Unleash the Kracken! But how ....

MaxMaps · #1 11-20-2009, 10:40 PM

As I have posted many times before, I am in the process of building a good collection of pedals for both playing live further down the road and for my own personal enjoyment. The board I have planned now I want at least 3 dirt pedals on it, two fuzzes and a distortion that I have yet to look into.

My GAS attacks are blindingly bad right now, I daydream of bass gear while I work and its making me nervous to walk by my local music shops with low amounts of debt that may be sudden high amounts of debt in a matter of seconds.

In order to curb it, I am going to buy the next pedal in my dirt series. As the thread title reads, I want a fuzz or even a distortion that can level cities just like the kraken does (Clash of the Titans best movie ever!). The sound I am looking for has to be grinding harsh and possibly ear shattering.

I have done a lot of playing at my local pedal shops and searches here and many hours with my best friend grygrx so far I have come up with the following candidates.

Red Witch Thundergod II
Audio Monk Fuzzpotion
Buzz R Electronics "Blamo!" ( a local builder here in Portland Oregon, makes insane boxes)

Those are my 3 top picks right now, so I ask the awesomeness of the Talk Bass community to give me any and all suggestions to your favorite gnarliest dirt box or any direction I should go in.

-Max

Chronicle · #2 11-20-2009, 10:53 PM

I was never a fan of Red witch with their over priced pedals...I'm sure you can find a cheaper alternative. Are you looking for grit, distortion, or fuzz though?

bassteban · #3 11-20-2009, 10:59 PM

Is it *Kracken* or *Kraken*? Choose one & be consistent, then apply this lesson to other aspects of your life(& pedalboard).

nad · #4 11-20-2009, 11:16 PM

I ran a Pickle Pie B into a silicon B:Assmaster the other night, and if anything were to release the wrath of a mythical beast such as said Kraken, it might just be that sound, verily verily, so sayeth myself and my Stone IPA, amongst other such treasured libations of this fine eve.

mattq · #5 11-21-2009, 12:25 AM

i haven't heard any if those pedals, but have you listened to any samples of devi ever stuff? i got a cherry pop before it was discontinued and that one's kinda tame for her stuff, but is crazy fuzz embodied. i'm a big fan

MaxMaps · #6 11-21-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

I was never a fan of Red witch with their over priced pedals...I'm sure you can find a cheaper alternative. Are you looking for grit, distortion, or fuzz though?

That is my problem, I don't know what I am looking for but if I was to choose I would be a grit pedal more than anything right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nad

I ran a Pickle Pie B into a silicon B:Assmaster the other night, and if anything were to release the wrath of a mythical beast such as said Kraken, it might just be that sound, verily verily, so sayeth myself and my Stone IPA, amongst other such treasured libations of this fine eve.

Now that was the very idea I was looking for. I have always wanted to buy a B:Assmaster, and there is a guy here in oregon who I think makes a clone of that pedal, I might have to track him down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattq

i haven't heard any if those pedals, but have you listened to any samples of devi ever stuff? i got a cherry pop before it was discontinued and that one's kinda tame for her stuff, but is crazy fuzz embodied. i'm a big fan

I have not but I have heard good things, will definably put it on my list.

Thank you guys!

-Max

René_Julien · #7 11-21-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Is it *Kracken* or *Kraken*? Choose one & be consistent, then apply this lesson to other aspects of your life(& pedalboard).

written as Kraken... put pronounced as "crack'n" for you english speaking

theunknowndude · #8 11-21-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxMaps

That is my problem, I don't know what I am looking for but if I was to choose I would be a grit pedal more than anything right now.

Now that was the very idea I was looking for. I have always wanted to buy a B:Assmaster, and there is a guy here in oregon who I think makes a clone of that pedal, I might have to track him down.

I have not but I have heard good things, will definably put it on my list.

Thank you guys!

-Max

Cherry pop can add lows something feirce,... moving the tone knob can add lows,... was doing that today and the needle in my ashdown went violently into the RED lol

have yet to get mine in but the earthbound audio supercollider is considered heavy low and doomy fuzz,... all the clips I have heard of it I must say I quite like it ALOT

Turbo Rat is good for distortion if you set the filter to 9ish, gives a very nice dry yet ultra gritty tone... im liking it more and more these days

rcubed · #9 11-21-2009, 10:11 AM

Is lowend an issue with pedal you want? If not, go with the Fuzz God II. That thing can get crazy.

EDIT: Also look into Devi Ever's Bit.

Pitbull Growl · #10 11-21-2009, 01:46 PM

I've never tried any of her other gear, but the Devi Ever Bass Fuzz I have can get nasty in a sputtery, opamp fuzz kinda way. Plenty of lowend to it too.

I use an English Muff'n to bring the Marshallesque crunch. I had to mod mine to retain more lows since I play a downtuned 5string, and it can be a bit noisy (has a touch of hiss in the background) but it KILLS for high gain, bring the pain nastiness.

Either might be a viable option for you. There's plenty of clips of 'em both on here (if Mr Tulip still has his Muff'n clips hosted online).

poor_gear_whore · #11 11-21-2009, 04:43 PM

Barber Trifecta! All the lows you could ever need. It can get extremely harsh aswell.

erik281 · #12 11-21-2009, 04:58 PM

Get a depth charge, good blend, killer distortion.
I also like the keeley rat, harsh as well.
They are my main go to's
Those are a couple you can find for a reasonable price.

Bjazzman · #13 11-21-2009, 08:50 PM

i have to post in this thread as my avatar is the kraken.

how bout the tentacle love super fuzz by robot factory? it would be appropriate for the mythical beast

MaxMaps · #14 11-21-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

i have to post in this thread as my avatar is the kraken.

how bout the tentacle love super fuzz by robot factory? it would be appropriate for the mythical beast

+1

I really do like the TLSF for what I heard on bassfuzz.

Wow the list keeps on growing but I am getting a better idea of what I want now.

The Buzz R Electronic pedals are hellish but not designed for bass or guitar because the builder uses a keyboard to test them. I am leaning heavy towards that being my first choice, however the shop at which his pedals are sold vary and have no names to speak of, only the one called Blamo.

And now I have to try a engrish muffin as well.

I got to a lot to think of, this week after thanksgiving I will at least pick up one and will probably plan out two for my board making it 4 dirt pedals.

Again you guys are awesome! Keep the suggestions coming fuzz warms my heart with joy.

-Max

theunknowndude · #15 11-22-2009, 04:17 AM

quick question, are you looking for gated or non gated fuzz? cos that changes things alot

Crystalman85 · #16 11-22-2009, 09:00 PM

If you play metal, I would recommend the digitech xbd bass overdrive/distortion pedal, the tech 21 xxl, or the devi ever hyperion. or if you play rock and desire a fuzz pedal, the electro-harmonix bass big muff or the danelectro cool cat fuzz would be a good choice.

MaxMaps · #17 11-22-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theunknowndude

quick question, are you looking for gated or non gated fuzz? cos that changes things alot

what ever gets the job done. I think out of my favorites its a non gated.

theunknowndude · #18 11-23-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxMaps

what ever gets the job done. I think out of my favorites its a non gated.

ahhh so your similar to me then,... I sold my devi ever bass fuzz (now called super massive black hole I believe) cos it was very gated/sputtery, awesome for somethings but too limiting on others (that said it could do lots of nice tones and lots of 'krushing' tones just with the flip of a switch!)

I've been after the holy grail of a nice small stomp box, non gated, works well with actives without use of buffers, all in one that can go from mild to insane fuzz/distortion AND cover a lot of tones... that said cherry pop is getting me close but thinking when the hyperion comes in I'll see what's what... for distortion its pretty much Ibanez PD7 and the turbo rat,... they hold the low end and I like their tones

behndy · #19 11-23-2009, 02:06 AM

have you tried the Way Huge Swollen Pickle?

i just picked one up, and i love it. it's a very nice cross between the Devi Ever Bass Fuzz (or Super Massive Black Hole as she calls it now) and the EH Bass Muff. and it has a WIDE range of tones. i love the Devi Ever stuff, and i have 3 or 4 of her pedals, but the Bass Fuzz is too harsh to be used in most situations IMO.

Swollen Pickle rokks. and it's about the same price as the EH Bass Muff.

-0behn desu0-

bassman1185 · #20 11-23-2009, 05:23 AM

I just picked up a Pixtronix Disnortion, and you can definitely get some ridiculously brutal sounds out of it. For what you just described, I think that the "bass fuzz" section on the fuzz, combined with the octava section is WAAAYYY more aggressive than I expected. I was just using the fuzz at practice last week, and we hit a big doomy breakdown, so I kicked on the octava, and I was totally blown away by how heavy it sounded. I glanced up, and my whole band was grinning at me.