| Author | Message | ||
| charles_holmes
Senior Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 441 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hello all! I'm considering adding a fuzz pedal to my rig and so far I like "Twosome", "Duality" and the "Clusterfuzz" Anyone out there have any thoughts, recommendations or experience with any particular fuzz pedals? Thanks!!! | ||
| matthew90046
Member Username: matthew90046 Post Number: 76 Registered: 1-2005 |
I really like the 1991 Big Muff and Stomp Under foot make a great clone called the Civil War. My friend has one on his board and let me try it out and loved it. If you want something with a clean blend the Malekko B:Assmaster is a classic. For something a little different I love the Devi Ever Ruiner. I't a budget pedal that crushes, very synthy. | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 947 Registered: 9-2008 |
Fuzzrocious Grey Stache with diode options. You won't be disappointed. It's a Civil War type fuzz and is so glorious in its sound ~Taylor | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3718 Registered: 10-2002 |
I've tried and been disappointed by the bass big muff, EBS multidrive and danelectro cool cat. I'm currently enjoying the Ashdown James LoMenzo hyperdrive like it so much I replaced the one that was stolen with the same model. Graeme | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1062 Registered: 12-2003 |
Charlie, Dave (the founder and genius behind Function FX) is a friend of mine. The Clusterfuzz is a pretty amazing pedal capable of an unbelievable assortment of fuzz tones. It's a bit too 'tweakable' for me, though. He makes a much simpler silicone based fuzz pedal called the End of the World Fuzz exclusively for a shop in the Chicago Suburbs. It is my favorite fuzz of all time. It delivers such a thick, rich and organic tone that stacks up against the best from the 60's and 70's, but can be rolled back for a much more tame overdriven sound. I AB'd it against well over a dozen different fuzz pedals at Chicago Music Exchange and for me nothing even came close. My favorite prior to that was the Frantone Sweet, which they don't make anymore. I'm a guitarist, so clearly our needs are different. I gave one of the End of the World pedals to my son's bass instructor - a semi-professional player who teaches at our School of Rock. After trying a number of different pedals, he found this was far and away the best sounding fuzz for bass that he'd come across. It's also in a tiny enclosure the size of the Xotic EP Boost and SL Drive, so if space on your board is limited, it's perfect. Just my $0.02. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1599 Registered: 1-2005 |
One thing to potentially be aware of is that fuzz is best as the first pedal in your effects change, but that they don't always play well with active electronics. If possible, take your bass and try it with the pedals you are considering. One example is the ZVEX Wooly Mammoth - doesn't play nicely with my Alembics, but fortunately he came out with the Mastotron that can be used with active basses. Might not be an issue with the pedals you are considering - I haven't used any of them. Do you particularly want FUZZ or would distortorion/overdrive be ok too? | ||
| rv_bass
Junior Username: rv_bass Post Number: 11 Registered: 8-2014 |
I sometimes use a ROSS distortion pedal that I purchased in the late '70s (and it still works!) for brief texture effects, it has more of that fat fuzz sound rather than sharper distortion. | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 72 Registered: 2-2003 |
One of the best fuzz sounds I've ever heard was when my alembic's batteries were nearly out of juice - the smoothest, most musical fuzz in the world. I've considered seeing if i could duplicate that with some resistors... | ||
| charles_holmes
Senior Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 442 Registered: 3-2009 |
Thanks guys! Matt, I'm going to look at all of the pedals you all mentioned (hopefully they are on YouTube)Thanks for the heads up on the "Wooly Mammoth" Harry and where Fuzz should go "in the chain" of effects, I use the TC G-system & I'll put it in the 1st loop. Aurally speaking, the overdrive sounds the same as fuzz to me. Taylor, & Graeme I'll look into your suggestions. Jon (You're lucky guy being the friend of Dave) If you have a Series, how did the Cluster sound? I'm going to use whatever pedal I choose exclusively for the bridge pickup and keep the neck clean or in combination with my Great Divide Pedal (By Godlyke)which cranks out massive lows, has superb tracking and sustain & IMHO much better than the Octave pedals on the market that I've tried. (Sorry, I went off track) Well, On to YouTube to check out the suggestions> Thanks again guys!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| dlbydgtl
Intermediate Member Username: dlbydgtl Post Number: 168 Registered: 7-2008 |
Wren & Cuff Pickle Pi Bass Fuzz is a fun pedal.. | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1567 Registered: 6-2006 |
I agree with Mark, when that battery starts to fade the snarl is delicious. Albeit for a rather short time. . . | ||
| charles_holmes
Senior Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 443 Registered: 3-2009 |
Hey Pauldo!!!!!!! I agree about the snarl (it happened once or twice )but since I purchased the DSM I never run out of power now! | ||
| gearhed289
Member Username: gearhed289 Post Number: 59 Registered: 5-2004 |
I've used many over the years. I tend to lean toward Tube Screamer based circuits. My current favorite is the HBE Hematoma. It really does it right without losing low end. It does not have a blend knob, but rather simply passes part of the unaffected signal through, along with the overdriven sound. They seem to have it dialed in just right, and I'm never second-guessing myself on where to set the blend. I ordered mine with the optional additional JRC4558 chip. It's also got a footswitchable variable clean boost that can be used with or without the overdrive. Really great pedal! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1600 Registered: 1-2005 |
I personally think that fuzz and distortion are pretty distinct - fuzz is more extreme, more intense, while "distortion" can go from mild overdrive to full-on buzz-saw. I've also got a Hematoma, but I prefer my early Fulltone Bass Drive. I find that the Bass Drive loses a bit of low end though, so I'm always contemplating using something else. I don't think I would ever get rid of my Bass Drive though - I love it with my Rickenbackers! The only fuzz I've used on basslines is my Woolly Mammoth,but I don't really play in a manner that I need that level of bite that much anymore. Another application of distortion is just to pure some fur on some notes, possibly trying to emulate a tube amp, but I haven't had much chance to experiment in this area - I tend towards either clean or very distorted... | ||
| stout71
Advanced Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 274 Registered: 7-2011 |
I just bought a Fuzzrocious Grey Stache, thanks to some of the posts here. A couple of YouTube videos sealed the deal and I'll have it Tuesday! Woo hoo! | ||
| wyrtti
New Username: wyrtti Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2002 |
Congrats on the new fuzz. I mostly use a Fuzzhugger Algal Bloom and love it. Very bright and fizzy. The old basic version cuts some bottom so I might recommend the blend or bass option. For me the slight bass cut is just what I need when I go for fuzz. My band has enough low end as it is. | ||
| charles_holmes
Senior Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 445 Registered: 3-2009 |
What I'm looking for is endless sustain fuzz & since I'm dedicating the fuzz for my bridge pickup I don't really care if I lose any bottom. Topi, I am going to check out the Algal Boom Because I think your description of that fuzz pedal is in the line of what I'm looking for: Bright & fizzy. Does it have endless sustain? Jerry, Let me know how you like the Grey Stache & by the way kudos to ya for pulling the trigger on the pedal!! I think what I want is bright, Fizzy & endless sustain!!Thanks guys for helping me to pinpoint what I want!!!!! | ||
| stout71
Advanced Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 278 Registered: 7-2011 |
This thing has amazing sustain. It goes on for weeks. It wasn't cheap, but it's only 1 of 2 pedals I use anyway, plus it's a write-off. Check out the demo video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Yt3vYof49M | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 388 Registered: 6-2006 |
Regarding Vintage fuzz circuits and active pups. There are a number of options for "passive pickup emulation", usually in a very small enclosure and not requiring any power of course. I put one in front of my Jext Telez Dizzy Tone and it made a notable improvement in the fuzz response and tone. Regarding the dying battery scenario, many custom makers have incorporated a "starve" or "bias" adjustment in the fuzz circuit, which emulates a dying battery, from a DC power supply source. Starving the circuit usually takes the fuzz from creamy smooth the gacky, sputtering. Often quite cool. This may be a feature to look for in your future fuzz. Chicago Stomp Works makes some very robust, straight ahead, (unmodified) clones. Their Green Russian Muff circuit is very bass friendly, and while the usual price is under $100, he often has "fifty buck deals". Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler Zvex Mastrotron These are both readily available and not too expensive. McSpunckle Gnomeratron VTF Jext Telez Dizzy Tone V5 or V6 These are not so available, but really cool. You could spend the better part of the next decade exploring fuzz options, and still not exhaust your possibilities, HAVE FUN! | ||
| charles_holmes
Senior Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 447 Registered: 3-2009 |
Cool info James, thank you! I'm really leaning towards the Grey Stache with the Cluster Fuzz a close second. I agree that I could spend the next decade exploring fuzz options (I've searched about 8-10 weeks already and I had to stop because it was too much) but I will look at your suggestions!!! Post Script... my only fear is that the pedal will give me trouble since I'm going to connect it to the 1st loop in my TC G-system. I hope that it's active pickup friendly too. | ||
| wyrtti
New Username: wyrtti Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2002 |
No, Algal Bloom doesn't have infinite sustain. Actually, I've never used in such a way that I would have paid attention to length of sustain. I will try it out with that in mind. As for other fuzzy stuff, I've been utterly fascinated by the Dwarfcraft Great Destroyer since I got to try it out with my own bass a few weeks ago. Such lush, wet, sproingy madness. I guess I concentrated on the noise, not the playing...but it was FUN!  Oh well, happily our band is well populated with different fuzzes, always something to try out... | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Junior Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 31 Registered: 6-2012 |
An interesting variation on traditional fuzz is the Tech 21 Red Ripper. It's pretty touch sensitive and also allows the user to preserve low end punch via use of the low pass filter. |
