Is this a fuzz tone?

gutsofgold · #1 08-09-2008, 09:41 AM

I've heard this tone in a few recent songs. It's almost like a you recorded a bass with a lot of low end through a torn speaker and then compressed the heck out of it. The best example I can give is the song "Versus" by Russian Circles (really awesome instrumental band). The bass comes in a few seconds into it.

You can listen to it here: http://www.myspace.com/russiancircles

Any idea on how this is achieved? I've seen them live and the only kind of distortion he runs is a Tube Screamer (un-modded I think), a Big Muff Pi, through an Ampeg.

Oreomeister365 · #2 08-09-2008, 10:02 AM

A fuzz for sure. I've never heard the tube screamer on bass so I'm just going to guess the big muff.

vegas532 · #3 08-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Big Muff with a little slapback courtesy of an Akai Headrush. I got the grand tour of his gear.

gutsofgold · #4 08-09-2008, 10:18 AM

I've never heard a big muff sound so huge. Is there a certain model I should try... what does he use?

Oreomeister365 · #5 08-09-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutsofgold

I've never heard a big muff sound so huge. Is there a certain model I should try... what does he use?

The slapback vegas talked about will probably help with that. I'm assuming he's talking about some slapback delay.

bongomania · #6 08-09-2008, 10:26 AM

Vegas just told you what he used.

That's what is sounds like to me, too, a Muff through a bit of delay or reverb. The delay or reverb adds the hugeness.

vegas532 · #7 08-09-2008, 10:33 AM

Man...you guys should listen to Bongo and I more often!

gutsofgold · #8 08-09-2008, 10:34 AM

There's a billion and a half Big Muff variants out there. There's the current, the Little Big Muff, NYC, new black Russian, old Green Russian, old Triangle... need I go on?

Just wondering if their bassist used a specific model. I have a new Russian one and it is much much tamer than that sound. The Russian Reissue is kind like an overdrive.

RickenBoogie · #9 08-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Your amp might be holding you back, maybe. (might, and maybe)

bongomania · #10 08-09-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutsofgold

There's a billion and a half Big Muff variants out there. There's the current, the Little Big Muff, NYC, new black Russian, old Green Russian, old Triangle... need I go on?

They all sound very, very similar. The differences are "audible" but not enough to make or break that tone.

gutsofgold · #11 08-09-2008, 12:18 PM

Well I run an Ampeg SVT into an 810 cab alongside a Sunn Concert Bass into a 2x15 cab. I hope that's not holding me back haha.

I don't own a delay so maybe that really is key to getting a sound like that.

SnakeAnthony · #12 08-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutsofgold

Well I run an Ampeg SVT into an 810 cab alongside a Sunn Concert Bass into a 2x15 cab. I hope that's not holding me back haha.

I don't own a delay so maybe that really is key to getting a sound like that.

That certainly wont hold you back. Hell, Brian only runs an SVT-3 (Hybrid amp actually notorious on these forums for not pushing enough air) into a 4x12 and a 1x18.

I would say the delay is necessary, and if you really want to achieve it perfectly, just up some cash for a better muff. I personally never liked the Black Russian models, and greatly preferred the NY and LBM versions, and that's just sticking to the original EHX names. There are thousands of improvements on the market. I get a pretty nice version of that running Bass> Robot Factory White Russian> Line 6 DL-4 on slapback length Analog Delay.

rratajski · #13 08-09-2008, 02:07 PM

You could always email These Arms Are Snakes ATTN: Brian and ask him. They are good dudes about getting back to emails.

Hit them on nerdspace.

RickenBoogie · #14 08-09-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutsofgold

Well I run an Ampeg SVT into an 810 cab alongside a Sunn Concert Bass into a 2x15 cab. I hope that's not holding me back haha.

I don't own a delay so maybe that really is key to getting a sound like that.

Nope. ok, I'll go back to what I was doing, er, before.

SnakeAnthony · #15 08-09-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

You could always email These Arms Are Snakes ATTN: Brian and ask him. They are good dudes about getting back to emails.

Hit them on nerdspace.

While that certainly is an option, I'll save you the trouble. Brian runs:

Gibson Grabber or Ripper, I cannot recall> Boss TU-2> Digitech Wh-1> Ibanez Tube Screamer> EHX Big Muff (New York)> Akai Headrush v1> Akai Headrush v2> Ampeg SVT-3> Emperor 4x12/1x18 cabs.

As noted above, Vegas got the run down of the gear, and through this I have learned.

For those who own the album, here's a good example. Grindy intro starting at 0:33 of Harper Lewis= Tubescreamer. Buzzy tone starting at 0:40 of Verses/Sustained notes at 1:42 of Harper Lewis= Muff