My fuzz woes

fitz420 · #1 06-18-2010, 12:29 PM

i have been though way too many fuzz pedals recently on the quest for my favorite. i've done this with OD and after at least 10 ended with the Dredgetone Bass Angler. I wont list all of the fuzzes i've been through but maybe someone could offer me suggestions based on what i've liked. I love muffs, but something never quite made a muff the end-all for me. I've owned a NYC (no go), a BBM (not enough mids) and my latest and longest running on my board is a heavily modified black Russian. completely rewired with HQ everything, modded tone knob to work better with bass and a mid knob added. it seems too creamy with not enough bite and i just cant find the sweet spot between having enough lows and having the highs that clang a bit. I recently bought a woolly mammoth clone. i love everything about it except its just too much fuzz. love the tone, the bite, everything....i just like my fuzz to be less gainy, or at least have the option for less gain. i use it now with the "wool" all the way down and its still way too over the top for me.

If you've read all of this, I imagine you like fuzz and might have some suggestions for me. i like my fuzz organic, with bite that won't get lost in the mix and a nice mix of highs, lows, and potentially controllable mids or at least non-scooped mids....i'll never rule a muff variant out as they were my 1st love....but i've yet to find my favorite. can a less gainy mammoth be built??

HELP, fuzz aficionados, I'm loosing precious sleep!!!

rratajski · #2 06-18-2010, 12:40 PM

Have you tried a muff w/ tone bypass? It's pretty awesome for me. Cuts right through.

The GGG-tuned in a blend is what does it for me.
I've been modding Black Russians to Civil War specs in my spare time and adding things like tone bypass and mids knobs...All of which really push it up in the mix!

fitz420 · #3 06-18-2010, 12:41 PM

yeah...i've been wondering about the tone bypass. i'd love to check one out.

Jimbob Jones · #4 06-18-2010, 01:07 PM

How about an EHX signal pad before your mammoth? it might help to cut down on the gain?

eyeballkid · #5 06-18-2010, 01:19 PM

OX BASS FUZZ, Fender Sublime.. they let you dial in the fuzz amounts.

check this out for a demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3417seX1Uo

Eric! · #6 06-18-2010, 01:21 PM

SUPERCOLLIDER

fitz420 · #7 06-18-2010, 01:22 PM

i've been interested in a supercollider for a while now.....thats a good option i think.

nad · #8 06-18-2010, 02:30 PM

If you like the Mammoth but need something not so Cornholio all the time, try another Fuzz Face variant. Ghost Effects and Analog.man both make excellent versions to your specifications.

Robertron · #9 06-18-2010, 03:05 PM

Are you looking for a muff-ish fuzz?

A muff-ish fuzz with a mids control and some bite that can cut through? I vote for the Musket V2.

IPS · #10 06-18-2010, 03:08 PM

If you like the sound of the mammoth but want to be able to dial it back a bit, check out the mastotron.
If you want a muff clone, the Musket gets a ton of love here.

AaronSteelquist · #11 06-18-2010, 03:22 PM

So I'm gonna kinda piggy-back on this thread, sorry if I break some kind of forums rule. First post and all.

I'm playing an Fender Jazz Bass and am looking for just a pedal that can do some subtle grit without being all that over-the-top. Trying to find something subtle. What would you guys recommend?

Robertron · #12 06-18-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronSteelquist

So I'm gonna kinda piggy-back on this thread, sorry if I break some kind of forums rule. First post and all.

I'm playing an Fender Jazz Bass and am looking for just a pedal that can do some subtle grit without being all that over-the-top. Trying to find something subtle. What would you guys recommend?

Do you have any sound clips or videos emulating the kind of subtlety you're looking for? My PorkLoin is a really subtle overdrive, even with actives. You don't really hear any overdrive in my tone until I really dig in or play with a filter or modulation after it, and I love that about it.

eyeballkid · #13 06-18-2010, 04:50 PM

While the supercollider is a GREAT fuzz, i dont think its what the OP is looking for. One of his complaints about the Mammoth was that it couldnt be turned low gain enough... you will probably have the same issue with the SC.

fdask · #14 06-18-2010, 05:15 PM

See if you can get your hands on a Devi Ever Godzilla pedal. The full size one with two switches, not the GZ.

I got one second hand the other day and am falling in love with it. Not really a traditional fuzz, as I think it does some kinda weird octavey thing. All I know is that I can get some hellishly fat bass sounds out of it! It doesn't have over the top gain like you might find on some of the boutique muff clones... its sound is more creamy/overdrivey if that makes sense?

Hopefully I can put up some clips in a few days for you to hear it.

fitz420 · #15 06-18-2010, 05:44 PM

thank you all for the great suggestions.

@fdask....devi pedals aren't really my thing. had a few...just not down.

@AaronSteelquist....voodoo labs sparkle drive, barber LTD SR, xotic BB, dredgetone bass angler, pork loin. all of these will do what i think you're looking for...i've owned all of them

@robertron...musket v2's high on my "probably gonna buy soon" list.

@nad...i've read that analogman's fuzz face loses a lot of lows. is this true? i've never heard of ghost effects...gonna do some research tonight.

again, thanks everyone...you're why i love TB

Unrepresented · #16 06-18-2010, 06:08 PM

More of a set of questions to help others guide you than actual aid:

What's your normal tone? Are you a mids heavy guy when clean? Where's your tone knob hang out at?

Are your issues with your previous/current fuzzes based on A/Bing them against your clean tone? Band situation? Bedroom?

Are you opposed to a blended tone?

fitz420 · #17 06-18-2010, 06:13 PM

normal tone is pretty flat with a bump in the mids. i don't like to lose any mids or lows when i use fuzz, although loosing some highs seems bound to happen. my tone knob on the mammoth is around 3:00, muff around 11:00. the muff has a modified tone section so its hard to tell how that setting would compare to an umodded black muff @ 11:00. current issues with muff are not really related to a/bing with clean tone. my concerns are in a band situation. i don't use effects at home or when practicing....my practice rig and bedroom rig are crap as my touring rig stays in a trailer. i'm not opposed to blending, i just haven't bought a blender yet.

rratajski · #18 06-18-2010, 06:16 PM

11 will cut mids significantly. Try 3:00.

.

fitz420 · #19 06-18-2010, 06:19 PM

added mid knobs bring em back. i have that around 2:00. 3:00 on tone, at least on my muff kills all the lows. i need a blender, huh?

nad · #20 06-18-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitz420

@nad...i've read that analogman's fuzz face loses a lot of lows. is this true? i've never heard of ghost effects...gonna do some research tonight.

The Sun Face I once had (and regrettably sold) had the most natural low end retention I've ever heard, but I know for bass stuff he changes some capacitors out, and since most of his pedals are made for guitarists, there are probably loads of non-bass-specific ones out there. That being said, I once had a Dark Peppermint Fuzz as well (why the hell did I sell all my Analog.man stuff?!?!?

), and it didn't lose much low end really.

I once made a thread on Ghost Effects, Ian builds good stuff and for damn cheap, especially given the current exchange rate.