Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[davedamage]

Dude, that’s a really good way to waste a bunch of time then give up angry. Ask me how I know lol

Ha! I have already dialed in a few sounds I like. I took one look at it and realized it is going to be a set it and forget it pedal -- as ridiculous as that may be -- since it would be all but impossible to adjust it on the fly in an kind of meaningful or intentional manner. Either way, it is an awesome muff. I just need it to fill in some gaps between the Blackbeard and the Calamity.

 

[Kawai2g4b]

Ha! I have already dialed in a few sounds I like. I took one look at it and realized it is going to be a set it and forget it pedal -- as ridiculous as that may be -- since it would be all but impossible to adjust it on the fly in an kind of meaningful or intentional manner. Either way, it is an awesome muff. I just need it to fill in some gaps between the Blackbeard and the Calamity.

A lot of people, understandably so, get thrown off by the options just like you said. Most of my current pedals are programmable in some way, but for bass it’s a set and forget thing once everything is dialed in. Now for guitar: totally different story.

 

[Ritter667]

A lot of people, understandably so, get thrown off by the options just like you said. Most of my current pedals are programmable in some way, but for bass it’s a set and forget thing once everything is dialed in. Now for guitar: totally different story.

All my pedals are set and forget too, I set them where I think it sounds best and then use those settings for everything.

Only exception being my delay.

Also just had a play with my EHX English Muff'n again, which, despite its name, has nothing to do with a Big Muff, but is a Marshall like genuine tube preamp/overdrive, and again it stroke me how perfect what it does is for stoner rock type bass riffs.

 

[scabpicker]

Also just had a play with my EHX English Muff'n again, which, despite its name, has nothing to do with a Big Muff, but is a Marshall like genuine tube preamp/overdrive, and again it stroke me how perfect what it does is for stoner rock type bass riffs.

Man, I have one of those. I used it as the preamp for literally everything I recorded for a couple of years. Totally loved it.

Unfortunately, it began self oscillating and sending out a high pitched whine all the time. I need to track down what's wrong with it and fix it so I can enjoy it again.

 

[Formula73]

Ha! I have already dialed in a few sounds I like. I took one look at it and realized it is going to be a set it and forget it pedal -- as ridiculous as that may be -- since it would be all but impossible to adjust it on the fly in an kind of meaningful or intentional manner. Either way, it is an awesome muff. I just need it to fill in some gaps between the Blackbeard and the Calamity.

I misunderstood. I thought you intended to figure out the switch settings for all the classic circuits, not just find some good sounds…it’s FULL of those.

I also didn’t realize til I was messing with it on my board that I don’t like the idea of dropping floor dirt and dust into the dip switch penetrations and ending up coating the inside. I am considering trying to make some sort of cover to sit over them. Most of the stages I play have nastier carpet than most crackhouses.

 

[Kawai2g4b]

All my pedals are set and forget too, I set them where I think it sounds best and then use those settings for everything.

Only exception being my delay.

Also just had a play with my EHX English Muff'n again, which, despite its name, has nothing to do with a Big Muff, but is a Marshall like genuine tube preamp/overdrive, and again it stroke me how perfect what it does is for stoner rock type bass riffs.

Speaking of that EHX tube series line. The Tube Zipper is an absolute menace of a pedal if you get your hands on one. It’s an envelope filter by design, but the amount of distorted/fuzzy cocked-wah sounds in that thing is insane.

 

[Michedelic]

Hmm, OK, anyone know anything about…

 

[davedamage]

Wow. That video was awesome. Like Antigama with a horn section. I dig it real hard.

 

[Michedelic]

Wow. That video was awesome. Like Antigama with a horn section. I dig it real hard.

Here’s another one for you…

 

[davedamage]

Oh, I went down the rabbit hole after the first one. I saw that and at least one more. That is some of coolest use of AI I've seen. I'm sure the music helped, but it sure as hell hit the creepy notes.

 

[Kaa]

Laugh of the day, so far, from the Amps sub-forum:

"I suppose if you are playing a lot of crazy loud Kyuss style backyard parties you might need the full 700w full stack regularly."

 

[davedamage]

Are they saying they're not?

 

[Kacey Y]

Laugh of the day, so far, from the Amps sub-forum:

"I suppose if you are playing a lot of crazy loud Kyuss style backyard parties you might need the full 700w full stack regularly."

I only need 350W for my gas generator powered bedroom practice sessions

 

[Kaa]

That line gave me an instant image of a raging kegger, with fires and cars doing doughnuts in the dirt.

 

[Kaa]

Been on a Wo Fat 3-hour mix. All good.

 

[Ritter667]

Hmm, OK, anyone know anything about…

This is pretty damn amazing!

 

[Novarocker]

Yeah, I have absolutely zero experience with Fuzz Faces... and I don't want or need a new pedal/circuit obsession! I had assumed it was a Muff of some sort. So that helps me decide, as every other fuzz I've tried (which, granted, isn't a ton...) has always fallen to a Muff.

My tone knobs on Muffs are usually around noon to maybe 1:00 - excepting of course if there's a mids knob. Thus far, I pretty much ALWAYS go for max mids. I want a full range tone, so I don't usually like how the Muff can cut/boost frequencies considerably when the tone knob is too far off of noon. It's usually a fine-tuning sort of thing I do with it. I definitely don't want scoop.

Let's see - how many CMC Muffs do I currently have?
Triangle
Ram's Head
Elk/Hizumitas
Civil War
Bubble Font (x2)
Tall Font

I think that's all of them! But the "Russians" - Civil War, Bubble Font, and Tall Font - are the ones that get the most use, both on guitar and bass. They're great for stoner/doom stuff. The other ones are also solid, but a bit more vintage rock flavored to my ears, if that makes sense. Not bad by any stretch, and a worthwhile tone, especially for the price.

All that being said, I'm tempted to scoop up a Ram's Head Pharaoh that's been on Reverb lately. Do I need it? No. Do I love the Pharaoh and enjoy the CMC Ram's Head on bass enough to be interested in what BAT's take would be? Definitely! We'll just see if I can resist the temptation.

And thanks for the kind words regarding my words. Good thing I can put that fancy English degree of mine to use on something as important doom tones!

Totally understand what you mean. They're versatile, the breakup is awesome, and it can punch. I dig other dirt pedals a whole bunch for every reason, but I feel like I will always have some kind of muff on my board.

I will say that if you tend to like the mids maxed on those CMC's and you like the lower gain of the russian iterations, you'll probably like fuzz faces. Id say they're like a cross between an IC version, russian version, and a rat. IC breakup, but lower gain and more controlled low end of the russians, with the eq profile of a rat with little of the filter engaged. Very full spectrum without being glassy or brittle.

I think it was this thread where I found out about this guy:

View attachment 7179135

I haven't really had a chance to dig into it much. I did dial in a couple of quick cool sounds but it obviously needs a DEEEEEEEP dive.

The dude told me it was an "in no way guaranteed 20 week wait" and it ended up being closer to 60, but we kept in contact and he was honest with me.

It also has some very stiff competition:

View attachment 7179136

Is that a clone of the Wren & Cuff forest for the trees? Either way, that's cool! Would probably be a great bit for dialing in just right studio muff sounds.

I'd just throw a piece of masking tape over the dip switches. Use painters tape.

 

[kleinenenten]

I will say that if you tend to like the mids maxed on those CMC's and you like the lower gain of the russian iterations, you'll probably like fuzz faces. Id say they're like a cross between an IC version, russian version, and a rat. IC breakup, but lower gain and more controlled low end of the russians, with the eq profile of a rat with little of the filter engaged. Very full spectrum without being glassy or brittle.

For the sake of my wallet, and my self-imposed pedal buying freeze (I've made it almost three months!), I'm going to ignore this reply... But thanks for the info. If I happen to run into a Fuzz Face, I'll have to give it a go.

 

[kleinenenten]

Been too busy reading to play lately, so I rectified that since I had free time today. Started learning "Sweet Leaf". Should hopefully be a quick one to learn, as I don't know if I'll have tones of time in the near future to keep chops up. Also going to re-learn Arch Enemy's "We Will Rise" as that was the last one before my current bass frenzy got put on hold. I remember a little of it...

 

[kleinenenten]

Been too busy reading to play lately, so I rectified that since I had free time today. Started learning "Sweet Leaf". Should hopefully be a quick one to learn, as I don't know if I'll have tones of time in the near future to keep chops up. Also going to re-learn Arch Enemy's "We Will Rise" as that was the last one before my current bass frenzy got put on hold. I remember a little of it...

3 hours later (most of which was NOT bass-related), I have "Sweet Leaf" mostly down. Just a few things to tighten up, and fills to figure out. (No, I'm not playing exactly what Geezer plays, but I'm ok with that! If I have to be "not as good" as another bassist, Geezer's a good enough bar for me!) Not bad! Now, onto the next song!