FUZZ + EXPANDER!

Creation audio labs combined the Holy Fire and Funkulator into one...

http://www.creationaudiolabs.com/grizzlybass/

 

The Creation pedal looks cool but it doesn't seem to be similar to what the op was talking about.

Yes it can be done; yes it is a very good idea. It's such a good idea I would be surprised if somebody hasn't made one already, but I don't know of one.

 

Bixonic's Expandora distortion pedal. Includes a mode for use with bass guitars.

http://www.pedalspluseffectswarehouse.com/Bixonix_Expandora_Reissue_Distortion_p/bix-expri.htm

 

Or something like the Doubleback compressor, but then a fuzz instead of a compressor, not too many knobs yet lots of sounds ...

 

R.A. Penfold published a schematic in his Music Projects book (1994) of something called the Fuzz Unit, which is supposed to do this exact thing - a dynamic fuzz.

Here's the article

It doesn't use an expander, rather a VCA (LM13700). In addition, the article goes on to say, "A useful byproduct of the envelope shaping is that a noise gate action is obtained."

I might try breadboarding the circuit to see how it works/sounds.

~ Charlie

 

I've been thinking that something like this with a loop would be great. Any pedal that destroys dynamics could delivers its tone, and you could play with dynamic sensitivity.

J

 

You could achieve the same effect with a clean blend. Dynamics is the major reason I like blending my fuzzes, rather than using a blend to bring back low end. If you hear too much detail in the clean sound making it sound like two separate voices, you can put a low pass filter on the clean side, like the Team Awesome Fuzz Machine!

 

is't this somewhat what that FEA Growler does?
Compress signal -> apply distortion -> expand

The problem with the
Bass->envelope detector->fuzz->VCA
is that it is difficult to design a proper envelope-follower for this...

 

It has been done....

 

As I recall it, that one either cross fades between loop and clean depending on either envelope or a set threshold. I can't remember which, but in any case that is different. (I might be entirely wrong though...)

 

OK… but it has 99% of the circuitry to get the desired result. All that is needed is an additional switch to disengage the clean signal to the output mixer. Or a volume pot for the clean signal to the mixer. These are extremely simple mods that 1000’s of modders would have no problem with.

There are other expressive switching pedals that may allow even more creative options… one off the top of my head is the Kane ES-1.

-Frank

 

Ha that's actually quite cool, looks expensive though.