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Micro/Nano fuzz and distortion pedals

KickingBass

KickingBass

Look into it
Aug 7, 2014
1,815
1,384
Deep south Texas, The RGV
#1
Looking to possibly make a micro pedalboard and I've got it basically down except for the distortion/fuzz part. I've seen the Mooer Black Secret, Thunderball, Green Mile and Fog but I'm not sure how they'll sound in the mix since most video demos are more solo'd. I also don't live in an area with many music stores full of pedals for me to try out. I'm looking for players' experiences with these pedals and which pedals stand out well in a mix. I primarily use the distortion for small solo parts in my alt metal band. I currently have an MXR BFD and I'm not really loving it anymore because it's too fizzy and doesn't stand out well in the mix despite the dry and wet knobs. Thanks in advance!
 
#2
KickingBass said:
Looking to possibly make a micro pedalboard and I've got it basically down except for the distortion/fuzz part. I've seen the Mooer Black Secret, Thunderball, Green Mile and Fog but I'm not sure how they'll sound in the mix since most video demos are more solo'd. I also don't live in an area with many music stores full of pedals for me to try out. I'm looking for players' experiences with these pedals and which pedals stand out well in a mix. I primarily use the distortion for small solo parts in my alt metal band. I currently have an MXR BFD and I'm not really loving it anymore because it's too fizzy and doesn't stand out well in the mix despite the dry and wet knobs. Thanks in advance!
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I currently run the Black Secret for fuzz on my board and like it well enough in terms of cutting through mix, adjustability, and low end girth. I just demo'd the Green Mile yesterday and plenty of fuzz but no beef underneath. I'm also interested in other's take on the Thunderball and Fog
 
#3
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#4
Cazman said:
I currently run the Black Secret for fuzz on my board and like it well enough in terms of cutting through mix, adjustability, and low end girth. I just demo'd the Green Mile yesterday and plenty of fuzz but no beef underneath. I'm also interested in other's take on the Thunderball and Fog
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I've actually heard the Black Secret is really good but lacks bass so it's good to hear that, at least in your experience, it does not.
 
#6
KickingBass said:
I've actually heard the Black Secret is really good but lacks bass so it's good to hear that, at least in your experience, it does not.
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Black Secret cuts through the mix fine. It's not not as "ballsy" as it gets, but comparatively more so than Green Mile, hence my inquisition about the Thunderball and Fog.
Black Secret also leans bit more towards the "raspy" end. I'd prefer something just a bit more "creamy". Need the 1590 size though.
 
#7
Cazman said:
Black Secret cuts through the mix fine. It's not not as "ballsy" as it gets, but comparatively more so than Green Mile, hence my inquisition about the Thunderball and Fog.
Black Secret also leans bit more towards the "raspy" end. I'd prefer something just a bit more "creamy". Need the 1590 size though.
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Yes I think my big question is, what is the main difference between the Black Secret and thunderball because those two look pretty versatile. Perhaps the thunderball is a more bass centric version of the Black Secret or it could be an entirely different circuit. I know the Black Secret is modeled off a RAT, I wonder what the others are modeled after.
 
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#8
The green mile has replaced the bad monkey on my board. I have the tomsline rat clone on the way, hopefully it will knock the rat off too and free up some room.

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Both the green mile and bad monkey don't have a whole lot of gain on tap but the green mile kept a lot more low end in 'hot' mode. I used both to push the rat with great success.


P.S. the Thunderball is an EHX Bass Blogger clone
 
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#10
KickingBass said:
Yes I think my big question is, what is the main difference between the Black Secret and thunderball because those two look pretty versatile. Perhaps the thunderball is a more bass centric version of the Black Secret or it could be an entirely different circuit. I know the Black Secret is modeled off a RAT, I wonder what the others are modeled after.
Click to expand...
I've updated my micro-fuzz since last post....now running the Fog in place of the Black Secret. Fog is a dedicated fuzz (as opposed to Black Secret and Thunderball, which both have distortion setting also).
I find the Fog much more to my liking...a bit more creamy and full in the lower end. I use a Solid Gold Beta for overdrive and only kick in fuzz sporadically, so don't really need the distortion option. Fog is "supposedly" modeled after the Wooly Mammoth, but as much as I use full-on fuzz, I'm not inclined to spend the $$ on the Mammoth just to try.
During rehearsal yesterday, I found it relatively easy to dial in a sound that punched through the mix and held onto the bottom, and discovered I could really thicken it up by punching in the Beta underneath the Fog on guitar-solo sections.
As with any pedal, everything is subjective and dependent on the signal you're putting into it and what you're playing it through, but I love the journey in search of tone.
Cheerios!
 
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#11
Cazman said:
I've updated my micro-fuzz since last post....now running the Fog in place of the Black Secret. Fog is a dedicated fuzz (as opposed to Black Secret and Thunderball, which both have distortion setting also).
I find the Fog much more to my liking...a bit more creamy and full in the lower end. I use a Solid Gold Beta for overdrive and only kick in fuzz sporadically, so don't really need the distortion option. Fog is "supposedly" modeled after the Wooly Mammoth, but as much as I use full-on fuzz, I'm not inclined to spend the $$ on the Mammoth just to try.
During rehearsal yesterday, I found it relatively easy to dial in a sound that punched through the mix and held onto the bottom, and discovered I could really thicken it up by punching in the Beta underneath the Fog on guitar-solo sections.
As with any pedal, everything is subjective and dependent on the signal you're putting into it and what you're playing it through, but I love the journey in search of tone.
Cheerios!
Click to expand...
I hadn't really been considering the Fog but now I will. Thanks for the insight.
 
#13
theunknowndude said:
How is the black teeth on bass? Loss of low end?
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Finally got to spend some time with this one. It does suck some low end out, but so did my rat. That is just the nature of the beast I guess. It basically sounds just like the rat, but with 2 extra modes. Great for what it is.

I also got the ENO bmf fuzz. It retains more low end than the rat family. I have found that it gets really flubby and farty if you have boosted your bass at all. Doesn't sound good like that. It also has a bad feedback problem when gain is maxed. I don't remember my NYC Big Muff having these problems, but I no longer have it to side/side compare.
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