Re: Let's Discuss Fuzz settings and usage
Does the Expandora give a good rhythm crunch?
Anyone wanna comment on the Fox Rox Cpt Coconut, Fulltone 69/70/Soulbender/Ult Oct, Roger Mayer, T Rex Mudhoney, Dunlop Fuzz Face - etc etc
Any comparisons you all have made?
The Expandora is not your usual dirt box...not bad just very odd. Im used to it but everytime I let someone try it they turn it off with in 5 minutes and ell me to take it back...
I have not tried the Fox Rox...
Here is my take on the Fulltone Fuzz units...
69 Pedal-Classic Germanium transistor fuzz, based on the Fuzz Face but with added controls for transistor "bias" and a control for "Contour" which controls the mids...if you're looking for the classic Fuzz Face type tone but know that the reissue just don't cut it then this is the fuzz for you...that said in my opinion the Analog Man Sun Face is a better Fuzz Face clone than the Fulltone 69 but both are great pedals.
70 Pedal-Based on the later Fuzz Face pedals, the later ones used Silicon transistors and not the Germanium transistors like the early ones...this is based on that era Fuzz Face which is what Jimi used later on. good unit has an added Mid control (Silicon transistors don't need a bias control like germanium ones do). Good unit but my fav later style Silcon Fuzz is the Roger Meyer Axis Fuzz, I think it's a better sounding unit that the 70 pedal but both are great units. Be warned both the 70 Pedal and the Axis Fuzz are NOT for the faint of heart...both of the units can get crazy quickly. If you want a nice, easy to use Fuzz keep looking, this ain't it!
Soulbender-Based on (pretty much a clone of) the old Vox/Colorsound tonebenders that were made by Sola Sound in the 60's...all those old Tonebender pedals varied a good bit so it's hard to really nail things down 100% but Mike did a good job with this unit. The Tonebender is the fuzz you want for the old Led Zep tones as well as the old Yardbirds stuff not to mention countless others! There are doxens and dozens of Tonebender clones out there and just like all the Plexi Marshall clones they all claim to be the closest and best...try before you buy!
Ultimate Octave-It is the world's most versatile Octavia. I love mine, killer fuzz that by itself is worth the price but then you get the switchable upper octave on it's own foot switch...great pedal!
The only Roger Mayer fuzz I have ever owned is the Axis Fuzz which is still one of my fav Fuzzs...the Fulltone thats closest to it is the 70 pedal and just like the 70 pedal it is not for the faint of heart but it is a killer fuzz!
I have not tried the T Rex Mudhoney yet but I hear good things!
The Dunlop Fuzz Face is a hunk of crap...if you want a cool looking paper weight to use at the office get one but don't actually try and use it...
Other good Fuzz units I know of are most (if not all) of the other Meyer units...The Classic Fuzz is like an older Fuzz Face (or like the 69 Pedal) that said my fav straight up FF Clone is still the Analog man. The MNeyer Page-1 is a Tone Bender clone with a few added features. There is also a good Fuzz Face clone from Thro Bak called the Fuzz Haze, Thro bak makes a few nice units. You could also look into D*A*M units...clones of old school units and they are real nice, pricy but nice!
Alsao I can'e mention Fuzz pedals with out mentioning ZVEX...the Fuzz Factory and the Fuzz Probe are just insane...if you have days to tweak and don't mind some of the wildest noises ever to come out of a 2x4 box get a Fuzz Factor...if you really want to go all out get the Fuzz Probe!
Good luck, have a Fuzzy good time!
