Boss HM-2 as a fuzz?

daveyh

Anyone got any experience of one being used like this?

ThePrettyDamned

It certainly can be fuzzy.  

Try one - like a Muff, it has its own distinct sound and you'll either like it or you won't. 

samzadgan

it can be set to be fuzzy distortion...put the low on full and roll the highs off, its really nice.

it still quite tight though, you don't get that looseness of fuzz with it.

hugbot

I think people like them because of the signicture sound, I wouldn't call it a fuzz but I wouldn't call it metal either.

stonevibe

My Bloody Valentine used them if that helps.

daveyh

stonevibe said:

My Bloody Valentine used them if that helps.

Very much so, thanks.

I'm going to need a fuzz but have never had much success with actual fuzzes. I was watching a rig rundown of Lenny Kravitz' rig a while back and there's one in his rack. Couldn't for he life of me work out why until recently I came across a mention of using one as a fuzz.

monquixote

If you want a fuzz for people that don't get on with fuzz you might try a keeley fuzz head it's a hybrid od fuzz.

I have one I'm not using if you are interested.

viz

I did a quick 20 sec clip of a keeley mt2 here.

edit, sorry got confused with hm and mt - derrr

Johnnyseven

stonevibe;329910" said:

My Bloody Valentine used them if that helps.

So did Swervedriver, Tad and David Pajo when he was in Slint.

alalalkasar

Pajo also used a dod American metal live, it sounds almost identical to the hm2 and can be had on ebay for pocket change.
Another good route if you are unsure about it is to get the behringer clone to test the waters.

daveyh

What I actually need is something nasty for punky stuff

ThePrettyDamned

daveyh;330372" said:

What I actually need is something nasty for punky stuff

Might I recommend my Duncan powergrid for sale?

It's pretty good for punk. Better for punk than the metal I used it for.

Edit: if I'm being honest, there are better - the digitech hot head is good, or the boss ods pedals are neat. And, as above, there are dod distortion boxes.

Lastly, the vs son of Hyde. Great for punk!

daveyh

ThePrettyDamned said:

daveyh;330372" said:

What I actually need is something nasty for punky stuff

Might I recommend my Duncan powergrid for sale?

It's pretty good for punk. Better for punk than the metal I used it for.

You may indeed recommend, and I shall research, along with the Keeley one

ThePrettyDamned

Woops, just edited my reply above! I'm happy to let you try it out, but while it's a nice fat distortion it has a really thick bottom end - might not be the punk sound you're after. You can tame the bass but it takes tweaking!

Bidley

Have you considered a Rat?

Jaded

They use the 12v ACA adaptor, so if you under-power it by using a regular 9v adaptor (not daisy-chained) they become super fuzzy. Like Maestro FZ-1 kind of gated fuzzy. 

Otherwise they're kind of in that Big Muff type of fuzztortion area. 

daveyh

Bidley said:

Have you considered a Rat?

Well, actually I am now, it's been mentioned a few times in the research I've been doing.

monquixote

What sort of punky stuff are you doing?

I don't really associate punk with fuzz.

mike_l

I'd go with a Boss SD-1 or DS-1 for punky stuff.

I'd associate fuzz with 60s/70s guitarists (Hendrix, Gilmour etc) over punky stuff.

I'd not say the hothead is punky, more high-gain metal/shred. The Bad Monkey is quite punky but better (IMO) for adding grit/boost to a dirty amp.

daveyh

monquixote said:

What sort of punky stuff are you doing?

I don't really associate punk with fuzz.

Doing old punk covers in an originals set. For these think Stooges, MC5, New York Dolls

meltedbuzzbox

I would look at a fuzz facotry or a swollen pickle if you want to spend a bit of money. They can do the full on fuzz stuff or a kind of distortion/OD sound when tames a little

but for £30 you cant really go wrong with a RAT. It really is a multi-multi-multi setting pedal. Can do fuzz and a lot of other things. Built like a sh#t house too