Help me choose my fuzz!

mrsquishy · #1 02-13-2009, 05:46 AM

Hello all, I have not much experience with fuzzes, I've only had a sovtek muff and a blue boy deluxe for an overdrive. Am currently using a Sterling 4. Really do not like the muff pedals, though I really like Wolstenholm. The compressed kinda fuzzy sound is good. Thick but not overfuzzy. The Devi ever vintage fuzz, too much for my liking. I'm looking at the following pedals

1) Zvex Woolly Mammoth
(heard they do not work well with active basses)
2) Subdecay Flying Tomato
3) Zvex Fuzz Factory
4) Blackout Effectors Fixd Fuzz

Any other recommendations? Please give your utmost feedback and suggestions.

THANK YOU!

The Ethanator · #2 02-13-2009, 05:48 AM

ive always liked the sound of the devi ever cherry pop and the d.e. hyperion. not really over the top at all, you may look that way

fightthepower · #3 02-13-2009, 05:52 AM

I would add the Brown Dog fuzz to that list. I have the Octavius squeezer, which has the brown dog circuit in it, and I use the fuzz as my main fuzz sound. It is very versitile and can do super gated if you so please, fuzz the highs and leave the lows... but it's not subtle (maybe it can do subtle but I haven't found it) and 'compressed' isn't what comes to mind when I'm getting fuzzed out with the Brown Dog.. I've never used any of the fuzz's in your list, but I have used the Brown Dog obviously, and I think it fits into that group well- It doesn't sound anything like a muff to my ears (but theyre not fuzzy so take it with a grain of salt.)

I'd go check out some BD soundclips at least

RCCollins · #4 02-13-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightthepower

I would add the Brown Dog fuzz to that list. I have the Octavius squeezer, which has the brown dog circuit in it, and I use the fuzz as my main fuzz sound. It is very versitile and can do super gated if you so please, fuzz the highs and leave the lows... but it's not subtle (maybe it can do subtle but I haven't found it) and 'compressed' isn't what comes to mind when I'm getting fuzzed out with the Brown Dog.. I've never used any of the fuzz's in your list, but I have used the Brown Dog obviously, and I think it fits into that group well- It doesn't sound anything like a muff to my ears (but theyre not fuzzy so take it with a grain of salt.)

I'd go check out some BD soundclips at least

maybe not compressed... but definitely gated.

fightthepower · #5 02-13-2009, 06:06 AM

lol is that basically the same thing? I get when I hear 'gated' fuzz I picture the sound waves with their heads cut off, leaving a super choppy sound. When i think of compressed, I thinks of my clean bass signal being dead and squashed from when I was trying to tame the qtron unsuccessfully. I guess I think of a much tighter fuzz sound.

Am I way off base? heh..

fightthepower · #6 02-13-2009, 06:11 AM

I'm thinking that zero playing dynamics should have been a tip off that gated fuzz=compressed fuzz.

OP-sorry for the de-rail!

knarleybass · #7 02-13-2009, 06:13 AM

mrsquishy · #8 02-13-2009, 07:18 AM

Geez the tonebender! HAhaha but I only have about 180usd to spare...I considered the brown dog but its kinda big for my pedalboard. Any one has got reviews on the fuzz factory on an active bass?

THanks for the feedback so far guys!

excane · #9 02-13-2009, 07:22 AM

A few to add to your list:

Prescription Electronics Depth Charge
Attack Goat (VERY similar to the Depth Charge)
Both of those pedals are based on the Maestro Brassmaster.

Frantone makes 2 bass fuzz pedals that I've enjoyed: The Lo-Tone (very vintage sounding fuzz) and the Bassweet.

RCCollins · #10 02-13-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excane

A few to add to your list:

Prescription Electronics Depth Charge
Attack Goat (VERY similar to the Depth Charge)
Both of those pedals are based on the Maestro Brassmaster.

thats funny because the attack goat has a sound and a control scheme NOTHING like a Brassmaster

excane · #11 02-13-2009, 07:54 AM

It has the exact same controls as the depth charge (for people who like that distinct, biting fuzz) and musically, it comes very close to what the brassmaster achieved.

excane · #12 02-13-2009, 07:55 AM

The clean blend on BOTH of those pedals is (in my opinion) the key.

rcubed · #13 02-13-2009, 09:31 AM

I thought the Fuzz Factory sounded terrible on most settings with bass. It's fun to play with and you can get some crazy sounds. Since you're not look for a Muff then look for Fuzz Face, Super Fuzz, Brassmaster, etc clones. You say "Thick but not overfuzzy" which is something you could get out of a Messdrive Hybrid+.

skulletwhip · #14 02-13-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excane

A few to add to your list:

Prescription Electronics Depth Charge
Attack Goat (VERY similar to the Depth Charge)
Both of those pedals are based on the Maestro Brassmaster.

Frantone makes 2 bass fuzz pedals that I've enjoyed: The Lo-Tone (very vintage sounding fuzz) and the Bassweet.

all hail the depth charge.

RCCollins · #15 02-13-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excane

It has the exact same controls as the depth charge (for people who like that distinct, biting fuzz) and musically, it comes very close to what the brassmaster achieved.

I totally disagree that the goat sounds anything like a brassmaster. i have no idea what the circuit is like but my ears say it is very different.

mrsquishy · #16 02-13-2009, 10:52 AM

Indeed I was looking at the Electronix Hybrid plus! Thought the samples on the web were good. Then I heard the Tomato fuzz and thought it could be more gated.

Thanks guys! Geez if only there were limited fuzzes, then it wont be sucha mind boggler!

DanFold · #17 02-13-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knarleybass

Ahhhh, you beat me to it! Was the only thing i thought of!

Jared Lash · #18 02-13-2009, 11:03 AM

I like the Electronix Mess Drive Hybrid+. Very versatile bass fuzz. It doesn't do gated and it doesn't really do "synthy" both of which the pedals on your list do.

The Brown Dog would be a good choice and is probably smaller than you think.

As for the pedals on your list I've tried three of the four. Didn't like the Mammoth with my active bass (then again I liked it but wasn't crazy for it with a passive) and didn't like the Fuzz Factory with basses, active or not. The Subdecay is nice and works great with active basses, but a little nasally for my tastes. Two other fuzzes that work well with actives and can do a bit of the gated sound are the MI Audio Neo and GI Fuzz depending on if you want a smooth or harsh fuzz respectively.

Personally I always liked the Lovetone Cheese Source which is why I have an OLC Chunky Cheese on the way. I plan to blend it with my Barge, but I love the sound of that fuzz and it does a great gated sound.

Hope that helps.

RCCollins · #19 02-13-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

The Brown Dog would be a good choice and is probably smaller than you think.

An excellent choice but I have to say that its configuration makes it more awkward than its size would tend to indicate...

excane · #20 02-13-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

I totally disagree that the goat sounds anything like a brassmaster. i have no idea what the circuit is like but my ears say it is very different.

Ok...I guess different people hear different things.

Have you ever played through an original brassmaster or Depth Charge?

I did have the opportunity to play through an original Brassmaster in a shop a few years back. Having only 2 hours of playing time, I only had my memory to go on when I bought the Depth Charge a few years later. I currently have been playing the DC and goat side-by-side and they are able to come very close to what I remember the BM sounding like.

I will add this...both the DC and Goat are picky about what's being fed into them. Both seem to prefer passive over active. 18volt preamps are even worse. (Pedals still sound good, but there is a noticeable difference in tone)