Fuzz and/or Overdrive with HOLLOW BODY BASSES

rratajski · #1 01-26-2010, 04:28 AM

I have a beautiful Jack Casady Hollow Body Bass.
She hates muffs...total hetero...too much feedback when not in use (which makes sense since she's hollow).

I have a Brassmaster clone on the board which is great with the hollow body because it doesn't feedback.

What other fuzzes and ODs are out there that you or someone you have seen in person use with a hollow body bass that doesn't feed back?

Step · #2 01-26-2010, 04:38 AM

well, I use a starfire reissue which is hollowbody, it has a block in the middle I believe, so not a "true" hollowbody

but anyway, I play through an acoustic 370 with 301 cabinet, pushing some serious volume using a fuzz based on the Big John hairy balls fuzz

If I stand in front of my cab and raise the volume it feedbacks like crazy but that is to be expected (not to mention fun) but it can be controlled by standing next to the cab or facing away.

In the past I used a DS-1 with the gain all the way up for my distortion and that feedbacked uncontrollably, alot more than my fuzz ever did

BassBrass · #3 01-26-2010, 05:29 AM

Fuzzes I use that don't feedback and don't use a gate that sputters are the Blowtorch and Mastotron. (Mastotron in a blend so Blowtorch is "better" having blend and mid control). Do you use a VT? They do feedback with drive up, but hollowbody bass and I think either radical buzzsaw (as above) or classic overdrive that add grind you can perceive at volume. I'd even try a Blogger on drive...many "hate" it on this side of the pond, but I find it very useful before a fuzz with blend. It too is silent between notes. Devi Ever KP maybe?

pedrodelawasp · #4 01-26-2010, 05:47 AM

when using my ibanez artcore bass (neck through with hollow wings) i like to use my old marshall guv'nor (the proper old black and red one) with a bit of clean mixed in via an LS-2. It also reacted well to an Ibanez PD5 Phat Head, a Boss ODB3 and my Morley volume/wah/distortion pedal. Feedback nice and easy to control on that bass with those ODs. The EHX LBM not so easy to control, but lots of fun.

rratajski · #5 01-26-2010, 06:35 AM

Let me clarify...
I don't want any feedback when I stop playing.

Keep 'em comin'!

MAMMOTHvolume · #6 01-26-2010, 06:38 AM

normally muffs are pretty good for not feeding back, i've never had problems with mine even with my amp running full tilt! you could even look into adding a bit of a gate to one of your muffs.

Deluge Of Sound · #7 01-26-2010, 06:42 AM

I happily use my Supercollider with my Jack Casady, however there is certainly some feedback.

The MXR Blue Box doesn't have that problem, however it might not be what you're looking for.

rratajski · #8 01-26-2010, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAMMOTHvolume

normally muffs are pretty good for not feeding back, i've never had problems with mine even with my amp running full tilt! you could even look into adding a bit of a gate to one of your muffs.

The muff is the king of feedback with my hollow body. It sounds SOOOOO good while playing, but the notes fade into feedback that can't be controlled.

I'll look into the muff gate.

EDIT
Has anyone tried this noise gate for a muff from http://rkerkhof.ruhosting.nl/Taas/Mods/Big%20Muff.htm:
Noise gate mod: This mod will quieten the Muff while not playing, thus a noise gate. To do this, add a 100k trimpot (wired as a variable resistor) parallel to the 100k to ground of the second gain stage (R14). The trimpot can be adjusted to taste to get the max noise gate effect.

vegas532 · #9 01-26-2010, 07:49 AM

RATS and Turbo RATS are great with minimal feedback, and both the Fulltone Bass-Drive and OCD work very well, although they will feedback at high settings.

Now I miss my Casady.

rratajski · #10 01-26-2010, 08:14 AM

I think the thing that's getting to me about the Brassmaster is the upper octave/nasal drive to it. I have the intensity way down to decrease the nasalness...

God...do I go and try a Vintage RAT or build a GGG RAT again?! 4 times is a charm!
I had the Fulltone Bass Drive w/ MOSFET. The MOSFET setting sounded best but the feedback was nasty at higher settings, which is what I need.

Dude, just trade me the Wal. It's cool.

vegas532 · #11 01-26-2010, 08:32 AM

I almost forgot that the MXR M-80 will do it, also.

And no Wal for you, young Grasshopper.

Kromwarp · #12 01-26-2010, 08:49 AM

P.M. MattMcCue, he uses a Russian Muff with a old 70's Epi Hollowbody

dannybuoy · #13 01-26-2010, 09:00 AM

Try a noise gate with an fx loop like an ISP Decimator G-String or a Boss Noise Suppressor. When you stop playing it will kill the sound dead no matter what distortion you use.

tomhanzo · #14 01-26-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Try a noise gate with an fx loop like an ISP Decimator G-String or a Boss Noise Suppressor. When you stop playing it will kill the sound dead no matter what distortion you use.

dude the Boss NS-2 is great. It fixes it all and has a knob for controlling the cut off point.

I have used a ton of dirt pedals. An EHX Tube Zipper and Ibanez TS-9 dont give you much feedback at all. Even at high levels.

fenderthrupeave · #15 01-26-2010, 03:00 PM

This mod does work very well to quite down the muff, I havnt used it with a hallow body BUT it works great for both my jazz's

EDIT
Has anyone tried this noise gate for a muff from http://rkerkhof.ruhosting.nl/Taas/Mods/Big%20Muff.htm:
Noise gate mod: This mod will quieten the Muff while not playing, thus a noise gate. To do this, add a 100k trimpot (wired as a variable resistor) parallel to the 100k to ground of the second gain stage (R14). The trimpot can be adjusted to taste to get the max noise gate effect.[/quote]

ItsMichaelYeah · #16 01-26-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomhanzo

dude the Boss NS-2 is great. It fixes it all and has a knob for controlling the cut off point.

I have used a ton of dirt pedals. An EHX Tube Zipper and Ibanez TS-9 dont give you much feedback at all. Even at high levels.

Really. I think out of all noise supressors this is my least favorite. I use an mxr smart gate. This thing cut the noise and feedback like nothing! It does an equal to job to my dbx 166xl

stuonbass · #17 01-26-2010, 03:48 PM

I play my Epi JC with a bit of overdrive for a nice tube-y crunch. I find that if face the amplifier directly, it will howl and feedback like a banshee! If I face away from the amp, all is good unless you fail to mute the strings or turn off the volume pot, in which case it will start to hum and build up to a full feedback howl. Being aware of these potential problems, I find it not hard to manage.