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Favorite amp for dirt, especially fuzz

Jared Lash

Jared Lash

Born under punches
Aug 21, 2006
15,587
5,150
Denver, CO
#1
I've been thinking about doing some amp shopping soon and was just curious to hear from fellow effects forumites.

Of the rigs you've used, what is your favorite when using overdrive, distortion and fuzz?

I'm not a "fuzz always on" doom player so it won't be solely basing my decision on it, but I'm very curious to hear what amp sounds best with fuzz in your opinions.
 
#2
My Bassman 135 takes amazingly well to all forms of effects (that I've tried, at least). Bums me out that it's not loud enough because if it was I'd use it over my SVT.

**edit**

I think any 2 (parallel) channel amp would be your best bet though. The #1 gripe about fuzz/disto is a loss of bottom so if you run one channel clean and the other channel dirty you can get a pretty good amount of fuzz without losing bottom.
 
#5
Din Of Win said:
Are you asking which head takes dirt PEDALS well, or an amp that gets dirty on its own?


IME: My Kustom200 gets AMAZING dirty tone when cranked

If you want a amp that TAKES dirt pedals well, sell a kidney and get a Sunn 2000s.
Click to expand...

Ah good distinction. I'm primarily looking for an amp that will TAKE dirt pedals well.

Even if it's an all-tube head I'd rather use a pedal for distortion mostly because I don't play gigs at super high volume.
 
#6
zachoff said:
I think any 2 (parallel) channel amp would be your best bet though. The #1 gripe about fuzz/disto is a loss of bottom so if you run one channel clean and the other channel dirty you can get a pretty good amount of fuzz without losing bottom.
Click to expand...

Good point. But both of my main fuzzes have a clean blend and my OD doesn't lose any low end.

For reference, my current rigs are a GK 1001RB-II with two 410s and a TecAmp Puma 1000 with an LDS fEarful 15/6.

I dig them both but was looking for something a bit "woolier" that would sound good with dirt and my other effects as well.

Thanks for the responses so far.
 
#10
I've not much experience with amps, but, I always like 1x15's for dirt and fuzz, though, I seem to like a 1x12 just a hair more for cleans.

Yeah, I know thats just speakers, but it's about all the input I have. :hmm:
 
#11
GK 700RB-II

Jared Warren used one, and that was hell of enough proof to me that dirt plus GK sounds incredible. I do like the 700 better than the 1001 though due to the fact that it's warmer and more aggressive at lower volumes than the 1001. The 1001 just stays too clean and precise until you get into good god almighty levels of sound.
 
#12
I prefer and would recommend an all tube head paired with a closed back,non ported cabinet sans tweeter. A tube head will give you a nice full and rounded sound with a touch of natural compression although, the bass response will not be as tight as a SS head. Here are a few personal picks: Anything Sunn, Ampeg V-4b, Traynor YBA-1 and a Fender/Sunn 300t.
A cab without a tweeter will even out some of the harsh buzz- saw type tones that some pedals produce. For example I have a Tronographic Rusty Box, which through a tweeter sounds like a blizzard of nails. Without a tweeter it still has that bite but without the harshness. The only downside is that if you use flanging or phasing type effects they may not be as pronounced without a tweeter/horn.
I say play as many amps you can before making a decision. I feel that a good amp/cab rig will make any decent bass and or effect pedal sound even better.
 

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