Synth fuzz question

Jester85 · #1 02-14-2008, 12:36 AM

Hi!
I want cheap synth-type fuzz. I think about MXR blue box.
Does it good for square-wave fuzz?

SpankyPants · #2 02-14-2008, 01:14 AM

Let me be the first to suggest a nice search.

In fact, you don't even have to do that. Just have a gander at the first few pages of the Effects forum. You will in all likelihood see a couple of threads with "synth fuzz" in the title.

Cheap? Hmm. What constitutes cheap? How big is you budget?

If anything, you might want to spend some time at Devi Ever's site. Peruse through the artifacts and find one that you like. They generally run pretty cheap.

Jester85 · #3 02-14-2008, 01:27 AM

Thanks. But my broblem that I can't buy all that boutiqu fuzzes, becouse I'm from Russia. So I want a mojor brand fuzz with synthy sound. When I search on this forum I read some good posts about blue box. And since I can't buy effector 13 ot something like that, is blue box is a good pedal for my purposes?

**TheMutt** · #4 02-14-2008, 01:45 AM

Russia? There's a version of the Big Muff that is made there which gets some lovin' on here. Not an incredibly synthy sound though. The Devi-Ever pedals should be available overseas AFAIK. You might want to do some poking around the interwebs to find out.

**TheMutt** · #5 02-14-2008, 01:52 AM

Also, after doing a search, Ooh La La maufacturing is now producing one of Devi-Ever's pedals, the Soda Meiser. This thing is probably one of my favorite pedals, and one that I really want to get one of these days. And, there is a distributor in Russia!

speak_onion · #6 02-14-2008, 07:07 AM

If you can get a Soda Meiser or AR SM (same sound, basically), then that will be great.

But, to answer your question, the Blue Box will give you a nice synthy sound. I really enjoyed mine, until I found out it was from the 70s and worth 4 times what I paid for it. Then I sold it.

Anyway, the new reissue pedals sould the same and they give a nice synthy bass tone. The problem with them, though, is that they cause a decrease in volume when you turn it on. You can avoid this by clipping C11, as described here:
http://noisefx.com/article/mxr_blue_box_mod

JanusZarate · #7 02-14-2008, 09:23 AM

What's your budget? For about $140.00 USD, you could get an MXR Blowtorch and have your synthy fuzz needs covered. MXR's a major brand, too - right up there with Boss and Electro-Harmonix. Not sure how much they cost in Russia, though.

And Devi Ever's artifact pedals are pretty cheap (somewhere around $50 USD, I think... I'll have to double-check). I'm sure they wouldn't cost too much to be mailed to you.

RickenBoogie · #8 02-14-2008, 10:35 AM

I have the Blue Box, it's a wild ride. It does 2 octaves down with heavy fuzz. It's all but useless on anything but the highest register on the D and G strings, but if synthy fuzz is your goal, and cheap too, go for it. I love the sound it makes, but haven't really found any use for it with any band I've played with. I'm holding on to it anyway, since it's so out there.

opivy3056 · #9 02-14-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

And Devi Ever's artifact pedals are pretty cheap (somewhere around $50 USD, I think... I'll have to double-check). I'm sure they wouldn't cost too much to be mailed to you.

$75-$95 depending on which one you want.

I suggest the OP look at the Disaster Fuzz, BIT and the OK (which sounds REALLY synthy at low gain with another drive pedal before it). Listen to samples, maybe post something in the forum there. See what suites you.

LungDisease · #10 02-14-2008, 12:15 PM

I own a re-issue Blue Box, I think I posted in a thread about one a few months ago.
If you want usable synth fuzz on a bass, it's not really good except for indistinct noise (which is what I use it for). It's perfect on guitar, but not very good for actual playing.
I'll jump on the bandwagon and recommend Devi Ever again. I own a Spectacular Aenima, and it really delivers.

If you can't buy from the maufacturer, go to ebay.

Rickett Customs · #11 02-14-2008, 12:19 PM

Check out the "cherrypop" at devi's

assboglin · #12 02-14-2008, 01:30 PM

I'm with MysticBoo. If you can get an MXR Blue Box I would assume you can probably get an MXR Blowtorch, and I would recommend the Blowtorch over the Blue Box for the application that you described. It's advertised as an overdrive/distortion I know but it's really best at synthy fuzz.

Jester85 · #13 02-15-2008, 12:27 AM

Thanks guys!!!
Actually, I am already have blowtorch (approx. $200 in Russia).

It's a very good fuzz with synthy tone. And I love it! But this is my main fuzz. Actually I want second fuzz for special effects. So, I don't want to spend $200 again only for some crazy-synthy sounds. Oh, I am already send email to our devi ever dealer for pricing. But I think, that price for Soda meiser will be about $150....

phatbass30 · #14 02-15-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester85

Thanks guys!!!
Actually, I am already have blowtorch (approx. $200 in Russia).

It's a very good fuzz with synthy tone. And I love it! But this is my main fuzz. Actually I want second fuzz for special effects. So, I don't want to spend $200 again only for some crazy-synthy sounds. Oh, I am already send email to our devi ever dealer for pricing. But I think, that price for Soda meiser will be about $150....

privet jester!

its good that you made your decision on buying the MXR blowtorch. i think too that its a good synthy fuzz. i got one too, just recently. enjoy it

Mingus Addict · #15 02-15-2008, 01:21 AM

how about the guyatone tz? I haven't tried one but I hear it's synthy and cheap.

Jester85 · #16 02-15-2008, 01:49 AM

Phatbass30, privet, privet! Blowtorch Is realy cool and "strong" fuzz pedal. It's a very flexible for me as my main fuzzbox.

Ha-ha! Dealer said, that soda meister cost about $250!!! Does it worth it?

So, I think I'll buy Blue box as my second synth "secret weapon", becouse it's only one fuzz except big muff, that I can buy less than $100 and which sound pretty synthy.

GabeN · #17 02-15-2008, 02:15 AM

I've found a little bit of one-octave down with my blowtorch makes an extremely synthy distortion. It sounds almost identical to my MicroKorg playing a sawtooth wave program.

kaputsport · #18 02-15-2008, 08:37 AM

please post those settings...

GabeN · #19 03-04-2008, 01:17 AM

I turn the blend on my OC-2 to around halfway and the octave 1 to halfway. On my Blowtorch I have it a little mid-heavy with the mid shift to the left position. You'll just have to play around with it to get it to work for your rig/bass. I just stumbled across that sound when trying to dial in a good doomy fuzz tone.