Keeley Fuzz Head vs Skreddy Mayo

[benbenben]

I'm looking for a fuzz-drive style pedal that'll stack after my Crowther Audio Hotcake to get me that thick hi gain singing fuzz lead tone. I've owned a few fuzz pedals in the past, the MI Audio Neo Fuzz and the SD Tweak Fuzz and they didn't work for me. They were too buzzy and mosquito sounding to me, and not enough 'nice' harmonics, which i know a fuzz is not supposed to produce, thats why i'm looking towards the more fuzz-od style pedals. I've come to the choice between the Fuzz Head and the Mayo. Any suggestions and comments they can make on either one? I THINK i'm not looking for a vintage fuzz sound, as thats what the neo fuzz and tweak fuzz had claimed to do well. Maybe i'm looking for a modern fuzz tone? Not really sure though, any input would be appreciated.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Keeley Fuzz Head vs Skreddy Mayo

I don't have a Mayo, but I've got a Zero and an Ernie, along with a plethora of other Muff clones. The Mayo is basically a Triangle era (1st gen) Big Muff that has been tweaked. The current version's mids switch helps to cut through the mix. What pedal is closest to a Hotcake, maybe I can stack something similar and feedback to you.

Both the Skreddy and the Keeley are outstanding pedals, can you describe a little more in detail the sound you are going for? (Smooth or a little sputtery, bass, mid and treble response, etc)?

Two Fuzz/OD combos I know are the Cusack Fuzz Screamer and the Skreddy Screwdriver. Check those out, although the Screwdriver may be a bit to OD for you. Also check out the Skreddy Top Fuel, it's inspired by the more modern Gilmour tones, Muff based but very smooth.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Keeley Fuzz Head vs Skreddy Mayo

I just checked out the specs on Keeley's site, It looks like the Fuzz Head is based on the Fuzz Face with an extra output stage (hence the OD part). If you are looking for the OD portion to boost the input stage of your amp, that will work, if you are looking for a TS type OD sound, the Cusack might be better. Keep in mind that the Tweak Fuzz is based on a Si FF and the Keeley is based on a Ge FF, so the Keeley fuzz portion will probably sound more vintage to your ears.

(For a great example of Si vs. Ge Fuzz Faces, search Youtube for a video comparing the Analogman BC109 SunFace to the NKT275 Sun Face. Same fuzz, different transistors.)

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Keeley Fuzz Head vs Skreddy Mayo

These are very different pedals. The smooth muff in Skreddy line is the Top Fuel. Pink Flesh is supposed to be as well, but is not a muff based pedal I don't think.

The Fuzz head is a great pedal, but is much more fuzz face with a tamer edge (not so much gain). More Hendrix and Clapton. It is very responsive to pick attack and guitar volume. Ultra tweakable internally. Muff is higher gain and more Deep Purple and Gilmour the Wall type tone. It is not as responsive and does not really clean up like a fuzz face.

 

[benbenben]

Re: Keeley Fuzz Head vs Skreddy Mayo

Hey guys, thanks for the reply, i've been away lately so haven't been able to check.

Umm, PF Darkside, i'm not too sure what other thing sounds like a hotcake, but maybe a mi audio Blues pro. I THINK i'm not too sure. But, i was intending to stack them to get a nice lead tone, ive been reading a lot and everyones saying the fuzz head is quite mild. I've already bought it so it doesnt matter, gotta wait til it's here. What dya use your muff based pedals for? I've owned a MI Audio Neo Fuzz and Tweak Fuzz but they didn't do anything for me. I felt they didn't have any character, and made the sound too cardboardy.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Keeley Fuzz Head vs Skreddy Mayo

I love the Muff for everything from stoner rock and doom metal inspired riffs, to grungy stuff (Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., Bush, etc.) and leads in the style of Gilmour's tone on The Wall. I really love the tone stack, the huge bass turns my tele into a wall of sound and the LP gets a great thick tone with a nice fuzz around the edges. The only issue can be cutting through a mix with a muff, the scooped mids can get lost, but something like the Mayo's mids switch helps out.

Post a review of the Fuzz Head when it arrives, I hope it works out for you.