Now More New Soundclips of EHX English Muff'n Tube Preamp/Overdrive/Distortion

[Mark Olson]

Pulled this out because I enjoy the crashing distortion tone. I've done a lot of previous clips of it, but here's how it sounds with my current rig.

SG Bass w/ Dimarzio Model One neck pickup -> EHX English Muff'n -> Marshall 2061X (Bass channel only tone at noon volume at 1) -> My 1x15" cab that currently has a Jensen MOD15-120 in it. I like this speaker, but I desire a little more beef so I've picked up an Eminence CB158 to try in it's place. Will do clips with that as well when I get the chance. Here's how she sounds:

SoundClick artist: Psychedelic Bass Jams - page with MP3 music downloads

For me, there' something about the organic-ness and rawness of this pedal that can't be beat. I've gotten very similar sounds with the Xotic Bass BB Preamp, getting maybe 90% of the way, but this beauty just has that extra 10%. It's big and it's inconvenient to power, but it's the only pedal I'm using right now live so it isn't too bad, probably worth it for the tone (to me anyways).

Also on my list of stuff to try is some D'addario tapewounds that they've come out with, and perhaps a Curtis Novak Mudbucker. If I do make some upgrades I'll be sure to do some clips with them and see how this baby sings with them.

So anyways, let me know what you think! I'm pretty convinced the extra little bit of beef from the CB158 will be warranted, but I'm still on the fence about the extra beef from an accurate mudbucker clone, and I'm anxious to try some tapes.

[P-oddz]

HOOO BOY!
That Muff'n sings! You're absolutely correct, very organic. It's got a great nasty grime and attitude to it. I love it!

On a side:
I just picked up an SG Reissue a couple months back and have yet to find where it shines for me. I always love the clips you do - you know HOW to play that SG. What strings are you using? Always with a pick? What's your knob settings? And is the Dimarzio the only custom PU in it?

Thanks for the clips, Mark!

[Mark Olson]

The SG Basses are really hard to get a good sound out of, that's part of the reason why I love mine so much. They need to be played in exactly the right way to sound right, it took me a long time to adapt my playing to this guitar after I first got it. Experimentation is key!

I am using D'addario EXL220's, .040-.095 nickel rounds. I was using .045-.100's and I think I did get a better sound that way, for some reason the lighter strings get really dull a lot faster.

I do always use a pick for these clips, though I play with both fingers and pick live. I'll use whatever picks I have lying around, usually a Dunlop .88, but I will also use Dunlop 2.0 mm picks at times because I feel they give a bigger, more authoritative sound with the way I play. I used a .88 for this clip.

The electronics in my SG have been customized for me. I've got a pickup selector switch which switches between just the neck pickup, or the neck + bridge. It's just a two way switch. Then the knobs I have are just an overall volume and tone. I don't have the option on my bass to blend the pickups in different ways. This clip is just the neck pickup, volume and tone all the way up.

And lastly, yes the bridge pickup is bone stock. The Dimarzio is the only upgraded pickup in the bass, I did some soundclips of the Dimarzio vs. the stock mudbucker on the electronics forum, but to sum up the Dimarzio was a big upgrade in my eyes. But as I said, I'm also very curious about the Curtis Novak Mudbucker, and if I get one of those I will try to do some vs. clips between the two pickups.

[Deluge Of Sound]

It's a little bright for my tastes.

But, you know, if its working for you, more power to ya.

[Mark Olson]

It is brighter than the BB Preamp. I have turned the treble down a lot more since I recorded this clip, but it still has a little bit of clack that I don't like. Here's a similar clip with the BB:

SoundClick artist: Psychedelic Bass Jams - page with MP3 music downloads

Not that the BB has more low end, it doesn't, the English Muff'n has more. That's just the difference in speakers. But the clack is gone. The thing you can't hear in the clips though is that the BB is a little less organic in it's response when I lighten up my playing, (which I seldom do for clips haha.)

[Mark Olson]

SoundClick artist: Psychedelic Bass Jams - page with MP3 music downloads

Here it is with both pickups, and the treble where I'm using it.

[Crystalman85]

Sounds pretty cool.

[Mark Olson]

Thanks! I think I will order a set or two of those tapewounds soon, and if they sound at all good with this pedal I will report back.