P.S. to anyone interested - I saw some conflicting info on the enclosure size, so i just asked em on Reverb.
5.5 x 4.5 enclosure!
5.5 x 4.5 enclosure!
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Too BIG for my pedalboards
Maybe we'll get a SMALL down the road.
I mean, it’s not THAT big.
Now to fire it up!
Probably not a surprise to anyone here, but the BIG rules! My favorite all time fuzz is the S&S Bluebeard with the tone bypassed, just to give you an idea of what my ears prefer.
The BIG is similar sounding to my ears, but it is WAY more versatile IMHO. There really isn’t a bad setting on the fuzz side of the pedal. I kind of found my "sweet spot” with the tone at about 11:00. That said, the tones are all usable. With the tone all the way down it's dark and beefy which is where I have to set a lot of guitar-based fuzzes anyway. What surprised me is maxing the tone out brought in a presence and an aggressive top end but it still has all the same low end presence. No need for a clean blend at any of the tone settings.
With the sustain all the way down it gets a nice growly breakup. This was a very useable lower drive setting that would make a killer always on or low gain setting. Then rolling up the sustain, noon got it into the Bluebeard / Russian Muff territory that I love. In this range it was exactly the sound I was hoping to get from this pedal. Again, it’s not a clone or 1-to-1, but just in that territory. Turning the sustain all the way up gave more overtones and heft, and let sustained notes go into feedback. The fuzz is thick, nasty, and aggressive (not Spite Box levels of nastiness, but what else is like that one?), while still having that smooth muffin quality but without the mid scoop. The notes have a clarity that should punch through the mix.
The obvious next step will be trying this in a band mix to see how it performs, but I’m optimistic. This is where I’m looking forward to trying out the boost. It sounds great and clean, and pushes the fuzz well. At unity it adds that sheen that you look for in a boost, I like to use a boost above unity to punch out parts, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it does in that band application. The boost kicks the fuzz up a notch when both are engaged. This might be the secret sauce setting of this pedal. The boosted fuzz really sounds incredible.
So the initial impression is better than I expected and I will happily provide more insight after trying it in a band setting. If you are considering it and on the fence, I’d go for it. Especially if you are a Bluebeard fan and have some space on your board. Hell, pull a couple pedals off your board and make the space, it’s worth it. Well done DA!!
The BIG is similar sounding to my ears, but it is WAY more versatile IMHO. There really isn’t a bad setting on the fuzz side of the pedal. I kind of found my "sweet spot” with the tone at about 11:00. That said, the tones are all usable. With the tone all the way down it's dark and beefy which is where I have to set a lot of guitar-based fuzzes anyway. What surprised me is maxing the tone out brought in a presence and an aggressive top end but it still has all the same low end presence. No need for a clean blend at any of the tone settings.
With the sustain all the way down it gets a nice growly breakup. This was a very useable lower drive setting that would make a killer always on or low gain setting. Then rolling up the sustain, noon got it into the Bluebeard / Russian Muff territory that I love. In this range it was exactly the sound I was hoping to get from this pedal. Again, it’s not a clone or 1-to-1, but just in that territory. Turning the sustain all the way up gave more overtones and heft, and let sustained notes go into feedback. The fuzz is thick, nasty, and aggressive (not Spite Box levels of nastiness, but what else is like that one?), while still having that smooth muffin quality but without the mid scoop. The notes have a clarity that should punch through the mix.
The obvious next step will be trying this in a band mix to see how it performs, but I’m optimistic. This is where I’m looking forward to trying out the boost. It sounds great and clean, and pushes the fuzz well. At unity it adds that sheen that you look for in a boost, I like to use a boost above unity to punch out parts, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it does in that band application. The boost kicks the fuzz up a notch when both are engaged. This might be the secret sauce setting of this pedal. The boosted fuzz really sounds incredible.
So the initial impression is better than I expected and I will happily provide more insight after trying it in a band setting. If you are considering it and on the fence, I’d go for it. Especially if you are a Bluebeard fan and have some space on your board. Hell, pull a couple pedals off your board and make the space, it’s worth it. Well done DA!!
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...but I just decided a few months ago I had found my "desert island fuzz"! Maybe I'll have to add this to the list of pedals to try.
It seems to be the BAT Priestess. Does everything I'd want/need, keeps the lows, enough grit and treble to be heard, and was incredibly easy for me to dial in. All around, it's been my #1 for the better part of the past year, after supplanting my long-reigning #1 the Pharaoh Supreme. Granted, I'm nowhere near the fuzz aficionado that others are, but it works perfectly for my stoner/doom/metal needs.
father of fires
Commercial User
father of fires
Commercial User
Thanks for this review. I shared it with the band too. I think the Bluebeard beard can get more aggressive and has amazing low gain sounds. So there's room for both to be sure.
Just a random throwback to loving my mbd1…
My band has been focusing on covers and not much of our original stuff for a year or so but wanted to bring back the originals, one which calls for a drop C doom / groove metal song in which the “grind with clarity” of the mbd1 is just so perfect.
My band has been focusing on covers and not much of our original stuff for a year or so but wanted to bring back the originals, one which calls for a drop C doom / groove metal song in which the “grind with clarity” of the mbd1 is just so perfect.
only 4 BIG pedals left!
with 9 people with it in their cart!
I vote Thunderdome!
father of fires
Commercial User
Seems like we built the right amount then. No one gets shafted and perhaps they have a few to sell on tour.
I guess I have a type.
The BIG fit in perfectly in a band mix. I used the fuzz where I normally use a Bluebeard and the boost where I usually use either a Benson Boost or Broughton Studio Boost. Both fit in well in the same spots in the set.
As mentioned in my initial blush earlier, the magic to my ears was the boost pushing the fuzz. They also both stacked well with the bass overdrive and bass distortion.
I should add that this was with my Ric 4004 which is often picky about which fuzzes it gets along with. The pickups in that bass don’t always cooperate with the same dirt that a p-bass loves.
All to say this board is set for awhile…though the Bluebeard does fit nicely in that Retro slot.
Its been a little while since i got the BIG, and man, I've been having fun.
Haven't posted about it yet, but honestly it does exactly what i was looking for.
I've been running it at 18v with some hot active basses. I tried 9v, 18v to my ears is just MOAR. which equals good?
The fuzz is SUPER useable and tweakable just with the 3 knobs. I go from light gain/pop punk vibes to killer fuzz wah cliff burton riffs to some sludgey doom riffs all with the same pedal. its like having a bunch of fuzz types in one box, almost.
The boost is awesome. super clean and clear. I've been using it for my solo bass-riffs and intros for my bands original stuff. Really makes my bass lines pop at the right time.
And, lastly, its BIG - but not so big it doesn't fit anywhere.
Here's a pic (excuse the dog hair, I clean and its back before I even finish)
Haven't posted about it yet, but honestly it does exactly what i was looking for.
I've been running it at 18v with some hot active basses. I tried 9v, 18v to my ears is just MOAR. which equals good?
The fuzz is SUPER useable and tweakable just with the 3 knobs. I go from light gain/pop punk vibes to killer fuzz wah cliff burton riffs to some sludgey doom riffs all with the same pedal. its like having a bunch of fuzz types in one box, almost.
The boost is awesome. super clean and clear. I've been using it for my solo bass-riffs and intros for my bands original stuff. Really makes my bass lines pop at the right time.
And, lastly, its BIG - but not so big it doesn't fit anywhere.
Here's a pic (excuse the dog hair, I clean and its back before I even finish)
I’ve always struggled with fuzz on bass and finally figured how to incorporate it to my liking - and it was simply a matter of placing the MBD before the BLOOP. Sounds obvious now I think about it.
Now there’s any shade of fuzzy goodness I feel like that day blended in with the MBD grind, all without losing the weight and depth of the low end.
Now there’s any shade of fuzzy goodness I feel like that day blended in with the MBD grind, all without losing the weight and depth of the low end.
