What is the best fuzz pedal for synth?

Ryan Mohr · #1 02-12-2008, 05:40 PM

I already have my Little Big Muff for a thick, vintage, creamy wall of fuzz. Now I am after a tight fuzz that sounds synthy. My ideal tone would be something like Stuart Zender's synthy fuzz in this video at 7:45 to the end -(http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Mdj8gnJKEY). Gated fuzz would be ideal but I don't have the cash for something like the Z Vex Woolly Mammoth. I have narrowed my list down to several pedals that I think could achieve this tone but I want to know what the Effects forum thinks. The pedals I am mainly considering are:
-MXR Bass Blowtorch
-Subdecay Flying Tomato
-MI Audio GI Fuzz
-Chunk Systems Brown Dog

I am open to suggestions so I made an other option on the poll, but if you choose other could you specify what pedal and give a reason.

JAUQO III-X · #2 02-12-2008, 05:45 PM

I can get that tone out of my MXR Blowtorch pedal.

Ryan Mohr · #3 02-12-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I can get that tone out of my MXR Blowtorch pedal.

Did you see the video?

JAUQO III-X · #4 02-12-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Did you see the video?

Yes I did, that's what I based my comment off of.

Ryan Mohr · #5 02-12-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Yes I did, that's what I based my comment off of.

Ok, I was just making sure, thanks. The only reason I asked is because the blowtorch is advertised as an overdrive but many people consider it a fuzz so I wasn't sure how much gain it is possible of.

bigchiefbc · #6 02-12-2008, 05:58 PM

Devi Ever BIT

JanusZarate · #7 02-12-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Ok, I was just making sure, thanks. The only reason I asked is because the blowtorch is advertised as an overdrive but many people consider it a fuzz so I wasn't sure how much gain it is possible of.

The "overdrive" part of the ad is misleading, IMO. If you think of overdrive in a very broad sense (i.e., all clipping), then yeah, it's an "overdrive"... but considering how we talk about overdrive, distortion, and fuzz around here, it's definitely not the first two.

Its range of gain isn't over-the-top like many fuzz pedals can be, but one thing's for sure... it's tonally versatile, and it can definitely mimic Zender's fuzz tone in that video.

Jared Lash · #8 02-12-2008, 06:11 PM

Well, I would say that it's probably not the GI Fuzz. I had one for a while (I wanted a Neo Fuzz, but it was sold out and I bought it instead) and I remember it being a lot harsher/crazier sounding than that.

The Flying Tomato (which I've had) and the Brown Dog (which I haven't played) can both do a somewhat gated fuzz, which would help in getting the definition between notes that he's getting. The tomato has a more nasally sound than that clip though.

I'm already on record as not liking the Blowtorch at all (and I tried), so take this with a grain of salt but I don't think it's your beast. It can't do gated and is buzzier sounding than that clip. It can definitely do synthy, but I didn't get anything like that tone out of mine. As always IMO, YMMV etc.

Ryan Mohr · #9 02-12-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

Well, I would say that it's probably not the GI Fuzz. I had one for a while (I wanted a Neo Fuzz, but it was sold out and I bought it instead) and I remember it being a lot harsher/crazier sounding than that.

The Flying Tomato (which I've had) and the Brown Dog (which I haven't played) can both do a somewhat gated fuzz, which would help in getting the definition between notes that he's getting. The tomato has a more nasally sound than that clip though.

I'm already on record as not liking the Blowtorch at all (and I tried), so take this with a grain of salt but I don't think it's your beast. It can't do gated and is buzzier sounding than that clip. It can definitely do synthy, but I didn't get anything like that tone out of mine. As always IMO, YMMV etc.

Thanks for the feedback. Are there any you would use for that tone?

Jared Lash · #10 02-12-2008, 06:35 PM

I think the Tomato, The Brown Dog (just mostly based on clips, again I haven't owned one) and yes the Blowtorch could get you close.

Jauqo's old clips of the MXR are still up on Daniel Tulips site.

Here are a couple: One Three Five Six

If it was me, I'd be looking at the Chunk first, but after listening to those old clips, I think the Blowtorch could approximate that sound better than I remembered. It's still buzzier sounding than Zender's fuzz, and it isn't as thick (because the fuzz is midrange focused) but it is $100 cheaper than the Brown Dog.

Ryan Mohr · #11 02-12-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I think the Tomato, The Brown Dog (just mostly based on clips, again I haven't owned one) and yes the Blowtorch could get you close.

Jauqo's old clips of the MXR are still up on Daniel Tulips site.

Here are a couple: One Three Five Six

If it was me, I'd be looking at the Chunk first, but after listening to those old clips, I think the Blowtorch could approximate that sound better than I remembered. It's still buzzier sounding than Zender's fuzz, and it isn't as thick (because the fuzz is midrange focused) but it is $100 cheaper than the Brown Dog.

Thanks, I think the blowtorch sounds good.

Ryan Mohr · #12 02-12-2008, 06:39 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wnyf3Y5BcoI&feature=related
The fuzz I am talking about is in the very beginning of this video as it's a continuation of the other video.

Malekko · #13 02-12-2008, 06:42 PM

The very first B:ASSMASTER PCB i made i hardwired it into an SH-101..

http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2006...h-maestro.html

JAUQO III-X · #14 02-12-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I think the Blowtorch could approximate that sound better than I remembered. It's still buzzier sounding than Zender's fuzz, and it isn't as thick (because the fuzz is midrange focused) but it is $100 cheaper than the Brown Dog.

The Blowtorch can get pretty thick, just depends on how the eq on the amp and bass is combined with the eq settings on the BT.

Check out the new MXR The El Grande Bass Fuzz when it's released in a few months.

Jared Lash · #15 02-12-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The Blowtorch can get pretty thick, just depends on how the eq on the amp and bass is combined with the eq settings on the BT.

Check out the new MXR The El Grande Bass Fuzz when it's released in a few months.

I may do that, the samples sound pretty good. The problem I have is that all of my basses are active with hot signals and that really limits which fuzzes sound good with my gear. In retrospect I'm sure that was part of my problem with the Blowtorch.

Malekko, that link won't open for me.

Ryan Mohr · #16 02-12-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I may do that, the samples sound pretty good. The problem I have is that all of my basses are active with hot signals and that really limits which fuzzes sound good with my gear. In retrospect I'm sure that was part of my problem with the Blowtorch.

Malekko, that link won't open for me.

The link wouldn't open for me either.

XtraLongScale · #17 02-12-2008, 08:34 PM

Guyatone TZ2. Nice-n-synthy.

Jared Lash · #18 02-12-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtraLongScale

Guyatone TZ2. Nice-n-synthy.

I had the Guyatone. I thought it was the best cheap fuzz I tried, especially since it cut through a mix MUCH better than a Big Muff and worked fine with actives. But I don't know about synthy. It's a hell of a buzzsaw fuzz though.

On a side note, sliding double stops on a fretless was one of my favorite sounds on that thing. Especially in the upper register where the octave gave it these little ring mod-like clangs.

thejohnkim · #19 02-12-2008, 09:23 PM

I would say that the Blowtorch can get get sound if you turn down the highs a bit. but as an alternative i would also look at any fuzz with germanium diodes that let the lows through, crank it up, and compress it right back down for that smooth tone.

i tend to favor teh Blowtorch because IME i like how the clipping seems very predictable and clean sounding. like a synth.

and i definitely would never use a blowtorch for overdrive.

JanusZarate · #20 02-13-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejohnkim

I would say that the Blowtorch can get get sound if you turn down the highs a bit.

+1

Some of the best tones I ever got out of the Blowtorch came from turning the highs AND lows below 12:00.

It's one of those pedals where cutting frequencies isn't a bad idea, especially when blending in more of your clean signal. Because the EQ only affects the fuzz, it's really useful for mixing in the sound of the fuzz to your liking.