• 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.

EHX Little Big Muff - I need something else

EricF

EricF

Habitual User
Sep 26, 2005
7,829
536
Pasadena, CA
www.myspace.com
#1
While I love the smooth, thick fuzz of the LBM, I'm finding more and more that the mid-scooped sound is hard to make work in a (indie-rock) band setting. I love the way it holds the low end, but the lack of mid presence means I have to crank the volume up really high to get heard, and I end up overwhelming our sound.

I'm thinking that a fuzz/blend combination might be the right call for me. My first thought is that a PE Depth Charge could be a great fit.

Recommend me some non-Muff fuzz to go with my SVT-CL

(I already have an English Muff'n that I use for gritty OD, so don't go there ;))
 
#3
NOOOOOOOOO... :eek:

...well, like they always say on TB, "YMMW" :smug:

It'd probably be a good time to invest in a blend pedal, IMO. The X-Blender is one of the more flexible options, and the VFB-2 is an inexpensive but effective alternative.

What about turning up the Tone knob to 12 o'clock or so? It still retains a lot of lows at that position (just turn up the Volume knob accordingly).
 
#4
MysticBoo said:
NOOOOOOOOO... :eek:

...well, like they always say on TB, "YMMW" :smug:

It'd probably be a good time to invest in a blend pedal, IMO. The X-Blender is one of the more flexible options, and the VFB-2 is an inexpensive but effective alternative.

What about turning up the Tone knob to 12 o'clock or so? It still retains a lot of lows at that position (just turn up the Volume knob accordingly).
Click to expand...

I know, I know. I've been a big proponent of the LBM, and I still think it's a great pedal, but I'm not getting the result I need from it, so the GAS fires are burning again.

At last night's practice session, I had the tone knob as high as 1-o'clock looking for a sound that would work, but it just didn't get me there.
 
#5
Eric, I am sitting in the same spot. It's one of the biggest sounding fuzzes I've heard, but it really doesn't cut through.

Since you like it, I would also suggest a blend pedal. You know the models out there. Also, Barge is coming out with a smaller blend pedal this summer FWIW.

Other fuzzes I like are the 3Xfx Fatman and the B:ASSMASTER. You might also want to check out the Tone Factor Huckleberry and the MI Audio Neo fuzz. They can both sound close to a Muff, but the Neo is WAY more tweakable. The Huckleberry is also a hybrid fuzz, so while it has only 3 knobs, you can tweak a ton of sounds out of it.

I remember you didn't care for the Woolly Mammoth, but I can't remember if you've tried the Tech21 XXLB. IMO it can get decently fuzzy, but it really didn't seem like anything special. YMMV though. It's worth a shot. FWIW, the next fuzz I plan to try is the Subdecay Flying Tomato. When I try it, I'll let you know how it sounds.
 
#6
Ok, yes a blend can make a difference with your LBM punching through.

The mid loss is why although I always liked the sound of my bigmuff I never ended up using it, and by the time I ended up getting a VFB-2 the muff sound just wasn’t my thing anymore. I ended up with a Fuzz that is of the tonebender vain but still has it’s own ROAR:p . The Bluebeard has my attention a little, I don’t really want one but I would like to hear one, of course then I might really want one:hmm:
 
#7
To the OP, if you have a drive pedal in your chain, use it to boost the signal before the Muff! I have a Barber LTD just before the LBM and when both are on at the same time, I get more treble + mids out of my sound without having to tweak the EQ or blend my clean signal. Love the options!
 
#9
HAO Rustride! I know its an overdrive but it sounds so good and is very different than the LBM. I use it the most of my overdrive pedals as it has such a pleasing tone. Its quite heavy but cuts through really well as there is little if any mid scoop.
 
#10
Crabby said:
HAO Rustride! I know its an overdrive but it sounds so good and is very different than the LBM. I use it the most of my overdrive pedals as it has such a pleasing tone. Its quite heavy but cuts through really well as there is little if any mid scoop.
Click to expand...
Especially with a CL, talk about mids. I almost always have the Deep switch on on my CL, a Rust Ride into a CL set flat it pretty much the definition of grindy mids.

But, a RR isn't a FUZZ, so I don't think it will fit the bill, the HAO ROAR on the other hand also has a very mid heavy sound and more lows then the RR, I wish they had made more of the things, it excels at the broken sound, not smooth but dirty, nasty and greasy. The down side is they are rare and they are that kind of fuzz that doesn't like actives and doesn't like many other pedals in front of it. It also distorts more when you turn your tone knob off, so you can actually change the amount of fuzz without adjusting the volume of your bass.
 
#15
It's the "MXR-sized" blend pedal called the VB-2. It doesn't have the feedback loop, though. And as far as price, it may drop due to less resources used. However, it may increase in price because it's sometimes harder to build small pedals. The space is cramped, so fitting stuff into a small inclosure takes a slightly different approach.

It should be out this Summer.
 
#16
SpankyPants said:
It's the "MXR-sized" blend pedal called the VB-2. It doesn't have the feedback loop, though. And as far as price, it may drop due to less resources used. However, it may increase in price because it's sometimes harder to build small pedals. The space is cramped, so fitting stuff into a small inclosure takes a slightly different approach.

It should be out this Summer.
Click to expand...

Well cool then, I will most likely pick one up when they come out, I think the FBL is fun but I think smaller is more important to me right now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back