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Smooth full sounding woolly fuzzy fuzz pedal?

I

Inconnu

Nov 1, 2005
2,407
1,148
Montreal, Canada
#1
So I started thinking about getting a new fuzz pedal. Up to now, I've been using an EHX Bass big muff. I like it, but it's not THE one.

What doesn't sound perfect with the BBM for me:
- It's got too much gain at lower settings, my basses have high outputs, so I don't have much range to work with.
- the blend fonction is not superb, and I loose too much lows without it.
- I'm looking for a different flavor of sound.

What I wish for :
- More control on gain.
- more low end on the fuzzed sound (no need for blend if there's enough lows to begin with).
- a smoother, fuller sound. Not aggressive, more like a big fuzzy ball of wool.
- preferably under $100 (limited use for a fuzz, limited budget).

I tried making a patch with my Zoom B1on, but I can't seem to find a good setting.

Any suggestions for a cheap fuzz?
 
#6
Out of all the fuzzes I own, the Catalinbread SFT probably best fits that (the second version with the Stones/Stoner switch). On the Stoner setting it's very fat and smooth, and the EQ is good enough to retain a lot of lows (no clean blend, although I don't find I need it). It's designed to emulate Ampegs, so think big fat Kyuss sounds.

I found mine secondhand on Reverb for £99, I've seen others go for around the same. Just make sure it's the newer version with the Stoner switch.
 
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#8
Danelectro Cool Cat Fuzz version 1. See the pic below. A somewhat under the radar but rad fuzz that seems to tick your boxes. Smooth fuzz, gets lower gain and has tons of low end. And... Cheap cheap. Can only get a used one tho. Based on the Frantone Peach Fuzz. I got mine on Reverb for like $40.
92A44A3C-EB4A-4C9F-806B-9F0715DFBBC8.jpeg
 
#9
Coughdrops said:
Danelectro Cool Cat Fuzz version 1. See the pic below. A somewhat under the radar but rad fuzz that seems to tick your boxes. Smooth fuzz, gets lower gain and has tons of low end. And... Cheap cheap. Can only get a used one tho. Based on the Frantone Peach Fuzz. I got mine on Reverb for like $40.
View attachment 2998260
Click to expand...
Is that made of plastic? Solid?
What's the difference between version 1 and others?
 
#11
Inconnu said:
Is that made of plastic? Solid?
What's the difference between version 1 and others?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's plastic but mine has held up well. Not my fav enclosure but for the price to tone ratio I'm willing to bend elsewhere. As I understand it, the designers copied the peach fuzz and a few other popular pedal designs around the same time. When the danelectro realized this they made them change the circuits entirely.
 
#15
Maxfenderbass said:
My suggestions
Without Blend; EHX Green Russian Reissue, Fuzzrocious Grey Stache, Zvex Wooly Mammoth.
With Blend; TAFM, Grand Tarkin.
Click to expand...

Please note that our Grey Stache can have a clean blend added (option on our site).
 
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#18
Dunwich Wizard is over budget for the OP, and it is a big box. I think the sound might be in the ballpark. It can be more of an overdrive sound than a harsh fuzz.
Not terribly helpful, for the OP, but maybe useful for others interested in similar tone goals. Dunwich is also making a smaller enclosure version, for what that's worth.

Otherwise, I'd lean to Si based fuzz boxes (Green Russian style). In my experience, they are on the smoother sounding side of the spectrum (though, sometimes at the expense of mids being scooped). I'd avoid any FuzzFace clones.
 

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