Revelation!
Fuzz pedals have always been one of those things that other people use but I'd never got the hang of. I had a lovely Tonebender clone a couple of years ago that was great on paper but I could never work out how to get the best from, and I'd had various dabblings with the Big Muff and never quite been happy with it. The Little Big Muff was a nice idea, but useless in a band without massive mid-humped EQ on the amp, and the LBM w/Tone Wicker was better, but still felt like a mid-scooped sledgehammer reporting for nutcracking duties. Whatever I did with either of them it felt like it was irrelevant even what guitar I used, everything just became a wall of harmonic mush.
But having had good results with a germanium fuzz face build earlier in the year I thought I'd try an old-style muff and find out if it's ever going to happen. Anyways, the muff I built is a Ram's Head spec, with a switchable cap in the tonestack to give it a mid-hump if I need it and it sounds glorious. Absolutely filthly, but with so much more character than the current NYC Muffs. Hitting the front end with a clean boost pushes it into insanity in a good way (seriously, why are muffs with pre-boost not the norm? It's BRILLIANT!)
I guess all I'm saying is don't give up on something just because you tried it once and didn't like it. I wish I'd done it years ago. I might even start liking chorus pedals next!
Comments
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Quite like the metal muff, too. Sounds nothing like a muff and the top boost is... Er... Bit mental.
Yes, that's the one .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
always thought it was intercontinental ballistic whatsit.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Cos ebaying for "Integrated Circuit Big Muff" or "op amp big muff" produces pedals in excess of £200.
That looks good. If only I knew how to solder...
I always have one of my own Tesla Cannon's on my board (my own version with tweaks, mid's control, diode switching etc.).
The Big Muff is a surprisingly versatile effect too, as I find it can be used just as effectively as a distortion as it can a fuzz.
:-)
Black Arts toneworks do an LSTR which is amazing...he also does Pharaoh which is equally as amazing!
I have the sarcophagus, and that ended my search for fuzz pedals...i dont even look for fuzz pedals anymore!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWnAKQr1sY4
Very solid feeling stomp box. I've been playing with it all afternoon using an Ibanez RG and a solid state amp and the box produces a a Muffy fuzz but without the urmm "f*cking mentalness" that was my experience with the EHX Big Muff Pi Wicker. This is also a very gutsy pedal but you can actually play tunes with it too.
I wish I could put it on my board for tomorrow night but it's a new venue for us and the set list for tomorrow looks classic rock all the way and I'm not sure how to play with this sound live yet. I usually use a Jazzmaster and a JVM set up. The only other dirt on the board at the moment is a TubeScreamer and Wampler Pinnacle; I'm guessing this will replace the Pinnacle but I might just add it to the chain.
Any ideas where it may sit best in the chain with those other two? I'll have a play of course but just wondering aloud.
This afternoon I've been drawn towards making sounds in Smashing Pumpkins; Silversun Pickups territory -- you know clean and harmless then..... FUZZ!!
Very happy with this based on the home practice, and I'm sure it will find a place on the board