A Lesson in Muff.

faceinbass · #1 04-23-2011, 02:24 PM

Most everyone knows that the Civil War Muff, the Russian Green Muff, the Russian black Muff, and the NYC Muff all have their fans and detractors. Please clue me in...

A) Which is YOUR favorite variant?

and

B) Who makes the best clone of that specific version?

I ask because there ARE a ton of clones and it would be nice having a thread devoted to who makes which version and why the new is better than the old.

Thoughts?

BruceBass3901 · #2 04-23-2011, 03:59 PM

I was so dissapointed to see effects info in this thread

I have only played through the newer NYC ones, the Tone Wicker and the Bass Big Muff, and of those three, my favourite was the Tone Wicker... it just had that extra 'something'

However, I have a Fuzzrocious Grey Stache + which is a pimped out Muff with a mids nob, so I shall report back when it finally clears customs

Explorer · #3 04-23-2011, 08:39 PM

This has been covered a lot, so my first suggestion...

Based on my own searches here on the word "muff," I found that the best for the bass range was one of the Civil War/Russian series. After readiing up on all the variants on the huge Big Muff Pi resource page by Kit Rae, I decided to try the most versatile Russian/CW clone, the Blackout Effectors Musket (a v2 in my case).

In any case, it will be interesting to hear what you choose after you do the research and reading, especially if you come to a different conclusion....

Good luck!

ampegfuzz · #4 04-24-2011, 08:55 AM

Being their is not a huge difference in civil, green, and black i would get a black since they are the easiest to find used at a good price if you want a EHX muff. As for clones and one offs my list fuzzrocious grey stache is the best. Played a musket and thought it was ok but flipped it in under a week. I also just played a swollen pickle and its the worst muff variant i have ever played IMO. But you would have to pry my green muff from my cold dead fingers!

bigchiefbc · #5 04-24-2011, 09:11 AM

I have a Musket v2, which is based on the green russian. But the three added knobs you get are absolutely invaluable. Definitely the most tweakable Muff I've ever seen (except for the Gnomeratron, which I haven't gotten a chance to try yet)

I've recently been jonesing to try an Op-Amp Muff. I know that MadeByMike makes one, and Stomp Under Foot does too (the Pumpkin Pi).

TheWoodShed · #6 04-24-2011, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampegfuzz

Being their is not a huge difference in civil, green, and black...

Yes there is a difference.

That said SUF makes good clones of these at decent prices.

If you are looking for clones with upgrades, there are a lot of options. The Musket and Suppercollider, the Stache and the White Russian and a TON of others...

254 stringer · #7 04-24-2011, 10:24 AM

My only experience is with the black Russian muff I have had 2 one good one not so good. Now I have one of the newer little big muffs and it has a much better sound than the black Russian (the good or bad one I had) just my opinion though.

vegas532 · #8 04-24-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampegfuzz

I also just played a swollen pickle and its the worst muff variant i have ever played IMO.

Did you tweak the internal knobs, by chance? Once I did that, my Swollen Pickle experience had become the exact opposite...for me, anyway.

steveksux · #9 04-24-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faceinbass

Most everyone knows that the Civil War Muff, the Russian Green Muff, the Russian black Muff, and the NYC Muff all have their fans and detractors. Please clue me in...

A) Which is YOUR favorite variant?

and

B) Who makes the best clone of that specific version?

I ask because there ARE a ton of clones and it would be nice having a thread devoted to who makes which version and why the new is better than the old.

Thoughts?

That's a problem you're going to have to lick on your own.

Randy

ampegfuzz · #10 04-24-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegas532

Did you tweak the internal knobs, by chance? Once I did that, my Swollen Pickle experience had become the exact opposite...for me, anyway.

Tried it in a store with a svtcl, 810, and geddy sig bass, sounded terrible

rratajski · #11 04-24-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampegfuzz

Tried it in a store with a svtcl, 810, and geddy sig bass, sounded terrible

There ya go! You haaaave to tweak the trims to get a solid sound out of it

.

vegas532 · #12 04-24-2011, 11:56 AM

The "stock setting" of the Pickle SUCKS on bass!! This is an admission from one of it's biggest supporters on TB, by the way.

Laurent · #13 04-24-2011, 11:58 AM

Just a few random thoughts:

1. Muff and particularly old muffs hugely vary in tones. Some people say it's hard to find two which sounds the same.
2. Taste in Muff tones are very personal and also highly reliant on your equipment.
3. The Bass Muff sounds a lot like the last version of the Russian Muff. The Bass Muff offers more tones, better footprint and more convenient features. I did a side by side shootout and the bass muff won.
4. I have been trying to pin down my favorite fuzz/muff and I can't get to conclusive outcome, I tend to like them all for different reasons.

5. Here is what I am currently using:

- Bass Muff (good benchmark and inexpensive one too)
- Barber Tifecta (a really superb pedal with one muff position and two Colorsound Tonebender variations - all of them hitting the mark nicely).
- Swollen Pickle (not always plug and play but very nice for that kind of gated/fuzz with articulation).
- Fuzzrocious Grey Stache (Barber competes neck to neck with it, this one is a bit more restrained & muffled - the Trifecta a bit more expressive).
- Dentone Alien Hate Fuzz (an amazing grinding kind of fuzz).
- EH Bass Micro Synth (not a fuzz per se but capable of lots of crazy tones - so fun...).

ampegfuzz · #14 04-24-2011, 12:01 PM

To OP, dont take my word for it then

I got my muff covered anyway between my stache and green muff. Still kinda want a super collider though

**grygrx** · #15 04-24-2011, 12:02 PM

1) I don't agree with your premise about the russian muffs being basically the same.

2) My top two regular muffs are: Civil War and Swollen Pickle.

I've tried a great deal of muff variants, but those have been my favorite. I do wish the Civil War didn't seem so fragile (plastic, board mounted jacks).

3) I also love one of the Muff Cousins: The B&M fuzz Unit.

It's basically a muff cousin(similar electronics.. rooted from the Jumbo tonebender line). The tone control on it awesome. While I don't have an original, the clone I own is one of my favorites. It's lower gain than the other muffs but the tone control is almost a clean-blend, but only for the low-end signal. Not to many modern re-production versions floating around.

Jumbo Fuzz (fuzz) - Guitar Pedals - Electronic Orange
FUZZ UNIT

ampegfuzz · #16 04-24-2011, 12:35 PM

The pickle was lacking in the highs for me but I did not mess with the trim pots. But unless it would unleash more highs I'm still not interested.

TheWoodShed · #17 04-24-2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grygrx

1) I don't agree with your premise about the russian muffs being basically the same.

I endorse this message.

If memeory serves I have owned over a dozen Green Muffs now, two or three different civil war and about 3 Black Russians. All have different characteristics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grygrx

2) My top two regular muffs are: Civil War and Swollen Pickle.

I've tried a great deal of muff variants, but those have been my favorite. I do wish the Civil War didn't seem so fragile (plastic, board mounted jacks).

I settled on the Civil War, but had it modded professionally with a true bypass and 9v adapter. After searching for a proper replacement, I gave up and just had the work done to update it. You can also have those plastic jacks replaced, but if it stays on a board and you do little change out it doesn't seem to be an issue. I have never had one break on me, but have heard of them breaking on others though.

vegas532 · #18 04-24-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampegfuzz

The pickle was lacking in the highs for me but I did not mess with the trim pots. But unless it would unleash more highs I'm still not interested.

Try it again then because it unleashes more highs and mids.

Next time, set voice to 12:30 and clip to about 8 or 9:00 as a starting point on the internal knobs...I promise you your opinion will differ. I know it's changed the minds of a few people out there.

UnfortunateTony · #19 04-24-2011, 02:43 PM

I have to say, I laughed at the title. A lot. Does that make me immature?

ampegfuzz · #20 04-24-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegas532

Try it again then because it unleashes more highs and mids.

Next time, set voice to 12:30 and clip to about 8 or 9:00 as a starting point on the internal knobs...I promise you your opinion will differ. I know it's changed the minds of a few people out there.

Maybe ill go buy it and tweek it , I got the golden gc return policy if I still hate it