New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

[Agileguy_101]

One of my custom fuzzes arrived sometime this weekend while I was having fun at Disneyland.

I had it done as a custom so I could have top jacks and the cool paint color. I asked for Surf Green, and John said that he had something slightly darker. Wasn't sure how dark it was going to be until I opened the package, and I really like it. I tried it out for half an hour or so tonight - sounds pretty good at low volumes. This thing is ridiculously versatile for a vintage muff take. I'll get to use it at full volume tomorrow during band practice, along with my CC Hybrid that I never got to try, since practice was cancelled last week.

I've got another custom fuzz pedal coming in in the next few weeks. The builder says that he's waiting on Small Bear to ship the transistors. He's making me a Tone Bender MKII clone as a trade for my Cusack Tap a Whirl. OC-type transistors, custom paint job, same size as this pedal with top jacks so it will fit my board, and even a battery on/off switch so I don't have to unplug the cable when I'm done using it. I'm pretty stoked for that - once it comes in, I'll have my trifecta of germanium fuzz, and the perfect muff.

I've accepted the fact that OD/dirt/fuzz gathering is my thing, and I shouldn't fight getting new pedals. Instead, I'll just get pedals that compliment what I already have and swap this and that to suit what I'm playing on a given jam/gig.

Oh, and I got some new knobs for my pedals. I've wanted to get the Memory Lane type knobs for the Memory Lane Jr for a while now, and I figured that as long as I was placing an order for some knobs, why not get more?

Before:

After:

The ugly pedal in the middle on the bottom is just a placeholder for my Bender.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

After playing this thing at practice yesterday - damn, I'm extremely impressed. I don't think I'll ever need another muff clone. Between the fullness of the Triangle mode and the more cutting midrange of the Ram's Head, I've got all of my big muff tones in one box. It's too early to say for sure, but I'll probably stick with the Ram's Head mode for most of my muff needs, and use the Triangle mode for the more doomy stoner rock stuff.

As with the Foxey Lady that I owned previously, the mids control makes this pedal far more versatile than a straight up muff clone. You can get those scooped and crunchy tones by dialing it back to around 8-9 'o clock. By boosting it up to about 10:30, you get a very similar tone, just with more cut in the mix. Noon and past really accentuates the midrange, making it a unique beast all its own.

I had a Stomp Under Foot Violet Ram's Head for a while, and it's supposed to be an exact clone of a Ram's Head muff. I'd say that when set right, the Tri/Ram can get about 95% of the way to that tone, which is extremely impressive. I'm quite sure I've found a lifetime pedal. This thing is awesome, and I'm definitely glad I got a custom color, because I love the way it looks.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

Played it at band practice yesterday with my HH neck thru strat (used a standard SSS strat the day before) and holy **** I'm even more in love. This pedal has ended my GAS for any other Muff types. It's insanely versatile and, combined with a huge range of available gain levels, will let me do anything with it. ME GUSTA

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

Very Interesting;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-_lapi2rvW8

I'm curious as to whether this pedal can give BOTH a true original genuine Rams Head AND Triangle sound in one unit, like maybe as good as a "Stomp under Foot" Clone , or whether its a compromise and a kind of general ballpark area sound thing, cause I have a Rams Head clone , and the Circuit board is as big or bigger than the one on this pedal thats supposed to do both.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

Like I said, I had a Stomp Under Foot Ram's Head for a fortnight and it was the same size as the Basic Audio. I feel that the Tri/Ram can get 95% of the SUF muff's tone - and the five percent that it's not sounding like the original is actually better. Many people have described it as "hi-fi" and I feel that's rather accurate. It doesn't sound as harsh as the SUF, even with scooped mids and tone between 11 and 1 o clock - pretty much the only way a Ram's Head sounds good. And there's not a bad tone to be had in this box, I **** you not.

Also, John's build quality is phenomenal. I'll post a gut shot in a bit - I love his circuit boards. Unlike any I've seen before out of the three of his pedals I've owned so far.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

History tells me that you'll be on the fuzz hunt again very, very soon. I'm glad it's satisfied you for now, but I think you'll be looking for a new high soon. I hope this really is it for you, though. It's tough to beat happiness with one's tone.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

Oh there's no question I'll be on the fuzz hunt again. I'm just done with Big Muff clones - this pedal has all of the fuzzy heaviness I'll ever need.

And just for you Jer, here's a picture of the impeccable insides:

 

[ajeffcote]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

Looking at your board I see a Poly-Tune. How do you like it?

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: New Fuzz Day (again) Part 1 of Deux

It's great. No problems with it whatsoever.