FUZZ question

soma89 · Post by **soma89** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:17 am

hey, i wanna buy my first fuzz pedal. I'm going to be using it a lot for chords and i like that "undefined, fuzzy" sound. I tried a big muff but its a bit crazy for me. What fuzz pedal do u think i should try out?

I was thinking the dunlop fuzz face would be a good idea, anyone know anything about it?

(oh yah, and do you guys think that a fuzz pedal would make my single coil hum extremely loud?)

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:19 am

Dunlop Fuzz Faces are fantastic.

Gandalf · Post by **Gandalf** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:30 am

they can be a bit muddy sometimes but they're great. why dont you like the big muff???

you can also try out the fender blender and the skreddy mayo, theyre pretty nice.

riotshield · Post by **riotshield** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:11 am

or carl martin the fuzz

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:15 am

EH Graphic Fuzz.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:16 am

Danelectro French Toast.

aphasiac · Post by **aphasiac** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:07 am

Zoom UF-01 Ultrafuzz.

It has 2 fuzz circuits - "vintage" (fuzzface) and "modern" (big muff), which are blendable using the "color" knob. can do fuzzface, big muff, distortion, self ocillation, it's got a gate to reduce single coil hum..it's got everything really. most versatile fuzz you can get.

and don't be put off by the fact it's "Zoom"; their analogue pedals are a lot nicer than their cheap digital multieffects.

Post by **Doog** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:25 am

Word. Although I always found the pedal to be a bit on the bright side, always wanted a few extra turns on the tone dial..

aphasiac · Post by **aphasiac** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:44 pm

Doog wrote:Word. Although I always found the pedal to be a bit on the bright side, always wanted a few extra turns on the tone dial..

you'e right, it's very bright - it's one of the few pedals ive used where you can get away putting the tone knob all the way to the left. I always have it below 12 o'clock.

But then the tone depends on where you have the "color" knob - all the knobs react depending on how the others are set. there are just an insane amount of sounds in there.

Post by **Hurb** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:56 pm

Gandalf wrote:they can be a bit muddy sometimes but they're great. why dont you like the big muff???

you can also try out the fender blender and the skreddy mayo, theyre pretty nice.

if the big muff was too wild for him then the blender is defo out, and probley the mayo too.

aen · Post by **aen** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:27 pm

I just thought of a new signature.

vivadeluxxe · Post by **vivadeluxxe** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:39 pm

A friend of mine has just bought a Zvex Fuzz Factory...
He says it's awesome, I not been round to try it out myself yet, sounds nice from the demo vid tho...

Post by **Hurb** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:58 pm

vivadeluxxe wrote:A friend of mine has just bought a Zvex Fuzz Factory...
He says it's awesome, I not been round to try it out myself yet, sounds nice from the demo vid tho...

I love my ff, though its the " the big muff was too wild " thing that makes me think it wont be for him.
the ultra fuzz would be a good start as you can tame it down more easily than the ff. you can have it as weak and level headed as an overdrive. or you can lay it on thick and sond cool. but the point is , its controllable

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:25 pm

euan wrote:EH Graphic Fuzz.

It's a tameable BMP really. The sustain circuit is interesting and its got a 6 band EQ. What's not to love. It deals quite well with chords too.

I've wanted a FF for ages and ages. I might get one soon if I can justify it.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:26 pm

If you want true fuzz tone like the late sixties first Fuzz Faces then you need a fuzz face with "matched" germanium transistors. This does'nt come cheap. Fulltone, Roger Mayer, etc. still make them.
The new Dunlops are good for a more toneless fuzz, they dont have matched transistors hence the cheaper price.

For a distortion type fuzz check SD tweak fuzz, zoom ultra fuzz, mxr blue box, dod classic fuzz, ibanez fz-7, ehx big muff, zvex.......

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:30 pm

Anyway isn't a fuzz meant to be in your face?

For anything else surely you are after some dist or overdrive.

light rail coyote · Post by **light rail coyote** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:43 pm

The fuzz factory video made me go

superfuzz · Post by **superfuzz** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:18 pm

the next pedals i really want are a fuzz factory and a blender, but both at $180 each, i don't think ill be able to buy them soon.

Gandalf · Post by **Gandalf** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:38 pm

Hurb wrote:
Gandalf wrote:they can be a bit muddy sometimes but they're great. why dont you like the big muff???

you can also try out the fender blender and the skreddy mayo, theyre pretty nice.
if the big muff was too wild for him then the blender is defo out, and probley the mayo too.

yeah. isnt fuzz supposed to be wild? except if he really wants a fuzz face and be gentle.
i dont like the fuzz factory, its not that in your face dirty sound from what i heard. i love the demo though, the 'high active sound'(when he plays that little solo on the neck pickup) as zvex calls it, sounds awesome

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:45 pm

euan wrote:Anyway isn't a fuzz meant to be in your face?

Not really, that is just a modern concept of the effect probably made popular by the likes of zvex.

Eric Johnson is a well known fuzz user yet i would'nt consider any of his tones as "in your face", just plenty of tonal range.