EHX (nano) Metal Muff: works on bass?

[René_Julien]

(Before anyone suggests to me to use the search funtion: I already did. A few times it got mentioned in threads, but no experiences with it. One thread someone asked about it but he got the answer to search around because it already has been discussed. But I found it nowhere.)

Has anyone tried the Metal Muff on a bass?
If so, does it work?

I'm tempting to order the nano version of this thing.

I ordered an EHX POG at my local store, but the owner called me back about his issues with ordering it.
He hasn't any EHX in stock cause to his knowledge no customer ever asks about EHX.
He can order EHX pedals, but he says that he has to order 20 pedals at once due to shipping costs.
Okay, I can understand that, I'm a store owner myself (motorcycles) and sometimes I also have to be careful what I order due to delivery costs.

So that's why I'm thinking of ordering some other pedals from EHX.

I think I will also order the Big Muff Pi (USSR) because I read a lot of good things about that one.

That's why I'm also asking about the Metal Muff. If that works well on bass I'm tempting to order that too. The nano version probably.

So if I already order 3, the store can order 17 other pedals they think that can easily be sold to other bassists or guitarists.

Can anyone suggest any other pedals from EHX for bass? Sound samples? Something intersting to check out.
(btw: I don't care much for flangers, phasers or choruses on bass.)


note: Don't worry, I'm not a GAS-driven lunatic on a buying frenzy.
I just really want the POG, and some good distortion or drive pedals.

[dannybuoy]

Can't say I've tried the Metal Muff but remember seeing a couple of threads about it. Try the built in Google search from the top bar, it sometimes turns up better results than the standard forum search. I don't remember seeing it on anyone's pedal board before though so that would indicate it's not that popular with bassists.

I would first of all wait for the EHX Bass Big Muff to be released before making a decision, and order online from somewhere like Thomann.de (or just use Google product search to find the cheapest) if your local store doesn't stock any!

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

(Before anyone suggests to me to use the search funtion: I already did. A few times it got mentioned in threads, but no experiences with it. One thread someone asked about it but he got the answer to search around because it already has been discussed. But I found it nowhere.)

Has anyone tried the Metal Muff on a bass?
If so, does it work?

I'm tempting to order the nano version of this thing.

I ordered an EHX POG at my local store, but the owner called me back about his issues with ordering it.
He hasn't any EHX in stock cause to his knowledge no customer ever asks about EHX.
He can order EHX pedals, but he says that he has to order 20 pedals at once due to shipping costs.
Okay, I can understand that, I'm a store owner myself (motorcycles) and sometimes I also have to be careful what I order due to delivery costs.

So that's why I'm thinking of ordering some other pedals from EHX.

I think I will also order the Big Muff Pi (USSR) because I read a lot of good things about that one.

That's why I'm also asking about the Metal Muff. If that works well on bass I'm tempting to order that too. The nano version probably.

So if I already order 3, the store can order 17 other pedals they think that can easily be sold to other bassists or guitarists.

Can anyone suggest any other pedals from EHX for bass? Sound samples? Something intersting to check out.
(btw: I don't care much for flangers, phasers or choruses on bass.)

The Metal Muff is unlikely to be kind to your low end. Wait a few days for the Bass Big Muff reviews to come in, or go with a Little Big Muff. I used to have a black Russian, they sound great if you don't mind running it off a battery, the LBM is very close though, and more practical for pedalboards.

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

[size="1"]note: Don't worry, I'm not a GAS-driven lunatic on a buying frenzy.

I AM!!!

[fenderhutz]

I own the Nano Metal Muff. A little (I mean tiny) bit of low end loss, but if you want your bass to sound like it going through a Mesa Boogie Rectifier, this will do it.

It doesn't do "light" gain.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Can't say I've tried the Metal Muff but remember seeing a couple of threads about it. Try the built in Google search from the top bar, it sometimes turns up better results than the standard forum search. I don't remember seeing it on anyone's pedal board before though so that would indicate it's not that popular with bassists.

I would first of all wait for the EHX Bass Big Muff to be released before making a decision, and order online from somewhere like Thomann.de (or just use Google product search to find the cheapest) if your local store doesn't stock any!

I figured from the start it will not be as popular with bassists. Since searches on the forum came up with no info.

But, this is also the case with the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone. Not many bassists find it useful. Only a few like it, I am among them. I have one and it works just fine for me (not full out distortion though).

So I wondered if it is the same thing with the Metal Muff.


And thanks for the advice on ordering it online. I'll check out the possibilities.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I own the Nano Metal Muff. I little (I mean tiny) bit of low end loss, but if you want your bass to sound like it going through a Mesa Boogie Rectifier, this will do it.

It doesn't do "light" gain.

Thank you for sharing that.

As you describe it, I might be useful to me.

I'm waiting for pricing on EHX pedals,... over here everything about music gear is more expensive.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

The Metal Muff is unlikely to be kind to your low end. Wait a few days for the Bass Big Muff reviews to come in, or go with a Little Big Muff. I used to have a black Russian, they sound great if you don't mind running it off a battery, the LBM is very close though, and more practical for pedalboards.

But I like the styling of the russian version.
I once bought a multimeter in a hardware store because it caught my eye: "made in Russia", simple rectangular design, strange symbols on it, very cheap.

[bassmaestro]

so does the russian big muff sound different to the origional,if so how? is it noticable?

and also,can you not run it off of a power supply?

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

But I like the styling of the russian version.
I once bought a multimeter in a hardware store because it caught my eye: "made in Russia", simple rectangular design, strange symbols on it, very cheap.

I like ALMOST everything about the black Russian. It's just a little bulky (space is tight on my board) and it's dependent on batteries.

At least my vintage Bassballs can take a 9volt input - albeit with a MINIJACK adapter HAHAHAHA!

[crapusername]

i found the larger metal muff to be kinder to my low end than either of the other two.
the micro meant i got lost in the mix, and the nano wasn't as versatile as the large model. aside from the bass loss, i found no other major issues.
I ended up with an LBM, and used that for ages.
I agree with some of the other posters in that the Bass big muff is imminent, and could be more suited to what you're after

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by crapusername

i found the larger metal muff to be kinder to my low end than either of the other two.
the micro meant i got lost in the mix, and the nano wasn't as versatile as the large model. aside from the bass loss, i found no other major issues.
I ended up with an LBM, and used that for ages.
I agree with some of the other posters in that the Bass big muff is imminent, and could be more suited to what you're after

Thank you for that useful feedback.

Several times I tempted to aquire a Big Muff. Always with the idea to sound like Cliff Burton.

But after so many years I concluded:
I don't wanna sound like Cliff Burton, I wanna play like Cliff.

But pedal GAS leads to tempting to replicate the gear of your hero.

[thantos_kalev]

I have and use an EH Metal Muff pedal with my Fender Jazz, and I really like the sound that I get. If you tweak the highs enough, you can get a fairly decent, heavily-distorted guitar sound out of it. It is also pretty easy to dial in an "Anasthesia/Pulling Teeth" sound.
I also use my Metal Muff for on-the-fly recording with my Digitech loop pedal. That way, I can add a quick guitar distortion sound to an impromptu recording. It is fun strumming distorted chords with the muff as well.

That being said, this is not a pedal that I use on a regular, every-gig basis. It IS a cool pedal to play with, though. I would be happy to throw together some audio files if you are interested to hear what you [well, what I] can do with the pedal.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by thantos_kalev

I have and use an EH Metal Muff pedal with my Fender Jazz, and I really like the sound that I get. If you tweak the highs enough, you can get a fairly decent, heavily-distorted guitar sound out of it. It is also pretty easy to dial in an "Anasthesia/Pulling Teeth" sound.
I also use my Metal Muff for on-the-fly recording with my Digitech loop pedal. That way, I can add a quick guitar distortion sound to an impromptu recording. It is fun strumming distorted chords with the muff as well.

That being said, this is not a pedal that I use on a regular, every-gig basis. It IS a cool pedal to play with, though. I would be happy to throw together some audio files if you are interested to hear what you [well, what I] can do with the pedal.

I would like to hear how it sounds on bass, if it's not to much trouble. thanks

I've used a Boss Metal Zone myself for many years. I also great if you know how to tweak it.

[thantos_kalev]

Attached is a URL to an audio sample. It is rather crude, as I had to use a computer-based mic to record (the distortion does not normally sound like 2 cats mating)...But hopefully will give you an idea.

Metal Muff Audio Sample

[Calvan]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

I think I will also order the Big Muff Pi (USSR) because I read a lot of good things about that one.

i don't know if it would totally ruin your plan.... but if you want one of these i have one for sale. it's in perfect condition, i've had it for about 5 months tops. it's not the right fuzz for what i wanted it, but it's still a neat pedal. PM me if interested.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by Calvan

i don't know if it would totally ruin your plan.... but if you want one of these i have one for sale. it's in perfect condition, i've had it for about 5 months tops. it's not the right fuzz for what i wanted it, but it's still a neat pedal. PM me if interested.

My plan can't go through. My local store now says they can't order any EHX pedals.

But since two weeks I discovered Thomann.de.
I ordered a POG. (In the OP that was what it all started)
I'm going to hold out on the Metal Muff... for now.

thantos_kalev's demo was just what I asked for. I liked it,.... for the way I can use it. (solo-project)


As for your Russian,... I fear the shipping cost might be a bit high. And that was one I don't actually need.
Just GAS for a boutique pedal.

I'll think about it.
If I'm interested I'll PM you in the future (if you perhaps still have it then).
Thanks for the offer.

[DosiYanarchy]

i owned the big Metal Muff with Top Boost,

and i hated it

well


kinda

basically, it actually has a pretty cool sound on bass, and a very powerfull 3 band EQ, but not the right frequency bands for bass, i bought it thinking 'well its like a muff with a 3-band eq' but it isnt, and its not a muff, just like the English Muff'n isnt a muff, but it sells more if they put 'Muff' on the label.

result - low end suck, majorly, just couldnt use it in my band, the bass control just seemed to add muddiness.
maybe with a clean blend it'd work tho, and solo it could sound really cool.


i want Calvan's russian muff (but im meant to be having one shipped over from the states when my e-cheque clears in like ten days)
they're getting rarer and rarer every day over here, i sold my old one for like £27 - criminal, it was a fantastic pedal.