Fuzz recommendations. Yes, I know, sorry...

kevteop · #1 05-19-2008, 11:02 AM

I know there are lots of soundclips available on the wiki and lots of pedals to choose from and taste is a big factor... But here's the thing:

I've got a Blowtorch which I'm satisfied with for more "modern"-sounding fuzz tones. And I love the onboard EQ and blend and general usefulness of it.

I've also got a Big Muff, and I love the wooly, warm sound of it but not the general un-usefulness of it (giant box, needs babysitting with a blend pedal).

So can anyone recommend a Muff-a-like in a smaller enclosure (or something with similar sonic characteristics; wooly and old-school with bucketloads of fuzz available), pref. with a blend control?.

dannybuoy · #2 05-19-2008, 11:17 AM

I just ordered an Earthbound Supercollider as it's basically a muff with no mid scoop and more bass. It doesn't have a blend, but it doesn't need one. There are loads of fuzz pedals out there, but I liked the clips of this one the most. There's a thread with soundclips around here somewhere... Also check out the Pickle Pie 'B' version or Attack Goat if you need a blended fuzz.

kevteop · #3 05-19-2008, 12:39 PM

Yeah I looked at the Attack Goat - don't think it's quite what I'm looking for. Haven't looked at the Pickle Pie 'B' yet - I'll check it out.

A blend is a must for me, really. I like the low notes to have some body to them so it's more a matter of blending in my clean tone than making sure the fuzz produces enough bass.

Bit O/T: Anyone recommend a good, fast gate pedal? I like the heavily-gated effect on the Brown Dog but would like to apply it to other pedals. I do have a gate on my board at the mo but it's an old DOD and needs replacing, really.

dubsymmetry · #4 05-19-2008, 02:14 PM

well it hasn´t got a blend, but it has a very cool gate - the woolly mammoth. if you set the eq & the wool (aka drive) to 7-10 o´clock and pinch (aka gate) to 7, you get a nice sustainy, dark & just a little bit fuzzy distortion...
you can adjust a lot of tone variations untill a sputtery, gates-of-hell, hifrequency rich fuzz nightmare with the controlls on full blast.

K2000 · #5 05-19-2008, 10:01 PM

The Wooly Mammoth is not a vintage sounding fuzz, if that's what you're looking for.

What about getting a loop pedal with a clean blend knob, and just sticking the Muff in the loop (if you like the sound of the Muff).

CliftonBonney · #6 05-19-2008, 11:02 PM

Yep. You could go with the Barge Concepts VB-jr.

icarussmicarus · #7 05-19-2008, 11:24 PM

Well, its defiantly not smaller (shaped a bit smaller than a wah) but the current Colorsound Tonebender is like big muff++. I loved my old russian big muff deeply, my intense new love i have for my Tonebender is unnatural and possibly illegal.

Definatly doesn't need a blend, puts out more bass than you clean signal if you adjust the tone knob right. It can move from classic muff sounds (but better) to quite synthy depending on how you dial it in.

meatwad · #8 05-19-2008, 11:57 PM

Not to hijack, but since the Muff has already been mentioned, how does the Nano Muff and the Micro Metal Muff compare to the original?

Valerus · #9 05-20-2008, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatwad

Not to hijack, but since the Muff has already been mentioned, how does the Nano Muff and the Micro Metal Muff compare to the original?

Personally, I would just go with a Little Big Muff, rather than those two.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Metal Muff is more of a distortion than a fuzz.

sk8 · #10 05-20-2008, 12:32 AM

Pickle Pie B could be an option

BassMonstrum · #11 05-20-2008, 12:34 AM

If you like the Muff why not go with a black russian one? More low end and smaller than the NYC.

meatwad · #12 05-20-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

Personally, I would just go with a Little Big Muff, rather than those two.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Metal Muff is more of a distortion than a fuzz.

That's what I've been thinking, but the Little Muff is still an inch or so wider than Boss/Ibanez pedals, and I'm down to two spaces on my Boss BCB-60 pedalboard.

meatwad · #13 05-20-2008, 01:45 AM

sorry, double post

sk8 · #14 05-20-2008, 02:14 AM

pickle pie is thinner than LBM

Smurf-o-Deth · #15 05-20-2008, 04:30 AM

For a gate, try the ISP Decimator. It's clean, quick and articulate, with no tone coloration.

kevteop · #16 05-20-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2000

What about getting a loop pedal with a clean blend knob, and just sticking the Muff in the loop (if you like the sound of the Muff).

That's the situation I'm in now, but it means a lot of cables and boxes and mess for one fuzz. I like it but I don't like it that much...

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarussmicarus

... Tonebender ... Definatly doesn't need a blend, puts out more bass than you clean signal if you adjust the tone knob right. It can move from classic muff sounds (but better) to quite synthy depending on how you dial it in.

Sounds fun but it doesn't fit either of my criteria (small enclosure, on-board blend).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

For a gate, try the ISP Decimator. It's clean, quick and articulate, with no tone coloration.

Great stuff, I'll give it a try, much appreciated.

So far the best suggestion seems to be the Pickle Pie 'B'. No other blended vintage-sounding bass fuzzes out there?

OhThePeacock · #17 05-20-2008, 06:54 AM

Hmm most of these suggestions aren't muff clones. The ones that come to mind right away are the LBM which is known to work well with bass, the Pickle Pie 'B' by Wren and Cuff, Skreddy Mayo (good luck finding one though), GGG or BYOC muff. You could always mod your own for bass too...hope this helps.

bassman1185 · #18 05-20-2008, 07:15 AM

Nobody's mentioned the MXR El Grande yet? If I decide to get a smaller replacement for my Russian Big Muff, that will be high on the list of fuzzes to try out. The sound clips that I have heard have been amazing.

Jimbow · #19 05-20-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

If you like the Muff why not go with a black russian one? More low end and smaller than the NYC.

I love my russian muff.

The only downside is there is not an adapter output, but you can buy one of those things that clips on to the 9-volt tabs for like two bucks.

kevteop · #20 05-20-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhThePeacock

... Skreddy Mayo (good luck finding one though), GGG or BYOC muff. You could always mod your own for bass too...hope this helps.

I thought about rehousing mine in a smaller enclosure with a blend circuit but to be honest it would be like asking a four year old to design a particle accelerator. I also tried to find a third party to do it for me but failed there, too.

I figure for the same money there are probably better options.

Maybe a BYOC tonebender clone might be interesting to check out too.