What fuzz is this?

[SunByrne]

As a huge NIN and Peter Murphy fan, I've always loved their little bits of work together back in 2006. But now that I've started playing bass I keep coming back to this particular one for the bass tone. This is gonna cost me a pedal, but what fuzz do you think Reznor is using here? Mastotron, maybe?

 

[DannDubblewe]

It is a Prescription Electronics Depth Charge.

 

[SunByrne]

It is a Prescription Electronics Depth Charge.

Well, that didn't take long. Thanks!

Just curious, but how do you know?

 

[DannDubblewe]

It was discussed on another forum at some point - I can’t remember when - but that was the consensus and the sound it’s producing is spot on with that/ I think Reznor was known for using one? Maybe?

Check the video at 3:06 in, you can see the box for a couple seconds on the floor.

Also here’s an older TB thread that confirms he definitely used one.
Trent Reznor

 

[SunByrne]

Cool, thanks for the info.

It appears it might not actually cost me a pedal, because the Depth Charge is... a bit hard to find. Clearly not made anymore and no luck on eBay or Reverb.

The Depth Charge seems to be a Brassmaster derivative. What's the closest thing that one could actually find? Surely there has to be another Brassmaster-based pedal that's close...

 

[Matt Dean]

That was a cool living room show... thanks for posting.

Good luck finding a Prescription Electronics Depth Charge. They are rare as hens teeth.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

I think you might get pretty close with a Mastotron

 

[GMC]

I think JohnK might still have a clone available to order.

 

[theunknowndude]

The diabolik and bead fuzz are derivatives of the brassmaster, may get in the range of the depth charge and raise to find. I know John k did clones of a depth charge at one stage but I didn’t have the funds

 

[Fuzzonaut]

Balls Effects Supercharger might get you there.

 

[220_Hz]

CMC Effects on reverb made me a super fuzz clone with a tone knob instead of a switch, which is essentially the same thing as a depth charge but no blend knob. I put it through a damnation audio bloop to cover the clean blend

 

[Killing Floor]

Good call. I love that tone.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Are they that rare? It was a really successful unit, the obvious extreme bass fuzz 25 years ago.

 

[DosiYanarchy]

Are they that rare? It was a really successful unit, the obvious extreme bass fuzz 25 years ago.

Yeah now they are pretty hard to find and all Prescription Electronics pedals seem to command a high price on the used market, I had a depth change and mistakenly thought it was a Brassmaster derived fuzz, but it's apparently based on a Superfuzz if that helps the OP in their search.

It's essentially a Superfuzz with a clean blend and a tone control which controls the mid scoop /boost

 

[Jazz Ad]

You can get very close for cheap with a Guyatone TZ-2 and the blender of your choice.

 

[bararan]

I'm not much of a fuzz user but if it's based on Brassmaster maybe Malekko B:assmaster might be a good alternative.

 

[gh0st42]

Malekko Diabolik should be a much easier to find alternative, that can get you very close.

Based on a Brassmaster circuit, and designed for Justin Meldal-Johnsen, who plays bass for NIN and others.

 

[theunknowndude]

Just had a thought... although depth charge does sound a bit more superfuzz than brassmaster, my bead fuzz with the mids boost switch and lower gain and tone might be able to get close to that NiN wooly thick bass style tone hmmm - might need to play around with that later as the tone on love is not enough is just so epic... always been one of my favourite fuzz sounds

 

[johnk_10]

IMO, the depth charge doesn't sound anything like a Brassmaster or a Superfuzz. it might be a derivative of a superfuzz but it's definitely its own thing.

 

[Feral Feline]

... What's the closest thing that one could actually find? ...

Send in the Clones...

As GMC suggested, get a clone, whether made by JohnK or some other DIYer — a hobbyist local to you will be cheaper than having a "brand-name" Company make you one.