Help me choose a Fuzz!!

[nebucanazza]

I am GASsing bigtime for a cheap fuzz pedal.What I'm looking for is a smooth classic sounding fuzz for getting Hendrix,Clapton, Gilmour etc..I will mostly be running through a SS rig only, with a delay, OD, and distortion pedal in the chain.So, I need something that works on this setup, and is cheap to boot.

I am really keen on the Tweak Fuzz, like the clips tother stuff in my price range(< $120-130) are Big Muff Pi, Dunlop Fuzz pedals, BBE Free Fuzz.So what do you experts suggest? Pleasae do not suggest a Fulltone'69/Roger mayer/Zvex/Mi Audio.They are all great but I simply cant spend that much.

The only apprehension I have about the Tweak Fuzz is due to some the negative reviews I have seen.People complain about different volumes when using batteries and adaptor.Also, does it work well only with tube amps?Does it work well with HBs or only SCs?

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

I really like my big muff. I have the Dunlop pedal, but it was really really bassy and I needed to run another pedal in front of it to make it usable. I am currently having it modded. I wonder how that is comeing?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Yeah get a good Big Muff....have that vibe to it!

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Well, I preffered the clips of the Tweak Fuzz more than the Muff(of course clips can be misleading)..I'm looking for the classic Germanium Fuzz vibe, if I'm not mistaken the Muff is more aggressively voiced? Can anyone give a comparison the Muff to the Tweak Fuzz??

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

There are the classics-Fuzz face, Rat,Sd-1,. Then there are the ones with the tubes-Tubeworks, British Muffin,Then there are all the botique fuzzes-about a million high priced ones.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Do yourself a favor & get a Tonefactor Huckleberry.

If I didn't just sell mine, I'd let ya' try it out.

Great tones at a great price...I just got a good deal on a Sunlion & it made the Huck available.

Another good one is the HBE UFO :bigok:

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

From what I've heard -- this is not from personal experience -- there are very good Big Muffs out there and very bad ones. Vintage Electro-Harmonix Big Muffs seem to get the highest ratings, but I've heard good things about the Russian ones manufactured or distributed by Sovtek. E-H's reissue of the Big Muff sounds like a bit of a dud, but other guys on this board may have had different (read: better) experiences with the new stuff.

My suggestion: Keep an eye out for a good vintage or Russian Big Muff on eBay. You may very well find something in your price range. Some of the Russian ones have sold on eBay in the last week for fifty dollars or less. You'd have to check on shipping costs to Bangladore, but I still think you could do quite well. I've made some great scores on eBay that I never could've made otherwise.

- Keith

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

I use a Big Muff and I'm not always happy with it... I don't like the tone it makes with humbuckers- think Neil Young on Live Rust... not my favorite tone.
The current range EHX offers now might have what you want though... they really expended their line lately so you should check them out.

Also- You dirty Rat is a cool pedal, you should check it out...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Well, I am a big fan of the Big Muff and have had a dozen or more of them over the years...loved them all!

However, for the tones you mentioned and your price range I would et a Tweak Fuzz...I also have a Tweak Fuzz and after some careful tweaking you can get some very nice tones out of it...it's a clone of the Saraceno Fuzz Pedal, which is based on a Fuzz Face...it should get you close to the tones you are asking about.

IMO The Dunlop, Boss, DOD, and many more Fuzz pedals are junk IMO...don't bother As for the real high dolla stuff don't worry about that right now...the Tweak Fuzz will do you just fine for a long time...all that said a Big Muff is a killer pedal!:laugh2:

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

I had the Dunlop Hendrix Fuzz and Octave Fuzz and found I could hardly use them, just junk. The Tweak Fuzz is very versatile and works out great for me.

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I see no love for the SD Tweak Fuzz though..??

@Keith..I will get it shipped to a US address and get my friend to bring it here, so shipping cost is not an issue.

@Puckboy..the huckleberry sounds good, maybe I can snag one evilbay.

EDIT..Finally see some love for the sfx-02

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

MMmmmmm, FUZZ, i . . . LOVE . . . FUZZZzzzzzzz.


OK, seriously . . . i do love fuzz, can NOT get "my" sound without it !


Saying that, my fav. fuzz in the world (well combined 1st), is the Big Muff NYC Ri, but the clips on their site sux ! BIG TIME !!!

So i turn to our friendly MF for clips,but this is one pedal who's clips suck on their site too - BUGGER.
Most of the other clips on MF is pretty accurate acording to me, but NOT the Muff !!! Double BUGGER !!!


OK, FWIW, here are my Fav. Fuzz tone in order of pref. :



* 1st A) VoodooLab Super Fuzz - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Voodoo-Lab-Super-Fuzz-Pedal?sku=153510
* 1st B) Big Muff - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...-Muff-Pi-DistortionSustainer-Pedal?sku=153314

* 2nd Double Muff - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ElectroHarmonix-Double-Muff-Distortion-Pedal?sku=153327 - for the price - everyone should have TWO !

* 3rd A) EFFECTOR13 kP (karaoki Party) - sweet low gain fuzz
* 3rd B) EFFECTOR13 05 Clipping Boost - a booster w. slight fuzz undertones !

* 4th BBE Free Fuzz - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/BBE-Free-Fuzz-Effect-Pedal?sku=157036

* 5th Fender Blender - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Fender-Blender-Custom-OctaveFuzz-Pedal-?sku=150350 - oh boy, be carefull, this thing is for extreme fuzz-junkies ONLY !

* 6th Graphic Fuzz - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ElectroHarmonix-Graphic-Fuzz-Pedal?sku=153321 - very versatile, and for the price, can not be beaten !

* 7th Hendrix Fuzz Wah - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-Jimi-Hendrix-Fuzz-Wah-Pedal-?sku=151211 - 2-in-1, fuzz and wah ! The only wah for me !!!

* 8th Metal Muff - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ElectroHarmonix-Metal-Muff-with-Top-Boost?sku=153339 - very underrated as a true fuzz - do listen to the moster-clips !

* 9th Ibanez FZ7 - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-FZ7-Fuzz-Pedal?sku=150291 - the bargain of a lifetime, at only $40.00, you must buy one, complete w. broken speaker FX !


YES, i truely do love FUZZ !


GOOD LUCK !

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

@TGWIF and kjrocks....does the Tweak fuzz have volume issues or is it very choosy about rigs?

OMG..Sir Jack, thou truly are the master of fuzzes.I need a few hours to research these options too.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

The Tweak Fuzz is great...and it's versatile fuzz too! Great sounding fuzz that works well with both humbuckers and singles...make sure you try one out before buying any of the others.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I see no love for the SD Tweak Fuzz though..??

@Keith..I will get it shipped to a US address and get my friend to bring it here, so shipping cost is not an issue.

@Puckboy..the huckleberry sounds good, maybe I can snag one evilbay.

EDIT..Finally see some love for the sfx-02

Look around....they pop up semi-regularly for under $100.00

I sold mine for $90.00 shipped

Actually, check their site....all their pedals sound great & are a lot less expensive than some other BOUTIQUE pedals.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

PS . . .


. . . i am not a fan of the TweekFuzz !


To my ears it sounds like one type of fuzz tone that just gets diluted (in a thin over trebbly chreeking kinda way) via a Vari-Tone type knob, ala ES335 !

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

The Tweak Fuzz is great...and it's versatile fuzz too! Great sounding fuzz that works well with both humbuckers and singles...make sure you try one out before buying any of the others.

Unfortunately I cant try anything, I am ordering the pedal sitting in India.The decision is totally based on suggestions and clips.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Yeah get a good Big Muff....have that vibe to it!

Rid, I am still waiting for the Carl Martin ToneBender-like fuzz :smokin:


Can i expect a proto-type by Febr '07 ???


THANX MATE, i knew you would understand ! :bowdown:

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Look around....they pop up semi-regularly for under $100.00

I sold mine for $90.00 shipped

Actually, check their site....all their pedals sound great & are a lot less expensive than some other BOUTIQUE pedals.

Yeah I am eyeing two auctions currently, both still under $100:27:

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Help me choose a Fuzz!!

Then just get a Tweak Fuzz

I honestly don't think you can go wrong with one for such a cheap affordable price. Their quality is alongside the ones you mentioned which are out of your price range but they are so much more affordable.