john_the_bass Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Is there a definitive list of fuzzes and overdrives that are and aren't suitable for (mainly) active and passive basses? I've read a bit on here about impedance buffers and suchlike but my understanding is quite basic when it comes to this so any info compiled would be really useful. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Yeah you pm me with a does this work on an active and I tell you Other than that I've not really seen one I may have chance to write one in the future but its a long list of what doesn't work So just post here what you are looking at and I'll let you know. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrGonzo Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Its weird, I've used plenty of ODs, cheap, expensive, digi, analogue and never had an issue with my active bass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 od's are fine with all basses far as i know, fuzzes are generally not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Silicon fuzzes generally are fine. Germanium fuzzes generally are not fine. Generally. It depends on the specific build of each circuit. I find that MOST muff-style and MOST rat style circuits work fine with active basses. I find most Brassmaster / superfuzz / cheese circuits don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegas_hooker Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I used to run a US muff with EMG pups, didnt sound bad at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 ye muffs are fine, but i dont really class that as a proper fuzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 It's one of the seminal fuzz circuits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 no i mean i personally see it like more of a distortion, i see fuzzes like the really compressed sounding ones... thats was [Fly a Kite]ly explained, i know what i mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 (edited) Had an active bass (Thunder 1A) years ago, but never tried it with fuzz back then - so don't really know. Nowadays, change in tastes etc.....love fuzz! You could always try building your own fuzz(?) Loads of relatively easy circuits on net, cost little to make. One here (Deluxe Bass Fuzz) with buffer for active bass using 42TM018 transformer: [url="http://www.home-wrecker.com/bazz.html"]http://www.home-wrecker.com/bazz.html[/url] More cool one's here [i]'proper fuzzes'[/i], built a few myself on veroboard: [url="http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album18"]http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album18[/url] [url="http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album17"]http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album17[/url] I first built Jen FZ-III after selling the one I paid £5 for, on Ebay for £80! Loved the sound, but at the time needed the cash. Why not have a go? Something to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon! Edited June 26, 2007 by nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonlord Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 [quote name='tayste_2000' post='22606' date='Jun 24 2007, 01:28 PM']Yeah you pm me with a does this work on an active and I tell you Other than that I've not really seen one I may have chance to write one in the future but its a long list of what doesn't work So just post here what you are looking at and I'll let you know. Cheers[/quote] Hm, Toasted told me that the Depth Charge doesn't work with active. Could you recommend a similar pedal that does? (I mean a smooth, thick fuzz that doesn't sound separated from the original signal - that's what I thought about the Depth Charge from samples anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 (edited) Are you thinking a 60's style smooth fuzz, or a more modern and industrial soudning fuzz? Edited June 27, 2007 by Toasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonlord Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Yep, modern and industrial sounds exactly like what I'm after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 I'd recomend either the MI Audio GI fuzz, or the Zoom Ultra Fuzz. They both work great with active basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Boss FZ-2 also works well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonlord Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Is the bias on the GI Fuzz similar to the bias on the Subdecay Flying Tomato? Anyone have experience with both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 (edited) The LOAD sets the input impedance of the pedal. That's why it works with active basses The BIAS adjusts within a parameter set by an internal trimpot the way in which the clipping diodes are biased against each other. Ergo: the specific sound of the pedal. IMO, more fuzzes should have a bias. Edited June 27, 2007 by Toasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBassBob Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 If i was to get a fuzz, it would definately be the Subdecay Flyingtomato or the MI Audio GI Fuzz.... i'd probably get the GI Fuzz just cause it has a bright, PINK LED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunge Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 (edited) Instead of making a new thread, I'll shove what I'm looking for here. Basically, I'm looking for a really smooth, synthy bazz fuzz which gives tonnes of sustain and maintains as much of the lows as possible. I have a throaty, gravelly bass sound covered but I'm looking for the other end of the spectrum. Any unit/pedal suggestions are welcome, prefs not about £125 if possible, though I might be able to stretch. Edited July 1, 2007 by Clunge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 [quote name='Clunge' post='25677' date='Jul 1 2007, 06:08 PM']Instead of making a new thread, I'll shove what I'm looking for here. Basically, I'm looking for a really smooth, synthy bazz fuzz which gives tonnes of sustain and maintains as much of the lows as possible. I have a throaty, gravelly bass sound covered but I'm looking for the other end of the spectrum. Any unit/pedal suggestions are welcome, prefs not about £125 if possible, though I might be able to stretch.[/quote] Above your budget, but the EH Bass Micro Synth will give you some nice synthy distortion, and a whole lot more as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunge Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Well yes, but it's waaaaaaay too expensive. Any viable suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonlord Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 I'll probably get a Little Big Muff first, since they're so cheap and I liked some samples I heard. If it doesn't work for me, it's GI Fuzz. @Clunge: for a synthy sound, you probably want something with bias control. I've heard a nice muse-y sound from a Flying Tomato, but I would guess you can get similar results with a GI Fuzz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunge Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Well the Museier the sound, the better. The Flying Tomato sounds like a fairly good bet as does the GI Fuzz, do they sound good with bass? Also, anyone who's owned/tried either, which offers the smoothest tone? - the GI or the FT? Cheers, I'm really not that knowledgeable about all this stuff . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 [quote name='Clunge' post='25730' date='Jul 1 2007, 08:17 PM']Well the Museier the sound, the better. The Flying Tomato sounds like a fairly good bet as does the GI Fuzz, do they sound good with bass? Also, anyone who's owned/tried either, which offers the smoothest tone? - the GI or the FT? Cheers, I'm really not that knowledgeable about all this stuff .[/quote] Sorry Clunge - I had a totally different sound in mind and yeah, unless you get lucky secondhand its above your price limit. Though oddly enough Chris Wolstenholme does use a micro synth, inline with a Big Muff. A Bassballs and big muff might do the trick. I could make a few more suggestions, but I doubt your wallet would appreciate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunge Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 Hehe, sorry to contradict but I'm 99.99% certain he doesn't use a Micro Synth (being something of a Wolstenholme fanboy n'all ). + I'd like to try and get that sound using just one unit if possible, mainly to keep my board nice and compact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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