Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Every_Mn on August 03, 2007, 05:26:07 AM

Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 03, 2007, 05:26:07 AM
Still am playing clean into my amp (Fender).

Anyone know a good quality fuzz for $150 or less? Can't be too modern sounding, either. Hit me up with ideas.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Twinfan on August 03, 2007, 10:56:41 AM
Can't go wrong with a Big Muff.  There's a whole range from the cheapo Nano to the US reissues.  An all time classic and cheap.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: WezV on August 03, 2007, 10:58:53 AM
i was gonna say big muff - if you are handy with a soldering iron a byoc large beaver is a great way to get an authentic big muff sound without shelling out for an original - sounds way better than the re-issues i have played anyway
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 03, 2007, 12:41:13 PM
Depends what you mean by fuzz - the Big Muff and Fuzzface are the two most famous fuzzes yet they sound very different.

How about naming a few songs with the tone you're after.

My suggestion would be a Fuzz Face - you can build one for $50 of parts and there are many online forums to help you through this.

 :twisted:
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 03, 2007, 12:59:14 PM
I can tell y'all one thing, I don't like Big Muffs much... the Fuzz Face seems like a solid choice, but I hear the sound of the Dunlop reissues is... off.

Anyway, an example of the sound I'd like to get: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24SOBX4PIx8

Not too extreme, not like distortion, but like overdrive with more balls. Just a good '70s hard rock kinda fuzz.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 03, 2007, 01:01:38 PM
cr@p, double-post.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Elliot on August 03, 2007, 04:20:03 PM
Big Muff and Fender in my view is no go, too dark and compressed for a Fender - A Fuzz Face into Blues Junior is instant Led Zepplin though.

The Dennis Cornell Fuzz Faces are the ones to go for - or the Analog man - but Germanium Fuzz Faces are a very acquired taste: from farty fuzz to nothing in a whisper - the trick is all in the guitar's volume control and playing a driven amp loud.

The expensive and highly unobtainable option is DAM's Dragon Fly.
The really cheap option is the Danelectro French Toast - same circuit as the Foxx Tone Machine.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Brow on August 03, 2007, 05:29:47 PM
I dunno what the US prices of these pedals ae, but here would be my suggestions:

Emma Electronics ReezaFRATzitz - 1 of the most natural sounding OD/Distortion/Fuzz pedals I've ever used.

HBE UFO - Great sounding Fuzz pedal with footswitchable octave doubler (think Purple Haze solo) effect. I'm still tweaking mine to sound as good with my LPs as it does with my Strats, but I'm confident in it's abilities :)
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 03, 2007, 05:39:03 PM
That James Gang clip was really good, haven't heard their stuff before - the whole band can play their ass off too (love that drummer).

Anyway, back to the topic - thats GOTTA be a Fuzz Face, I'm 99% sure.

Trouble is, the reissues sound cr@p and the boutique ones are WAY overpriced for what they are.

If you can get a reissue Dunlop one cheap I'll mod it for you and get it sounding like they should.  Or, if you're upto the job with a soldering iron, PM me and I'll give you some pointers.

 :twisted:
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: _tom_ on August 03, 2007, 06:01:15 PM
Apparently this guys using a fuzzface through a Fender Blues Jr and has amazing tone. Doesnt sound incredibly fuzzy here, much nicer than I thought it'd be!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YpaT_S7cEis
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Kilby on August 03, 2007, 06:19:42 PM
A Fuzzface would be an excellent choice for that sort of tone.

The French Toast would be too fizzy (I have one and like it but it's the wrong one) and it's using Silicon trannys (Cant remember what the originals used).

You should get Fuzzface tones from the Fuzz Factory pedal (plus a lot more besides)

For a build you own Fuzzface based pedal try the Bearface from these guys http://www.smallbearelec.com/home.html as they will supply matched transistors & stuff to the DIY effects community

Also consider a Tonebender which was much favoured by Mr Page & Mr Beck, or the Coger Mayer classic Fuzz, (however I dislike Mr Mayers ego that seems to say that he invented everything in the universe)

Re the James Gang, sometimes one forgets how good Joe Walsh used to be <sigh>
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 03, 2007, 07:16:07 PM
Quote from: Kilby
Re the James Gang, sometimes one forgets how good Joe Walsh used to be <sigh>

He's one of my top 5 guitarists...
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Woogie on August 03, 2007, 07:20:53 PM
I recently acquired every James Gang song and lots of live material, great stuff. James Gang Bang and Rides Again are two of my favourite albums.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: the_bleeding on August 03, 2007, 09:00:59 PM
russian big muff. buy one off of ebay thats modified to use a DC plug, otherwise you're guna be shelling out alot of money for batteries.

or boss fz-5.  simulates a fuzz face... octavia... and something else. But i have a feeling it might be digital which means it probably sounds like pewp.  i'd try one at a store before buying.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: FiXXXeR on August 04, 2007, 12:12:05 AM
Zvex Fuzz Factory
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 04, 2007, 02:45:03 AM
Quote from: the_bleeding
russian big muff. buy one off of ebay thats modified to use a DC plug, otherwise you're guna be shelling out alot of money for batteries.

or boss fz-5.  simulates a fuzz face... octavia... and something else. But i have a feeling it might be digital which means it probably sounds like pewp.  i'd try one at a store before buying.

I've heard from a friend of mine at GC, plus a few other dudes I know, that the new Boss fuzz is a bit 'dead' sounding, if you get my drift...
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Kilby on August 04, 2007, 02:24:28 PM
Avoid the Boss Fuzz. I don't care what the anybody says digital dosn't manage it, it may be fine for the metal head stuff (and some can manage Tube screamer type boost in a tolerable fashion)

I like the Big Muff pedals (I have made enough of them for myself), but for what you seem to desire you want something with Germanium transistors in it. Possibly (as I think was mentioned) a germanium based booster may also do the business for you.

Silicon transistors are (usually) fizzier & harsher sounding.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 04, 2007, 04:32:51 PM
I heard the Boss is pretty bad, yeah.
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Johnny Mac on August 07, 2007, 09:43:15 PM
Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL
That James Gang clip was really good, haven't heard their stuff before - the whole band can play their ass off too (love that drummer).



I love the James Gang! I play them all the time, check out The Bomber if you haven't already heard it! Oh and Mamma says!
Title: I want a fuzzbox... ideas?
Post by: Every_Mn on August 10, 2007, 10:37:04 PM
Quote from: Johnny Mac
Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL
That James Gang clip was really good, haven't heard their stuff before - the whole band can play their ass off too (love that drummer).



I love the James Gang! I play them all the time, check out The Bomber if you haven't already heard it! Oh and Mamma says!

The Bomber is very Zeppelin-esque, no?
Title: fuzz freak
Post by: Ted on August 11, 2007, 11:43:01 AM
How about Solasound Tonebender MK II type fuzz, very vintage.  

BYOC do a version:

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/bender.html

And D*A*M do an even more awesome version but its hard to get hold of and may be expensive in the states.

http://www.stompboxes.co.uk/gpage2.html

Both at bursting with Germanium Transistor goodness!

Big Muffs are too modern sounding and Zvex FF is even more modern sounding. Both outstanding pedals in their own right though!