Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

[Reichbaum]

Here's my current setup: Guitar > tuner > Wah > DOD envelope filter > compressor > TS clone > Big Muff Green Russian > Phaser > Flashback X4

The problem is when I have the big muff on it seems as though nothing changes when I change my pickup selector. It's the same on different guitars, 3 single coils on my strat, humbuckers on a hollow body, split coils, and out of phase switch, nothing changes the tone through the big muff. Is this normal??

 

[Jacew]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

Put the big muff first in chain. It wants to "see" the pickup.

 

[Reichbaum]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

Really? I've never seen any overdrive or distortion/fuzz places before a wah or envelope filter...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

Fuzz pedals are kinda special, though. Their classic 'sound' is the pedal first in the chain.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

A big muff, especially at higher gain settings has a particular sound. Depending on how you've set the tone knob (which is really a kinda mid scoop) this sound can overpower the difference between pickup selections.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

A big muff, especially at higher gain settings has a particular sound. Depending on how you've set the tone knob (which is really a kinda mid scoop) this sound can overpower the difference between pickup selections.

I completely agree. When I saw the pic I knew it was going to be the Big Muff.

Muffs don’t need to be first for the most part, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it by itself to confirm.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

A big muff, especially at higher gain settings has a particular sound. Depending on how you've set the tone knob (which is really a kinda mid scoop) this sound can overpower the difference between pickup selections.

I completely agree. When I saw the pic I knew it was going to be the Big Muff.

Muffs don’t need to be first for the most part, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it by itself to confirm.

 

[Blille]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

A big muff, especially at higher gain settings has a particular sound. Depending on how you've set the tone knob (which is really a kinda mid scoop) this sound can overpower the difference between pickup selections.

#fact

I call it “the great equalizer” because it makes most guitars sound the same: like a guitar through a big muff

 

[Jacew]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

I wouldn't say it makes everything same. At least mine doesn't (little big muff).

Certainly it does sound the similar, but there is noticeable difference between different pickups still. Mainly how thick and/or growly it is.

Then again I run mine on low settings to overdriven amp for brighter, more wailing sound. Rather than for wooly growl. If you keep sustain past noon I can see everything sounding the same.

 

[Blille]

Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

If you keep sustain past noon I can see everything sounding the same.

Yup. Guilty.

Also I’m sure it depends on the version like you point out.

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

If the first pedal before a fuzz is TB, will the bypassed pedal mess with the fuzz?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pedal renders my pickup selectors useless?!

If the first pedal before a fuzz is TB, will the bypassed pedal mess with the fuzz?

Only when it’s on. But a Muff isn’t a Fuzz Face/Tonebender/Treble Booster/Maestro/etc. where a change in impedance will affect the tone. It acts more like a Distortion.

Another interesting thing is that Eric Johnson, one of the kings of Fuzz Face, prefers his after a buffered pedal.... so always try all combinations.