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MXR Bass Fuzz Deluxe---I'm digging it

JimmyM

JimmyM

Apr 11, 2005
127,255
125,177
Plymouth NC
Disclosures
Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
#1
Scored a BFD from a friend of mine cheap on the way to a gig last week. Didn't get much of a chance to wind it out on the gig, but I did end up getting a sound that worked very well, and all I needed was one sound anyway. But I didn't want to spout opinion on it based on a first impression, so I've been working with it at home today giving it a windout and comparing it to the Team Awesome Fuzz Machine I've been using.

My conclusion is I don't get why the BFD is so polarizing. Sounds like a perfectly good fuzz pedal to me. Doesn't lose its place in the mix, doesn't sound tinny unless you overcrank the tone knob, doesn't get the bees in the background with the blend if you set it right (though the potential is there, I'll admit). And the one complaint that I heard the most about it---needing the clean knob up to have unity gain---turned out to be a non-factor for me since I like it better with some blend.

Definitely different pedals...the TAFM is more upper mid-forward and has gated fuzz, and the BFD skips gated fuzz (I never use it anyway), and gets more trebly and has lower lows but won't really push mids past what you're getting with your clean sound. When I got sounds I liked the best out of each, the BFD seemed more in line with my clean sound while the TAFM pushes the mids out there front and center and they're not easily dialed back in a way I like.

I always record myself on a PJ bass playing Hysteria to a track with no bass on it when I try out a new fuzz, and while I liked both of the tracks, the best sound I got out of the BFD seems to work better in the mix than the best sound I got out of the TAFM. I liked that it went lower and was a little brighter in an upper frequency range that I like being accented. I think a PJ with both pickups on should sound a little scooped with fuzz since that's how it sounds to me when it's clean. When I use the P by itself, it gets middy enough for me, whereas by comparison, the TAFM always has that P vibe to its tone, even when using a J or PJ. At least it does when I set it up the way that sounds best to me. Been up and down that pedal trying to match the tone I like with the BFD and I can't even get close. On the other hand, I can't match the BFD with the TAFM, either. I can get reasonably close, but it's a different vibe and never gets as mid-forward.

So I can see a reason for liking the TAFM over the BFD, but I'm a little surprised that I'm preferring the BFD so far. A major part of the reason I went with the TAFM when I was first trying out fuzzes a year ago was its mids, and a lot of people talked me out of taking home the BFD, even though I dug it when I tried it at the store. Doggone it, I knew I should have tried it. I figured you guys knew something ;)

But through this little recording experiment, I discovered that the mids don't have to be pushed so forward to keep yourself in the mix and still have fuzz on the balls, and I always thought it did after my unsuccessful attempts with a couple Muff fuzzes. Will know more when I gig with it more, but it made a very good first impression on me setting it up on the fly on the gig last week, and it passed the Hysteria test when 5 or 6 other pedals I bought and returned didn't, so I'm happy I snagged it. And now I'm starting to get why some of you get so addicted to fuzz pedals. I will try not be one of you.

:bag:
 
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#2
You know, I enjoy the BFD as well, but I found that I needed darker. It was very bright for me, but also I could see it being very usable. In my metal band, though, it just got lost in all the treble the guitarists put out. If I was in a different genre, it would work very well. I've kept it, because I really did like it. Much better than my muff (very different animals, for sure), but I do use a highly modified muff for my fuzz (Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh). Nothing bad to say about the BFD as I find it very competent as a fuzz, just didn't work for me at the time. Might work later. And in a solo situation, it sounded fantastic! If I ever do solo bass stuff, or no guitars in a recording, this thing would rock!
 
#4
jd-ns said:
I loved the BFD at home and solo... but found it got lost in the mix live.
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Can't say I had that experience with it on my only gig with it. I was right in the mix with it, and that was just after a minute or two of quick experimentation. I'm sure I could figure out a way to get lost in the mix with it ;) but it seemed alright in that department to me. I guess it depends on the music you're doing, too.
 
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#5
If I remember correctly, to darken it up, I used less clean signal, low tone, and not much fuzz. Kept it dark, but also a bit quiet. Been a while... and for that tone, I found the muff was better. Basically, I had a Bass Muff Deluxe and the BFD simultaneously. I'd switch between the two. Muff was dark and bassy, but just sounded like my standard bass in the mix. The BFD was nice and bright, but got completely lost in the treble of the band mix. Any time I played a note or two on my own in the band, it was great. As a group, however, it didn't do anything for me. Might have to try it again, now that you're bringing it up. Any suggestions for a darker fuzz from it that doesn't get lost?
 
#6
Just goes to show you how different people respond to different things...last year I bought both the Bass Big Muff and the Swollen Pickle and took them both back. Didn't try the Deluxe because they didn't have one, but I felt the exact same about the Pickle and BBM that you felt about the BFD...great by itself, lost in a mix.

Speaking of which, what old circuit is the BFD based on? Manual says it's based on an old circuit and modded for bass.
 
#7
JimmyM said:
Just goes to show you how different people respond to different things...last year I bought both the Bass Big Muff and the Swollen Pickle and took them both back. Didn't try the Deluxe because they didn't have one, but I felt the exact same about the Pickle and BBM that you felt about the BFD...great by itself, lost in a mix.

Speaking of which, what old circuit is the BFD based on? Manual says it's based on an old circuit and modded for bass.
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No clue about the circuit, but I kinda wondered that too. I've stopped using the actual muff (it's long gone), but the Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh is a highly modified muff. To my ears, it's MUCH better, and incredibly versatile. I've found 4-5 useful tones, none of which get lost.

Can't help but wonder about this, Jimmy: you use tube amps (right?) which are naturally darker, and I use SS amps which are typically brighter. Maybe that's why we're getting some different results. Your amp tames the BFD, mine just let it all through.
 
#9
I liked the tone of it, that wasn't the problem. The problem was - the fuzz tone was completely drowned in my band mix, the dry tone cut through yea, but the fuzz was gone. I play in a loud hard rock trio, so those of you who don't have loud blasting guitar(s) beside you, it might work for you. BFD didn't work for me, but my TFR kicks ass.
 
#10
I gave a try to the BFD and definitively it was what I was looking for a fuzz.

I don´t wanna get those extra mid scoop or gatered (or both) fuzz sounds that offers others fuzz in the market, like the BBM (and de luxe version) Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Malekko B:Assmaster, Wolly Mamoth,... I just wanted that the natural sound of my bass it was "respected" for the fuzz but adding a high gain level, more than an overdrive or a distortion. So I think that the BFD it´s the choice. You can´t compare it with the big amount gain of another fuzzes (as the Malekko B:assmaster, ...), but I don´t like those several tons of gain and boost volume for my playing. If I´d need sounding with tons of gain or gatered probably I´d get ride of the BFD.

I was surprised when I was read in another threads in TB some negatives thoughs/minds about the BFD. I ended up thinking that some folks didn´t liked how the BFD sounded ´cause probably they expected another kind of sound. It´s a matter of taste.:cool:

I must say too that fuzzes in general they require spending much more time (even another pedals) for know them, understand them and get a nice sound with them. I realized that they are really sensitive to the bassist touch, so there´s a lot of factors that can conditionate why it sounds of that way. It´s me.;)
 
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#11
No surprise that it sounds better than the current EHX Big Bass Muffs, they are not great. I thought the MXR was an okay fuzz pedal, and I actually have another one on the way which I will be using as a clean boost with just a hair of fizz on top...well I guess that's not really a clean boost...but I didn't just want a 'clean' boost, I wanted a boost that could do something else and I like the way MXR does the 'clean' and 'wet' blend.

But I think as a pure 'this is my only fuzz pedal' it just cannot compete with the huge midrange and bottom end of a DMB Bumble or Stomp Under Foot Civil War.
 
#12
Mosfed said:
In the end it kind of has to be either a Muff, a Fuzz Face or a Tonebender circuit if they claim it is vintage right? What am I forgetting?
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Makes sense if it's Fuzz Face. I'm going to guess Fuzz Face since Dunlop owns Fuzz Face now. And you're forgetting Superfuzz and Brassmaster, but I doubt it's either of them.

kleinenenten said:
Can't help but wonder about this, Jimmy: you use tube amps (right?) which are naturally darker, and I use SS amps which are typically brighter. Maybe that's why we're getting some different results. Your amp tames the BFD, mine just let it all through.
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I do use SS amps sometimes, but never with a tweeter, so that may be why. I don't consider tube amps darker, though. Through a tweetered cab, they can be pretty darn bright. SVT is a little dark with all knobs at noon but I never set it that way. I recorded my samples with the REDDI, though, and I go through another pedal with a built-in speaker sim before it hits the REDDI to tame the tweeter-highs.

mmbongo said:
No surprise that it sounds better than the current EHX Big Bass Muffs, they are not great. I thought the MXR was an okay fuzz pedal, and I actually have another one on the way which I will be using as a clean boost with just a hair of fizz on top...well I guess that's not really a clean boost...but I didn't just want a 'clean' boost, I wanted a boost that could do something else and I like the way MXR does the 'clean' and 'wet' blend.
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Sounds more like you'd enjoy an Echoplex booster. Pretty much its specialty.
 
#13
I have tried a few fuzz pedals and I don't get the hate for the MXR. I have easily played over a 100 gigs with it and I think it sounds great. Blends well with my OC2 and I don't find it gets lost in the mix when playing live. I used to blend it with a Bass Big Muff to thicken the sound of Muse covers but certainly not needed. Alone, I found the Muff lost its fuzz and high end in the mix playing live and I stop using it since getting a OFD. I use the OFD for various presets which I also love more and more, but still use the MXR for Muse and a few other covers. I love to come here for other experiences but it is always best to hear and try products for yourself.
 
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#15
I got an MXR BFD a while back, and I very much like it. I play in a 3 piece classic rock band, and I find it's perfect for adding a little fill when the guitarist plays a lead. I like the separate dry and wet controls which allows me to control the blend pretty well. I find that the fuzz sound does not get lost in the mix. Perhaps it's the combination of my Ric, PF800, and SVT810e.
 
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#16
mapleglo said:
I got an MXR BFD a while back, and I very much like it. I play in a 3 piece classic rock band, and I find it's perfect for adding a little fill when the guitarist plays a lead. I like the separate dry and wet controls which allows me to control the blend pretty well. I find that the fuzz sound does not get lost in the mix. Perhaps it's the combination of my Ric, PF800, and SVT810e.
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I'd say it's the 3 piece part. Diring solos you're not "in the mix" ith rhythm.
 

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