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$200 dollar budget: Let's do this

I'd recommend getting a tuner pedal. You get them used super cheap. My guitarists found a boss on Craigslist for $20, and I've bought the majority of my pedals used off eBay for less than $50 each. Look all over the place online for a used one, check local pawn shops if there are any nearby. As for fuzz There's several types but I if you're playing hard rock or metal for example id actually recommend an overdrive over a fuzz. To me fuzz is great for pop music (i.e. muse type stuff) there's a few rock records with great fuzz parts but fuzz really gets lost in the mix with high gain dirty guitars. Overdrives typically cut through better in that situation in my opinion.
 
So i've got this audition on Friday. I've always wanted some pedals. Multi-effects just break on me. I've had two break for apparently no reason. So i'm looking for a pedal set-up

I need a tuner.

I want a sick Fuzz

What do you guys think is my best option? I could go a little over on the fuzz if it's really worth it.

I like the early QOTSA sounds and that type of music. FYI

Might not be a specific "fuzz" pedal (it has a drive knob) - but I vote for a SansAmp. The thing is so proven, I doubt you'd ever stop using it no matter what pedals you eventually get. I know guys that don't even bring their amps overseas and just carry the SansAmp.
 
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Hartke VXL Bass Attack pedal. Has basically 3 sounds you can get from it but be warned that the dirt does boost the volume a little bit. It is hands down the best sounding $99 pedal in existence. I know you said no multi-effects but you should also consider the Zoom MS-60b. For what it does it's incredible.
 
If I had $200 my 1st choice would be a Sansamp BDDI, and a Snark SN8, and I will have gone about $10 over budget. I love, and use my BDDI a lot, it's a tool with a lot of uses for me, and the little Snark tunes well enough for live stuff. However, I wouldn't buy any pedal, without first trying it out. A good pedal tuner is better than a clipon, and you can use it to mute, when not playing, you won't have gone wrong, if you skip the effects, and put $70 or less into a good pedal tuner, Like a Korg Pitchblack, and get to a store to try out effects pedals, when you get a chance, the BDDI is a amp, and cab simulator, and a DI, 2 nice things to have, but, you may not like it's sound, same for any other pedal... hear them first, if you can't try one, it's a shot in the dark, ... I wouldn't. (a good tuner is certainly not a shot in the dark)
 
Get a snark for $16 and drop the rest on either a lower gain/russian muff clone, rat boutique or distortion (an Aggy Agro might do you good). Lower gain so you sit right in the mix, don't overdue it.

I am assuming you are referring to a Snark clip on tuner, not a pedal tuner. The cheapest I have seen the SN-10S go for street price is at $32.99
 
Sometimes the first time you kick on that new fuzz in a live band situation can be a real eye opener. Like, you're wide eyed looking for where the heck your bass sound just went. I would personally never try a new pedal at an audition, especially a fuzz, but hey, if you gotta, a Boss tuner and a muff of some sort fits your budget.
 
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Why?
Work perfectly, cheap, and no clutter.
If you use one and it works well for you, cool, I'm not knocking your thing.
But, here's my answer:


I love being able to mute with a quick click while tuning.
Unless technology has made vast improvements, which it may have and I may be way off-base, they aren't quite as accurate.
Personally, I find them unsightly.
 
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Im with others here in saying skip the clip on. From your influences ima make an assumption this is a younger band and the material is heavier rock, meaning alot of noise during setup, which means potential problems with a clip on tuner. This isnt a coffee shop singer songwritting gig, again my assumption.

going with the korg pitchblack recommendation ima go one step further and suggest the joyo tuner. way cheaper and its essentially a ripoff of the korg. Hasnt failed me since and i abuse it like i would any other pedal i got on the cheap for $20. Leaves plenty more money to experiment with a fuzz. trust me the perfect fuzz quest will be expensive so youll need all the money u can save ;P
 
You've picked up a used BOSS Tu-, so that's taken care of. Check the used sites for a BOSS SD1 or OD3, can be found quite cheap, maybe US$50 or even less. Then, an EHX (Russian "black") Big Muff, which were also going for 50-100. If you have an Ampeg, those are exactly the first QOTSA album tones.
 
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I am assuming you are referring to a Snark clip on tuner, not a pedal tuner. The cheapest I have seen the SN-10S go for street price is at $32.99
No idea. I bought my last Snark clip on (the red one) at a local store (Chuck's)and they charged me $16.

Anyway, I tried to recommend more or less mass market stuff as the OP seemed to be under some time pressure. No reason to not invest in a pedal tuner later, but it should be easy to break to tune during an audition. Also why I suggested a lower gain fuzz w/o really knowing what was going on here - just think something all pleasing and affordable is the way to go to get it done this week.

Edit: Just checked online and both the black SN-8 and my red SN-2 are $15 or under at Sweetwater.
Also, if the OP is down to the wire most GCs should carry Swollen Pickles and maybe MXR Bass Fuzzes.
 
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I want a fuzz because I like that sound. The tuner I'm going to need to the audition. got the Boss TU-3 at the HOG today.




this


I strongly suspect that if you put a fuzzed-out bass under that guitar tone you're going to get inaudible mud. Play clean, maybe a hint of overdrive, and boost your mids.
 
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Audition day and no fuzz yet I'm going to hold off a second on it, although i really want one. I'm starting to get a sinking feeling that my bass just is not good enough to gig. The intonation above the 12th fret just isn't very good at all. It helps when I'm down in C# which is where I stay but jesus it's almost not passible as an octave when I hit the 12th.

...This is an expensive hobby :sour:
 

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