EHX Bass Big Muff Dry Mode Volume Problem

[christoph h.]

Hi!

I own a Bass Big Muff and have run into a problem.

Normal mode loses too much lowend, bass bosst mode seemed to woolly.

So I use the dry mode and ended up with the following:

volume: 2 o' clock
tone: 1 o' clock
sustain: 4 o' clock (=almost full on)

I like the tone I'm getting but the way the blend/dry mode is designed, the difference in volume between my uneffected signal (pedal off) and the fuzz sound is just too big.

I own a volume pedal, but using it for this situation isn't practical at all.

I have also thought about putting the Muff in it's own volume controlled loop (with an LS-2 or similar) but I really don't want to spend the money and introduce another pedal and 2-4 cables.

How are you using your Bass Big Muff to avoid the problem I described?

Thanks!

[takfar]

I have all my effects (BBM included) in a LS-2 loop. Solves all my volume problems, and allows for easy blending (I sometimes actually use the BBM dry mode, add another effect after it so it affects both the dirty and clean coming out of the BBM, and blend with the clean bass using the LS-2. Lots of possibilities).

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Originally Posted by christoph h.

Hi!

I own a Bass Big Muff and have run into a problem.

Normal mode loses too much lowend, bass bosst mode seemed to woolly.

So I use the dry mode and ended up with the following:

volume: 2 o' clock
tone: 1 o' clock
sustain: 4 o' clock (=almost full on)

I like the tone I'm getting but the way the blend/dry mode is designed, the difference in volume between my uneffected signal (pedal off) and the fuzz sound is just too big.

I own a volume pedal, but using it for this situation isn't practical at all.

I have also thought about putting the Muff in it's own volume controlled loop (with an LS-2 or similar) but I really don't want to spend the money and introduce another pedal and 2-4 cables.

How are you using your Bass Big Muff to avoid the problem I described?

Thanks!

turn the volume down? the clean signal introduced should be unity gain

[scotch]

Try dialing the 'sustain' back- in "dry" mode, and at that high of a setting, it is going to be pretty loud!

[eyeballkid]

yeah i agree.. in the dry mode.. if you turn the volume OFF.. you only get the sound of your bass... when you turn it up it brings in the Muff... so just dial it back....

+1 on Scotch.

so by messin with either the volume or the huge amount of sustain you should still be able to get the same tone at a lower volume.

[donut]

So does that mean in dry mode your overall signal will always be louder than when the pedal is switched off?

That could prove a little annoying, especially if you only want a small amount of clean bass. Would be nice if there was a trim pot inside to control the clean volume.

[scotch]

Originally Posted by donut

So does that mean in dry mode your overall signal will always be louder than when the pedal is switched off?

That could prove a little annoying, especially if you only want a small amount of clean bass. Would be nice if there was a trim pot inside to control the clean volume.

Actually, not necessarily. In "Dry" mode with the 'Volume' knob all the way down, you only have the unaffected signal- but it's not quite at unity gain. It's actually a little bit quieter. So, you can approach unity gain by dialing in just a little bit of the fuzzed signal.

I always get on this soapbox, but in practical application of fuzz/distortion/od, you should want a little volume increase. The reasons are two-fold:
1) Chances are the music being performed is more 'intense', requiring some more volume.
2) These type of clipping dirt effects introduce additional harmonic content. If you try to compensate by trying to lower the overall volume, you start losing tonal information in terms of perceived loudness.

I understand bassists desire for 'unity-gain' at all times, but when you get out of the living room and into the performance venue, you're going to want some additional volume! Less true in the studio, but the same principles still apply to a lesser degree. IMO- of course!

[donut]

Originally Posted by scotch

Actually, not necessarily. In "Dry" mode with the 'Volume' knob all the way down, you only have the unaffected signal- but it's not quite at unity gain. It's actually a little bit quieter. So, you can approach unity gain by dialing in just a little bit of the fuzzed signal.

Good to know, thanks

Originally Posted by scotch

I understand bassists desire for 'unity-gain' at all times, but when you get out of the living room and into the performance venue, you're going to want some additional volume! Less true in the studio, but the same principles still apply to a lesser degree. IMO- of course!

I completely agree, it's just that I'm a little obsessed with controlling it all myself and not relying on the manufacturer to get it right.

And the more knobs there are the better the tone is. Everyone should know that...

[scotch]

Originally Posted by donut

...

And the more knobs there are the better the tone is. Everyone should know that...

!

[RickenBoogie]

Originally Posted by scotch

Actually, not necessarily. In "Dry" mode with the 'Volume' knob all the way down, you only have the unaffected signal- but it's not quite at unity gain. It's actually a little bit quieter. So, you can approach unity gain by dialing in just a little bit of the fuzzed signal.

I always get on this soapbox, but in practical application of fuzz/distortion/od, you should want a little volume increase. The reasons are two-fold:
1) Chances are the music being performed is more 'intense', requiring some more volume.
2) These type of clipping dirt effects introduce additional harmonic content. If you try to compensate by trying to lower the overall volume, you start losing tonal information in terms of perceived loudness.

I understand bassists desire for 'unity-gain' at all times, but when you get out of the living room and into the performance venue, you're going to want some additional volume! Less true in the studio, but the same principles still apply to a lesser degree. IMO- of course!

Another huge +1 to this concept. It is a whole 'nother world when you're playing live, without some volume boost, the dirt just disappears in the mix.

[christoph h.]

Thanks for the replies!

I've always setup my distorted sounds like scotch said. A certain amount of boost is very desirable in a live situation. But the additional volume I'm getting now is just not useful.

I tried your tips and my results were the following:

1) Turning down the volume in dry mode affects the mix between clean and fuzz.
Since the volume of the clean signal is fixed, you can only reach a desired relationship of e.g. 30% clean, 70% fuzz, by considerably adding to the overall volume.
This is the problem I'm having now. Unfortunately, to my ears, once you get below a certain blend the sound gets very unpleasant. The fuzz sits very strangely "on top" of the clean signal - to me, that's not a convincing sound at all.

2) Of course, the sustain knob affects the overall volume as well. I can get an OK sound without a big volume jump balancing volume and sustain differently. But I feel that the upper range of the sustain control (between 3 o' clock and full) adds a cool "chaotic" or "over the top" feel to the sound. Once I get below that range, the volume is no longer an issue. But it sounds like I've traded the "wall of fuzz" effect for a much more controlled sound. Again, I'm not 100% satisfied.

3) After finding a different balance of volume and sustain I've arrived at a sound that might work. I'll try it at rehearsal this week since these things are impossible to judge at home. I'm hoping that what I now perceive as "too controlled" will actually turn out to work better in the mix.

Thanks again!

[Moe45673]

just came across this thread, a year later, in my search for reviews on the BBM on this forum.

Christoph, what did you find?

[dannybuoy]

Problem solved!

Bass Big Muff volume mod

[sutarappa]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Problem solved!

Bass Big Muff volume mod

what he said.

[christoph h.]

yeah! i noticed that thread! thanks, danny!