Finally, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler

Hector_G · #1 06-29-2009, 10:29 PM

Get home from work, and what should I find waiting for me in the mail?

My Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler! Finally! After a few months of searching and waiting.

Of course, out of all the super cool graphics that they have available, I should get the most drab one. Gray and white.

Ok aesthetics aside, let's plug'er in!
I grabbed my Warwick Rockbass and started jamming.
***? Not too impressed. I did NOT just drop a butt load of cash for a "just ok" fuzz pedal.

I switch over to my Schecter Stiletto Studio and try again. Ah, way more pleasing.
After about an hour of playing around with the settings, I think I was on to something.

Yes..... YES!
It took a while to get a feel for the pedal and how it responds to different playing styles and techniques.
It's very responsive to every nuance of your playing.
Of course this is a gated fuzz pedal, so when I mean "nuance", the gate will react differently.
If you back off of the volume, it gives a fantastic synthy fuzz.
This is the setting I stuck with for most of my jam session.

I decided to hook it up to my Line 6 FM4 Filter Modeler.
Let me tell ya, I think I have achieved the wettest, most dripping, funkalicious space bass quack I've ever played.

Coupled with the FM4's Tron Down mode (simulates the Q Tron down sweep...duh) it creates a very funky keyboard tone.

Same results can be found with the Tron Up mode. I just preferred the down.

I think you can compare it to the the Brown Dog coupled with the Agent 00 Funk. Although I have not played through these pedals, I have heard many many sound clips.

But now it's late, and I don't want to keep everyone in the house awake. So I must end for the night.

Overall, despite a very disappointing first few minutes with the pedal, I am beyond happy that I walked away extremely pleased. Definitely worth the wait and the money.
Cheaper than the Brown Dog. WAAAY cheaper than the Wooly Mammoth. And it plays very well with active electronics.

whoatherechunk · #2 06-29-2009, 10:46 PM

another el pasoan!

Hector_G · #3 06-29-2009, 11:03 PM

Whoah.

Shh... There's one more of us around here.

**5stringwonder** · #4 06-30-2009, 08:56 AM

Any low end loss with this? They've got a Bass version of the Frazz Dazzler right?

Hector_G · #5 06-30-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5stringwonder

Any low end loss with this? They've got a Bass version of the Frazz Dazzler right?

They did have a bass version called the Bazz Dazzler which is no longer being made.

The new models of Frazzes have the same "Mix" knob they used in the Bazz Dazller. It's the same circuitry. Plus an added switch that turns the gate off.

So you can blend in as much clean bass signal as you want with the new Frazz Dazzlers. No low end loss at all.

I was really suprised that even with the mix knob fully clockwise with no clean signal, it still sounded GREAT. Really low end heavy fuzz. The Sizzle knob does a great job of retaining the lows when in the counter-clockwise position. Starting all the way down it goes from deep low ends cutting all the highs.
As you turn it up, it starts scooping mids, then starts boosting mids, then adds some biting treble. Not the annoying ear bleeding treble. But nice (as the knob is labeled) sizzle.

I'll try to post some sound clips tomorrow on my day off.

Oh! Henry · #6 06-30-2009, 10:48 AM

Sweet!!!!

I've had the Bazz Dazzler on my board for over a year, and I love this pedal. Coupled with a nice fiter it can give you some really neat synthy sounds. It's one of the only pedals that has survived my many pedalboard changes.

Smallequestrian · #7 06-30-2009, 12:34 PM

I just found a used one on another forum...should have it by Friday.

Gashaponcito · #8 06-30-2009, 02:54 PM

any chance of trying it with in a mix situation? I would like to know how good it cuts through... I hate the big muff syndrome of fuzzes

Hector_G · #9 06-30-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gashaponcito

any chance of trying it with in a mix situation? I would like to know how good it cuts through... I hate the big muff syndrome of fuzzes

I have practice tonight with my metal band. I'll take it just to try it out. Good point. Let's see if this thing can cut through that mess.

I was planning on using this pedal in another project where the bass will be pretty prominent in the mix. All the instruments give eachother plenty of room.

But anyway, I'll post the results later on tonight. I'll let you know how it sounds in a full band context.

Gashaponcito · #10 06-30-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hector_G

I have practice tonight with my metal band. I'll take it just to try it out. Good point. Let's see if this thing can cut through that mess.

I was planning on using this pedal in another project where the bass will be pretty prominent in the mix. All the instruments give eachother plenty of room.

But anyway, I'll post the results later on tonight. I'll let you know how it sounds in a full band context.

amazing! thanks man

Hector_G · #11 07-01-2009, 04:06 PM

Well...... uh...

This pedal should NOT be used with a metal band. Especially with one as busy as mine.
This pedal is not suited for this genre at all.
When turned on, the bass definitely gets lost in the mix. You can feel the bassy rumble, but that's about it.

This pedal I feel is fantastic when left with plenty of room for the bass to breathe.

www.myspace.com/marchofchronos

That's my metal band. I'm sure you'll be able to hear that everything is way too busy for a bass with fuzz to really cut through.

lowbass68 · #12 07-01-2009, 04:51 PM

What is the make up of your band in terms of instrumentation? IMO, with fewer players in a band the bassist has more opportunity to use effects and cut thru. With more instrumentation and thicker sounds, the more mids I seem to need to cut through.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hector_G

Well...... uh...

This pedal should NOT be used with a metal band. Especially with one as busy as mine.
This pedal is not suited for this genre at all.
When turned on, the bass definitely gets lost in the mix. You can feel the bassy rumble, but that's about it.

This pedal I feel is fantastic when left with plenty of room for the bass to breathe.

www.myspace.com/marchofchronos

That's my metal band. I'm sure you'll be able to hear that everything is way too busy for a bass with fuzz to really cut through.

Hector_G · #13 07-01-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowbass68

What is the make up of your band in terms of instrumentation? IMO, with fewer players in a band the bassist has more opportunity to use effects and cut thru. With more instrumentation and thicker sounds, the more mids I seem to need to cut through.

It's just two guitarists, a drummer, vocals and me on the bass.

I did also try to add more mids through the tone knob on the pedal, but this is very harsh fuzz and I lost alot of definition when playing along. With the type of music we play, fuzz doesn't suit the band. I just wanted to see how the pedal does in a band environment.

It sure does sound great in a looser funk jam!