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Fuzz recommendations. Yes, I know, sorry...

kevteop

kevteop

Feb 12, 2008
4,452
513
York, UK
#1
I know there are lots of soundclips available on the wiki and lots of pedals to choose from and taste is a big factor... But here's the thing:

I've got a Blowtorch which I'm satisfied with for more "modern"-sounding fuzz tones. And I love the onboard EQ and blend and general usefulness of it.

I've also got a Big Muff, and I love the wooly, warm sound of it but not the general un-usefulness of it (giant box, needs babysitting with a blend pedal).

So can anyone recommend a Muff-a-like in a smaller enclosure (or something with similar sonic characteristics; wooly and old-school with bucketloads of fuzz available), pref. with a blend control?.
 
#2
I just ordered an Earthbound Supercollider as it's basically a muff with no mid scoop and more bass. It doesn't have a blend, but it doesn't need one. There are loads of fuzz pedals out there, but I liked the clips of this one the most. There's a thread with soundclips around here somewhere... Also check out the Pickle Pie 'B' version or Attack Goat if you need a blended fuzz.
 
#3
Yeah I looked at the Attack Goat - don't think it's quite what I'm looking for. Haven't looked at the Pickle Pie 'B' yet - I'll check it out.

A blend is a must for me, really. I like the low notes to have some body to them so it's more a matter of blending in my clean tone than making sure the fuzz produces enough bass.

Bit O/T: Anyone recommend a good, fast gate pedal? I like the heavily-gated effect on the Brown Dog but would like to apply it to other pedals. I do have a gate on my board at the mo but it's an old DOD and needs replacing, really.
 
#4
well it hasn´t got a blend, but it has a very cool gate - the woolly mammoth. if you set the eq & the wool (aka drive) to 7-10 o´clock and pinch (aka gate) to 7, you get a nice sustainy, dark & just a little bit fuzzy distortion...
you can adjust a lot of tone variations untill a sputtery, gates-of-hell, hifrequency rich fuzz nightmare with the controlls on full blast.
 
#5
The Wooly Mammoth is not a vintage sounding fuzz, if that's what you're looking for.

What about getting a loop pedal with a clean blend knob, and just sticking the Muff in the loop (if you like the sound of the Muff).
 
#7
Well, its defiantly not smaller (shaped a bit smaller than a wah) but the current Colorsound Tonebender is like big muff++. I loved my old russian big muff deeply, my intense new love i have for my Tonebender is unnatural and possibly illegal.

Definatly doesn't need a blend, puts out more bass than you clean signal if you adjust the tone knob right. It can move from classic muff sounds (but better) to quite synthy depending on how you dial it in.
 
#16
K2000 said:
What about getting a loop pedal with a clean blend knob, and just sticking the Muff in the loop (if you like the sound of the Muff).
Click to expand...

That's the situation I'm in now, but it means a lot of cables and boxes and mess for one fuzz. I like it but I don't like it that much...

icarussmicarus said:
... Tonebender ... Definatly doesn't need a blend, puts out more bass than you clean signal if you adjust the tone knob right. It can move from classic muff sounds (but better) to quite synthy depending on how you dial it in.
Click to expand...

Sounds fun but it doesn't fit either of my criteria (small enclosure, on-board blend). :p

Smurf-o-Deth said:
For a gate, try the ISP Decimator. It's clean, quick and articulate, with no tone coloration.
Click to expand...

Great stuff, I'll give it a try, much appreciated.

So far the best suggestion seems to be the Pickle Pie 'B'. No other blended vintage-sounding bass fuzzes out there?
 
#17
Hmm most of these suggestions aren't muff clones. The ones that come to mind right away are the LBM which is known to work well with bass, the Pickle Pie 'B' by Wren and Cuff, Skreddy Mayo (good luck finding one though), GGG or BYOC muff. You could always mod your own for bass too...hope this helps.
 
#20
OhThePeacock said:
... Skreddy Mayo (good luck finding one though), GGG or BYOC muff. You could always mod your own for bass too...hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I thought about rehousing mine in a smaller enclosure with a blend circuit but to be honest it would be like asking a four year old to design a particle accelerator. I also tried to find a third party to do it for me but failed there, too.

I figure for the same money there are probably better options.

Maybe a BYOC tonebender clone might be interesting to check out too.
 

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