I was just going to write a similar post. I thought my fuzz days were over and then someone has to post about the GiyGas, a pedal I never would have discovered on my own. Gonna wait till black friday though.
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Fuzz that's warm, heavy, with definition and thump?
- Thread starter SumOne
- Start date
Definitely looks interesting. Might have to go for one.
Sounds like it has that synthy octave up effect like a you’re doom, prunes and custard or a sunder fuzz. Wish it had top mounted jacks though.
Has every fuzz been named yet?
Haha, must be getting close!
I thought my description was quite specific (warm, harmonic, heavy, retains thump and definition. Not synthy, grainy, harsh) but in hindsight that probably describes the majority of Fuzz pedals, or at least what most bass players want from a Fuzz. And it's all quite subjective and depends on individual setups.
Still, it's been helpful and all suggestions are appreciated- pointed me to youtube videos and I put together a good shopping list of pedals to try out. I've ordered all these try out and return if they don't make the cut: EXR Green Russian, MXR Brown Acid, Grey Stache, GIYGAS. Hopefully one of those will do me, if not, I'll give up and stick with overdrive!
My vote would go for the green Russian Muff. Personally i don't find it too dark sounding with the tone dial introducing more than enough top end and bite. Also packs more than enough low end
Seriously, that Giygas is seemingly one of the best bass fuzzes I've heard in a long time. At least on video. I'm gonna pick one up whenever a sale is on.
I’ve tested/returned/traded quite a lot of Fuzz pedals so wrote down a list of comments, this is them in my order of preference:
Behringer SF300 (£22)
Great value, a bit too harsh sounding for my taste though. Loses Bass and definition (can crank up the Bass though - it has Bass and Treble controls which is more than some fuzz pedals nearly 10x the cost).
EHX Bass Big Muff (£70)
Liked it but changed for deluxe to get clean blend and filters.
EHX Big Muff deluxe (£105)
Good, but lost note definition when got to the tone I wanted, or sounded a bit like 2 instruments when blending in clean.
EHX Green Russian (£75)
More of a solid, dark, in your face and synthy tone than the MXR Brown acid, doesn’t cut through mix of full band as well as the Brown Acid though. Seemed to work best when allowing it more space (e.g. just alongside drums- not up against drums and guitars and vocals). Using this with an LS2 for some clean blend I think could work really well.
Fuzzrocious Grey Stache (£140)
Quite versatile: Tone changes the fuzz tone (as opposed to the Brown Acid where it seems to just add/remove the Bass) and it has mid control. Seems to lose some Bass though. I prefer the Brown Acid tone, but the Grey Stache is very close sound and is more versatile.
Catalinbread Giygas (£180)
Tone similar to the Grey Stache but more angry sounding and more Bass. It’s the most versatile- Has the mid control of the Grey Stache but also an additional good EQ tone control (internal switchable so it suits Bass better), also has clean blend and low fuzz settings do a good milder distortion. I had problems with 100% wet signal going way louder than unity even with the ‘loud’ (volume) control set at zero and the fuzz tone didn’t quite do it for me- that’s a personal thing though, the MXR just sounded better to me.
MXR Brown Acid (£140)
Winner! More guitar sounding than Green Russian, more complex tone- almost like there’s some chorus and mild filter going on, cuts through mix better. Bass and definition gets through at lower settings. It’s not very versatile- tone shaping is quite limited as fuzz tone basically stays the same and ‘tone’ is amount of Bass so needs to stay low. A bit one trick pony- but a great trick.
What I’ve found though is even the SF300 at a 9th the price of the Giygas isn’t probably going to sound that different to your average audience member while a whole band is playing (and the SF300 could be improved a lot doing some pre/post EQ and using an LS2 for some clean blend).
I’m going with the MXR and am barring myself from checking out any other Fuzz pedals – time will be better spent practicing….….although, I’d be tempted to also get a 2nd hand Green Russian at some point for it’s more synthy low sounds!
I am happy with the MXR, I think it fits the bill of a Fuzz that is 'warm, harmonic, heavy, retains thump and definition. Not synthy, grainy, harsh', it'll sit in the mix of a loud stoner type band really well. It is the best (for my taste anyway) at it's specific niche.
......but having tried all those pedals it is a bit of a shame the MXR is possibly the least versatile of all of them: The Giygas can also be used all the way down to mild distortion or even as an EQ pedal, or the Grey Stache also has more fuzz tone options, Big Muff deluxe has it's more useful tone control and HPF and LPF filters, even the £20 SF300 can also be used as a clean boost with treble and bass EQ.
My search is complete until MXR release a 'deluxe' version with some more versatile controls.
Yeah, that does sound good. Video's seem to show the dials in all settings give a useable tones so might work better for Bass than the MXR. But I'm guessing there's not going to be a massive amount of difference, I'll stick with the MXR for now and will keep an eye out 2nd hand.
Oh yeah it's all different too once in a band situation, and with all the praise I'm giving the TFR I currently have the Giygas on my board if that tells you anything. Fuzz is like overdrive to me, consistently trying something new when I can. I will say I've used the TFR in a lot of different scenarios; even going as far as setting the gain low and using it like an overdrive, because it is such a versatile "low gain" fuzz if that makes any sense.
My Brown Acid kicked my Bass Fuzz Deluxe off the board. You are right, the BA is a one trick pony, but it sure does the trick! However, must mention that I really don't see myself getting rid of the BFD..... It is, unlike the BA a very versitle and great pedal as well.
I'll never forget the first moment I plugged in the Brown Acid..... I didn't touch a dial straight out of the box and I was instantly, absolutely blown away. It reminded me the picture from that old Maxwell cassette tape add.... With the guy sitting in his lounge chair with his hairy blowing back.
I'll never forget the first moment I plugged in the Brown Acid..... I didn't touch a dial straight out of the box and I was instantly, absolutely blown away. It reminded me the picture from that old Maxwell cassette tape add.... With the guy sitting in his lounge chair with his hairy blowing back.
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TAFM has been my go to for years. Very warm and creamy, esp as it’s an older version without the switchable buffer in front.
I also have an FEA Photon v2 that doesn’t get mentioned much but is a great pedal.
I’m less into fuzz these days though and tend to stick with some form of Sansamp with another drive stacked before it!
Brown Acid sounds interesting though, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for one!
I also have an FEA Photon v2 that doesn’t get mentioned much but is a great pedal.
I’m less into fuzz these days though and tend to stick with some form of Sansamp with another drive stacked before it!
Brown Acid sounds interesting though, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for one!
I just picked up a Brown Acid, and it’s everything said. One trick pony, but oh what a trick.
I set up my MXR Vintage Bass Octave right after my Brown Acid and damn they sound great together. Synthy when I want the synth. Enjoy your new toy!
I found the Calamity to be everything it’s cracked up to be, and then some (if the BMP/CW circuit is your thing). The mids control makes it very versatile, and the low passed clean blend provides the solid punch. There’s not that many out there in the wild though. I’m not an obsessive fuzz addict or expert, but it certainly ticks enough boxes that I can continue to devote most of my energy to attempting to dig myself out of the distortion rabbit hole...although trying to “buy” my way out is proving costly....
