Fender Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz: Experience/Settings/Overall Thoughts

P-oddz · #1 01-24-2011, 01:08 PM

Hey guys -

I know this pedal was fairly overlooked/looked down upon due to its ridiculous size (of which I am in full agreement of), but I was wondering what are other takes on this pedal?

I just got one last week and had a band practice and a fair amount of alone time to spend dialing it in. Full disclosure - I normally do not care for fuzz tones much (can't stand gated fuzz, and other fuzzes sound too farty for my personal use), but I love the tone of this thing. It makes angry - but a completely usable, and what I would call a "pocket fuzz". Very organic and warm. I even tracked some new ideas I was writing this weekend with it, and it sat great in the mix.

So my question is what are your opinions of it? If you don't like it, why (other than size)? Does it not stand up to hardcore fuzz-o-philes? For owners of this pedal - what are your settings and specific uses? Do you like it subdued? Or an angry bite? And additional - how in the hell do you fit it on a pedal board?

Wud · #2 01-24-2011, 01:21 PM

I've not used one, but many people do seem to like some of the many sounds you can coax out of it.
If your predominantly studio/bedroom based then your possibly more likely to keep it, compared to a more gig orientated user where pedal board space is at a premium.

eyeballkid · #3 01-24-2011, 01:25 PM

i currently have or have had alot of the "must have" fuzzes out there.. and the Sublime will ALWAYS have a place on my board, despite it taking up the space that I could put any 3 other fuzzes in!!.. its worth it!!
it seriously has more usuable tones as well as such a great on the fly continuity that fits better in the mix than almost anything else ive tried... it could become my only fuzz if I had to choose.

P-oddz · #4 01-24-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wud

I've not used one, but many people do seem to like some of the many sounds you can coax out of it.
If your predominantly studio/bedroom based then your possibly more likely to keep it, compared to a more gig orientated user where pedal board space is at a premium.

I could see that point. It really is ridiculously large - and more than two pedals on a smaller pedal board and it turns into too big to handle. For now - will see I guess.

I settled on seeing how carrying it along with me for live shows will work out before I spend the cash on a bigger board.

P-oddz · #5 01-24-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

i currently have or have had alot of the "must have" fuzzes out there.. and the Sublime will ALWAYS have a place on my board, despite it taking up the space that I could put any 3 other fuzzes in!!.. its worth it!!
it seriously has more usuable tones as well as such a great on the fly continuity that fits better in the mix than almost anything else ive tried... it could become my only fuzz if I had to choose.

So, where do you like this pedal to sit? Aggressive, or warm? Where do you keep the OD/Crossover positioned at usually - or do you futz often?

I think I've found my happy place with it as of now - but I'd have to refer to it at home (as I can't picture off the top of my head where I settled).

eyeballkid · #6 01-24-2011, 01:43 PM

I think both of my trim pots on the bottom are at like 11 oclock, drive/gain about noon, and for a light OD I get it into the yellow with a hint of orange and roll it into the red for extra gnarliness.

D-Nut · #7 01-24-2011, 01:45 PM

Very usable insight everyone. I saw the demo and loved that but everyone's advice is aiding in the buying decision. Thank you.

eyeballkid · #8 01-24-2011, 01:51 PM

yeah, if you search on youtube for "fender sublime" theres a demo done by Grygryx (?? i never can spell his handle right) of bassfuzz.com and theres 2 demos I did, one with an active bass and one with a passive. They will be the top couple videos in the search.

P-oddz · #9 01-24-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

yeah, if you search on youtube for "fender sublime" theres a demo done by Grygryx (?? i never can spell his handle right) of bassfuzz.com and theres 2 demos I did, one with an active bass and one with a passive. They will be the top couple videos in the search.

AH HA! YOU are the guy from the youtube clips!

On a side - thanks for doing those! Your clips are what pushed me over the edge into getting one. I loved the tones you were getting with your passive Jazz - needed it for my PASSIVE JAZZ.

Thanks much man - good sound, and very informative.

eyeballkid · #10 01-24-2011, 03:28 PM

youre totally welcome, glad they helped..
definately check out bassfuzz.com... he has LOADS of good fuzz demos

reddi · #11 01-24-2011, 03:47 PM

I love mine, it's a great fuzz!

sillyfabe · #12 01-24-2011, 05:41 PM

One of my fav fuzzes of all time! I have mine set to:

X-over: 1 o clock
Tone: 11 o clock
Drive: full on
Volume (with my set-up): 1 o clock for a slight boost
Fuzz: green-yellow for some doomy stuff, orange-red for anger!

loendmaestro · #13 01-24-2011, 07:46 PM

My seemingly eternal search for fuzz/distortion/overdrive/what-have-you finally came to an end when I got the Sublime.

It has the perfect rich, warm fuzz that I wanted & with no real discernible loss of low-end. And I use the toe wheel much more than I ever thought I would.

Yeah, it's obnoxiously big....but truth be told, I kinda dig the LARGENESS of the pedal. I'm an old man and don't gig like like I used to, so if I was carting it around & had to deal with nightly set-ups & breakdowns again I'd probably have a different opinion. But I've retired my pedal board (for now) and am only running tuner/Sublime/VT Bass so it works for me.

I guess folks are really turned off by the size of the thing, but I think it's really the best kept secret in fuzz right now.

Glad I'm not alone!

eyeballkid · #14 01-24-2011, 08:07 PM

i couldnt agree more, and ya know, Im finding that Fenders amps/effects in general are the best kept secret!

I absolutely love this pedal, and I never expected to. I always look for that "soft fuzz" where it feels more "fuzzy" than "bitey", like a saturated soft overdrive of gooey grrrrrr.. and this gets it better than anything ived tried and stays articulate too. Then when you dial it up into the more over the top end it still FITS!!!
I always am drawn to the obscure and I find it weird that I soo often am singing the praises of my fender amp/cabinets and fuzz!!! quite ironic to me... but music isnt about the 'cool obscure', its about how it sounds!

loendmaestro · #15 01-24-2011, 08:32 PM

For many years I played through a Fender BXR 400 head with a matching 4x10 cab, it was a fantastic rig. Very underrated.

Ironically enough the head was kind of big & bulky & the cab had to be one of the largest 4x10's ever made!

P-oddz · #16 01-26-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

i couldnt agree more, and ya know, Im finding that Fenders amps/effects in general are the best kept secret!

I absolutely love this pedal, and I never expected to. I always look for that "soft fuzz" where it feels more "fuzzy" than "bitey", like a saturated soft overdrive of gooey grrrrrr.. and this gets it better than anything ived tried and stays articulate too. Then when you dial it up into the more over the top end it still FITS!!!
I always am drawn to the obscure and I find it weird that I soo often am singing the praises of my fender amp/cabinets and fuzz!!! quite ironic to me... but music isnt about the 'cool obscure', its about how it sounds!

Agreed as well. I see a lot of people comment on boutique fuzz pedals with names that are as strange as the fuzz they produce - but I never got into strange fuzz. I wanted usable fuzz.

As far as Fender products go - I'm truly a dedicated fan! This Fender pedal sounds great on my Fender '62 Jazz reissue, through my Fender TV15 combo. It also really shines on my Fender Highway 1 Precision, and my Fender Jaguar. I think some people do scoff at Fender products, because they are the "norm" or they are not as "boutique", and there are definitely some Fender products and amps that are completely underrated IMO (my TV series combo being one of them).

ANYWAYS... as far as my settings - For now I've settled on a little brighter than you guys run it, at:

Tone: 1 o' clock
X-Over: 11 o' clock
Drive: about midway
Volume: about 3/4 way (For significant boost)
Fuzz: Sits just a hair above orange

As mentioned before, I'm playing with a '62 Jazz RI, with DR Sunbeams into a TV15 combo (and I probably will reserve this fuzz to playing with a pick as I like the grind/attack tone - Dunlop Yellow .733mm to be exact

). Also, I am using a ZVex Distortron that gets used as my always go to volume/bass/dirt boost, and of which I have not found anything that does it better for me personally (both pick and fingerstyle).

What setups are you guys playing through?

loendmaestro · #17 01-26-2011, 09:23 AM

I play a Rick 4001, 3001, & 4003, a Gibson T-bird, a G&L ASAT, as well as a Precision & Jazz through mine. The P-Bass is really the go-to axe though...

I have a VT Bass in the chain after the Sublime & then into a Yorkville XS400 with a Yorkville 1x15 cab.

My settings are remarkably similar to yours, as are my picks!
I think my drive setting is a little hotter than yours. Maybe noon-ish...
I do adjust the wheel occasionally depending on the mix, needs of the song, or my blood alcohol level.

P-oddz · #18 01-26-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loendmaestro

I do adjust the wheel occasionally depending on the mix, needs of the song, or my blood alcohol level.

HAHA! Awesome....

Nice stable you have available as well! Dem's is some sexy basses!

I've only had one practice with the band with it (the second day I had it) so I was still working it out. I'll update if my settings change - or if my ear is spot on, sans the band.

I'll have to give it a run in front of my VT as well as something new to try. The VT left my pedal board when I replaced it with the Distortron as my go-to drive, and I didn't care for its coloration over my Mesa at the time. Now with my Fender - I don't want anything but the Fender tone (with a little additional EQ help from my Tone Hammer). But for home recording - I'll give it whirl.

loendmaestro · #19 01-26-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-oddz

Nice stable you have available as well! Dem's is some sexy basses!

Thanks!

And I'm glad you like the Sublime, it's a great pedal. Keep us posted as you experiment more.

eyeballkid · #20 01-26-2011, 05:48 PM

actually we probably have em sounding about the same, cos i play with a stingray and roll back the one pot to make up for the brightness of the bass.