Distortion

[5StringWolf]

Ive been wanting to get my bass to have a a very heavy distorted sound like the examples here

Venom (London 1985) [06]. Bass Solo (Cronos) - YouTube

for whom the bell tolls - YouTube

Cliff Burton - Bass Solo - Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth) - YouTube

Cliff Burton - Bass Solo [Cliff 'Em All] - YouTube

Any way i could get my bass to sound that way? Any equipment suggestions?

 

[Danni Moe]

Ive been wanting to get my bass to have a a very heavy distorted sound like the examples here

Venom (London 1985) [06]. Bass Solo (Cronos) - YouTube

for whom the bell tolls - YouTube

Cliff Burton - Bass Solo - Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth) - YouTube

Cliff Burton - Bass Solo [Cliff 'Em All] - YouTube

Any way i could get my bass to sound that way? Any equipment suggestions?

For Metallica, you want fuzz and a wah pedal. Before we get any more specific, what kind of bass do you have?

 

[CopperheadLXXIX]

Burton used an EHX Big Muff (the variation escapes me ATM...) and I believe a Morley Power Wah for most of his stuff.

 

[Thylacine Dream]

I thought if heard he used a Rat, that may've just been on Kill 'Em All or something, though

 

[Danni Moe]

It's all fuzz though

 

[Dick Tree]

Burton used an EHX Big Muff (the variation escapes me ATM...) and I believe a Morley Power Wah for most of his stuff.

Pretty sure that Burton used the Green Russian Muff

 

[vegas532]

Pretty sure that Burton used the Green Russian Muff

Cliff Burton died in 1986, the Green Russians went into production in 1994. I'd be willing to bet the Burton Muff is either a "Violet Ram's Head" or "Op-Amp".

Not to start an argument, just sayin'.

 

[Danni Moe]

Cliff Burton died in 1986, the Green Russians went into production in 1994. I'd be willing to bet the Burton Muff is either a "Violet Ram's Head" or "Op-Amp".

Not to start an argument, just sayin'.

 

[ZanaZulu807]

Probably any Big Muff type fuzz will work for any of those vids. Though I think Cliff just used his overdrive channel for live stuff, he definitely used a Muff for the studio version of Pulling Teeth.

My recommendation, Russian Big Muff. The American NYC eats up alot of low end and the Bass Big Muff just underwhelms. Plus the Russian just sounds aggressive as hell...

 

[bigchiefbc]

Cliff Burton died in 1986, the Green Russians went into production in 1994. I'd be willing to bet the Burton Muff is either a "Violet Ram's Head" or "Op-Amp".

Not to start an argument, just sayin'.

Indeed. I really don't get where that "Cliff played a Russian muff" thing came from.

Anyways. I could have sworn I've seen a picture of Cliff on stage with a Big Muff that had the standard red and black artwork, which would rule out the Ram's Head. But there was a standard red & black big muff that was out in the late 70s/early 80s that was a transistor-based circuit, as well as the op-amp one. It could be either one of those.

 

[spaz21387]

Id vote for a way huge swollen pickle. I know he used a muff but the pickle can sound similar to a muff but hold way more low end in your tone. So you would sound better with a swollen pickle. I used russian big muffs in my band for the past year till I got a pickle. I have never been happier with my bass sound then I am now.

 

[Danni Moe]

Id vote for a way huge swollen pickle. I know he used a muff but the pickle can sound similar to a muff but hold way more low end in your tone. So you would sound better with a swollen pickle. I used russian big muffs in my band for the past year till I got a pickle. I have never been happier with my bass sound then I am now.

Not on an active bass my friend

 

[EskimoBassist]

Not to open a whole can of worms, but by using the right tools an active hating fuzz can be tamed: a variable resistor or a decent buffer in front works a treat.