I think I have a new favorite pedal

sonicvi · #1 09-21-2007, 08:27 AM

I just got this original Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz and I'm just sorry I never got one before. Despite the name this pedal sounds more overdrivey than fuzzy to me and definitely doesn't just sound like a Big Muff with graphic eq as most of the reviews I've read say. Maybe the reissues do, but I've never tried one so I can't comment. You can get some sounds that are Big Muff esque, but it's not the same thing. As you can see there are sliders for overdrive and master volume, the 6 band eq (+/- 15dB @125,250,500,1000,2000 & 4000Hz), and the dynamics section. The dynamics slider makes the drive amount evelope controlled so the harder you play the more intense the distortion. The sustian slider acts like a decay envelope and slowly cuts the sustain of the signal. With the slider at max yo have the natural uneffected decay. Even at the shortest sustain setting it's still kinda long. It doesn't do quick gate-like sounds. There's also a switch that turns off the distortion so you can use the eq by itself. With the eq at flat there is a decent amount of low end loss but the 125Hz slider brings a good deal of it back so isuspect the bands have a fairly wide Q to them. I also suspect all it would take is a simple capacitor change to drop the frequency down an octave for even more bass. There are just a ton of sounds to find in this pedal, everything from dark smooth overdrive, to trebley fuzz, to gnarly midrangey grind that kinda reminds me of a Brassmaster without the octave effect, to mid cut Muff/Tone Benderish distortion, to lo-fi effects. One thing I really love about having the eq is that my clean signal is pretty dark and mid-shy. I cut my mids at 1000Hz on my amp. This means any fuzz I use gets lost really easily in the mix, especially the Big Muff which adds it's own mid cut on top of that. So I can boost the mids back at 1000Hz and the distortion doesn't disappear. Overall the distortion amount is not quite as great as the Big Muff or Tone Bender but not far off. Lastly, the switching is not true-bypass but it does have a status LED so I believe it uses a simple FET switching circuit. I'll probably mod it for tru-bypass at some point, after I can find a schematic. The power supply is also built in in the originals rather than a wall-wart. I'm going to try to get some clips recorded this weekend. I have all my gear at home right now so I'll try to mic up my amp and get some real through the amp rather than direct to computer clips.

JanusZarate · #2 09-21-2007, 09:27 AM

Looking forward to the clips!

I've never tried one of these out.

olaff421 · #3 09-21-2007, 05:39 PM

I've always wanted to use one of these on bass, just haven't found a place that has them to demo. Can't wait for the clips either.

-1 to big blocks of text.

sonicvi · #4 09-21-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olaff421

-1 to big blocks of text.

Sorry, I'm a stream of consciousness kinda writer.

Gashaponcito · #5 09-21-2007, 11:21 PM

someone lend sonicvi a reissue so he can compare =D

sonicvi · #6 09-22-2007, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gashaponcito

someone lend sonicvi a reissue so he can compare =D

+1, a Tone Bender reissue too.

El-Bob · #7 09-23-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Looking forward to the clips!

+1

selfblessed · #8 09-23-2007, 11:48 AM

Clips please...

How much did you get that one for if you don't mind me asking.
I think it looks cool with all of those scratches and such.

sonicvi · #9 09-23-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selfblessed

Clips please...

How much did you get that one for if you don't mind me asking.
I think it looks cool with all of those scratches and such.

Sorry, I haven't had time to do clips this weekend. Hopefully some evening this week. I got it for ~$125, less than a new reissue.

Gashaponcito · #10 09-23-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonicvi

I got it for ~$125, less than a new reissue.

If magically u get tired of it, I'll buy it

Ron Now · #11 09-23-2007, 08:26 PM

I always wanted to pick one of those guys up. I have a vintage BMS from the same era that I adore, I had to shorten the attached power cord though. Looking forward to seeing how it sounds.

On an unrelated note, or semi related or something. That Muff you modded for me + Ric + my amp = some of the best bass tones I've ever got. Been complimented on it at every show I've used it at since I got it (which is only like 3, but compliments on tone are always appreciated)

sonicvi · #12 09-23-2007, 08:40 PM

I have an original Micro Synthesizer that I modded to BMS. They do sound awesome. Good to hear you're liking the modded Muff.
I'll get the clips done as soon as I can. If I didn't have neighbors I'd do it tonight. Alas.

El-Bob · #13 09-27-2007, 06:34 PM

any clips yet?

dirtgroove · #14 09-28-2007, 05:10 AM

Clipety clip clip ? Go on- makes us all jealous.

sonicvi · #15 09-28-2007, 07:32 AM

Possibly today or tomorrow.

El-Bob · #16 09-29-2007, 06:47 AM

we're very excited

sonicvi · #17 09-29-2007, 08:58 AM

I recorded some last night, but they sounded like crap so I'm gonna do some more but recorded direct instead of miked this time.

Foxworthy925 · #18 09-29-2007, 12:40 PM

oooh, the anticipation is growing.

El-Bob · #19 09-29-2007, 05:17 PM

OMG YOUR GONNA KILL ME!!!!, I'M SOOOOOOOOOO ANXIOUS TO HEAR IT!!!!

sonicvi · #20 09-29-2007, 07:11 PM

Ok, here's something, just playing the same Love Cats riff over and over for about 8 minutes while playing with the sliders. I recorded it direct but used bass amp simulation. Be warned it's a big file, about 8Megs and there's no planning, just playing with the eq mostly. I demonstrate the dynamic section near the end at some point and overdrove the mixer input. Don't expect too much. I think you can get an idea of what it's capable of though.
http://homepage.mac.com/sonicvi/graphicfuzz.mp3