Author Topic: I want a fuzzbox... ideas? (Read 5877 times)

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.

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 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.

WezV · « **Reply #2 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

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #3 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:

Every_Mn · « **Reply #4 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.

Every_Mn · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2007, 01:01:38 PM »

cr@p, double-post.

Elliot · « **Reply #6 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.

Brow · « **Reply #7 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 :)

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #8 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:

_tom_ · « **Reply #9 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

Kilby · « **Reply #10 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>

Every_Mn · « **Reply #11 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...

Woogie · « **Reply #12 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.

the_bleeding · « **Reply #13 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.

FiXXXeR · « **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2007, 12:12:05 AM »

Zvex Fuzz Factory

Author Topic: I want a fuzzbox... ideas? (Read 5877 times)

FiXXXeR