Do you like a boost in front of or after a fuzz?

Holy War · #1 12-10-2009, 01:55 PM

Just what the title says. Im talking about an OCD and Bluebeard in particular, but this could apply to any combination of boosts and fuzzes.

Matt Dean · #2 12-10-2009, 02:01 PM

I'm going to experiment tonight with an Xotic Bass BB pre and C-bread SFT... I'll report back.

Holy War · #3 12-10-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

I'm going to experiment tonight with an Xotic Bass BB pre and C-bread SFT... I'll report back.

Awesome man, Im looking forward to it. Two reasons why I havent done it myself:

1. Bluebeard wont get here until tomorrow
2. My SVT is in the shop until next week

scotch · #4 12-10-2009, 02:18 PM

It depends...

Sometimes I just want the Fuzz to be 'louder', in which case a clean-boost after the fuzz - works great!

Sometimes, I want to 'alter' the fuzz. For example, I like to run a Fulltone Bass-Drive (set fairly clean) before my Bass Big Muff. The result is more midrange content and "grunt" from the BBM fuzz pedal!

I often run my RC booster into an overdrive- especially when using a pick. I set the RC to cut some treble & add a pinch of lows. I end up preserving the 'percussive' pick-attack, but without loosing bottom and getting too close to clacky "Chris Squire" territory... (nothing against the guy, just not my tonal 'cup of tea').

***Also worth noting, some boosters don't react well to a fuzzed signal before them. Might be a headroom issue, but make sure the pedals "play nice" together. For instance, my LPB-1 gets weird when presented with too strong of a signal. It clips in an unpleasant way. I used to have a Frantone Thunderhead that reacted similarly. ***

TheWoodShed · #5 12-10-2009, 02:34 PM

I like it before, to drive the fuzz, ala Cliff Burton.

Holy War · #6 12-10-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

I like it before, to drive the fuzz, ala Cliff Burton.

Im not trying to sound like Cliff Burton or anybody else for that matter

Matt Dean · #7 12-10-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

Im not trying to sound like Cliff Burton or anybody else for that matter

Right on! That's what I try to do is just sound like me... get the tone and sound that trips my trigger (insert voice of wife: "and fits my budget").

gnasher1993 · #8 12-10-2009, 02:40 PM

It depends....

With my Mastotron, it doesn't make any difference with the boost before

.

With the Russian Muff, it sounds even better when you hit it with more volume

.

Holy War · #9 12-10-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

It depends....

With my Mastotron, it doesn't make any difference with the boost before

.

With the Russian Muff, it sounds even better when you hit it with more volume

.

Ya, I know the Bluebeard has obnoxious amounts of volume, so Im thinking I may put it after. Odds are though, i wont be running the two at the same time often at all. Ill probably just be using one or the other.

TheWoodShed · #10 12-10-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

Im not trying to sound like Cliff Burton or anybody else for that matter

You don't have to. Using one before doesn't mean you will sound like Cliff Burton. Using one after doesn't mean you will sound like anyone llese for that matter.

The point was that the boost before a fuzz drives a hotter signal into the pedal, and with some (depending on design) this will produce higher gain from the fuzz pedal.

This is what Burton did, and some others. I could have said "After, ala (insert name here) and that doesn't mean you will sound like that person if you do but will only give a rationale for doing so.

My Sovtek Civil War muff has the most gnarley fuzz I have ever heard from any muff based circuit. It is special in that regard. Driving it with a boost only enhances that. I suspect with the Bluebeard, it will do the same if to a lesser extent.

Holy War · #11 12-10-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

You don't have to. Using one before doesn't mean you will sound like Cliff Burton. Using one after doesn't mean you will sound like anyone llese for that matter.

The point was that the boost before a fuzz drives a hotter signal into the pedal, and with some (depending on design) this will produce higher gain from the fuzz pedal.

This is what Burton did, and some others. I could have said "After, ala (insert name here) and that doesn't mean you will sound like that person if you do but will only give a rationale for doing so.

My Sovtek Civil War muff has the most gnarley fuzz I have ever heard from any muff based circuit. It is special in that regard. Driving it with a boost only enhances that. I suspect with the Bluebeard, it will do the same if to a lesser extent.

uh, I think you read way too much into what I wrote

dannybuoy · #12 12-10-2009, 04:54 PM

I always ran my BB after my Supercollider but have just discovered the joys of SFT -> Supercollider, so now I'm gonna pull everything off the board and experiment some more!

TheWoodShed · #13 12-10-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

uh, I think you read way too much into what I wrote

Maybe. You said you weren't trying to sound like Cliff Burton. I said you wouldn't, clarifying why I said that. I wasn't sure why you may have thought I was implying you would or should sound like him.

As I said, the point was that the boost before a fuzz drives a hotter signal into the pedal, and with some (depending on design) this will produce higher gain from the fuzz pedal.

Holy War · #14 12-10-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

Maybe. You said you weren't trying to sound like Cliff Burton. I said you wouldn't, clarifying why I said that. I wasn't sure why you may have thought I was implying you would or should sound like him.

As I said, the point was that the boost before a fuzz drives a hotter signal into the pedal, and with some (depending on design) this will produce higher gain from the fuzz pedal.

I know where placing the boost will do to the fuzz, Im asking what people prefer. Thats why I asked if they "like" it in front of or behind, not what does it do.

Mudfuzz · #15 12-10-2009, 05:20 PM

In front.

Also back when I was using a HAO The Roar in my live rig I had to use a boost in front of it to counteract the active electronics in my bass, this worked really well but it made the Roar respond like when you have the tone control all the way down [The Roar's texture reacts to the settings on your basses tone control].

TheWoodShed · #16 12-10-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

I know where placing the boost will do to the fuzz, Im asking what people prefer. Thats why I asked if they "like" it in front of or behind, not what does it do.

I believe I answered that, and provided a reason why in my initial post: before, because it drives the fuzz pedal ala Cliff Burton. Relevant to the Bluebeard, as it is a muff based circuit.

seedokebass · #17 12-10-2009, 05:40 PM

I use an old brown Boss bass eq with a high mid boost after my FT Bassdrive. I use it as a "third" channel for the Bassdrive and/or a presence boost when I use a pick.

I've never owned a fuzz, and I'd love to try a Bluebeard. Have you been waiting long for yours Holy War?

RickenBoogie · #18 12-10-2009, 06:41 PM

My clean boost is in front of my fuzz AND my o/d pedal. 4th in line, tuner, eq, comp, boost, everything else. It's like my "pedalboard driver".

Joe Gress · #19 12-10-2009, 10:58 PM

Overdive (or drive, boost or any other non compressing grit adder)>fuzz. Such beauty!

MaxMaps · #20 12-10-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Gress

Overdive (or drive, boost or any other non compressing grit adder)>fuzz. Such beauty!

I am considering doing a signal chain of OD>fuzz>fuzz>Looper>tuner. I am kinda interested because this is an idea I have had for a while now and was wondering the same thing.