Why is bass fuzz/OD so expensive?

[Mingus Addict]

Is it just me or do pedals made specifically for bass fuzz tend to be very expensive compared to other gain pedals made for guitar? For example, a Z.Vex fuzz factory is $250 (or $170 for the vexter) while the Woolly Mammoth is around $330 now. A Prescription Electronics Yardbox or Face Lift is $175 while the Depth Charge is $225. A T-Rex Mudhoney is $200 and the Bass Juice is $280. I realize these companies make other gain pedals that are as expensive as their bass models but it just seems to me that when a boutique company makes a gain pedal for bass it automatically goes into the higher price range of $250-$350. Why is this?

[fenderhutz]

Stop looking in the boutique section.

There are plenty on companies out there that make OD/Fuzz pedals at respectable prices.

Boss ODB-3 is ONE good sounding example.

EDIT: Sanford and Sonny shipped is 159.00

[Mingus Addict]

I'm not saying that good bass fuzz can't be had a fair price. I'm just wondering why there seems to be trend toward boutique bass pedals being more expensive than their guitar counterparts. I love my Russian Muff ($60) but I'd love to have a mammoth if it wasn't over $300. I don't blame Z. Vex for charging that much since he can obviously get away with it but it seems funny that his other fuzz pedal that is just as good (and just as unique) is so much cheaper.

[sonicvi]

It's probably like the same reason college text books are so much more expensive that regular bookstore books. The cost of production is the same but the demand is much lower so you have to sell them for more to make the production investment worthwhile. There are less bass players buying fuzz pedals than guitar players so they have to cost more to make up for it. That's probably not the whole story, other things like circuit complexity and time invested developing the circuit play a part as well, but it's probably a big part of it.

[vtwo]

It's expensive because you're poor... duh.





...I'm poor too, so it's okay.

[acleex38]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Stop looking in the boutique section.

There are plenty on companies out there that make OD/Fuzz pedals at respectable prices.

Boss ODB-3 is ONE good sounding example.

EDIT: Sanford and Sonny shipped is 159.00

You beat me to the punch, My Bluebeard is amazing.

[JanusZarate]

I've never used or owned a bass overdrive, distortion, or fuzz pedal over $200 except for the Wolly Mammoth.

There's more out there than you think. My favorite fuzz - the MXR Bass Blowtorch - can be found under $140 new. And there are plenty of non-bass-specific overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals under $200 that work well on bass.

[AndretheBassist]

I'm thinking of getting a blowtorch for the low-end retention...but if money is no object, then get yourself a Colorsound Tonebender Fuzzbox! $300 WELL spent =)

[Chronicle]

Tonebender, 325 USD! @_@ But i couldn't be more happier

[FaithNoMan]

Distortion on bass is for many rock bassists, part of their "meat and potatoes" tone, me included - more of a crunch/grind than full on distorto though.

It's the high demand, like someone else on here said - I broke the camel's back and bought the EH English Muff'n, and couldn't be happier, but there are cheaper pedals that also get a decent tone(DOD 250, used BDDI on ebay)

If you want fuzz instead of crunch, the Boss ODB-3 is a good way to go on the cheap.

[The Lurker]

DOD 250-- I got mine for $20