Yet Another "Help me find a fuzz" thread

[blindrabbit]

Need articulation and cooperation with actives?

TAFM is the answer. It's the most articulate fuzz I've tried (and I've tried a few). It plays well with all my actives. On top of it all, it's pretty much my favourite fuzz in terms of tone and flexibility.

 

[monsterthompson]

The project I'm currently in is metal that nibbles around the edges of Doom/Stoner bands like Trouble, COC, The Sword, High on Fire, and Cathedral; we aren't going into super crazy Sleep, Electric Wizard, YOB, Sun O territory.
Third I would rather not have to drop $250 for some unicorn piece of equipment that one guy makes in his garage and there are only 100 in existence. Sadly, I've heard some that fit this description that I like, but I'd like to avoid going down that rabbit hole if I can.

When I started looking into fuzz land, i found that Tall Font Green Russian clones were the flavor for me. I ended up with a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian, and I paid the extra $20 for a clean blend. Based on the bands you listed, I'd say the Tall Font Russian and similar clones are going to be a good sonic fit. I found the Muff/Pickle/Pi genre to be a bit too harsh. There's a vibe about the Russian that is softer and more lush, but it still has teeth. The Wren and Cuff isn't super high gain, and at lower gain settings it is quite dynamic and articulate.

I run a Spector Forte4 SS and it gets along pretty well with the pedal. The clean blend has taken a little toying with to get set right, but I'm a tinkerer. I wouldn't say it is a must have feature, but it is nice. I do find I like running the bass in passive mode for an older school doom sound. i also very much like it with my passive J and P basses.

I also looked at the Abominable Hail Satan Deluxe, which has two fuzz type options in one box (including the Russian), and a mid control, and a clean blend.

I was considering the new Aguilar Fuzzistor, but it is very new and not much info is out on them. Early adopters seem to be fans.

 

[monsterthompson]

... after seeing the Dunwich video you like, the W&C TFR may not be your target.

 

[blindrabbit]

When I started looking into fuzz land, i found that Tall Font Green Russian clones were the flavor for me. I ended up with a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian, and I paid the extra $20 for a clean blend. Based on the bands you listed, I'd say the Tall Font Russian and similar clones are going to be a good sonic fit. I found the Muff/Pickle/Pi genre to be a bit too harsh. There's a vibe about the Russian that is softer and more lush, but it still has teeth. The Wren and Cuff isn't super high gain, and at lower gain settings it is quite dynamic and articulate.

I run a Spector Forte4 SS and it gets along pretty well with the pedal. The clean blend has taken a little toying with to get set right, but I'm a tinkerer. I wouldn't say it is a must have feature, but it is nice. I do find I like running the bass in passive mode for an older school doom sound. i also very much like it with my passive J and P basses.

I also looked at the Abominable Hail Satan Deluxe, which has two fuzz type options in one box (including the Russian), and a mid control, and a clean blend.

I was considering the new Aguilar Fuzzistor, but it is very new and not much info is out on them. Early adopters seem to be fans.

My TFR didn't have a blend, and it still sounded really good. Some out there have been critical of the blend, but I guess you could always set it at 100% dirty if it wasn't your thing. IME, it played just fine with my actives, and while I didn't have a concern with its articulation and definition, I'm going to stand by my TAFM suggestion. TFR is an OUTSTANDING fuzz though, no doubt about that.

 

[johnk_10]

after reading all of the good reviews of it, just got a TAFM and IMO, it's a pretty nice sounding fuzz. I think that I actually slightly prefer the SUF civil unrest a little more though.

 

[blindrabbit]

after reading all of the good reviews of it, just got a TAFM and IMO, it's a pretty nice sounding fuzz. I think that I actually slightly prefer the SUF civil unrest a little more though.

Have you heard or tried the ss/bs Mini at all, John? I have a feeling you'd like that one too.

 

[monsterthompson]

listening to this TAFM demo, i don't hear anything like the Dunwich demo sound the OP liked. anyone kn0w a closer sounding demo?

i do hear it getting similar to the COG demo he posted.

 

[blindrabbit]

listening to this TAFM demo, i don't hear anything like the Dunwich demo sound the OP liked. anyone kn0w a closer sounding demo?

i do hear it getting similar to the COG demo he posted.

Whoa, my bad. I totally didn't see or listen to the Dunwich/COG demos. Yeah, I can definitely see now why you are suggesting a TFR.

Here is a another one to think of, I think it was actually suggested earlier. @eyeballkid did a nice video demoing it with an active bass too - the OxFuzz. I think it does a pretty great job of nailing the sound you are looking for. Should be able to find one used in the $130-150 range...but they can be a bit tough to track down.

 

[blindrabbit]

Have you heard or tried the ss/bs Mini at all, John? I have a feeling you'd like that one too.

At higher gain settings, the Mini can get pretty fuzzy, and while it doesn't go quite as muffy as the OP's exemplar vids, I do really like the definition it holds. The lower gain tones are absolutely delicious as well. It is my current always on pedal.

 

[socialleper]

Here is another of the Tarkin:

 

[socialleper]

i don't hear anything like the Dunwich demo sound the OP liked. anyone kn0w a closer sounding demo?

I think the Dunwich is kind of in its own league. The mid range snarl on that thing is pretty awesome. It doesn't have a well articulated attack like the COG or TAFM but it sort of makes up for it by not being too wooly. It sounds like that demo is mic'ed so it may be hard to know how much is the pedal and how much is the amp.
Here are some other demos of it:
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[socialleper]

I like the Volt Thrower too, but just because 1.) I love Bolt Thrower, and 2.) That is Electric Wizard's bass tone right there. Totally unusable, but still really gnarly.
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[socialleper]

My TFR didn't have a blend, and it still sounded really good. Some out there have been critical of the blend, but I guess you could always set it at 100% dirty if it wasn't your thing. IME, it played just fine with my actives, and while I didn't have a concern with its articulation and definition, I'm going to stand by my TAFM suggestion. TFR is an OUTSTANDING fuzz though, no doubt about that.

The Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B was on my list a long time ago, but there is something about the sizzle in the highs that I'm not feeling. Their TFR Is a little more mellow in that regard, but is a little less defined at the same time. Kinda reminds me of the Supercollider at that point.

 

[Real Soon]

I feel like I must not get the real purpose of fuzz when I compare the sound I put together on my 'Pickle vs a lot of fuzzes I hear in demo. In comparison, they tend to sound like tuned chainsaws, which is very cool in context, but I'm trying to work with something that sounds more like a fuzzy butter: fat, smooth, and easy to spread.

I'd demo the track I recorded with it recently, but it's part of an EP I'm working on that's not yet released. Maybe I'll put up a snippet at some point for opinions on what a poopy job I'm doing with my tone choices. lol

 

[Real Soon]

Maybe I'll put up a snippet at some point for opinions on what a poopy job I'm doing with my tone choices. lol

"POOPY"? Really? I must let The People™ know, that is NOT what I typed. But I'm impressed with our fine forum's thoroughness no less.

 

[socialleper]

after reading all of the good reviews of it, just got a TAFM and IMO, it's a pretty nice sounding fuzz. I think that I actually slightly prefer the SUF civil unrest a little more though.

The civil unrest is one of the models I was looking at as well. The only demo I can find of the Civil Unrest didn't wow me; it may have been the recording though. It reminded me a little too much of my Black Russian Muff.
I didn't want to taint the pool early on by stating what I've already looked at too much. I wanted some new suggestions on top of what I had already researched.

 

[blindrabbit]

The Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B was on my list a long time ago, but there is something about the sizzle in the highs that I'm not feeling. Their TFR Is a little more mellow in that regard, but is a little less defined at the same time. Kinda reminds me of the Supercollider at that point.

I'm with you on this one. The PPB has always been too edgy for me. The TFR is beautiful and mellow, but defined...yeah, not really.

What do you think of the OxFuzz (or the Mini)?

 

[socialleper]

I'm with you on this one. The PPB has always been too edgy for me. The TFR is beautiful and mellow, but defined...yeah, not really.

What do you think of the OxFuzz (or the Mini)?

It does have a good "transparent" sound that lets a lot of the bass through, there is just something about the sound scape that I can't put my finger on that isn't grabbing me. I want to use the word "messy", like the fuzz isn't intentional but the product of something crackling. That could be the demos though.

 

[socialleper]

I feel like I must not get the real purpose of fuzz when I compare the sound I put together on my 'Pickle vs a lot of fuzzes I hear in demo. In comparison, they tend to sound like tuned chainsaws, which is very cool in context, but I'm trying to work with something that sounds more like a fuzzy butter: fat, smooth, and easy to spread.

I'd demo the track I recorded with it recently, but it's part of an EP I'm working on that's not yet released. Maybe I'll put up a snippet at some point for opinions on what a poopy job I'm doing with my tone choices. lol

I'm pretty sure I'm looking for something that isn't normal. The sound in my head is a little like a distortion, but with balls of fuzz. I'm worried about the initial bite because I don't use a pick most of the time and don't play a P bass, which has a strong mid-range attack that seems to work well with fuzz pedals.
So it's not you, its me .

 

[blindrabbit]

It does have a good "transparent" sound that lets a lot of the bass through, there is just something about the sound scape that I can't put my finger on that isn't grabbing me. I want to use the word "messy", like the fuzz isn't intentional but the product of something crackling. That could be the demos though.

The OxFuzz was never able to find a permanent spot on my board either, for reasons that may be similar to what you are saying...I actually found the fuzz to be "layered" in a way that I couldn't agree with. Generally I like fuzzfaces, like the TAFM. I've had the "regular" OxFuzz germ suggested to me before, but I've never tried it myself. The sound of it on demos is absolutely glorious, but I wonder if it too like the TAFM loses some definition, as well as some bottom end (the TAFM doesn't lose bottom end, but the OxFuzz Germ may, as it is not bass-designed).

One of my fave combos at the moment is my TAFM running into my Mini. That gets huge and delicious and retains good low end as well as definition. But, that's a two pedal solution that may not work for you.