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trouble deciding between DOD 250 or English Muff'n

J

JLW

Dec 5, 2006
751
529
San Francisco, CA
#1
Geez this is a tough decision. I got it narrowed down to two.

I really really like the sound of the English Muff'n, but I also like the DOD 250 as well.

I'm looking for a light tube overdriven sound. Low end loss is unacceptable. Transparent signal is also a definite plus. I want it to be nice and smooth yet with a very slight bit of grit. I felt that the DOD 250 was less transparent than the ENglish Muff'n

I can't try either of these pedals in person so I have relied on sound clips via this website.

The English Muff'n is the sound I am going for, but DAMN it is expensive. $200, I almost can't justify it using it for only 1 or 2 songs in my band.

So I can't decide whether to go the compromising route, $40 for a pedal that will get the job done with nothin' fancy, or $200 for a pedal that will be killer.

If anyone can give me their advice it would be nice.

Another thing to factor in is that I'm a senior in high school so money is tight.

Also, if anyone can post a sound clip of a DOD 250 with the drive at around 8-9 o'clock, that would be ideal.
Using it with an active bass would also be ideal (that's what I use)
 
#4
The English Muff'n is the most awesome, versatile pedal. It will do more than just OD, it can do just a tiny bit of tube warmth and grit. Changing tubes can do a ton to get different character. I think it will become more usable than you think.
 
#5
I've never tried a real DOD, but I threw one together and it sounded pretty decent. Some low end loss, but moreso at higher gain (as has been mentioned in other threads). Not exactly versatile, but did mild drive decently, especially at the price. If you can solder a piece or two, it can improve significantly.

The muff'n sounds nice, doesn't loose low (although I had to boost them now and then), I thought it was more transparant at low gain settings, and is much more versatile (obvious though, with a 3 band EQ). Its obviously more "tubey" than the OD250, but not being tubey doesn't make the 250 bad. If it were me and cash were an issue, I'd probly do the 250 as a couple songs with a band will probably loose a lot of the subtleties of the muff'n. (unless you mean recording... but then there's probly more things to consider). THere is a really good chance a muff'n will grow on youthough, theres lots of great tones to be found in there.

Having said all that, both pedals add their own thing to your sound, and transparent isnt the first word that comes to mind, but the muff'n seemed less coloring to me. I also cant comment on active basses.

Other considerations are that the DOD is small and can use a battery while the muffin is huge and has an odd power supply.
 
#7
for you, JLW, i have recorded a clip of me playing my MusicMan Sterling (active, baby!!!) through my DOD 250. :D
the clip goes:
---clean, then "gain" at 8:00
---clean, then "gain" at 9:00
---clean, then "gain" at 12:00
---alternating between clean and "gain" at 12:00
the "level" is dimed for the duration of the clip.

(here is the clip!)

a pretty cool sound, actually! there is a bit of lowend loss, but it's not too bad (you can mod the 250 to allow more bass freqencies in... and also to let more out, i think). the one issue is that if you dig in, the 250's input clips, resulting in what is considered a harsh and nasty sound....

if i owned an english muff'n, i would post comparison clips... but i don't. i have heard the muff'n many times, though. if you can afford one, get it. change the 12AX7 tubes to 12AU7 or 12AT7 for less gain (probably recommended for use with an active bass... but someone who actually owns the pedal would probably be a more reliable source of info), and get that truly beautiful sound you're after. if you can't justify spending the ducats on one as of yet, then the 250 should do just fine. good luck!
http://[malware url removed].net/vicious-smiley-1815.gif
 
#10
:D

EDIT: OK, I just found a 250 lying around lol, so I gave it a try with my '75 Reissue Jazz. It does sound much better now than when I tried it before. I would still go for the Muff'n though, loads more features in this thing, it is big and hard to power but you just can't beat that lovely tube overdrive :)
 
#11
jetpackbassist,

Thank you very much for posting those clips. The DOD does sound pretty nice, but the muff'n is better for what I want to do. Plus I always have wanted a tubey sound, without having to spend $1000 on a new amp. I'll just wait around for good deals on a used one. I have a very good idea of how the DOD will sound now, because I have a stingray, and through the sterling i know how it'll sound.

Think I'll have to go with the muff'n. Just gonn have to save up I guess.
 
#13
JLW said:
jetpackbassist,

Thank you very much for posting those clips. The DOD does sound pretty nice, but the muff'n is better for what I want to do. Plus I always have wanted a tubey sound, without having to spend $1000 on a new amp. I'll just wait around for good deals on a used one. I have a very good idea of how the DOD will sound now, because I have a stingray, and through the sterling i know how it'll sound.

Think I'll have to go with the muff'n. Just gonn have to save up I guess.
Click to expand...

The Muff'n certainly is a lovely beast. The large size and special power requirements make it a bit of a challenge sometimes, but it's the one pedal that has had permanent residence on my board.

There's a few Muff'ns up on eBay right now. You can BIN for just over $160 including shipping, and there's a couple that are on open auction. Happy hunting!
 
#17
bongomania said:
Hey JPB, if a brohan and a mang fought, who would win?
Click to expand...
hmmm... quite a tough question!

brohan has superior blade-wielding skills, but mang knows the secrets of the lost Kung Fu.

i think they'd probably both get bored with fighting and go have lunch or something. mang would eat some sort of fish (it would come in a bucket of rice and veggies with the head and tail still on... mang would probably eat the eyeballs and claim they were a delicacy); brohan would probably just have some taco bell, or maybe a "french dip" style roast beef sandwich.
http://[malware url removed].net/vicious-smiley-1815.gif
 
#20
If you were thinking you'd have to pay $200+ for the Muff'n, might you consider some boutique pedal options?

Supercollider does less & more than both of these pedals, & has that sweet thing the Muff'n does.

Bluebeard is sick on bass, especially if all you want is thick, slightly overdriven, saturated & gooey. Don't turn the gain way up.
 

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