ZVEX Woolly Mammoth: Is There a Substitute?

RangerMoose · #1 06-25-2010, 01:26 PM

I have recently come onto a ridiculous amount of money because of my recent graduation from high school, and against the suggestions to save it, I've bought a Peavey T-40 from eBay. Being a spoiled idiot, I still have some money, and I was looking at the ZVEX Woolly Mammoth since I've recently fallen in love with Jack Lawrence's wickedly distorted tones on the recent Dead Weather album. I own a Boss ODB-3 that I got a while back, but the Woolly Mammoth seems to be the holy grail of wrecking ball bass distortion. But still, it's 300+ dollars, which is always a considerable chunk of change. My question is what are the alternatives? From what I've read, people who own a Mammoth wouldn't have it any other way, but what are some of the other well-respected fuzz pedals? The ODB-3 is a great pedal that I'd imagine still using if I do get something else, but it only has one sound, essentially. As far as I can tell the Mammoth can do softer dirt as well as mind-blowing steam roller distortion. I'm rambling, so I'll stop. Your response is already appreciated!

bongomania · #2 06-25-2010, 01:31 PM

The Mammoth cannot do "softer dirt" unless you are using a passive bass with the volume down... and even then it's questionable. The Mammoth is an intense fuzz monster, full stop.

There are loads of other great fuzzes and distortions out there, literally hundreds of them. The Mammoth is just one of the more "well-hyped" ones. If you post MP3 or Youtube clips of the sound you want, or at least describe it to the best of your ability, then we can make suggestions.

RangerMoose · #3 06-25-2010, 02:21 PM

I suppose it would be an excellent idea to give some examples! Here's a great display of Jack Lawrence's Dead Weather tone I referenced in the first post. The bass line of this song (coincidentally containing Jack White too) has a much less threatening fuzz to it that I really liked which comes out during the fills at around 1:07 and 1:55. If there were a pedal that could go between both these dynamics I would be extremely satisfied.

rcubed · #4 06-25-2010, 02:23 PM

Are you handy with a soldering iron? If so, it's unbelievably cheap to build your own WM clone since it's just a beefed up Fuzz Face.

bongomania · #5 06-25-2010, 02:29 PM

The Dead Weather one sounds like a Brassmaster clone/variation. The Stripes one, I'm not so sure... curious to hear other peoples' suggestions on that one, it's cool.

RangerMoose · #6 06-25-2010, 02:30 PM

I do have some experience with a soldering iron and I do enjoy projects like the one you might be talking about, rcubed. What do you suppose the cost of something like that would be, and are there schematics or instructions somewhere that you know of?

bongomania · #7 06-25-2010, 02:36 PM

www.tonepad.com
www.diystompboxes.com
www.generalguitargadgets.com
www.buildyourownclone.com

rcubed · #8 06-25-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangerMoose

I do have some experience with a soldering iron and I do enjoy projects like the one you might be talking about, rcubed. What do you suppose the cost of something like that would be, and are there schematics or instructions somewhere that you know of?

The schematic is out there. You're looking at about $40 worth of parts.

iamdenialNJ · #9 06-25-2010, 02:41 PM

There's a woolly mammoth clone in the classifieds for 100. Ask the seller for clips and for his opinion on the pedal with passive/active basses and guitar.

I had a woolly mammoth clone and it was just too much for me. It turned my signal completely flat. Certainly not my cup of tea.

RangerMoose · #10 06-25-2010, 03:21 PM

I found the clone that was listed here, which seems like a good idea but a year ago I deleted all of my pirated music and software so I'm thinking of whether or not I feel comfortable buying an imitation of a pedal made by what seems to be a very small company, but I'll keep thinking about it as well as just starting on one from scratch. If anyone has any ideas on that White Stripes bass I mentioned earlier that would be great. I suppose there is a chance that it is Jack White on guitar with an octaver, which he is known to do in order to imitate a bass, but I'm pretty certain it's actually a bass.

bongomania · #11 06-25-2010, 03:27 PM

FWIW, as rcubed mentioned before, the WM is not exactly Zach's design in the first place. He just altered someone else's design a little.

bongomania · #12 06-25-2010, 03:29 PM

Another "FWIW", the Devi Ever Cherry Pop will cop that Dead Weather tone, and it's fairly inexpensive.

rcubed · #13 06-25-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

FWIW, as rcubed mentioned before, the WM is not exactly Zach's design in the first place. He just altered someone else's design a little.

Yeah, I find that circuit to be a grey area. Personally I don't have an issue with building myself that circuit for that reason. I always end up tweaking every clone I build to my liking so in someways it's a different circuit from the original, I'm just using the framework.

I also still support smaller builders who design original circuits.

Spencer! · #14 06-25-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

FWIW, as rcubed mentioned before, the WM is not exactly Zach's design in the first place. He just altered someone else's design a little.

I don't think he even went that far. It says "designed by Chuck Zwicky" on the back.

iamdenialNJ · #15 06-25-2010, 04:17 PM

My goodness...if I did that I'd be down to 50 cd's.

Why would you feel bad if you bought an IMITATION? It's just that, an IMITATION.

You could buy my green sovtek for your dirty needs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangerMoose

I found the clone that was listed here, which seems like a good idea but a year ago I deleted all of my pirated music and software so I'm thinking of whether or not I feel comfortable buying an imitation of a pedal made by what seems to be a very small company, but I'll keep thinking about it as well as just starting on one from scratch. If anyone has any ideas on that White Stripes bass I mentioned earlier that would be great. I suppose there is a chance that it is Jack White on guitar with an octaver, which he is known to do in order to imitate a bass, but I'm pretty certain it's actually a bass.

silky smoove · #16 06-25-2010, 04:35 PM

Do a search for threads started by me. I had one very similar to this a couple months ago that has lots of schematics and building tips if you decide to go that route. I have done that and all of the parts cost me around $30.

SnakeAnthony · #17 06-25-2010, 05:14 PM

Dead Weather tone is ALL Electro Harmonix Bass MicroSynth.

A bit cheaper than the Mammoth, as well.

DuoSonicII · #18 06-25-2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

There are loads of other great fuzzes and distortions out there, literally hundreds of them. The Mammoth is just one of the more "over-priced" ones.

Fixed.

Couldn't agree with your original sentiment more. There are so many great fuzz pedals around now for reasonable prices. As a former Mammoth owner, my advice? Start with more inexpensive options and work your way up. I don't think there's such a thing as a be-all and end-all fuzz pedal for bass - more important to have a few flavors to choose from.

RangerMoose · #19 06-27-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnakeAnthony

Dead Weather tone is ALL Electro Harmonix Bass MicroSynth.

A bit cheaper than the Mammoth, as well.

Do you own a MicroSynth? I remember wanting one terribly two years ago. I'm interested as to how well the two octaves and distortion work on their own.

K2000 · #20 06-27-2010, 09:25 PM

If you buy a used Mammoth for a decent price, the value should stay about the same, so you can recoup most (if not all) of your investment if you decide to sell, later. Used WM are currently about 220 dollars.