character to the muff, something bright, with a mid boost. That should make the sound fuller, with the distortion filling in the mid scoop of the muff, but still not overdoing it with the gain.

[insomniac2295]

Originally Posted by odineye

Now, the Fuzz Factory through the Clari(not)??? If that doesn't offend you, well... Man, you're just plain dead inside.

Maybe I am just dead inside... The internet has ruined me...

[fisticuffs]

Sometimes a smaller, younger muff is a nice change of pace. Have you and your big muff tried role playing?

[Bur]

This is the sick one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkrWNdt418E

[CargoCulte]

I recently broke up my Big Muff boredom by adding a IE Oxide pedal to the mix. I'm really digging it's gated fuzz.

[winterburn69]

When I get bored with a pedal, I put it my box of extra pedals, replace it with something else. Last week I took my Bass Big Muff out after about 10 months. Take it out after a few months, and it's like a brand new pedal.

[GuzBaas]

Originally Posted by Ibanezsr500

A fuzz factory sounded "blah"? I don't think there are many dirt pedals out there that are more entertaining than a fuzz factory...

+1

tweak those knobs a little!!
and use a clean blend for the low end lost

If the Fuzz Factory is boring you, there's no solution to your problem!



uhmmm have you tried malekko Bassmaster? I prefer the Germanium edition...

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

Have you ever tried a Gnomeratron? I can do Muff and Brassmasterish sounds as well as "this thing sounds broken sounds". Might be worth checking out.

[MSUsousaphone]

I would suggest you skipping all these sissy fuzzes and going straight to the Mountainking Megalith.....but your head may explode like in scanners. I would hate to be responsible for that.