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New Wren&Cuff pedal - Tall Font Russian

#82
Hey grygrx. Make sure you give it a run live before you decide if its a winner. It can be hard to get to appreciate the subtle qualities of these pedals in the bedroom. You don't have that saturated fuzzy "wow" factor that we're used to muffs. The lowered gain, defined lows and presence is what makes people love these (meaning the Green Russians in general).
Yes, things get murky when the tone is rolled way back. That's just a muff thing (as I'm sure u know). Part of the "warts and all" cloning. I hope you enjoy it. :)
 
#83
Hey all,
Just wanted to post that I got the TFR and after playing with it for like 5 minutes I gotta say its the best distortion pedal I've tried on my bass. (I've tried many, but of course not all fuzz/distortions). I pushed a roughly 400Hz, 10db boost through it and it sounded angry and authoritative. It retains low-end like no other distortion I've tried, with or without the boost. I A/B'd it on/off and did not hear any noticeable drop in low-end when engaged with the tone knob set to 12 o'clock. (Some drop off when turning the tone up, of course, but adjusting the blend knob fixes that).

I do have the blend knob on mine, and using it helps to maintain some focus in the attack without loosing grit. Though not an essential feature, as I found the 100% wet setting to be awesome, it is nice to have that little bit of extra grit/clean control (at least for me as I'm a massive knob-twiddling-tone-chaser).

Very impressive fuzz/distortion (its kinda in between the two, a bit of both depending on settings). Many useful tones are available through it, from low frequency mud to high frequency power line buzz, and all the goodness in between. Its staying on my board for sure as my one and only bass distortion, and so my search for distortion peddles is going on hiatus for the foreseeable future. (but never say never, right?). :)

Matt hit this one out of the park as far as I'm concerned. If you're looking for fuzzy distortion, this should be on your list of test drives for sure. IMHO of course... ;)

Cheers!
 
#86
I agree, which is one reason why she is the guitarist in my (someday to be realized) metal band. We have the same taste with regards to what our space-age metal band should sound like.

She is currently using a Full Bore Metal for fuzz right now, and though it is 'super awesome' at the that mid-scooped, 'steal-can full of angry hornets' industrial metal, kinda sound, it is only one distortion sound. Having a TFR would cover similar gain intensities, but at a lower tone registry and slower breakup. Having both would be great for a full range of angry fuzz/muff distortion.

In this way, the FBM would cover the ZSZSZSZSZSZSSSZSZSZ!!!!! kinda sound, while the TFR would do a VVVVVVRRRRRRMMMMMM!!! kinda sound. Like one giant angry hornet rather than a can full of little ones.

First distortion pedal to sound GREAT on both our guitars (bass and treble).

I may be spending more money soon.... :rolleyes: :D
 
#88
Here is a review I posted over at my blog of the Tall Front Russian. And some clips.

Alright. I first heard about the Tall Front Russian from Wren & Cuff from their periodical newsletter (you mean you haven’t signed up yet?!?) and of course immediately checked out the clip of their upcoming pedal. Needless to say I HAD to have one, but I just couldn’t drop the cash at that moment (a really new development ::rolls eyes::). I acquired my Tall Front Russian in a trade over on Talkbass.

The Tall Front Russian is an attempt by Matt over at W&C to recreate a particularly awesome Sovtek Russian Green muff. He chronicles his journey to recreate this particular muff and to bring this pedal to life over on his site (very interesting read). Anyways, here is the nitty-gritty about the Tall Front Russian:

True hard-wire mechanical bypass
• Standard “Boss-style” 9VDC (-) tip power supply jack or 9V batt operated
• Small foot-print
• The best jacks available mounted off the circuit board
• Alpha pots
• CLIFF brand foot-switch
• Genuine USA Davies “Daka-ware” knobs
• Expert clean, tight, wiring that makes the insides just as beautiful as the outside
• Incredible attention to detail

Just like it says above, this pedal’s construction is top notch, just like my other two Wren & Cuff pedals which will never leave my board. This pedal also comes with the optional (FREE) clean blend, which I highly recommend. Even if you are someone who doesn’t like to use clean blends with your fuzz pedals, this is a neat addition to the circuit because you have the option of going 100% wet or blend in your clean signal with Matt’s patented approach. Side note - this [poop] is not just hype. His clean blends really do have a noticeably different sound; much more musical and natural sounding than traditional clean blends. The trick to using the blend feature on Matt’s pedals is to remember that the Volume and Clean Blend knobs work together. As you bring more of your clean signal into being, you then turn the Volume knob clockwise to bring back more of the fuzz signal. The two work together to bring the Heavy.

Whether or not this pedal actually emulates the famed Sovtek Russian Green Muff (like the one Grygrx reviewed recently) is up for debate, and considering that I don’t have one at my disposal at the moment, I can’t say for sure. What I can confirm is that this is one kick ass fuzz pedal. The controls on this fuzz are labeled Volume (duh), Distortion (sustain), Tone (traditional mid -scoop) and of course the clean blend knob that is located on the side of the pedal.

Right off the bat I noticed that this pedal was much more scooped in the Mid - range frequencies than the Pickle Pie B (you remember our first review right?). I normally run my Pickle Pie B with the Tone control set at around nine o’clock, but with the Tall Front, I preferred the tones that I got when the Tone control was set past noon and closer to 3 o’clock honestly. I think that, at least on bass, the true character of the fuzz really comes out in the upper Tone settings. This pedal really starts to snarl then. It could be that when playing more lead type lines on guitar the lower Tone settings will help you get that thick 70s fuzz tone (sick). When you start boosting the mid-range and upper frequencies on this or any fuzz pedal, you start to experience a perceived loss of low end - even if the pedal doesn’t actually loose any of the lower-range frequencies. In times like these, I just dial in more of my clean tone (I did mention that was a FREE upgrade, right?), and all is well with the world.

Comparing this pedal to the Pickle Pie B is quite a challenge, because not only are they very different beasts, the Pickle Pie B is hands down my favorite fuzz ever (with the Earthbound Audio Supercollider coming in a close second [review soon!]) and is pretty much impossible to beat for me. It brings that heavy, doom sound that I really dig. The Tall Front Russian is a superb pedal, and the tones that I was getting playing with a pick on my frankenstein Fender Precision were just incredible, snarling tones. I wish I was in a heavy band where I could use my Precision because that tone was so sick. I will say, however, that the Tall Front has an overall lower output than the Pickle Pie B, so not quite as DOOM, so take that for what you will. I’m going to let these clips do the talking for me. I recorded two clips with each pedal, one finger-style and one pick-style and tried to make a broad showcase to show the full range of the two pedals.

Wren & Cuff Fuzz Shootout

So if you are looking for a Green Russian muff, but don't want to deal with the backwards jacks made out of plastic, missing knobs, battery option only (yuk) and ridiculous size, I highly recommend taking a look at the Tall Front Russian from Wren & Cuff.

There are also a slew of clips of the Tall Front with guitar and bass on Wren & Cuff's site.
Click to expand...
 
#90
yeah, the PPB has been my go-to fuzz since i got it. the TAFM gets some odd textures and movement, the Oxide gets all thick and gatey synthness, but the PPB just slays for the angry and cutting with actual bass presence and articulation tone i love.

so good to have choices. so good to have AWESOME choices.
 
#93
I'm reading all this love for the PPB, but I must say, I was not as impressed with the clips online as I was with the TFR clips. Then, getting the TFR home and hooking it up, was floored with how balzy and articulate it is.

So tell me, those that have tried both, what is the defining difference between the Pickle Pie B and the Tall Font Russian. Because to me, the PPB seems thin and fuzzy compared to the low-mid big-block engine sounds I get from the TFR. I do understand that different equipment yields different results. ;)
 
#95
Vlad5 said:
I'm reading all this love for the PPB, but I must say, I was not as impressed with the clips online as I was with the TFR clips. Then, getting the TFR home and hooking it up, was floored with how balzy and articulate it is.

So tell me, those that have tried both, what is the defining difference between the Pickle Pie B and the Tall Font Russian. Because to me, the PPB seems thin and fuzzy compared to the low-mid big-block engine sounds I get from the TFR. I do understand that different equipment yields different results. ;)
Click to expand...

I bought the TFR first based on your same thoughts. I thought the TFR clips sounded perfect to me. But it was one of those things where using with my rig and bass, it just didn't work as well as I hoped it would. Then I went on a splurge and brought in three other bass friendly Muff clones including the PPB. I plugged in the PPB and it was perfect for what I was looking for.

Like you said though, based on the clips I think the TFR sounds better. Via my amp and bass though the PPB sounds anything but thin.
 
#96
yer. i have not played with the TFR, the PPB covers all the Muffy (giggety) needs i have.

but it CAN do the thinner buzz saw angry bees eating your bone marrow tonez, and it also gets deep and ballsy (double time giggety) crunch or thick and smooth peanut butter and chocolate ice cream gooey.

LOVE IT.

ot - **** any ice cream company that ruins the beautiful and simple idea of peanut butter and chocolate. peanut butter FLAVORED vanilla ice cream with Reese's cups? ****. YOU. i'm looking at YOU Ben & Jerry's. Hagen Daaz makes the bestest mass market CORRECT TAKE ON PB & C. chocolate ice cream. peanut butter ribbons. PERIOD. end of story. do it ****ing RIGHT.

........ i don't get to eat crazy way too much calorie extravagance like that often, so if somebody wrecks it for me it's bad times.

and somebody should SO make the Peanut Butter & Chocolate fuzz. it could have a subtle filter in it, like a More Useful For Most People version of the Noise Box.

NOW i'm looking at YOU Matty Wren Cuff.
 
#97
Behndy, I know you're not referring to Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby, the best ice cream flavor ever!

"Fudge covered peanut butter filled pretzels in vanilla malt ice cream with fudge and peanut buttery swirls."

I'm eating right now actually. :)

Its interesting about the PPB. I must try one out one day, one day I have the money for it.
 
#100
I applaud Wren and Cuff efforts, in fact I own two of their pedals.
In the case of the Pickle Pie Bass, I tend to think the original (Way Huge Swollen Pickle) is a better choice particularly when you can buy it for $129. Re-issue or pedal inspired after fanous designs are best when the original is no longer available but why own a copy/reissue when you can get an original?

I have owned a Swollen Pickle in the past and liked the pedal a lot. I have not seen a Swollen Pickle versus Pickle Pie Bass shootout but that would be interesting.
 

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