Which muff fuzz?

[Bigwan]

Really fancy adding a fuzz to my board. I've asked this question in the DIY thread but thought I'd cast it a bit wider. Which would you choose, and why? Vote then comment please! BTW I'll be building this myself...

[0175westwood29]

For me the tarkin from cog needs to be on that list, awesome deep and punchy fuzz, also love the fuzzrocious grey stache.

And very recently got myself a pumpkin pi from green carrot which is brutal!

Bit of a plug but I demo all of the one I mentioned in this video

http://youtu.be/7cCnca6K5bw

However of the ones you've mentioned I've heard good things about the tall font and the swollen is a really cool fuzz

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I'm by no means a fuzz expert but out of all the ones I've tried, the only one that fuzzes the way I want is the EHX Bass Big Muff.

[Skybone]

Big Muff?

Black Russian if you want aggressive fuzzy nonsense, or a "triangle" early 70's version for mellower, Floydian tones.

[Stag]

You can't go wrong with the EHX Bass Big Muff Pi. I've tried a fair few and that's the only one that seems to hold the bottom end in the tone.

[Bigwan]

FOLKS! I'M BUILDING THIS MUFF MYSELF, SO NO MORE COG RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE!

If I were buying there'd be no contest having dealt with Tom before - Cog all the way!

[Truckstop]

Musket because the others are a bit too polite.

[Bigwan]

Lack of patience on my part means Tall Font Russian and Musket kits are ordered... and a Bass RC Booster too...

[BrunoBass]

I like the Big Muff Bass Deluxe, it's easy to get a workable tone and the bottom end isn't bad either. I never use the low pass filter switch though so if I was buying again I'd go for the standard Bass Muff and saved some £s (and space on the board!)

[KingBollock]

I built a Ram's Head Muff and a Musket into one box with an order switch. I love it.

They both sound very different to each other allowing for a huge variety of sounds. But using them together and being able to change the order adds even more variety and massive amounts of filth. And when you consider all the mods that you can add very easily...

My electronics workbench is almost finished being rebuilt and when it is done I shall finish the mods I still have planned for my muffs (I have named the box Dank & Fetid) and finally get around to recording a demo of it.

[1970]

If you want an old 'green russian' muff sound (imo, great for bass), go for a frederics effects green muff - http://www.fredric.co.uk/green-russian-sovtek-clone

[A.G.E.N.T.E.]

I have DIY musket, wich i asked for a extra "blend" knob. A lot of knobs but It sounds great.

[attachment=215274:musket.JPG]

Edited March 22, 2016 by A.G.E.N.T.E.

[Bigwan]

I've started building both a Tall Font Russian Muff with bass mods AND a Musket, both based on Fuzz Dog's kits. Should have them operational by the end of the week with any luck!

[probablypike]

I've only tried the swollen pickle of the three listed above (the special edition one with extra internal pots on the outside) and you can get a massive range of sounds from it.

I'm definitely interested to hear how yours both turn out though. Good luck.

Edited March 22, 2016 by probablypike

[Sibob]

If you're building it yourself, then really it's choosing the base circuit then picking the mods that suit you.
For me, on bass anyway, the Green Russian Muff is the best starting point, mod for lower frequencies it you like, add mids, a blend of you like, done.

I built a GGG green Russian, added a mids pot and it's very cool!

Si

[Musicman20]

I would personally opt for the EHX Bass Big Muff. As with guitar, you can buy hundreds of boutique clones, and some will sound a little better or more to your taste.

I do think that most muff type bass fuzz ends up sounding 'fairly' similar, with a much more obvious difference with electric guitar.

[Bigwan]

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1458723199' post='3010102']
If you're building it yourself, then really it's choosing the base circuit then picking the mods that suit you.
For me, on bass anyway, the Green Russian Muff is the best starting point, mod for lower frequencies it you like, add mids, a blend of you like, done.

I built a GGG green Russian, added a mids pot and it's very cool!

Si
[/quote]

Cheers Si. I bought the TFR kit with a pre-drilled 3 hole enclosure (I HATE drilling aluminium!!!) but have a 4 hole one knocking around so could stick a mids knob in no problem, obviously with the appropriate resistor and cap swaps to start from a flat response. I'll try it standard first and tweak it a little as I go like I did with the blueberry that started all this dirt nonsense!

[Bigwan]

Thought I'd give a quick update. Last night was the first opportunity I had to sit down with the TFR and Musket pedals I built.

The Musket is the hands down winner for me. So flexible and can get SUPER aggressive. Just haven't clicked with the TFR, although I'm not convinced I haven't made a boo boo somewhere in the build! It sounds REALLY congested, although it has lots of the standard TFR cap values replaced with higher values for bass use. I think further tinkering is required so I'll add a blend and mid control while I'm at it. Maybe add switchable diode options too...

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1458723199' post='3010102']
If you're building it yourself, then really it's choosing the base circuit then picking the mods that suit you.
For me, on bass anyway, the Green Russian Muff is the best starting point, mod for lower frequencies it you like, add mids, a blend of you like, done.

I built a GGG green Russian, added a mids pot and it's very cool!

Si
[/quote]

Any suggestions on a decent blend circuit Si? Is a paralooper overkill?

[cheddatom]

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1458659853' post='3009537']
I built a Ram's Head Muff and a Musket into one box with an order switch. I love it.

They both sound very different to each other allowing for a huge variety of sounds. But using them together and being able to change the order adds even more variety and massive amounts of filth. And when you consider all the mods that you can add very easily...

My electronics workbench is almost finished being rebuilt and when it is done I shall finish the mods I still have planned for my muffs (I have named the box Dank & Fetid) and finally get around to recording a demo of it.
[/quote]

This sounds great, I'd buy one!

[Bigwan]

I tried running the Musket into the TFR. That was just silly. Either into the B3K was quite nice though! Just added a little more bite.

[Sibob]

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1460454136' post='3025778']
Thought I'd give a quick update. Last night was the first opportunity I had to sit down with the TFR and Musket pedals I built.

The Musket is the hands down winner for me. So flexible and can get SUPER aggressive. Just haven't clicked with the TFR, although I'm not convinced I haven't made a boo boo somewhere in the build! It sounds REALLY congested, although it has lots of the standard TFR cap values replaced with higher values for bass use. I think further tinkering is required so I'll add a blend and mid control while I'm at it. Maybe add switchable diode options too...



Any suggestions on a decent blend circuit Si? Is a paralooper overkill?
[/quote]

If you don't want to go down the route of a paralooper, just take a look at the Fuzz Dog Blender kit, nice with the onboard pot. Or JMK did a nice layout if you're not fussed about onboard pot:

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3414.0;attach=2704

Si

[Bigwan]

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1460660948' post='3027741']


If you don't want to go down the route of a paralooper, just take a look at the Fuzz Dog Blender kit, nice with the onboard pot. Or JMK did a nice layout if you're not fussed about onboard pot:

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3414.0;attach=2704

Si
[/quote]

A paralooper might be a handy pedal to have anyway... Don't just have to have a muff in the loop. And I have all the bits for one lying around. I think I've talked myself into one!

[Guinness21]

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1458078797' post='3004597']
For me the tarkin from cog needs to be on that list, awesome deep and punchy fuzz, also love the fuzzrocious grey stache.

And very recently got myself a pumpkin pi from green carrot which is brutal!

Bit of a plug but I demo all of the one I mentioned in this video

[media]http://youtu.be/7cCnca6K5bw[/media]

However of the ones you've mentioned I've heard good things about the tall font and the swollen is a really cool fuzz
[/quote]

If you're plugging the tarkin surely you've got to promote the stache too!

[0175westwood29]

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1461497952' post='3035102']


If you're plugging the tarkin surely you've got to promote the stache too!
[/quote]

I did ment more the plugging of my YouTube channel ;-)

[Spoonman]

Another vote for Cog Grand Tarkin!

Most useable big muff I've found, and I've tried a few. Can't imagine why I'd swap it for anything else!