My Search is over (Fuzz Content)

Snakeman1066 · #1 07-14-2008, 04:57 AM

Some of you have been following my search and complaints about Fuzz pedals recently...

See: Fuzz Pedals in General

Well i seem to have a strong distaste for germanium based fuzz pedals. It seems that everyone that i have tried in a band setting is just useless to me, i can't seem to coax a single usable tone out of them. Most of the silicone based pedals seem to severly lack any bottom end, and seem very shrill, and i can only seem to find one fuzz pedal (other than a vintage Big Muff) that is op-amp based (The ICBM) from Euthymia Electronics which after trying seemed overtly harsh and thin to my ears (with bass anyway). I was basically thinking i was going to have to settle for what i could find, waste lots of money trying "boutique" pedals and hope for a decent re-sale, or just give up entirely

until i tried this today...

I already own the Sparkle Drive an i am very very happy with it so i decided to give the Superfuzz a try...

Initially i blew it off because it is supposed to be based on the Jordan electronics Bosstone pedal from the late 60's (Which was germanuim based) however this version is Silicon based (as were some of the later Bosstone pedals) and quite simple really.... voltage feedback single transistor circuit with a second transistor as a buffer following the first gain stage and a diode clipping limiter after all the gain stages. they added in metallised polyester type film capacitors and isolated cillf jack sockets, although the circuit board is hiding some of the other goodies from me and didn't want to jack with it too much. (having not filled out the warranty card as of yet)

There are four knobs marked as follows:

1. Attack: This is the gain. Turning it up will provide additional sustain and a lot of buzz. While playing around with it this morning i found that If I backed off my volume control on my bass just a bit it makes for a cleaner more classic tone.

2. Tone: This control seems to affect mostly the midrange frequencies to my ears. Set at straight up at 12:00 to get that classic fuzz sound (It does a good Big Muff imitation). Turned down (counter-clockwise) gets you a more modern “scooped” tone. Turning it up provides a massive midrange boost.....almost ear splitting yikes!

3. Resonance: This is a sub-harmonic boost (Very very cool). It allows you to bring up the bottom end (Major fatness) without losing bass tone or causing excessive speaker distortion. Turned all the way down gets me a (i can't use it Big Muff sounding "classic" fuzz). Turned all the way up though it has big big booty for days (Really digging this feature) which is what makes it stand far above the pack of other fuzz Boxes in my book (No wonder the guitards like this thing)!!!!

4. Volume: Do i really need to explain? (ok well it sets the output level duh!)

The band digs it, I dig it....life is currently good

It seems to react well with both my active and passive basses (although with sligthly different settings) is made in America and comes with a 5 year warranty. The aluminum housing measures roughly 3 1/2" by 4 1/2" and does not weigh much. Jacks are located on the top (Which i personally like)

I have unusual tastes however and this unit may not get as over the top as some people might like in a fuzz box, but currently it is what the doctor ordered for my sound requirements.

Hope that helps someone out there....

This sucker combined with my Sparkle drive makes for some serious More Sabbath than Sabbath wall of sound

(Can you tell I'm excited?)

dannybuoy · #2 07-14-2008, 05:45 AM

How dare you not provide us with clips! Can you record at all?

Seems like a good find, not seen this on anyone's board yet over here.

**grygrx** · #3 07-14-2008, 08:08 AM

This pedal has been on my radar for awhile as something I want to try eventually, glad it's working out for you!

wdinc01 · #4 07-14-2008, 08:16 AM

I think that's cool that it essentially has a mid and bass control. I'm gonna go look for clips of this.

I think I've finally settle on the idea that I may need two fuzzes in my pedalboard. Although right now I'm looking at a Copilot Orbit for my soloey, holy-crap-that-was-cool sounding fuzz, and am still on the search for the fuzzed out bassline pedal. Just need to try out an El Grande, because I'm thinking that's what I'd like. That or a Colorsound Bass Fuzz, but damn is it expensive!

Anyway, glad to see you've found your fuzz. You're only a couple of states away from Grygrx. You should let him do a review of it for everyone!

Snakeman1066 · #5 07-14-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

How dare you not provide us with clips! Can you record at all?

Seems like a good find, not seen this on anyone's board yet over here.

Sadly not to my computer no i can't.....(It's ancient and not very well equipped)

To tell you the truth i never hear anybody talk about these pedals

Snakeman1066 · #6 07-14-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdinc01

I think that's cool that it essentially has a mid and bass control. I'm gonna go look for clips of this.

I think I've finally settle on the idea that I may need two fuzzes in my pedalboard. Although right now I'm looking at a Copilot Orbit for my soloey, holy-crap-that-was-cool sounding fuzz, and am still on the search for the fuzzed out bassline pedal. Just need to try out an El Grande, because I'm thinking that's what I'd like. That or a Colorsound Bass Fuzz, but damn is it expensive!

Anyway, glad to see you've found your fuzz. You're only a couple of states away from Grygrx. You should let him do a review of it for everyone!

I recently got to try the El Grande.....to me it didn't seem to respond to picking dynamics as well as the Superfuzz, and was really kind of a one trick pony.....

I still don't know if it is germanium or silicon based...lol

Mark Olson · #7 07-14-2008, 01:34 PM

I tried the Superfuzz. That's still my brother's go to fuzz box. But on bass it was too lean in the lows for me.

Snakeman1066 · #8 07-14-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProBeachBum

have you tried the Black Cat Superfuzz? Just curious. It's more Univox style than Bosstone. I think the Homebrew Lorba is also Bosstone-ish.

Fred's old Black Cat pedals are great, however only having a volume and gain control i would be hesitant to try them on bass (They sound great on guitar) but they really only have two basic sounds.

The Homebrew I have not tried and again with only a gain and Level/Volume Control i probably would not be very curious.

And I don't know for sure what either

If the Voodoo Labs pedal did not have the tone and more importantly the resonance control i would not have bought it, but i can get 4 usable tones out of this thing which makes it more versatile for tailoring my sound options....

I am somewhat curious about the new Big Bass Muff but nobody seems to have one in stock to try out, but being based on a Russian muff (which probably means germanium based) even with its bass boost features probably won't fit my idea of the right sound for me. Big Muff's usually employ four transistor stages. Two of these act as input and output buffers, and two generate the distortion effect. (I prefer the more simple circuit sound) It seems that with all germanuim based devices the gain increases with a warmer temp (which means the longer you play it or if your playing outside in Texas in the summer) your going to get more gain (Read "Classic" Fuzz which to my ears translates to muddy noise i cannot use), on the flipside the gain in germanium based devices decreases with a cooler temp. Silicon based devices are much more consistent but are not quite as warm and are therefore referred to as producing a more "modern" tone. I really like the op-amp based sound myself, but apparently I'm the only one as nobody seems to be making them but Euthymia electronics, however i tried one with my active bass and it dosn't seem to play well. I would really like to see some of the "Boutique" builders produce an op-amp based overdrive and fuzz pedals voiced just for bass...But again i think i'm alone in this.

Since I'm on a Stoner Rock kick as of late I'm seriously thinking about adding the Proctavia to my pedal board as well.

JanusZarate · #9 07-14-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

I am somewhat curious about the new Big Bass Muff but nobody seems to have one in stock to try out, but being based on a Russian muff (which probably means germanium based) even with its bass boost features probably won't fit my idea of the right sound for me.

AFAIK, Big Muffs have never used germanium transistors. They've used silicon transistors. The op-amp version was the Deluxe Big Muff... I'm not sure if any other Big Muffs have used op-amps.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't recall germanium ever being brought into the discussion of any Big Muff here (other than transistor change mods).

On a related note... the Russian and Sovtek Big Muffs have more "bite" and "modern tone" to them than the American-made Big Muffs.

BTW, thanks for the review! I don't think we've had a thorough review of the Superfuzz until now... or maybe any review, for that matter!

Snakeman1066 · #10 07-14-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

AFAIK, Big Muffs have never used germanium transistors. They've used silicon transistors. The op-amp version was the Deluxe Big Muff... I'm not sure if any other Big Muffs have used op-amps.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't recall germanium ever being brought into the discussion of any Big Muff here (other than transistor change mods).

On a related note... the Russian and Sovtek Big Muffs have more "bite" and "modern tone" to them than the American-made Big Muffs.

BTW, thanks for the review! I don't think we've had a thorough review of the Superfuzz until now... or maybe any review, for that matter!

Ah the effects god has spoken.....thanks for setting me straight! I was under the impression that the original versions were all germanium based! and then made the move to silicon transistors as they were cheaper and more reliable...(Correct me if i'm wrong but i think i read a few horror stories about germanium based transistors buring up from getting to hot!)

Yes i tried one of the black Russian pedals, but not one of the green ones....slightly better to my ears than the NYC Re-issue but still not my thing...

JanusZarate · #11 07-14-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

Ah the effects god has spoken.....thanks for setting me striaght I was under the impression that the original versions were germanium based!

Me, an effects god?

I'm more like an effects priest.

Snakeman1066 · #12 07-14-2008, 02:49 PM

have it your way...Effects High Priest it is...lol

Snakeman1066 · #13 07-14-2008, 03:05 PM

apparently i'm dyslexic....after doing research i realize that Big muffs use PNP silicon based Transistors and not NPN germanuim based so i have been lumping them in the wrong catergory in my own mind....however retraction aside i still don't like the sound of germanium based fuzz pedals...I personally just can't get a usable tone out of them in a band context.

JanusZarate · #14 07-14-2008, 03:19 PM

Same here. I'm a fan of silicon-based fuzzes.

But being born and raised in Silicon Valley, I'm naturally biased.

[/cheesy tech pun]

JanusZarate · #15 07-14-2008, 03:23 PM

Oh, and I hate to do this again, but...

Only the first version of the Big Muff used PNP silicion transistors... all of the others since then are NPN silicon.

PNP always causes headaches for musicians... most designs which use them require isolated power when using them among most other pedals, or else everything stops working. But PNP transistors are at the heart of some classic fuzz designs such as the Fuzz Face.

Snakeman1066 · #16 07-14-2008, 05:35 PM

just get it over with and call me an idiot will ya?....lol

again am I alone in wanting a Op-Amp based OD and Fuzz pedal voiced for bass?

any of you budding builders want to give it a go....

Brad Barker · #17 07-14-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Oh, and I hate to do this again, but...

Only the first version of the Big Muff used PNP silicion transistors... all of the others since then are NPN silicon.

PNP always causes headaches for musicians... most designs which use them require isolated power when using them among most other pedals, or else everything stops working. But PNP transistors are at the heart of some classic fuzz designs such as the Fuzz Face.

ugh, pnp's caused a headache in electronics lab. good to hear that they are equally as unforgiving when put in pedals.

voodoo labs makes some intriguing stuff, fo sho. i've been looking at the micro-vibe, myself.

JanusZarate · #18 07-14-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

just get it over with and call me an idiot will ya?....lol

Nah, you did most of your homework. That puts you ahead of the pack.

Now, whether that pack is of wolves or of lemmings, I'm not at liberty to answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Barker

ugh, pnp's caused a headache in electronics lab. good to hear that they are equally as unforgiving when put in pedals.

Op-amps are an even bigger nightmare for the beginning electrical student.

Brad Barker · #19 07-14-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Op-amps are an even bigger nightmare for the beginning electrical student.

indubitably. i just knew the two "golden rules" and kept chugging away. by the end of my class, we were dealing with ...hold on, i gotta dig through my boxes of books...

ah, relaxation oscillators. by then, i was sleeping during lecture. (i got the "relaxation" part down, at least.

)

by the by, my horowitz and hill is on the market...

what was this thread about? oh, yeah... silicon and stuff.