• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

All-Purpose Fuzz Suggestions Wanted

#26
IMO gated tones for synthy tones are a huge plus to have on hand. My two main fuzzes with bass for years have been a W&C TFR and a Z-Vex Mastotron. I've used a number of others but none have unseated these two. I also have a Darkglass Duality which is great and versatile, but IMO really benefits from adding a Gain control (kinda ridiculous to me that they didn't include one in the design).

The TFR can definitely be scooped with the Tone turned down, but with Tone set at or near full it is surprisingly transparent for me (I also only use mine for relatively low gain sounds, where it is almost overdrive-like in response). I wouldn't choose it for an all-around "synthy" type fuzz though as it is too smooth and polite to run into a filter IMO where the filter will kinda lose the edge of the fuzz- I guess if you are not adding a filter to your synth chain it isn't a bad choice, though somewhat limiting. As a rock distortion I think the TFR excels.

For an all-around fuzz I am quite happy with the Mastotron- it can go from thick and smooth to spitty/velcroey with ease and it gets the majority of my fuzz use for the last several years. Its gated tones are well known, sound fantastic and pair great with octave + filter for synthy textures, but its non-gated tones are also big and versatile either for synthy or more standard uses. I also hate the stock landscape orientation of the stock Z-Vex pedals, but mine was rehoused into a top-jack normal portrait orientation pedal by the previous owner. There have been a number of clone builds of the Mammoth or Mastotron (Mastotron is essentially a Mammoth with the addition of a subs switch for some tighter sounds and an impedance potentiometer) in normal pedal orientations as well. Here's one- I haven't tried one, but have used other Aion FX kits and they are great and a reasonable deal if you can DIY a simple project: Penumbra Bass Fuzz / ZVEX Woolly Mammoth
 
#28
sunbeast said:
IMO gated tones for synthy tones are a huge plus to have on hand. My two main fuzzes with bass for years have been a W&C TFR and a Z-Vex Mastotron. I've used a number of others but none have unseated these two. I also have a Darkglass Duality which is great and versatile, but IMO really benefits from adding a Gain control (kinda ridiculous to me that they didn't include one in the design).

The TFR can definitely be scooped with the Tone turned down, but with Tone set at or near full it is surprisingly transparent for me (I also only use mine for relatively low gain sounds, where it is almost overdrive-like in response). I wouldn't choose it for an all-around "synthy" type fuzz though as it is too smooth and polite to run into a filter IMO where the filter will kinda lose the edge of the fuzz- I guess if you are not adding a filter to your synth chain it isn't a bad choice, though somewhat limiting. As a rock distortion I think the TFR excels.

For an all-around fuzz I am quite happy with the Mastotron- it can go from thick and smooth to spitty/velcroey with ease and it gets the majority of my fuzz use for the last several years. Its gated tones are well known, sound fantastic and pair great with octave + filter for synthy textures, but its non-gated tones are also big and versatile either for synthy or more standard uses. I also hate the stock landscape orientation of the stock Z-Vex pedals, but mine was rehoused into a top-jack normal portrait orientation pedal by the previous owner. There have been a number of clone builds of the Mammoth or Mastotron (Mastotron is essentially a Mammoth with the addition of a subs switch for some tighter sounds and an impedance potentiometer) in normal pedal orientations as well. Here's one- I haven't tried one, but have used other Aion FX kits and they are great and a reasonable deal if you can DIY a simple project: Penumbra Bass Fuzz / ZVEX Woolly Mammoth
Click to expand...

I really want the Mastotron or the Woolly Mammoth, but the small horizontal enclosure bothers me so much. It’s just cumbersome to place on a pedalboard, unless… I buy both and put them on top of one another :laugh:
 
#29
Just Wrong said:
I really want the Mastotron or the Woolly Mammoth, but the small horizontal enclosure bothers me so much. It’s just cumbersome to place on a pedalboard, unless… I buy both and put them on top of one another :laugh:
Click to expand...
Yeah that was a deal-breaker for me too until someone on TB posted this rehoused one many years back. Definitely worth checking out a more reasonably-housed clone! They are pretty simple circuits too, so DIY would be easy
 
#30
The affordable EHX Nano Bass Muff is based on the Russian version of the circuit. Have you checked it out? You can buy a Behringer Brassmaster with the saved money - it will give you a different shade of great-sounding fuzz, so you get even more "all-round".
 
  • Like
Reactions: hondo4life
#31
Just Wrong said:
I really want the Mastotron or the Woolly Mammoth, but the small horizontal enclosure bothers me so much. It’s just cumbersome to place on a pedalboard, unless… I buy both and put them on top of one another :laugh:
Click to expand...
i built a Mastrotron a few years ago in vertical 1590B with all top jacks and with a relayed true bypass.:

Mastotron-01.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc, Justyn Brando, Paco Leon and 3 others
#32
I own several big muffs and think it’s a great bass fuzz all around. Some of my favorites: Wren and Cuff White Elk and Eye See 78, EQD Hizumitas, Cloven Hoof.

The muff currently on my board is a Keeley Moon Fuzz

I prefer IC/op amp muffs. They are more gritty and less smooth, a bit more grind and toward a distortion than fuzz.
 
#35
#36
Just Wrong said:
Again, these are suspiciously affordable, but I might have to grab one...
Click to expand...
I have a Mastotron already and am still tempted! Curious how that Sub knob works vs the original 3-way switch. Also tempted to build one of the Aion FX clones I posted earlier, as the internal transformer in place of the Push control is intriguing (though I find the Push control adds a lot of incremental textural versatility)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just Wrong
#37
Muff-like:EQD Hoof(mid scoop/hump fun), Mojo Hand BMP-2(based on my bmp-1 being super buttery, this isnthe current production)and the EHX green russian reissue(don’t discount it, punches way above its weight dollarwise)
Other Fuzzes:Aguilar Storm King(versatile), Walrus Jupiter(again versatile), and the WA Foxxy Tone Box(great fuzz, great octave and flocking)
Super cheap:JHS 3 series fuzz is a great fuzz face for bass. The fat switch matches the most useful cap setting on the SD tweak fuzz, another great fuzz face for bass.

Left-Field suggestion:JHS Kilt v2. With both gain switches up it is a killer fuzz and you have a million drive options along the way. If you have space for only one gain/drive pedal, you can’t do much better.

I have a fuzz problem and have tried most major production fuzzes and many boutique small runs. All are useful and welcome in my world.
 
#38
Curious to see where this leads - always looking for "All-Purpose" fuzzes myself, to avoid pedalboards with 5 fuzzes...
Loads of great suggestions in here; that CMC Effects Mastotron looks like a particularly great solution to the awkwardness of the zvex enclosure.

A few other suggestions for you:

I will add another vote for the DOD Carcosa - really great, and versatile fuzz. Sounds wonderful, and can cover loads of great sounds, from wide open, huge fuzz tones, to velcro-y synth type fuzz, and all sorts of greatness in between.

Also, when I am wanting a single fuzz pedal that can switch between different fuzz flavours in a gig, without needing to change settings, a Foxx Tone Machine type fuzz works incredibly well.
Blue Colander Doppel or the Moose Electronics Nomad work incredibly well, with their clean low end controls.
The octave pedal essentially allows you to add in a green ringer type octave up fuzz, which both gives you that dirty, ring-mod-y octave up sound, as well as the gating inherent with that circuit. So you can switch between a more open fuzz tone without the octave, and then hit the octave pedal for something more synth-y and gated, which sounds amazing after octave pedals and pushing into a filter.

I am also keen to check out the EHX Lizard King, but is very much a gated, octave-up fuzz. Though seems to be pretty versatile within that particular area of fuzz pedals.
 
#39
I purchased the Tall Font Russian, but I have to agree with @sunbeast. It might work as a rock fuzz, but it doesn't work all that well as a synth fuzz. I guess gated really is the way to go. Also, my band leader (finally) removed that Muse song from the setlist, so I really have no reason to keep it now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sunbeast

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back