Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

[SongsForTheDeaf]

So I have a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian and the only really good tone with it to me is with the tone rolled back which gives it a bigger and more sputter sound but I'm having issues getting it to cut through in a band setting. Any tips from experienced Muff players ? I play with another guitarist if It was just me and a bassist and drums it sounds great. I have an EQ pedal and tried boosting the mids but that still did not help

Here is my board, sorry for the poor quality phone pic

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

You had the EQ behind the muff and it didn't help? Maybe you need a louder amp or higher sensitivity speakers.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

You had the EQ behind the muff and it didn't help? Maybe you need a louder amp or higher sensitivity speakers.

actually I just put the EQ there, it was before the Muff the other night. I have yet to try the EQ after yet since I rearranged my board last night

I will try it tonight, hopefully it helps !

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

The Big Muff isn't meant for that sputtering sound, that's why you're having issues with cutting in the mix. Try using it alone, without any other pedals, and an assload of volume. That's how I do it and I've got no issues being heard.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

The Big Muff isn't meant for that sputtering sound, that's why you're having issues with cutting in the mix. Try using it alone, without any other pedals, and an assload of volume. That's how I do it and I've got no issues being heard.

Yeah I know its not meant for that purpose but I like to get fuzzface tones with it but with more articulation... I could never use a fuzzface in band settings or even alone because it was TOO sputtery which of course has it's uses too but I find the big muff good for sputtery tones that still have note definition.

I usually stack all my pedals into my SFT which is on all the time so I will try it without the SFT on and with the volume on it cranked and see how it goes next rehearsal though. Gotta try the EQ after it aswell

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

What's this SFT of which you speak?

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

the Catalinbread SFT... basically a 70s Ampeg VT-40 or V4 in a pedal and I put it last in my dirt chain to stack with and keep the gain low so essentially it transforms whatever amp I'm using into an ampeg ... works pretty good too so I always have my sound.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

I'm gonna agree with the people saying the Muff isn't the right fuzz for what you're trying to do. I think you just need to spend more time with a good FF or clone thereof. They are very finicky things, but once you find the right one and dial it in properly you will love it.

You might also like the ZVex Fuzz Factory for that type of sound. It is infinitely tweak-able and will definitely get you heard in the mix.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

I'm gonna agree with the people saying the Muff isn't the right fuzz for what you're trying to do. I think you just need to spend more time with a good FF or clone thereof. They are very finicky things, but once you find the right one and dial it in properly you will love it.

You might also like the ZVex Fuzz Factory for that type of sound. It is infinitely tweak-able and will definitely get you heard in the mix.

Yeah I hear a lot about the ZVEX... I might have to invest in one if its really tweakable, sputters and cuts through. I will probably sell my Wren and Cuff if its good enough too. I ill check it out thanks dashing

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

Use a JB pickup.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

Yeah I know its not meant for that purpose but I like to get fuzzface tones with it but with more articulationl

You just cant get fuzzface sounds out of a muff - especially russian style.

I could never use a fuzzface in band settings or even alone because it was TOO sputtery which of course has it's uses too but I find the big muff good for sputtery tones that still have note definition.
I usually stack all my pedals into my SFT which is on all the time so I will try it without the SFT on and with the volume on it cranked and see how it goes next rehearsal though. Gotta try the EQ after it aswell

You just have not found the right fuzzface yet - that and the fact that fuzzfaces dont like anything else in the signal chain. Biasing the fuzzface also has a big bearing on how they articulate.
Its like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Russian muffs are really pretty limited in their scope of sounds they do one huge sound amazingly, but thats about it. Try it on its own preferable through no other buffers (or at the very least through no other effects). If you cant get the sound you are after, then its not the tool for the job.
If you want to keep a muff sound on your board, try something more along the lines of a ramshead style muff. They are tighter and more mid oriented - but its still preferable to have it running through no other drive sounds etc.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

thanks for the insight Gibson175... I will look at some ramshead muffs and some fuzzface circuits.. any ramshead style muffs you would recommend ? I do like the Big Muff I just like it to cut through a little more and be a little more... present

Do you think putting my Tall Font Russian first in chain would change its tone a lot ?

 

[erksin]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

If you want the ragged, sputtery, gating on the decay sound with midrange cut you should be looking at a Mk.1 Tonebender style, IMO.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

Do you think putting my Tall Font Russian first in chain would change its tone a lot ?

I see that you've got a Visual Sound before the TFR. IIRC those are buffered bypass, so I'd estimate that it will make quite a difference.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

I usually stack all my pedals into my SFT...

This may also be part of your problem. Stacking several dirt pedals at once is a great way to turn your tone into a compressed, mushy noise that sits nicely behind the other guitar player.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

I find that single coils tend to retain clarity better, but a muff isn't the best bet for cutting through. It's more a hairy walk of tone, IME.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

thanks for the insight Gibson175... I will look at some ramshead muffs and some fuzzface circuits.. any ramshead style muffs you would recommend ? I do like the Big Muff I just like it to cut through a little more and be a little more... present

Do you think putting my Tall Font Russian first in chain would change its tone a lot ?

try in completely on its own without any other things in the chain at all and see if its a useable sound for you. If you like it, then i guess its just a matter of choosing other pedals or buffers that wont diminish its epic tone. If you still find it does not deliver the sound you want then yeh, perhaps a ramshead would be better.

As far as ramsheads go, i have only used one that i built to spec. so i cant comment on whats out there coming from various manufacturers. Given that the main differences between the tones in different eras of muffs are the types of transistors used with their inherent gain levels and a few other component changes, i'd be guessing that quite a number of manufacturers would get close enough. I don't think you need to buy into the "mojo" marketing that a few manufacturers use to justify huge price tags on what is essentially a pretty simple circuit to copy. The silicon transistors do not have the unpredictability and scarcity of some of the germanium trannies you find in certain boutique fuzzfaces.
Rams have a little less low end and a more agressive midrange than the huge scoopy russian weapons of mass destruction. Might be just the ticket for you.

If you do end up with a fuzz face as well, you really owe it to yourself to experiment with it with literally nothing else in the chain. They can be very subtle and sensetive to your guitar volume controls and other factors (such as nearby radio tranmitters).

Have you tried the hot rodded, super tweakable muffs such as the Pharaoh or Musket (possibly even the swollen pickle)?

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

Ok I shall try the TFR alone into my amp and first in chain aswell and see how it goes... I have been curious about Tonebenders Erksin but every demo I hear of them sounds so...thin or brittle but I have no researched it extensively so that's worth a look aswell.

So a buffer before the TFR would change its characteristics Agileguy ? I only put the visual sound first because it actually has the VS pure tone buffer in it

 

[FretFire]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

Ok I shall try the TFR alone into my amp and first in chain aswell and see how it goes... I have been curious about Tonebenders Erksin but every demo I hear of them sounds so...thin or brittle but I have no researched it extensively so that's worth a look aswell.

So a buffer before the TFR would change its characteristics Agileguy ? I only put the visual sound first because it actually has the VS pure tone buffer in it

A pedal that sounds thin & brittle alone at home or in a pedal demo video could very well sit perfectly in a full band mix at stage volume.

 

[erksin]

Re: Tricks to get Russian Big Muff to cut through

A pedal that sounds thin & brittle alone at home or in a pedal demo video could very well sit perfectly in a full band mix at stage volume.

Bingo.

Although I don't hear a good Mk.1 as thin or brittle - it has a very thick and focused upper mid thing with an open top end rip, which incidentally sounds phenomenal in a band mix into a cooking amp. What it doesn't have is a ton of bottom like a Muff style to muddy things up.