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Best v7 Russian Big Muff Clone

#22
Matt Dean said:
Wren and Cuff versus Stomp under foot... I don't think it matters with these two; especially when you're playing live. Get either and be happy. They're both top quality muffs.

I just recommend avoiding a clean blend on a muff.... I think it strangles the openness of the distorted tone (IMO). I can't speak of the SUF, but the W&C TFR retains all the bass needed to establish your place in the mix.
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I just got the TFR and I'd second the clean blend comment. I had one I was using with my Swollen Pickle, but the TFR keeps all the low end you need. I've never heard anything like it in that respect. Sounds great. I may try the SUF Civil War/Unrest just because I'd like a little more comparison before I'm satisfied in my search
 
#23
ocoaibass said:
I just got the TFR and I'd second the clean blend comment. I had one I was using with my Swollen Pickle, but the TFR keeps all the low end you need. I've never heard anything like it in that respect. Sounds great. I may try the SUF Civil War/Unrest just because I'd like a little more comparison before I'm satisfied in my search
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Please post your comparison thoughts... i for one would be interested.
 
#24
I've been using a TFR with blend for several months now. It just does not work for me. I got the SUF Civil War today. It just floored me right away. Here are the differences I heard:
  • Bass: both go very deep and have a nice full bottom. The TFR is looser and woolier with the lowest frequencies. The CW is tighter with cleaner tone in the deep bass range
  • Mids: TFR is scooped, soft sounding mids. CW is more forward, perhaps slightly brassier, more like an octave fuzz, but not quite
  • Highs: Both have enough controllable highs.
For me the CW is the hands-down winner. I've been contemplating getting this pedal for over a year, but I was just leery of spending another $175 on a pedal. I kept trying to like the TFR, but it just was not happening. I'm glad I finally broke down. It definitely was worth it.

BTW, they are exactly the same box with similar connection points. (TFR w/blend power jack on top, CW power jack on side.)
 
#25
First, I'll address the comparison.

Matt: I've had a Swollen Pickle several times. Only this last time did I find it usable. I finally opened it and adjusted the internal trim pots. That made all the difference and really had me warming to it for a while. But then I got out my old Sonny & Sanford Blue Beard and fell in love with the simple muff circuit again. All the options on the Pickle make it rad but I've given in to simplicity. The TFR has way more focused low end. The Pickle probably gets some brassier and square wave type mids, but the TFR has a really churning fuzz. I like that. One drawback I'm noticing is that the TFR has to be dimed to get where I'm wanting. It gets there, but I'm still curious about the Civil War. I hope that helps. If you want more details, just say so.

I've threatened several times to build a Tonebender with the Civil War specs to get that lower drive/singing tone. But right now I'm wanting subs and fuzz.

BFunk: The TFR really cleaned up the low end for me. I'm down at G# and can notice a clear difference. I split my signal so my clean lows are always present and the TFR meshed well with that at full distortion especially when I bypassed the blender pedal and just played it straight. The Civil War is quite tempting. What kind of bass/pickups are you playing into what kind of amp/cabs? What kind of music at what volumes?
 
#27
ocoaibass said:
BFunk: The TFR really cleaned up the low end for me. I'm down at G# and can notice a clear difference. I split my signal so my clean lows are always present and the TFR meshed well with that at full distortion especially when I bypassed the blender pedal and just played it straight. The Civil War is quite tempting. What kind of bass/pickups are you playing into what kind of amp/cabs? What kind of music at what volumes?
Click to expand...

See my profile for a list of gear. I play in an original rock band doing hard, melodic rock similar in style to Foo Fighters.

BTW, my TFR has the optional blend knob.
 
#30
Swimming Bird said:
@ocoaibass - how does the Bleabeard (a v2 clone) compare to the v7 clones you've played?
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If I had to pick one muff, it would probably be the Bluebeard because its so damn nasty, compared to the TFR. It destroys any of the new Muffs (USA, nano, bass bm, etc...). The Green Muff sound is great for bassists. Both I and my buddy play the Bluebeard with a Mosquite Blender pedal to bring back some lows. I haven't pulled the trigger on the SUF Civil War because I had to replace my delay with a tap tempo unit and my synth with a phaser. Limited pedalboard space is a pain.
 
#31
The Civil War does sound like a killer fuzz. I recent got a VFE Woodchipper (B:Assmaster type octave fuzz) and it handles all of the synth stuff I do - mostly due to how the VFE handles the low end. I still like my TFR for stoner (especially with phaser).

But, if a Civil War pops up in the classifieds, I may have to tried it.

Edit: a civil war is on it's way to me.
 
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