CMC Effects Fans

[deepestend]

Not directly, no, but I never quite got along with my Grey Stache when I had one. I much prefer the CMCs, and have found that I prefer many of their varieties on bass to what I recall of the Grey Stache. I found the Grey Stache to either cut or support the mix, but never do both well simultaneously - even with the mids control. I have experienced no such issues with the CMCs. That being said, it's been years, and my knowledge of Muffs (and how to use them) has improved significantly.

He says it’s a combo of the rams head and the civil war. I love my cmc rams head but wish it were slightly clearer and love my cmc Russian but wish it were slightly fuzzier like the rams. Just wondering if the GS had the lower mids and bass of the Russian but the fuzz of the rams.

 

[kleinenenten]

He says it’s a combo of the rams head and the civil war. I love my cmc rams head but wish it were slightly clearer and love my cmc Russian but wish it were slightly fuzzier like the rams. Just wondering if the GS had the lower mids and bass of the Russian but the fuzz of the rams.

What you're describing is probably closest to the CMC Civil War in my experience... I found it a bit grittier with a little more treble than the other Russians (but not quite as harsh in the high end), and more bass than the Ram's Head. It's very "fuzz-stortion-y". Not the best description, I know. If memory serves, I found the Grey Stache to be very clear, and quite bright, but not super fuzzy - it was more of a tighter feel to the grit and very "distortion-y". The mids knob could never quite solve the tone issue for me, and for a while I swore off mids knobs on Muffs (I'd tried a few at that point, and all of them with dedicated mids knobs except the Swollen Pickle were coming up short) as a result. In fact, the CMCs are the reason I have re-investigated some of my other fuzzes with mids and tone knobs I didn't gel with prior. With the exception of the BAT Pharaoh Supreme and BAT Priestess, I prefer the CMCs to other Muffs. Of course, I no longer have my Grey Stache for direct comparison, but I DO have my Supercollider '71, and the CMC Russians (any of them!) beat it hands down for my needs.

Not to throw ANOTHER pedal into the discussion, but if you haven't tried a Swollen Pickle, I'd highly recommend it. I find the MKIIs to be the best in regards to size and tweakability. There's absolutely no reason I couldn't just use a Swollen Pickle for any Muff tone I'd need, as I can get it 90% or so of the way to pretty much every other Muff I've ever had. Absolute utilitarian workhorse of a Muff - but it takes time and patience to dial in. I had bought and flipped a few before it finally clicked - now I'll never be without at least one. I currently have three for different applications. This is the video that really got me to understand how it really works, and when I'm stuck, I sometimes watch it again to refresh myself.

Good luck on the fuzz hunt, and I hope some of this info helps!

 

[deepestend]

Anyone have experience with the cmc musket?

 

[kleinenenten]

Anyone have experience with the cmc musket?

Not the CMC Musket, but I had another clone a few years ago. It sounded amazing out of the mix - always clear and articulate with plenty of bass. Excellent. But in the mix, it always sounded like a clean tone - the dirt portion seemed to disappear no matter what. Again, been years, and my Muff knowledge and usage has improved since, but another one that I tried to love and just couldn't get to work. I know they were super popular a while back, but don't hear much about them these days. I'd love to hear someone's take on them now!

 

[deepestend]

I think that the muffs that I like the most are the least compressed ones. I have added LED's to the first and second clipping stages on all of mine and that really opens up the sound. Other than that, what do people feel are the most open/least compressed ones? That's why I'm not super into the small/sound big/sound clone. Well made, etc. and can sound really good (i.e. CMC did a great job on it), but also sounds too compressed for me.

 

[kleinenenten]

I think that the muffs that I like the most are the least compressed ones. I have added LED's to the first and second clipping stages on all of mine and that really opens up the sound. Other than that, what do people feel are the most open/least compressed ones? That's why I'm not super into the small/sound big/sound clone. Well made, etc. and can sound really good (i.e. CMC did a great job on it), but also sounds too compressed for me.

I'll probably sound like a broken record, but...

The BAT Priestess is #1 for me at the moment. I have it set for "Pharaoh front end" for gain stage 1, i.e. plenty of headroom. Then, Russian style clipping for gain stage 2. It's impressive, and I was skeptical at first, but it really works for me. I have the headroom of the Pharaoh and the distortion tone of the Russians, all while keeping excellent lows and punch. Similarly, I prefer the Pharaoh Supreme on MOSFET diodes, which I feel are similar in open feel to LEDs - the diode options on that pedal seem to go from compressed to least compressed, and LED is just before MOSFET, and the diodes end at no diodes. If you haven't tried a Pharaoh Supreme, I'd very much recommend it. I've also recently realized I quite like LEDs in a Muff - those are my "go-to" diodes on the CMCs and probably the reason I prefer them to other Muffs, as most don't have LED options. And if you want "custom" compression settings, the Swollen Pickle's "crunch" control is a compression control, so you can do what you will with it.

Between the BAT Muffs, my CMCs, and the Swollen Pickle, I really can't think of a Muff tone that I don't have available. Not that it will keep me from trying more Muffs in the future...

 

[deepestend]

Nice post! I need to check out a BAT Priestess.

Also, replace the first stage of one of your CMC's with LED's. Subtle, but def makes a difference.

I have never really had success with the germanium option in my CMC's. Just doesn't really pop.

 

[kleinenenten]

Nice post! I need to check out a BAT Priestess.

Also, replace the first stage of one of your CMC's with LED's. Subtle, but def makes a difference.

I have never really had success with the germanium option in my CMC's. Just doesn't really pop.

If I was able to do that, and then build my own pedals... Maybe one day, but as it stands, I'm pretty darn happy with my CMCs!

Regarding germanium - I agree 100%. Though germanium is apparently one of those "temperature sensitive" diodes, and it very well could be that my jam room is not the right temperature. Regardless, I've never found a germanium setting to work for me in any capacity. It just does nothing for my tastes. But they must do something, or else why would they be so popular?

 

[Novarocker]

I agree with the Civil War comments. I feel like it maintains solid lows and clarity without too much compression, and highs that are sweet and more smooth that others. The breakup is a great middle ground too.

I would also throw out the triangle. The voicing and sweep seems a little different than a lot of muffs I've tried. The gain is higher than most, but isn't overpowering and very smooth in a lot of the range.

Got the DA120 in today. Only had a short bit before having to hit the road, but sound wise it's real solid. Extremely versatile, excellent if you like a dirty growl-roar. Very close IMO to the original and the footprint is much better for fitting on a board. I've realized that if you want low gain settings, it can get noisy as you turn up the master to compensate. I think it's much better as a dirt pedal than trying to run clean for lower notes. Nothing wrong with that though.

Well worth the price IMO. Haven't had a chance to break it open to see the build, but from the outside feels like real solid quality. Love the sparkle green finish.

 

[kleinenenten]

I agree with the Civil War comments. I feel like it maintains solid lows and clarity without too much compression, and highs that are sweet and more smooth that others. The breakup is a great middle ground too.

I would also throw out the triangle. The voicing and sweep seems a little different than a lot of muffs I've tried. The gain is higher than most, but isn't overpowering and very smooth in a lot of the range.

Got the DA120 in today. Only had a short bit before having to hit the road, but sound wise it's real solid. Extremely versatile, excellent if you like a dirty growl-roar. Very close IMO to the original and the footprint is much better for fitting on a board. I've realized that if you want low gain settings, it can get noisy as you turn up the master to compensate. I think it's much better as a dirt pedal than trying to run clean for lower notes. Nothing wrong with that though.

Well worth the price IMO. Haven't had a chance to break it open to see the build, but from the outside feels like real solid quality. Love the sparkle green finish.

View attachment 7096409

I've got no interest in the DA120 personally, but know that it's a well-received circuit. Glad to have a budget-friendly option!

 

[theunknowndude]

It’s funny
I have stared to play through the Pa at practice instead of my bass cab, no cab sim just straight di out of my head and into the PA.
My usual go to dirt is the mbd1 which has plenty of lows. Through headphones at home I had the ehx green Russian before and thought it had heaps and yet through the pa it sounded very compressed… have yet to try the cmc there but I currently have it set to Led and like that the most.
I previously had a son of pharoah and I know has a lot less options than pharoah supreme but I couldn’t find a good setting on mine, either not enough mid or it turned into a overdrive with no grit…
Happy with my cmc though!

 

[kleinenenten]

It’s funny
I have stared to play through the Pa at practice instead of my bass cab, no cab sim just straight di out of my head and into the PA.
My usual go to dirt is the mbd1 which has plenty of lows. Through headphones at home I had the ehx green Russian before and thought it had heaps and yet through the pa it sounded very compressed… have yet to try the cmc there but I currently have it set to Led and like that the most.
I previously had a son of pharoah and I know has a lot less options than pharoah supreme but I couldn’t find a good setting on mine, either not enough mid or it turned into a overdrive with no grit…
Happy with my cmc though!

I go through phases with my Pharaoh Supreme. Sometimes, it just doesn't quite cut enough as I'd want. It has also been replaced at times by my CMC Bubble Font! Some tips I've learned:

1. For completely full range, max the hi's and minimize the tone.
2. To cut, I find the tone should be 1:30ish - this will sound quieter, but that's why there's a volume knob!
3. Gotta find the diodes that work for you - for me, it's MOSFET or LED. Usually MOSFET (which is ONLY on the Supreme).
4. The "Pre" knob makes it "woolier" like a typical Russian fuzz, but also sacrifices some of the high end. I use it at the lower end of the spectrum, around 9:00, or else I get too muddy.
5. Don't be afraid to use the fuzz knob like a treble knob in some respects. There's always enough gain for me, but when I need just a touch more bite, I increase the fuzz knob to get there.

@deepestend - I recorded a quick and dirty demo of many of my Muffs for you to hear. It's this link here. In order, the tones are:

1. Clean
2. CMC Civil War
3. CMC Tall Font
4. CMC Bubble Font
5. Pharaoh Supreme
6. Priestess
7. Swollen Pickle

For all of these, I was going for a tone that works well in numerous hard rock/heavy metal settings - from old Metallica, to Iron Maiden, to Black Sabbath, and even some German thrash (Sodom and Kreator). Each of these can be heard in these mixes - it's really about which tone you prefer. Some are obviously more treble-focused and others have more pillowy bass.

The CMCs all have identical settings so you can really focus on the nuances between the versions. They are LED diodes, gain at noon, shape maxed, tone at 1:30, and volume at unity-ish. You can hear the differences somewhat well, in my opinion. I have other CMC Muffs (Ram's Head, Elk, and Triangle), but I find these three the best for bass use.

The Pharaoh Supreme is on MOSFET diodes, with hi's maxed, tone about 3:00, fuzz at 3:00, and pre at 9:00. Volume at unity.

The Priestess is set for clip 1 off, clip 2 on, mids maxed, tone at 1L30, gain and volume at noon.

The Swollen Pickle has internal knobs of clip at 1:30 and voice maxed. The external knobs have volume at unity, crunch about 1:30, filter about 11:00, gain 1:30ish, and scoop maxed.

Hope this helps with your fuzz hunt!

 

[deepestend]

I go through phases with my Pharaoh Supreme. Sometimes, it just doesn't quite cut enough as I'd want. It has also been replaced at times by my CMC Bubble Font! Some tips I've learned:

1. For completely full range, max the hi's and minimize the tone.
2. To cut, I find the tone should be 1:30ish - this will sound quieter, but that's why there's a volume knob!
3. Gotta find the diodes that work for you - for me, it's MOSFET or LED. Usually MOSFET (which is ONLY on the Supreme).
4. The "Pre" knob makes it "woolier" like a typical Russian fuzz, but also sacrifices some of the high end. I use it at the lower end of the spectrum, around 9:00, or else I get too muddy.
5. Don't be afraid to use the fuzz knob like a treble knob in some respects. There's always enough gain for me, but when I need just a touch more bite, I increase the fuzz knob to get there.

@deepestend - I recorded a quick and dirty demo of many of my Muffs for you to hear. It's this link here. In order, the tones are:

1. Clean
2. CMC Civil War
3. CMC Tall Font
4. CMC Bubble Font
5. Pharaoh Supreme
6. Priestess
7. Swollen Pickle

For all of these, I was going for a tone that works well in numerous hard rock/heavy metal settings - from old Metallica, to Iron Maiden, to Black Sabbath, and even some German thrash (Sodom and Kreator). Each of these can be heard in these mixes - it's really about which tone you prefer. Some are obviously more treble-focused and others have more pillowy bass.

The CMCs all have identical settings so you can really focus on the nuances between the versions. They are LED diodes, gain at noon, shape maxed, tone at 1:30, and volume at unity-ish. You can hear the differences somewhat well, in my opinion. I have other CMC Muffs (Ram's Head, Elk, and Triangle), but I find these three the best for bass use.

The Pharaoh Supreme is on MOSFET diodes, with hi's maxed, tone about 3:00, fuzz at 3:00, and pre at 9:00. Volume at unity.

The Priestess is set for clip 1 off, clip 2 on, mids maxed, tone at 1L30, gain and volume at noon.

The Swollen Pickle has internal knobs of clip at 1:30 and voice maxed. The external knobs have volume at unity, crunch about 1:30, filter about 11:00, gain 1:30ish, and scoop maxed.

Hope this helps with your fuzz hunt!

My favorites are civil war and tall font...only a few caps are different. Very similar.

The others are good, I just prefer a more overdrivey fuzz.

 

[kleinenenten]

My favorites are civil war and tall font...only a few caps are different. Very similar.

The others are good, I just prefer a more overdrivey fuzz.

Nothing wrong with that! I could likely get by with just those two as well, but since I don't have to... I find the Bubble Font to be right in between the Tall Font and the Civil War, and closer to the Civil War. The Bubble Font is my favorite CMC overall for both guitar and bass, but the Tall Font is #2 on bass and the Civil War is #2 on guitar. However, I could probably get by with any of those three on either instrument. This demo again made me realize how much I do quite like the Civil War on bass too. No reason I couldn't make it work!

 

[deepestend]

Nothing wrong with that! I could likely get by with just those two as well, but since I don't have to... I find the Bubble Font to be right in between the Tall Font and the Civil War, and closer to the Civil War. The Bubble Font is my favorite CMC overall for both guitar and bass, but the Tall Font is #2 on bass and the Civil War is #2 on guitar. However, I could probably get by with any of those three on either instrument. This demo again made me realize how much I do quite like the Civil War on bass too. No reason I couldn't make it work!

I actually socketed a lot of the components on my bubble font when I got it. Inspired by your clip, I just set it back to mostly civil war specs. Need to play it more, but I’ll prob keep it that way.

 

[Backdrop]

Ordered a Tall Font the other day. Shipping sometime next month.

Debated between the Bubble and Tall Font for quite a while. Kind of missed my W&C TFR but didn't miss how scooped it was. Hoping the added diodes and Shape will help with that. We'll see.

 

[mouthmw]

Ordered a Tall Font the other day. Shipping sometime next month.

Debated between the Bubble and Tall Font for quite a while. Kind of missed my W&C TFR but didn't miss how scooped it was. Hoping the added diodes and Shape will help with that. We'll see.

I had both. CMC version is definitely less scooped and tighter, especially thanks to the mids control. Still an excellent warm sounding muff, not quite as low end heavy as W&C. All CMC muffs are great. I’d still have one if I didn’t find my ultimate russian style muff - Broughton Calamity.

 

[kleinenenten]

I actually socketed a lot of the components on my bubble font when I got it. Inspired by your clip, I just set it back to mostly civil war specs. Need to play it more, but I’ll prob keep it that way.

I'd be interested to hear what your tweaks did, and how they affected the tone. Are you ending up with a Civil War/Bubble Font Hybrid? Sounds awesome!

 

[Grassmaster]

I think that the muffs that I like the most are the least compressed ones. I have added LED's to the first and second clipping stages on all of mine and that really opens up the sound. Other than that, what do people feel are the most open/least compressed ones? That's why I'm not super into the small/sound big/sound clone. Well made, etc. and can sound really good (i.e. CMC did a great job on it), but also sounds too compressed for me.

It's not a CMC, but I definitely prefer LEDs on my Broughton Calamity.

 

[deepestend]

I'd be interested to hear what your tweaks did, and how they affected the tone. Are you ending up with a Civil War/Bubble Font Hybrid? Sounds awesome!

I will eventually post. BUT as these things go... decided that I basically have the components I want in place and set out to remove all of the sockets and solder them in permanently. Some of the sockets were kind of loose, so it made sense. Of course, now the thing doesn't work. Oh well... prob a solder bridge or something similar. I'll go in tonight and see if I can trace the signal and troubleshoot. It's nice when these things work the first time! But that rarely happens.