Synth fuzz

[TravTrav]

What fuzz do you think is best for copping some synthy fuzz tones?
I know it's really subjective, but I'm just curious to know what people like and what's out there.

[the byronic man]

you'll get quite a few people recommending the Iron Ether Oxide. i'll break the ice on that one. it can do synthy fuzz or a more classic octave-fuzz sound and most things in between.

[Kwesi]

Chunk Systems Brown Dog is, in my opinion, the synthy fuzz. The Zvex Woolly Mammoth and it's many clones are close seconds. The Brown Dog, in combination with the Agent 00Funk are the best two effects one could have for making synthy sounds, hands down. I went through A LOT of filters before I settled on this combo. Of course, I still have two other for fun and variety .

Again, this is all just one guy's opinion.

[behndy]

yur. fuzz into Xerograph kills. Oxide or the TAFM with a gate switch are my favorites.

and your right, gonna be a LOT of personal opinions. fwiw, i HATE the Brown Dog. means nooooothing though.

[Low_blow]

+1 to Brown Dog. It has Clean Blend and Gate Control. I wish it had a Tone knob, otherwise it's perfect.

[Kobaia]

FuzzBattle: Brown Dog vs. Woolly Mammoth (FIGHT!)
Also the orbit is fun.

[shtik]

The gate function in the brown dog helps you sound like you're pulling your finger off the key of the keyboard synth. Really tight oscillator like behavior.

[spufman]

Big +1 on the Brown Dog. It's great on its own but even more so when coupled with the 00Funk. I recently bought the pair and am VERY happy with the variety of synthiness I'm getting. The Iron Ether stuff seems awesome as well, haven't had the pleasure of trying.

[Basehead]

My votes:

1. Iron Ether Oxide - turn the gate up for staccatto-style synth tones...brilliant!
2. CoPilotFX Orbit - Blending in the ringmod creates some wild syth blasts with plenty of low end...deadly!

Feed an OC-2 into either of these and then send to an IE Xero....Synthy heaven!

[Swimming Bird]

+1 to the Copilot FX Orbit. This is why I bought it.

Watch out though: fuzzes are typically the most responsive pedals to differences in input impedance. Active basses and other pedals can make them sound very different as well as give them other behavioral quirks. OP, what's your signal chain like?

[DannDubblewe]

I think playing with many fuzzes is the best idea, because the synth tone in your head is so different from anyone else's. The aforementioned pedals totally rule for synth textures. What synth sound are you trying to emulate? Maybe a song or band reference?

With my OC2, Smallsound/ Bigsound Year 4545 and a Woolly Mammoth clone I can get a pretty convincing Justice/ MSTRKRFT/ etc synth bass sound.

[TravTrav]

Originally Posted by DannDubblewe

I think playing with many fuzzes is the best idea, because the synth tone in your head is so different from anyone else's. The aforementioned pedals totally rule for synth textures. What synth sound are you trying to emulate? Maybe a song or band reference?

I would LOVE to try all these fuzzes, but with the boutique stuff you can't try before you buy really.

Also, there really isn't anything specific I'm looking for. I'm just curious to know what's out there.

I have to say the Orbit is lookin' mighty tasty, though. EDIT: looked at some more Orbit demos, the fuzz alone seems to have a rather limited range...

Thanks for all the recommendations, guys!

[JonathanZorn]

Another one to check out is the Crowther Audio Prunes and Custard.

[gastric]

With an OC-2 in front, the Brown Dog is THE synthy fuzz to own. Not that the Mammoth stinks, it just has a very gainy bass fuzz quality where the Brown Dog truly sounds more synth-like. Then stick modulation after for any number of synth-like sounds. Chorus, phase, flange, filters, yadda yadda.

From a pure fuzz-only standpoint I prefer the Mammoth specifically for the monster gain. It really does sound best with no buffer or active circuit in front. You can also under-voltage it (sag on PP2+) for different tones, it really chokes the circuit for a little different sound.

Note there's probably 1,000 existing threads about synthy fuzz you can spend time reviewing.

Scroll to the bottom of my sound clips page http://cgraham.com/chris/music/sound_clips.htm for a Mammoth vs Brown Dog MP3 that may help you along your way.

[devilock76]

Although not a fuzz pedal or even a bass pedal I use the MXR GT-OD. It is an overdrive pedal but when you up the gain it goes to the fuzz side of things. In combination with the MXR envelope filter pedal it is Bootsy goodness.

Ken

[TravTrav]

Is there an alternative to the Chunk? Something not $300....

[CopperheadLXXIX]

The gated side of the Oxide is awesome as already suggested. Source Audio Multiwave Bass Distortion can get some weird synthy distorted sounds on a lot of settings. Personally, I love it, but not a very traditional sound and not necessarily everyone's teaspoon full of tadpoles.

[gastric]

Originally Posted by TravTrav

Is there an alternative to the Chunk? Something not $300....

Buy used. There were a couple in the classifieds last I knew.

[cultrvultr]

Originally Posted by gastric

Buy used. There were a couple in the classifieds last I knew.

Trav, I've got a Dog up in the classifieds. Pm me and ill give you a TB special on your first gated fuzz.

[wolffman]

Originally Posted by TravTrav

I would LOVE to try all these fuzzes, but with the boutique stuff you can't try before you buy really. Is there an alternative to the Chunk? Something not $300....
Reply With Quote

look in the tb classifieds. Buy used and resell once you've tried- You can usually sell for close to what you paid for minus shipping... and things pop up often so if you find you're really missing a pedal you sold you can almost always get it back again. Also as with most things in life you get what you pay for...