Uh-oh! Fuzz question

Godspeed64

Godspeed64

Active member
Just wondering..

Firstly, since fuzzes are a pain in the ass when it comes to having buffered circuits in the effects chain, does placing the fuzz BEFORE the buffered pedals affect this or only when it is placed AFTER buffered pedals?

If fuzzes cannot be in a chain with any buffered pedals, what is the best way to solve this problem? True bypass looper? Placing it to the effects loop (can gain pedals be placed here anyways)? Assuming all pedals in the chain is of utmost importance and cannot be replaced..

Thirdly, do fuzzes tend to be b*tchy when it comes to non-isolated PSU, or even just adaptors in general?
 
Fuzz and buffers? Most issues happen when the buffer is before a fuzz, however, post-fuzz buffer placement can lead to similar problems.

I'm not a techie so I don't know what is really happening (I do know something about impedance and what not...) so all I got is from experience.

The buffer thing is the main problem with fuzzes. Some fuzzes can manage with buffers (e.g. Demeter Fuzzulator, Subdecay Flying Tomato, Skreddy Screwdriver) but they seem to be either vintage fuzzes with tweaks or a more modern interpretation of fuzz circuits. Like the Fuzzulator runs on 2 IC chips. The Flying Tomato is a silicon fuzz face with a toggle-able buffer. Buffer friendly but the sound changes and the feel is different from a vintage fuzz circuit. Doesn't clean up well with volume knob-age too.

True Bypass loopers work... or you can try those pedals that change impedance. E.g. Barge Concepts GLZ (http://www.bargeconcepts.com/glzbv.html)




As for power supplies.

If I had an unlimited supply of 9v batteries... I'd love to use them ALL THE TIME. There's a difference in sound (great to smoothen the silicon) and the feel (less so though) but its not that big a diff. Main thing is it is usually quieter unless you've isolated power for each fuzz unit.



I gotta add a disclaimer, these differences are small. To some, its moot. To others, its important moot. To the rest, bah, use an overdrive/distortion/amp. However, I really think the beauty of fuzz is in its character - sound and feel. That's the magic and the main difference... not whether you got a 9v battery of the correct type though it does matter (in a small way).
 
Ahh.. I feel the same way man.. I finally now understand why any fuzzes I've ever owned sounds stellar.. It finally hit me a few days ago.. I had SEVERAL buffered pedals in front of the fuzzes.. But some of them have come to be irreplaceable, like my SD-1..

Now I feel like re-purchasing some of them again just to see how they turn out..
Particularly the Lovepedal 200lbs of Tone, and gonna try the MJM London Fuzz 1 as well..

Once again, thanks Shreddy!

Oh yeah.. About batteries.. I ain't so sure if this might help!
virtual_battery_VBBC_back.jpg

Use 2 for 18V of mayhem!
 
I use a pimped out fuzz called a metal muff... I guess doesn't really affect me since the only other pedal in my chain is a subdecay blackstar.
 
Ah.. My rhythm guitarist has an OD fetish..
Just check out his board..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuJYj5m9E64

Lol.. Even the OCD is at an OD kinda setting..

So I figured, to hell with ODs! I got an MIJ SD-1, AMAZING AMAZING pedal which I fell in love with in mere seconds.. So did he.. We both admit that we could pay 200plus in a blind test..

So now, I have a fuzz fetish.. I admit that I've never owned a through and through fuzz..
EHX Metal Muff? Not a fuzz..
T-Rex Mudhoney? More like an OD-fuzz thingy..
Pro Co Deucetone RAT? Distortion with fuzz character..
Jimi Hendrix Systems JH-1s Classic Fuzz? More akin to a distortion..
Pro Co Vintage RAT? Distortion, with more bottom end thus more fuzz sounding..
Lovepedal 200lbs of Tone? Silicon that was too tame and ridiculed the term "silicon"!

And the countless others I've tried man! The MJM London Fuzz is THE fuzz sound I've been looking for endlessly..
And the fuzz war.. Well, I went into fuzzes for that type of tone.. But it didn't quite grew onto me.. Perhaps after the London I'd get that piece of mojo!
 
Dude, relax on the lovepedal stuff. I read and heard his designs are usually uh... well, you can find cheaper.

You sound just like me... a couple of years back, I had a Tech21 Tri AC, modded TS9DX and I was happy, playing with the SAF MDC and stuff.

Then I discovered fuzz.

Upon comparing with overdrives/distortions, fuzz had so much more to offer. More character and of course, more pain/complications.

I've had an MJM London Fuzz II before - the germanium one - and I sold it off after a while. Very nice in the bedroom or if I were recording a single guitar I suppose. Its too smooth to be heard otherwise.

Look up Subdecay's Flying Tomato. That one - is one heck of a cool silicon fuzz face with modern sensibilities.
 
hahaha wth so many for what??!

my od fetish is overdriven tube amp fetish. not the tone from pedals.

currently, i'm dying for an orange rockerverb. and one day, one day a hiwatt and a marshall plexi.

hope that london fuzz works out for u man. its kinda sad to see softies post WTB something that they've gassed for ages. then next moment WTS cos didnt dig it.

i used to own a big muff pi. but i couldnt justify its space on the board. i really loved it though. now my bro is pissed off that i sold it cos he loves it plugged into the bass.

anyway, why are fuzzez bitchy when plugged into non isolated power?
 
Hmm.. After meddling with some Marshalls, I feel that their cleans are truely lacking.. I intend to get that tube OD kinda feeling too, unfortunately you need headroom for that.. Thus, I need to find a small tube amp that I can crank as and when I like, perhaps a Blackheart Killer Ant or something..
Highest I'd go is a Marshall 18W clone.. Or if I intend to get an attenuator, maybe a H&K Triamp..

Then again, fuzzes are best used when the amp is JUST about to break up! So, liking tube OD is one thing, trying a fuzz to boost it is another!

And about non-isolated PSU, that said fuzzes are picky when it comes to practically everything!

Actually Shred, the London Fuzz II is Silicon.. I intend to get the Germanium offering, simply because it can get smooth (with the volume rolled off) and hairy at the same time..
 
Then the one I got was the London Fuzz I, whichever is the model name for the Germ. It does clean up very well with the volume - a feature that few od/dist have. Its really not hairy though. Seriously.


And... why would you use a marshal for clean tones?
 
Marshalls arent really that renowned for cleans....I would prefer a fender blackface or even a roland jc 120.

I'm not really a fuzz player....i just keep one on my board for the sake of experimentation. I hated the 200lbs and sold mine off. And yes, i agree that running the fuzz on a battery makes a huge difference..........
 
Godspeed64, lets see...

You're right that fuzz pedals sound better with a slightly overdriven amp. Not all fuzz pedals sound good that way though.

About the fuzz face - read up on how Eric Johnson uses his. I read up last time but I can't rem much now. Also listen to the Alien Love Child live cd. He uses the fuzz face into a slightly overdriven marshall I think. The Butler OD is into another overdriven marshall so you can really hear the contrasting tones. Pretty good insight for me into how those things sound.

Some fuzzes sound fine into a clean amp. Heck, you may even like a supposed-to-sound-BEST-into-slight-breakup-amp-fuzz into a clean amp.


By the way... Anyone know an amp that offers excellent fuzz tones? Don't think so.
 
fuzz on a battery makes a huge difference
Click to expand...

Dude i would advice you to avoid mentioning "battery" here or any other cork sniffer forum ... it's like a religious bad thing ..almost like sin, hell, gay .....
 
To answer the question on who uses Marshalls for cleans, I'd say that there are moments you need to use the clean channel? Not many of us can lug around a couple of amps, one is the max.. So yeah.. If you can have 2 different amps at the same time, good for you! But I personally do not enjoy Marshalls anymore..

And about the London Fuzz I.. I know it ain't so hairy, that's why I want both germanium and silicon fuzzes.. Germanium for the ODish thingys, and Silicon for some fuzzy action! Shred, any Silicon ones to recommend? Looking at London Fuzz II, Lunar Module, 200lbs of tone currently.. I think I need to give the 200lbs another go.. It sounded horrid on my amp..

And I agree with Goose lah.. Batteries, isolated PSUs, true bypass, pedals colouring your tone too much, cables removing this frequency that frequency, etc.. THEY'RE ALL MYTHS I SAY!!! Hahaha.. Alamak just plug in and play lah.. Simple.. -_-
 
Yeah.. He demoed it to me.. Ain't looking for a muff type pedal.. Although it sounds nowhere near..

Excellent pedal.. But I need something hairy! Haha.. If I sell my vintage RAT I'll get the Fudge.. They would more or less fulfill the same purpose..
 
Godspeed64 said:
And about the London Fuzz I.. I know it ain't so hairy, that's why I want both germanium and silicon fuzzes.. Germanium for the ODish thingys, and Silicon for some fuzzy action! Shred, any Silicon ones to recommend? Looking at London Fuzz II, Lunar Module, 200lbs of tone currently.. I think I need to give the 200lbs another go.. It sounded horrid on my amp..
Click to expand...

I wouldn't think you need to give that 200lbs another go. :)

Try the Skreddy Lunar Module. Or the Skreddy Screwdriver. They are very nice fuzz-like dirt pedals. Lunar Module is the more fuzzy sounding one - more brash and in your face.


Godspeed64 said:
And I agree with Goose lah.. Batteries, isolated PSUs, true bypass, pedals colouring your tone too much, cables removing this frequency that frequency, etc.. THEY'RE ALL MYTHS I SAY!!! Hahaha.. Alamak just plug in and play lah.. Simple.. -_-
Click to expand...

Its one thing to get all cluttered up with these nitty gritties...

but when you find your tone isn't quite right and its affecting the way you play... I think its good to know these things. Getting an understanding of what you have at your feet will help you sound better and more importantly - play better.

Of course, if you got some straightforward dirt pedal or a cool amp - then its easy peasy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Beats Solo 3 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Replies
1
Views
920
melvinloewe
M
D
  • Locked
SOLD WTS: Boutique Drive Pedals
Replies
0
Views
1K
dinLPlc
D
M
WTS: Sennheiser e935 Vocal Mic (Taylor Swift, Hayley Williams, Foo Fighters, etc)
Replies
1
Views
2K
philgruber
P
W
  • Locked
SOLD WTS: Monsterpiece Classic fuzz (Germanium Fuzz face)
Replies
0
Views
744
wood&nickel
W
W
  • Locked
SOLD WTS: Skreddy Hybrid Fuzz driver (Marc Ahlfs signature drive pedal)
Replies
0
Views
924
wood&nickel
W

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top