Which Muff? (Warning: Cliff Burton Reference)

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

I have been playing in a thrash metal band for a while now, and I have decided to get a fuzz pedal to compliment my solos. I have found that I like the Electro Harmonix Big Muff pedals the best, but I can't decide on which one I should get. I am going for the classic Cliff Burton fuzz tone, featured on such songs as: Anesthesia Pulling Teeth, that has been discussed on Talkbass frequently over the years (good and bad). I will be running an Aria Pro II SB-R60 through the pedal and the pedal through a Dunlop Crybaby wah.

I have narrowed myself down to three choices (because I can get any of the three used in my area for under $45):

1. The USA Big Muff
2. The Little Big Muff
3. The Russian Big Muff
Any suggestions would be most helpful.

 

[dannybuoy]

Why not the Bass Big Muff?

 

[Thunderscreech]

The tone on Anesthesia is the Muff along with a morely was that had a built-in clipping circuit.

I would say the Little Big Muff, but the NYC reissue is cheaper and comes up used at Guitard center sometimes. Theres one at mine for 40-something.

The Bass Big Muff isn't as agressive as the normal one. Simply because it doesn't cut the lows as much.


The Tech 21 XXL B is another good option.

 

[Fullmetal]

I use the Bass Big Muff and a Digitech Whammy for solo work (among various modulation). I think the Bass Big Muff is awesome as it keeps your lows intact, and has the dry and bass boost functions (which offer a variety of sounds). With this baby you can go from a gentle blend of clean and fuzz to a gigantic wall of distortion!

I've been using it for solo work similar to Cliff for about 5 months now. Never gunna get rid of it.

 

[Spacelordmother]

I say go with the LBM. I think that it works really well for bass, and also if you're going for Cliff's tone you should have the extra gain that isn't in the BBM.

I have both a LBM and a Sovtek Green Muff. (and both on my board!)

 

[KaizerWilhelm]

RUSSIAN MUFF!!!! AHHHH. I love mine. It's perfect fuzz distortion, etc. You won't be disappointed. I promise.

 

[speedkills]

I have a Bass Big Muff and a Boss ODB-3, but I think I'm gonna sell the Boss Overdrive and get another fuzz, maybe another flavor muff...

 

[René_Julien]

I hate to be a partypooper here, but why a Big Muff to play Burtons stuff?

I always had great results using "guitar" distortion pedals.
I play Anesthesia with a BOSS Metalzone. That's an awesome pedal on bass... for Cliff Burton stuff.

Or a BDDI dimed can also be nice... maybe out of category.



Unless you really want to duplicate Cliff's sound, wich is hard to do by the way, then search for the right muff.


Just a tip that you also can try out a (meant for guitar) distortion unit of choice.

 

[sillyfabe]

get a Way Huge Swollen Pickle: its a Muff clone that sounds WAY better and can do the cliff thing nicely as well as many other things such as strike up hilarious conversations

 

[fotallica666]

iv got the russian and i fricken NAIL his tone

 

[Cyber Soda]

When I saw the title... I expected... Well celebrities always...

 

[MrGotBass]

He used a Russian Big Muff

 

[JanusZarate]

He used a Russian Big Muff

This happens all the time... I guess it's my move, now.

The Russian Big Muff didn't exist until after he died.