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Recommend a Warm & Smooth Fuzz / Distortion Pedal ?

stiles72

stiles72

Mar 20, 2009
2,675
166
Albany IL
#1
I Don't usually go seeking feedback on gear selection since I generally know what I like - but I need some ideas on a fuzz pedal. Got a new project (mostly 90's grunge/alt) with a few songs where one would be warranted. I never use any kind of grit, grind, distortion, overdrive etc.. pedals because everytime I have dabbled with them, they chop the low end off and leave everyone (band, soundman, and dancers included) looking around in bewilderment like "Where did the bass go???"

I'm looking for a pedal that has a good smooth and warm fuzz, and preferably also has a blend knob to keep a solid bass line coming through. Also looking for one that is readily availble (from Musicians Friend etc...) and is somewhat affordable. Something like the MXR Bass Fuzz Deluxe, Mooer Thunderball, EH Bass Muff Nano, etc... (Not looking for a $200+ boutique unit that I've never heard of before). I had an old DOD FX52 Classic Fuzz years ago that I loved the sound of at home - but couldn't really use live because it disappeared in the mix with no low boost or blend knob. I've checked out the videos online for a few of these units , and they are all starting to sound kind of the same. The biggest concern is retaining that low end. Thoguhts?
 
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#2
Don't restrict yourself to mainstream pedals, there are some real boutique gems out there at good prices like the Idiot Box Blower Box for example. Fair enough you won't be able to try before you buy, but they often accept returns without hassle, or you could sell them on without too much trouble. Musician's Friend and the like are quite restrictive when it comes to bass pedals.

But for stuff in the store that's not overly expensive... listing a few types as it does really depend on what kind of sound you're after:

For overdrive - check out a Digitech Hardwire CM-2. Gets rave reviews and is also a bargain. Also the EHX Bass Soul Food.

For distortion, I would take a look at the newly announced MXR M85 Bass Distortion.

For warm smooth fuzz I would look at EHX Bass Big Muff - no problem with low end on this one. Sounds a little bland compared to some others but has the benefit of being cheap and available! The MXR Bass Fuzz Deluxe is more brash, you did say warm and smooth, so I would go EHX.


90s grunge though - I would think an overdrive/distortion would be more fitting, perhaps a Darkglass B3K, or Sansamp BDDI (or Behringer BDI21 clone).
 
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#7
You can get a smooth heavy sound from some of these pedals.

Darkglass b3k- this pedal has a musically heavy sound with punchy highs
Darkglass vmt- it's more of an overdrive pedal, but can sound smooth and heavy
Dod boneshaker- this is a new pedal that can give you a smooth metal sound. it'll be release real soon
Source audio ofd- this pedal has 12 distortion model and a 3-band eq to shape your distortion sound
zoom ms-60b- it's a multi-effects stomp box, but you can get smooth heavy sound from this pedal
 
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#8
i have the bass fuzz deluxe. it's guaranteed not to lose bottom end. the fuzz only efrcts the mids and highs. the best way to discribe the fuzz is stoner rock or black sabbath sounding. which may do the trick for grunge band, but you may want a bit more power than the mxr bfd.

my opinion, swollen pickle sounds less for a grungy than the bfd.
 
#9
I've got a Zoom MS60B and last week picked up the EHX Bass Soul Food. The Zoom has several different distortions available, but all were a little more aggressive than what I wanted. The Bass Soul Food does indeed have a blend knob, and is much closer to the sound I wanted. I'm running an SVT-3 Pro, so there's already some tube dirtiness in my sound, but I wanted a little more thickness when my guitarist takes a solo. The BSF does that really well. It's definitely an overdrive rather than a full on distortion box, but the thing I find with most of the bass distortions I've heard is that the bass gets robbed of the rich harmonics that guitars get from a good distortion and just sound like a layer of fuzz on top to me. The guy that sold me the BSF is also a very good bass player who I've been dealing with for about a year now, and I've come to trust his opinion. He didn't like the BSF quite as much as I do, although he did like it, and mentioned that his preferred box was the Swollen Pickle or the Big Muff Pi.

Most, if not all, of these pedals will be available as demos on Youtube. I'd take these suggestions and look them up there, and then narrow your choices from there. Not perfect, but probably better than just going without having heard them at all.
 
#10
Thanks for all of the input. Another contender I've come across is the Tech 21 Bass Boost Fuzz. A little pricier than some of the other options, but since it's a two in one- it seems reasonable. Any experience with that unit?

Also with regards to blend pedals, any direction on those close to that $75 mark? The ones I have found are closer to $175-200. Would a simple passive mixer like the DOD AC240 Resistance mixer serve the same purpose, minus the foot switch?
 
#12
Zvex Mastotron at lower settings is really a nice full sounding fuzz. It might be to britle on the highs for your needs, but the tone knob down may get you there. Most demos online will show you the full out sound, so I'd suggest trying one.

Musket fuzz is muff based but can dial in some great tones too... One in the classifieds now.
 
#15
OxFuzz

oxfuzz_oxfuzz-bass_002.jpg
 
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#16
ss/bs TAFM will do exactly what you are looking for. It isn't that tough to find them used for around $130-140. Low end is retained just fine, plus there is a blend knob as well. The low gain sounds are tremendous, and they stay that way the fuzzier you get. The presence of the gate switch allows you to have two pedals in one, because when you kick the gate on it also dimes the gain...so set the "standard" tone for a lower gain OD/fuzz, and then hit the gate to go balls-out fuzz insanity when you want that. I have a lot of dirt pedals, and love a lot of dirt pedals (who doesn't, really?), but my TAFM is never going anywhere and its probably my #1 pick of them all. :)
 
#19
I'll agree with a couple of the above comments, the green russian muff variant is sort of ideal for this vibe, in my mind. Both the musket and tall font russian are in the classifieds now and do awesome versions of that sound. I'm also completely addicted to that muff sound so take it for what it's worth. And, as far as 90s go, Ben Folds and Weezer both had/have righteous muff bass sounds thanks to this version of the circuit.
 
#20
+1 on the Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian, that was the first pedal I thought of when I read "warm and smooth fuzz".

Blackout Effectors Musket is also in the same territory, with more versatility.

Cog Effects Grand Tarkin is another possible, more versatile than the TFR but not quite as smooth or dark.
 

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