Finding a fuzz (active bass)

Add a buffer before the fuzz?

 

I'll be the first (as usual) to plug it. Malekko Heavy Industry's B:Assmaster plays very well with active basses. I use mine with a Wal, and a buddy of mine uses the Germanium one with a Sage...sounds great all around!

Just my $.02,
Thom

 

The word "buffer" gets used in a number of ways that are not always technically accurate. A buffer lowers the output impedance. The problem with an active bass is that it is buffered already, by the onboard preamp. Adding another buffer will not help anything. However there are "impedance adjustment" circuits which can raise the output impedance back up to the value range that will work better with those finicky fuzzes. I've read several reviews here on those impedance adjusters, and the reviews are mixed- some people say it works great, others say not much at all. So I guess YMMV, especially when you take into account the specific bass, pedals, cables, and the signal levels throughout.

 

Buffers are usually the problem w/ fuzz pedals. An active bass is essentially buffered at the basses' onboard preamp. So, in order to make the fuzz & active instrument "play well" together, you need to adjust either the impedance entering the pedal or perhaps reduce the volume into the pedal.

Barge Concepts makes an adjustable impedance buffer to help active basses get along with sensitive effects. I have one & it does the trick for me, but I do know that another TB'er had less successful results with it:
http://www.bargeconcepts.com/glzbv.html

You never know how various pedals will change the signal, however. Not all buffered outputs treat your signal the same way. Your tuner may do the trick.....who knows?

 

Whoops, Bongo typed a little faster than me!

 

i used to think the zvex wooly mammoth was the best sounding fuzz ever... then i heard Malekko's B:Assmaster and i nearly died

 

bongo, I'm having Toasted make what he has been referred to as an "impedance buffer' for use with my actives....What would be a better term for it?

 

An "impedance adjuster" or "load corrector" or something like that. It's just that those of us who wear pocket protectors, and tape on our glasses, and have trouser legs that are too short, who call each other "lepton" and then laugh through our noses, for that population the word "buffer" has a very specific meaning, which does not include raising the output impedance.

 

Thanks bongo, for taking the time to educate the masses!

 

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2029352

the Catastrofuzz has been tweaked to run with an active bass!

 

same happened to me. i wanted a mammoth, all my basses are active. went for an electronix messdrive. sounds simply amazing. tremendous bottom end, very mammoth-like, and active friendly, true bypass, everything you want. the only major differnce between a mammoth and a messdrive is that the messdrive doesent have a lot of controls. volume, tone (high end cut), and medium/high gain switch. the switch is actually very usefull, so really this pedal is like a..uh..two trick pony? two very nice tricks..

 

http://www.ebs.bass.se/2007/multidrive.htm

I regret getting rid of the one I had and need to get another.
The level on the Multidrive works fine with active basses.

 

MI Audio has two fuzz pedals that work fine with actives, the Neo and GI. Their nifty bias controls make the wee turtles sing.

Agreed, the B:Assmaster sounds great with active basses. It is a very obnoxious fuzz, and the Germanium version is likely much smoother, though I have to try that incarnation.

Not a fuzz pedal, yo. It isn't the level control that is a concern with such things, but rather the impedance issue. Some fuzz pedals are very picky with active basses, such as the above mentioned Woolly Mammoth which gets compressed to hell and sounds like ass with active basses.

 

I use a MI Neo Fuzz with my stingray. Not over the top fuzz, but it is nice for me.

 

+1 on the B:ASSMASTER, it is a GREAT pedal, and I use a lot with my 18V active Warwick Thumb. Another good choice would be the MXR Bass Blowtorch, which I'm also very happy with. One to stay away from, IMHO, is the Little Big Muff, though people's experience seem to vary.

 

You get a fuzz type sound persay...
Just an alternative

 

Couldn't you just place a re-amp box before the Woolly Mammoth? Otherwise +1 for the B:Assmaster , its awesomeness in a box

 

Totally agree, 100%.