Advice about a fuzz pedal?

[millsart]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

No I have a Ibanez RGT42 (And I will hopfully buy a SZ320 tomorrow) and I have a vox valvetronix ad30vt, but I might sell it soon we will see.

You'd might be a bit disapointed with a fuzz into a modeling amp like that. They generally don't take to od/dist/fuzz too well in the first place, only modulation type effects really sound good in the front end.

Fuzz in particular really seems to work best with a tube amp, I'm not sure why but I'm guessing due to the harmonics and clipping that the fuzz circuit creates.

most stores do have return policies though so its still worth giving something a try

 

[Ringlund]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

Ok, I might will trade up sometime soon. I am liked the fuzz face better then the big muff, judging from youtube clips the incredibly boring guy at gearwire using the same amp and guitar.

The face cost quite a bit more. I found a swedish site that sells kits, they had the BC547silicon transistors. Are they any good?

here is the link http://www.moodysounds.se/eng/fuzzjr.htm

 

[millsart]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

Those clips from gearwire really don't do any pedal any justice, I wouldn't go off them.

I honestly can't say much about the kits as I've never done one but one thing I don't think your getting with them in hand selected/tested componets. Thats really what makes a good fuzz better than a bad fuzz. Transistors vary in quality and not all of them will sound as sweet. I think for the price the roll your own stuff isn't testing for leakage, temp stability etc.


As a rough guide on my own experiences with pedals I've owned/used heres how I see the tones

Muff and Muff clones: very very thick, bassy, almost too bassy at times, flappy bottom end. Creamy and smooth high end. Stoner rock on power chords, Santana/Gilmour on leads

Fuzz Face and FF clones: thinner, break up on the low end, loser Ge, tighter Si, pretty sweet and biting on the highs all the way up to some agressive spit and splat. These aren't always ideal tones driving a clean amp unless you lke a broken up spitting tone.

Tweak Fuzz: similar to a FF though a bit less shall we say "mojo" its a bit tame and just doesn't nail it quite the same, sort of like a model of a cranked amp vs the real thing. Not a bad pedal though for the money so don't think I'm putting it down

Fuzz Factory: harsh and agressive, squeals, squacks, and spitting fury. Hard pedal to control. Not very vintage fuzz at all. It can do some Muse type tones and stuff 10x more over the top. More of a special effect for me

Fuzz Head: like a distortion mixed with fuzz. You can play chords with it and they retain clarity. Adds a bit of sizzle to leads. Sounds best into an already dirty amp where it pushes it over the edge to a saturated fuzzy place but not raging out of control
The FuzzHead sounds EXACTLY like these clips http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Keeley-Fuzz-Head-Guitar-Effects-Pedal?sku=150357


Bottom line is that theres no one size fits all fuzz so thats why people (like me lol) own several

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

I agree with everything Millsart said, except for a slight clarification. Muff is late Gilmour a la Animals/The Wall, earier Gilmour is FF, I can get a pretty good simulation with the Tweak Fuzz. But yeah, his descriptions are right on, better than mine!

 

[Ringlund]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

Okay I know quite a bit about electronic components, but I dont know anything about sound. Modern componets are very reliable, they are produced the same and they only differ really, really slightly. If I got it right take a resistor the less the margin the better sound, closest to the resistance. The best cheap resistors has a margin of 5%, is that enough to change the sound? I dont know about transistors but I am certain that they have a similar system, do you really mean that the big companys measures every component? I have some trouble believing that...

I really do respect your oppinon, but I think I am going to buy a kit (I can change out the components if I am unhappy, besides it looks really fun to build one!)

I all other fails then I guess I will buy either a big muff or fuzz face.

Thank you for your oppions!!

edit: the fuzz head sounds really, really good I whish I had money too buy that one. (I do but the pedal would cost as much as my amp, which is just ridiculous

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

The kit-route is a great idea. Of course, you can mod any pedal, as well. It might be a good idea to snag something on the cheap and start goofing with it.

 

[millsart]

Re: Advice about a fuzz pedal?

do you really mean that the big companys measures every component? I have some trouble believing that...

No the big companys certainly wouldn't find it cost effecient to measure every component. They really are just cranking out as many as possible at the lowest cost point. Which isn't a bad thing per say, it certainly gives the consumer a lower priced option.

Thing is though that the quality of sound will indeed vary. It does currently and it sure did in the 60/70's as well for that matter. Far from every FuzzFace sounded stellar and this is a case where vintage doesn't always mean better.

Jimi for example wasn't just playing an off the shelf Fuzz Face, Roger Mayer was really tweaking each of them to get the best performance.

Thats really where the boutique pedal industry fits in here. Those small builders are taking the time to ensure the best component selection which in turn gives the best, as well as more importantly the most consistant quality across the board. Your certainly paying for that though.

The bigger companys seem to have been taking a cue from this though. Dunlop has the new Jimi Hendrix fuzz for example thats more along the lines of a boutique pedal. The older stuff they cranked out in years past such typically got lots of bad reviews and they lost plenty of sales as a result. This is a step to change that. Pricing is increased as a result though.



That all said, good luck with the kit. If I had more electronics knowledge its a route I'd go. Fuzz is a pretty simple circuit so I don't think theres any reason you couldn't make something that sounds great.

And as you said as well, it will be a lot of fun. Keep us posted with how it works.

Who knows, maybe a few of us will be sending you a check and asking you to make us one of your designs =)