Which fuzz for beasties

[bentfork]

What fuzz box did they use or will work for the bass sound in the beastie boys song sabotage?

[BZadlo]

I think it was some kind of a Boss Fuzz.

[moose23]

Pretty sure it's a Univox Superfuzz

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by moose23

Pretty sure it's a Univox Superfuzz

Yes and no. Black Cat effects claims their Superfuzz clone was the actual pedal used.

The cheapest way to get that Superfuzz tone is probably a Guyatone TZ-2. Great little pedal.

[moose23]

I read an interview somewhere where he said what he always uses but can't find it now.
I'll try and hunt it down. Actually I read that blackcat description as Yauch using a superfuzz.

Here's interview it's actually about gratitude though.

"The bass line was something that I had made up early on as I was learning to play the bass, maybe around 1980. I think it grew out of a pedal that I'd acquired called a "Super Fuzz," and the tone of the box begged the line.

In late '87, in the aftermath of Licensed to Ill, we [Beastie Boys] decided to take a little break. I bought a Fostex reel-to-reel 8-track and started writing songs with a friend named Tom Cushman. Tom reminded me about the old bass line. I found the Super Fuzz, and we wrote a song around it. The song was called "Gratitude." That version was over an 808 drum machine and had me singing on it..."

[Auchenorrhyncha]

its a superfuzz (blue and orange)

[The Lurker]

Superfuzz. Best bang/buck ratio around is the Guyatone TZ-2.

[BZadlo]

Oh, I think the name "Super Fuzz" confused me. Boss has a bunch of "Super" pedals and a "Hyper Fuzz."

[agreatheight]

This is a song I play in my band - I get a real close tone using a Bad Monkey.

[boogie8008]

I use a Russian Big Muff and it kills for the sabotage sound. I think the Russian is a little darker than the American version and sounds warmer on bass, plus it isn't that expensive new and there are plenty of used ones available for cheap.

[bigchiefbc]

I was pretty sure I remember reading that it was an actual old-school Univox Super Fuzz, not a clone.

Regardless, I was (surprisingly) able to cop this tone pretty well in band rehearsal using a Devi Ever Bit after some tweaking around with the control knob.

[grygrx]

Originally Posted by agreatheight

I get a real close tone using a Bad Monkey.

Originally Posted by boogie8008

I use a Russian Big Muff and it kills for the sabotage sound.

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

Regardless, I was (surprisingly) able to cop this tone pretty well in band rehearsal using a Devi Ever Bit after some tweaking around with the control knob.

[icarussmicarus]

Maybe it's a bassline that changes sound depending on who listens to it Grygrx? That would be an achievement

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by grygrx

I can't speak to the other two. The SuperFuzz is a pretty harsh, biting fuzz, and I'm not sure how a tubescreamer clone or a Muff could sound like it. At least my comment included a "harsh, biting fuzz"

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by moose23

I read an interview somewhere where he said what he always uses but can't find it now.
I'll try and hunt it down. Actually I read that blackcat description as Yauch using a superfuzz.

Originally Posted by Auchenorrhyncha

its a superfuzz (blue and orange)

I stand corrected. But the text on the Black Cat site is a bit misleading. Maybe not deliberately, but it could be a lot clearer.

But yeah, definitely a Superfuzz sound. But again, rather than spend a bunch on an original (or even more for a Shin-ei) I still say the Guyatone is fantastic for the price and will nail that tone.

Originally Posted by grygrx

That was my thought too. The SuperFuzz is a harsh, biting fuzz box, but it also has that octave up which helps give it its distinct tone. I think the Muff and the Superfuzz are about as far apart as traditional sounding fuzz boxes could be.

[moose23]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I stand corrected. But the text on the Black Cat site is a bit misleading.

For sure.

[Bjazzman]

while were on the subject of the beasties... what did they use for the bass tone on shake your rump?

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

while were on the subject of the beasties... what did they use for the bass tone on shake your rump?

The main line sounds clearly like a Moog synth to me.

The part that is clearly a bass guitar two minute or so in (which may or may or may not be sampled) sounds like a jazz bass with flats being slapped into a tube amp. But knowing the Dust Brothers, I'd wouldn't be surprised if something was added in post.