Fuzz in southern rock - I need inspiration!

[bassforce]

Hi
I joined southern/hard/jam rock band recently.
I really enjoy playing with them but I have an "inspiration problem"...

Since the begining of my bass adventure my the P-bass and Big Muff was always "my" sound. P-bass suits great for the new band, but I have problem with my beloved fuzzbox.

I simply CAN'T imagine fuzzed bass in music we play.
We do few covers of The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Govt Mule and try to write some originals.

Please give me few examples of bass fuzz in this kind of music.

I never had any problems with fuzz songs I played - I could always use it and it sounded great. Now I'm lost.
I think I should listen to few jam/souhern/bluesrock songs with fuzzed bass to open up my mind.
So please help me with few examples if you can.

[RickenBoogie]

Fuzz is an extreme version of overdrive, or distortion. I think what you want is a good overdrive pedal, not fuzz.

[dannybuoy]

How about 'Crawl' by Kings Of Leon? I guess that counts as southern rock...

[waynobass]

How about enjoying your own sound without regard to what others have done in the past?

Be a leader, not a follower!

Now there's some inspiration for ya.

[bassforce]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Fuzz is an extreme version of overdrive, or distortion. I think what you want is a good overdrive pedal, not fuzz.

No. I always loved Big Muff, it's fuzz/distortion. And I want to use it. I'm using overdrive almost all the time.

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

How about 'Crawl' by Kings Of Leon? I guess that counts as southern rock...

Great music! Looking for more examples.
I found one great example:
beginning of "Beginners Guide To Suicide" by Orange Goblin.

Sounds "like" my band ( slide guitar, hammond) and there's great fuzz!

Originally Posted by waynobass

How about enjoying your own sound without regard to what others have done in the past?

Be a leader, not a follower!

Now there's some inspiration for ya.

It's a great inspiration. And it always worked. But now I have two guitars, hammond and piano in band. I never had so "full" sounding band, so distorted bass was great way to fill up empty space. Now I feel that there's no space

[dune2k]

Originally Posted by bassforce

No. I always loved Big Muff, it's fuzz/distortion. And I want to use it. I'm using overdrive almost all the time.



Great music! Looking for more examples.
I found one great example:
beginning of "Beginners Guide To Suicide" by Orange Goblin.

Sounds "like" my band ( slide guitar, hammond) and there's great fuzz!

The music Orange Goblin play is Stoner Rock, even though their "version" of it sound kind of tamed. There are even fuzzier "versions"...
Listen to some "NOLA Metal"-stuff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_o...ns#Heavy_metal), they also use a lot of fuzz.

[bassforce]

I know Goblins play stoner and New Orlean's scene, I'm a big fan of this genre.
I posted this song, because it sounds "southerny" with hammonds and slide guitar.

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by bassforce

Hi
I joined southern/hard/jam rock band recently.
I really enjoy playing with them but I have an "inspiration problem"...

Since the begining of my bass adventure my the P-bass and Big Muff was always "my" sound. P-bass suits great for the new band, but I have problem with my beloved fuzzbox.

I simply CAN'T imagine fuzzed bass in music we play.
We do few covers of The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Govt Mule and try to write some originals.

Please give me few examples of bass fuzz in this kind of music.

I never had any problems with fuzz songs I played - I could always use it and it sounded great. Now I'm lost.
I think I should listen to few jam/souhern/bluesrock songs with fuzzed bass to open up my mind.
So please help me with few examples if you can.

This probably isn't going to be what you want to hear, but if fuzz bass doesn't fit into the music you are playing then just don't use it. I am a massive effects fan, and I love ridiculously extreme synthy bass sounds, but at the same time I tailor my sound to suit the gig, and if I go to a gig and all it needs/wants is something simple and clean then that's what I play. Its the same as if I am doing a gig that just wants a root note on every beat, I don't do super-fast 20th fret solos.

Sure, if there is a song or two you can fit the fuzz into, then throw it in. But you don't HAVE to use the fuzz all the time. Expand your style and sonic palette, and do something different to what you have done before - all it does is make you a better musician.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Sure, if there is a song or two you can fit the fuzz into, then throw it in. But you don't HAVE to use the fuzz all the time. Expand your style and sonic palette, and do something different to what you have done before - all it does is make you a better musician.

Dude, you're going about this all bass ackwards. Instead of asking, "How can I adapt the music to fit my sound?", you should be asking, "How can I adapt my sound to fit the music?"

Flexibility and versatility is a big part of being a good musician - not trying to force a particular tone or a particular effect where it does not belong. If using a particular type of instrument and a particular type of effect is all there is to your sound, then that's your problem: you're being too superficial. And you're being too rigid. Dig deeper into the instrument - and open yourself up...

MM

[rcubed]

I love fuzz on the monster riffs, usually the slower the better. Pick a riff and fuzz it out.

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Dude, you're going about this all bass ackwards. Instead of asking, "How can I adapt the music to fit my sound?", you should be asking, "How can I adapt my sound to fit the music?"

Flexibility and versatility is a big part of being a good musician - not trying to force a particular tone or a particular effect where it does not belong. If using a particular type of instrument and a particular type of effect is all there is to your sound, then that's your problem: you're being too superficial. And you're being too rigid. Dig deeper into the instrument - and open yourself up...

MM

Why did you quote my post? Were you criticising it or using it to reinforce your point?

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Why did you quote my post? Were you criticising it or using it to reinforce your point?

The latter. Originally I referenced it in my reply. Then upon editing my remarks to exclude this specific reference, I simply neglected to delete your remarks.

Either way, we're clearly in agreement here...

MM

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

The latter. Originally I referenced it in my reply. Then upon editing my remarks to exclude this specific reference, I simply neglected to delete your remarks.

Either way, we're clearly in agreement here...

MM

Fair enough. When I first read your post it looked like you were criticising my post, except that you were saying exactly what I had said...

I was all like

[NortyFiner]

Some of Skynyrd's heavier stuff, like "Saturday Night Special", is perfectly acceptable for use of a fuzz. The key is to just use the fuzz for a little added flavor, and not overkill it like you're playing metal or something...unless maybe that's your intention. After all, there's no law that says that you can't give a cover your own touches...

[ricknote]

If tastefully used, fuzz and overdrive can be great in Southern Rock
styles. For instance, during guitar solos to capture the feeling of those
many overdubs guitars.
If you're recording a record, that's a different thing entirely.
But for live playing, use your judgment and have FUN.

I play this stuff in Nashville all the time and use all kinds of crunch
in some spots.
Not one complaint in 20 years.

Pay attention to dynamics and go from quiet to a roar and you'll be fine.

All the best,
Rick

[eddievanbassman]

allen woody rip

[MickMichaels]

Get yourself ''Strange cousins from the west'' by Clutch.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Fair enough. When I first read your post it looked like you were criticising my post, except that you were saying exactly what I had said...

I was all like

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you

Anyway, I sort of agree with the "don't force it" approach being discussed here, but I also started using effects in my oldies band, which I could easily do with a clean tone and nothing else, and if I didn't force effects on them, I'd never be able to use them. Fuzz, however, can be pretty obnoxious during "Tuesday's Gone," so you really have to pick your moments carefully and be honest with yourself about whether it's really working or if you're just whacking off. My rule of thumb is it's better to have a clean sound and wish you had some dirt than to have dirt and wish you had a clean sound.

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

allen woody rip

+1.

Also Grand Funk Railroad (yes, I know they're not 'southern rock' but.....)

Besides.... just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean that it can't be done

[SnakeAnthony]

Go buy the album Wrecking Ball by Dead Confederate. Now. It's my favorite southern rock album, and there is fuzz all over it. If you need a specific song to start out check out "All The Angels."