Cascading multiple fuzzes, and howling noise (the bad kind)

[K2000]

Ive got a Big Muff in my pedal chain and I want to add some additional texture to get a more complex sound (Black Soviet Big Muff is kinda smooth). Problem is that when I cascade another pedal (so far), I get howling feedback.

I've tried cascading a Danelectro French Toast ("octave up" may be what I want) a Fender Blender, and a D*A*M Meathead, with okay/good results but unnacceptable feedback. Granted, all three pedals are considered a little wild (that's just what I have on hand).

I'm trying to read up and get smart now, and if I'm not mistaken it may be a problem with these other pedals being unbuffered? (I don't even know what unbuffered means).

Should I shelve the Big Muff and try to find something more complex, or maybe you can suggest a pedal to put into the chain, that will add some additional texture or interest to a good sounding (but smooth) Muff sound.

Me:
Bass ----> Boss Chorus ------> WD7 Wah----> Muff ------> MXR Micro Amp-----> amp.

I'm thinking maybe an octave fuzz should be added before the wah (tried it, sounds good but noisy) or maybe another fuzz or distortion, right before or after the Muff. I would want to leave this pedal on all the time, theoretically (not just for 'solos' or whatever).

Is it possible to have 2 fuzzes and a boost in my chain, and not have howling feedback when I stop playing? Do I need a "buffer"? It might be easiest to replace the Big Muff, but I'm asking for help in the spirit of making everything all complicated

[TaySte_2000]

Too much crazy fuzz at one time is the problem, I think taking out the French Toast would go a long way to taming that sound.

But you do not need a buffer

What are you trying to do exactly and I'll help you work it out.

[K2000]

Well the Muff sounds good but it's missing some texture or detail. I still want good note definition (which I have now) but something is missing, so I want to enhance what I have going, or even upgrade.

bass ----> Boss chorus ----> W. Demon -----> Black Muff-----> MXR Micro Amp

This sounds loud and burly, and it does work. Maybe a case of 'the grass is always greener'?

I have tried the other pedals (Meathead, F.Toast, FenderBlender) in various configurations (also a DOD SupraDistortion, not bad if the gain is set very low). The only thing I think I haven't tried with my pool of boxes, is putting something *before* the Boss Chorus.

Maybe:
Bass---> Meathead----> Boss Chorus----> W.Demon----> Black Muff----> Micro Amp

But I suspect the Muff will always round off whatever signal it gets.

I am not looking for the chaotic E13 type sounds... more like super-evil 70s thick, burry (burry?) fuzz

I appreciate your replies.

[TaySte_2000]

Right ok try this as a signal chain

Bass - Fender - Meathead - Big Muff - Wah - Chorus - Micro Amp

Try the meathead in various settings including using it as clean as possible but with the volume really up going into the big muff.

If your using the fender and the muff together you'll get a very synthy type sound I would guess.

If what I've said with the Meathead works with the gain low but the volume up you might want to put the micro amp before the big muff and boost into it making it dirtier.

The french toast I found doesn't work well with other dirt pedals it's its own sound and nothing much changes that.

I'd also try putting the fender after the big muff but the meathead before the muff but always before wah and always before the chorus, I get what you are talking about with buffers and such now so yeah always before the boss

Try these let me know how you go on and if you hate the fender and want to sell it

[K2000]

(I wrote this while you were posting. I'll leave it up)

By the way, the Meathead is a bit uncontrollable, bit of a loose cannon as far as being noisy. Loads of texture, a bit too fizzy maybe. I wish I could find the correct place for it, but I'm a bit of a meathead myself.

The amp's low end really opens up when at full-bore, and that may be the only way the Meathead can work (everything full bore)... the Meathead is already so loud by itself. I will have to go back and double check to make sure I've really given it a fair shake with the amp set on it's highest volume.

Yikes.

bass---> Boss Chorus----> W.Demon------> Meathead (?)

[K2000]

I should clarify that it's not a Meathead Deluxe, it''s the one knob Meathead. It doesn't have loads of mids and low end, by itself. A tone knob would've helped a lot.

Synthy sounds are definitely out for me.

I'm using the Boss Chorus as the Uniboss, so we're hashing out my "guitar sound". Thus, the Boss Chorus can't be placed very far downstream.

Sorry that I didn't make that clear upfront.

[TaySte_2000]

Originally Posted by K2000

I should clarify that it's not a Meathead Deluxe, it''s the one knob Meathead. It doesn't have loads of mids and low end, by itself. A tone knob would've helped a lot.

Synthy sounds are definitely out for me.

I'm using the Boss Chorus as the Uniboss, so we're hashing out my "guitar sound". Thus, the Boss Chorus can't be placed very far downstream.

Sorry that I didn't make that clear upfront.

Any tone knob added to a fuzz pedal is going to be passive so take things out not let more through so I wouldn't worry about that on the Meathead you're getting as much out of it as you are going to get really.

Having the chorus before everything is going to play havoc with your fuzz's

What you should do is break down the chain to the fuzz's and just play around with the order of those 3 till you get the tone you are happy with then add in the wah and chorus in various positions till you are happy with them. You've got some cool fuzz's and such but they might all be wrong for you the French Toast and Fender are very similar as are the Meathead and Muff (I think) so you might be better selling them all which would give you a lot of cash to play with and get something like the MI Audio Neo Fuzz or the Subdecay Flying Tomato which will both work fine after the buffer but I can't promise they will sound how you want.

The only pedal that comes to mind for that 70's doom thick fuzz is the Tone Factor Fuzz Saw with Bass Mod but that sucks ass after boss pedals and things and they are really hard to find, basically its a big muff circuit with an extra transistor so more gain a cap change so more bass and a volume knob so the gain is maxed all the time, I'm in the process off adding one to my band board.

Hope this helps

[K2000]

Thanks for the help. I remember seeing the Fuzz Saw for a brief time. I didn't know there was a modded version available. (Fuzz Saw was another one knob pedal if I recall)

The Muff is good, but it may need to be swapped out for something.

What you should do is break down the chain to the fuzz's and just play around with the order of those 3 till you get the tone you are happy with then add in the wah and chorus in various positions till you are happy with them.

That seems like a good approach.