Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

I agree with Gibson here.

There are many pedals called "fuzz", but other than an intense square clipping of the signal, they don't have much else in common. The two "classic" fuzz types that many refer to are the Fuzz Face/Tone Bender styles and the Big Muff style.

Big Muff: nearly always needs to be run into a clean amp. The amp's natural EQ profile should compliment the EQ of the specific muff. The classic Muff tone stack is a huge mid scoop, and it needs a pretty mid heavy amp EQ to sound good. Otherwise you risk having no mids and harsh treble. A ridiculous amount of "boutique" fuzzes are now based on the Russian Muff (bigger bass than the original) that they modify for more midrange allowing a wider range of natural amp EQs to work with them.

Fuzz Face: Nearly always works better with an amp that is at least compressing, if not distorting. (Now I don't mean 5150 or ENGL distorting, I mean a light Plexi crunch distorting). The nature of these fuzz pedals is that they generate a lot of high harmonics due to the square clipping. The compressing, rolled off tone of a breaking up tube amp compliments and limits these harsh harmonics and you get the classic smooth yet raspy fuzz tone we know and love.

As others have mentioned, an overdrive can be a secret weapon when dealing with fuzz, especially if your amp is not the ideal candidate for a fuzz. The classic overdrive circuit:
-rolls off bass
-adds midrange
-rolls of treble (if desired)
-adds soft clipping

By pairing an OD with a Muff, you can fill out those midrange frequencies that missing. By pairing an OD with a Fuzz Face you can smooth out the harsh high harmonics and reduce the bass of a germanium fuzz face. Try different ODs before and after the various fuzz pedals to see what works best with your guitar/pickups and amp. Also remember to back off the volume on your guitar with Fuzz Face and Tonebender type circuits. That can function as an awesome overdrive type tone as well!

This is coming from a "classic rock" type view of fuzz. When you get into alternative and modern rock styles, the rules go completely out the window, and ANYTHING goes!

Finally, remember that fuzz is a nasty effect. It's supposed to be uncontrollable and wild. A Tube Screamer into a Blackface is a very polite, neat and controlled sound. Fuzz needs experimenting to get the most out of it. Have fun on your journey!

Everything I was going to say and could have said, you said it better.

[Dave Locher]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

here is mine.. a 1989 RG 100es.. original owner

Mine is the generation before that - black tolex covering, cloth front on the speakers. ( although I sold the 4 x 12 cabinet about three months after I bought it. Just too heavy to carry up and down stairs every time we played out! )
I'm in the process right now of building a smaller, lighter housing for the head.

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

I have in the past recorded tracks with my Way Huge Swollen Pickle going into an overdriven (not massively, just crunchy) amp. For lead tones, it worked great.
The Swollen Pickle's sustain knob wasn't set real high either.
With this combination, the Swollen Pickle provided the buzz and sustain it does so well, and the amp lent a more natural, tube amp-sounding character, especially when two notes rang together. Through just a fuzz, notes ringing together, unless they're a fourth or fifth apart, have that unnatural solid state hash. The amp overdrive smoothed that out or covered it up.

If an unnatural, solid state fuzz sound is what you want, then I'd say you're more likely to achieve that running your fuzz into a clean amp.

[InbredJunk]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Jealousy is running deep.

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[Brandenburg]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Nice amp. Would that be a mid to late 80's rg100?

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here is mine.. a 1989 RG 100es.. original owner

[some_dude]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

I use a, EQD Hoof and/or Reaper stacked into the lead channel of my Dual Rectifier. Works better than you might think.

I use them for more of a shredded (Reaper) or exploding (Hoof) speaker effect.

The trick with fuzz is to work the volume knob on your guitar. If you leave it on 10 all the time you're missing out on all the best sounds.

[Dave Locher]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Nice amp. Would that be a mid to late 80's rg100?

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I bought it used around 1988 or so. I believe it is dated 1978 somewhere on the head. It does great crunch, which is pretty much all I care about.

[Mincer]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

The classic fuzz sound is into a clean non-master volume tube amp. I;d just use the clean channel, and treat it as another distortion channel.

[InbredJunk]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Nice amp. Would that be a mid to late 80's rg100?

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[Progbusters]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

clean channel with single coils

[Silence Kid]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Some fuzz pedals like distortion or stack with other pedals well, others do not...

For fun I've been messing around with Devi Ever pedals; some stack quite nicely and are available paired for that purpose. Others sound like ass (and are still available paired )

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Many legendary players put fuzzes through overdriven amps. Some like them in clean amps. One thing I've found is certain pedals sound better with certain amps. For example, a big muff through a really clean Fender Twin might sound harsh but sound huge through a Marshall at the edge of breakup. (I use the clean fender vs crunchy Marshall based on the fact most Marshall amps break up fairly early).

[Dave Locher]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Doesn't the RG have a clean channel?

Technically yes, but not really. One channel goes from sort-of clean to crunchy, the other goes from snotty to highish gain. But they are voiced very differently so that switching on stage with the giant switch box doesn't work well. I just run both channels all the time, with the cleaner channel a bit quieter. It adds fullness and low end to the brighter dirty channel.
I could run the amp clean and use pedals for dirt but have never found one that sounds as good to me as the amp's own gain.

[Darg1911]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Brian Wampler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imUQE2ZWk1g

[PFDarkside]

Re: Amp distortion + fuzz pedal = ?? (Not clear on fuzz use)

Fuzzes sound great through old style non master volume amps like JTM marshalls, twin reverbs, dual showmans etc. To really get the massive tone and rich harmonic colour you need plenty of headroom. Fuzz is a world of its own and needs a completely different approach to what you might use with a high gain amp or even how you use overdrive pedals.

I agree with Gibson here.

There are many pedals called "fuzz", but other than an intense square clipping of the signal, they don't have much else in common. The two "classic" fuzz types that many refer to are the Fuzz Face/Tone Bender styles and the Big Muff style.

Big Muff: nearly always needs to be run into a clean amp. The amp's natural EQ profile should compliment the EQ of the specific muff. The classic Muff tone stack is a huge mid scoop, and it needs a pretty mid heavy amp EQ to sound good. Otherwise you risk having no mids and harsh treble. A ridiculous amount of "boutique" fuzzes are now based on the Russian Muff (bigger bass than the original) that they modify for more midrange allowing a wider range of natural amp EQs to work with them.

Fuzz Face: Nearly always works better with an amp that is at least compressing, if not distorting. (Now I don't mean 5150 or ENGL distorting, I mean a light Plexi crunch distorting). The nature of these fuzz pedals is that they generate a lot of high harmonics due to the square clipping. The compressing, rolled off tone of a breaking up tube amp compliments and limits these harsh harmonics and you get the classic smooth yet raspy fuzz tone we know and love.

As others have mentioned, an overdrive can be a secret weapon when dealing with fuzz, especially if your amp is not the ideal candidate for a fuzz. The classic overdrive circuit:
-rolls off bass
-adds midrange
-rolls of treble (if desired)
-adds soft clipping

By pairing an OD with a Muff, you can fill out those midrange frequencies that missing. By pairing an OD with a Fuzz Face you can smooth out the harsh high harmonics and reduce the bass of a germanium fuzz face. Try different ODs before and after the various fuzz pedals to see what works best with your guitar/pickups and amp. Also remember to back off the volume on your guitar with Fuzz Face and Tonebender type circuits. That can function as an awesome overdrive type tone as well!

This is coming from a "classic rock" type view of fuzz. When you get into alternative and modern rock styles, the rules go completely out the window, and ANYTHING goes!

Finally, remember that fuzz is a nasty effect. It's supposed to be uncontrollable and wild. A Tube Screamer into a Blackface is a very polite, neat and controlled sound. Fuzz needs experimenting to get the most out of it. Have fun on your journey!