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Author Topic: Is the big muff?  (Read 3992 times)

markofled

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Is the big muff?
« on: December 29, 2006, 04:26:33 PM »
Is the big muff a good fuzz pedal to run into an overdriven amp? As i have a one channel amp and have to gain fairly high but id like to hav a fuzz sound as well wondered if big muff would work or does it like clean? Anyone recommend a fuzz that works well with overdriven amps?

stuckin93

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2006, 04:32:55 PM »
got a muff - borrowed a copy fuzz face off a mate the other day & it sounded loads better - more organic. sounds great into an over driven amp. think cream & some zeppelin.
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markofled

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2006, 04:40:15 PM »
Cool i was lokking at the fuzz faces. Somes Zep tones would be cool tho!

stuckin93

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2006, 04:54:31 PM »
well get the Dallas copy & your laughing!
BKP's - Black Dogs...

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Elliot

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2006, 01:04:39 AM »
DAM Drag n Fly - best Zepplin fuzz I've heard
BKPS: Milks, P90s, Apaches, Mississippi Queens, Mules, PG Blues, BG FP 50s, e.60s strat custom set

HTH AMPS

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2006, 01:13:39 AM »
the BMP has so much gain and compression built into it that it doesn't really work into an overdriven amp imo.

the Fuzz Face works best into a slightly overdriven amp and also sounds best with both knobs on full.

 :twisted:

plastercaster

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2006, 08:00:16 AM »
Quote
Is the big muff?

Any Good? not really (Well, the reissues are anyway).
Mine sounds pretty terrible, muddy, fizzy. God knows why I bought it. I'll get a ZVex Fuzz Factory at some point, hopefully.
Feline Custom, Fender MIJ mustang bass
Orange rocker 30
VHII and Mississippi queen

markofled

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2006, 12:00:41 PM »
I got a fuzz Factory great pedal but needs to be played into a completely clean amp!!!!! And as i got a laney gh50l and like to turn up the gain up abit its no good to me in a live situation. Anyone tryed the keeley fuzz head?

Kilby

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2006, 06:39:31 PM »
Muffs arn't very consistant (Ooooh Err Missus).

In times past they would totallt change transistor types within production runs. so it was always hard to predict what a particular one would sound like.

It's pretty 'normal' to buy a big muff and change the transistors, usually to something with a lower gain to get into the ball park of the original releases (it also tames the bottom end a little).

As for into an already distorted amp it depends on the amp and the particluar peadal. Though I prefer the sound of germanium transistors into a over driven amp (as silicon trasnistors tend to be a bit harsh).

The old mains powered big muff (with separate compression) sound great into small fenders though.

Basically try one and see.
Goodbye London !

plastercaster

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2006, 07:08:13 PM »
Quote from: Kilby
In times past they would totallt change transistor types within production runs. so it was always hard to predict what a particular one would sound like.

It's pretty 'normal' to buy a big muff and change the transistors, usually to something with a lower gain to get into the ball park of the original releases (it also tames the bottom end a little).

can you recommend someone who can do this mod or at least where i can get the parts and instructions to do it? I'd like to start modding, and a pedal I Dont like seems like a good place to start.
Feline Custom, Fender MIJ mustang bass
Orange rocker 30
VHII and Mississippi queen

Kilby

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2006, 07:34:06 PM »
Quote from: plastercaster
can you recommend someone who can do this mod or at least where i can get the parts and instructions to do it? I'd like to start modding, and a pedal I Dont like seems like a good place to start.


The best place to start is forum section here http://www.diystompboxes.com/wb/ (I'm not sure if archives of their previous forums are around as I havn't been involved for about 3 years)

Also these are immediately useful for basic circuits and variants http://www.student.ru.nl/r.kerkhof/Taas/Mods/Big%20Muff.htm http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=52 http://www.tonepad.com/project.asp?id=3

I personally thought the best transistors I came a cross where some very old 2N2222 s that I had kicking around for over 20 years, They didn't seem to have as much gain as current ones but sounded a lot less harsh.

If you can solder I would suggest building a couple and using sockets for your components that way you can do a lot of playing without destroying a pedal (and ending up with something considerably better than the 'stock' model too)

Rob...
Goodbye London !

HTH AMPS

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2006, 03:44:50 AM »
I'm not a big fan of the stock Muff circuit - best thing you can do is to mod it back to Triangle Knob BMP specs.  It will have a tighter & more focused distortion.  The tone network could do with tweaking too for less mid-scoop.

If you're not comfortable doing the work yourself you can always get someone here on the forum to do it for you (there seems to be quite a few of us that are into pedal mods).

 :twisted:

Tricalibur

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #12 on: December 31, 2006, 07:50:35 AM »
^ HTH I love your avatars  :D

When I had mine I tried running it into an Electro-Harmonix English Muff'n which is pretty much like a waterd down versioon of a plexis preamp and it sounded pretty nasty to my ears. Just didnt work for my style of playing and I felt like it kind of cancled out the 'toobiness' of the muff'n. Of course running it into a legit tube amp might help too though, and with less gain.
<The Warpigs Are Coming, Hide your Children... and bring BBQ Sauce>

plastercaster

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #13 on: December 31, 2006, 09:34:09 AM »
Thanks for the Links Kilby (and sorry for the hijack markofled)
I might try it out sometime but my parents probably wont trust me with a soldering Iron; I'm quite dangerous enough with a screwdriver, let alone molten metal :?
Also, the jargon is making my brain go funny, although I know people who may well patiently explain to me the ins and outs of impendance, (Ohmage   :lol: ) transistors, capacitors, and all of this complicated electricity nonsense! (1N6263 silicium Schottky diodes! WTF is that!)
Oh yeah, and I have a habit of throwing myself in at the deep end with stuff I have no experience in whatsoever.
Feline Custom, Fender MIJ mustang bass
Orange rocker 30
VHII and Mississippi queen

HTH AMPS

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Is the big muff?
« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2007, 10:26:57 PM »
Quote from: Tricalibur

^ HTH I love your avatars  :D


cheers, I have a name to live upto - gotta keep the avatars HEAVY  :D

Dopethrone is a monster of an album.