First fuzz recommendations...

[LuckyBlackCat]

I've never had or used a Fuzz pedal, but have lately been getting the itch to try one. What would you folks suggest for someone as a good starter fuzz? Initial thoughts I've had are Fulltone '70 (big Fulltone fan in general), Musket, Lunar Module.

I've always thought I wouldn't like the sound enough to use it, although I'm a big fan of a lot of music that uses fuzz, like Jimi, Pink Floyd, CCR.

Can you also school me on the different types, like Fuzz Face vs. Muff, etc?

Thanks in advance

[corbs]

How much do you want to spend ?

Rough idea for sounds:

Hendrix = Fuzz Face type pedals

Gilmour= Big Muff type pedals (also used silicon fuzz face)

CCR ? not sure probably Fuzz Faces

Page/Beck= Tonebenders


Search the forums, there's a stupid amount of info.


Oh, and RUN, don't walk, RUN AS FAST as possible from this thread, forum and the idea of using fuzz. For you are dangerously close to becoming ridiculously sucked into the wonderfully sick world of fuzz ACTION !! :eek:

[Ray1960]

I've been looking for my first fuzz also and I came across this website that gives a very good breakdown of the Muff type fuzzes. Check it out there is some really good info on here.

http://www.kitrae.net/music/music_big_muff.html

[corbs]

I've been looking for my first fuzz also and I came across this website that gives a very good breakdown of the Muff type fuzzes. Check it out there is some really good info on here.

http://www.kitrae.net/music/music_big_muff.html


That is an incredible resource, and kit does post here.

For a first, fuzz I imagine a lot of people will recommend a fuzz face (FF) type pedal. It's one of the more recognizable sounds and there are tons of great FF pedals out there for reasonable prices. It is also a very versatile fuzz in that you can "clean it up" with the volume knob on your guitar for beautiful tones. In essence, you can get 3 types of sound out of a Fuzz Face - clean, overdriven, and full on fuzz action !!! :dude

Muffs are awesome, but completely command your tone due to the raging distorted nature. They don't clean up well, but it will sure put a smile on your face.


Heck there's so much great fuzz. Figure out what sound you would like to emulate, how much you want to spend and let the forum know. You'll get a ton answers. You don't need to spend crazy cash, but you just might ending up doing so... ;)

[LuckyBlackCat]

How much do you want to spend ?

Rough idea for sounds:

Hendrix = Fuzz Face type pedals

Gilmour= Big Muff type pedals (also used silicon fuzz face)

CCR ? not sure probably Fuzz Faces

Page/Beck= Tonebenders


Search the forums, there's a stupid amount of info.


Oh, and RUN, don't walk, RUN AS FAST as possible from this thread, forum and the idea of using fuzz. For you are dangerously close to becoming ridiculously sucked into the wonderfully sick world of fuzz ACTION !! :eek:

I don't really have a price point in mind at the moment, but I think if I decided to make the leap I could swing $200ish as a max if I move some stuff around.

Sounds like some type of Fuzz Face is my best bet to start. I dig the older Gilmour sounds (DSOTM, Animals), which I understand were FF, no?

Anybody have any opinions on the Fulltone '70?

[Marcfordsfuzz513]

I have a Little Big Muff... I ****ing love that thing people say its overrated and what not, but i love it just as much as my Analogman Sunface UK/TI. But those are both kick ass fuzz pedals, I'd buy one of those if i where you. Or maybe the Germanium Muff... Its a new Muff pedal and i hear its amazing, i'd of have it by now and I just got a Sunface... For $200 if you go used you could probably get both a Muff and a Sunface if you where patient enough.

[Ben C.]

If I were you, before laying out serious money and getting into the buy / try /sell / buy cycle, I would head to your local guitar mega-store and try out the MXR BC108 (FF), and EHX Big Muff w/ Tone Wicker. See which camp floats your boat. Hell, they both sound good and you could pick up both for low $! And if you find things about them that you wish were different, you can come back to the table and see if there's a clone / modified circuit out there that would suit you better.

[Clifford-D]

I just love my Fuzzy Lady

It's pretty new and it eats Sunface and Big muff for breakfast imo

one bad ass fuzz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG8CjsJsnOA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmhG9OjohhM&feature=channel

[66Park]

Anybody have any opinions on the Fulltone '70?

The '70 is a great example of a silicon Fuzz Face. If you like later Hendrix sounds, it will work great for you. If you are leaning more towards Gilmour, the Lunar Module might be more your thing. Either way, they are both fantastic pedals.

As Corbs said, be careful. Fuzz can be like getting sucked into a vortex! Once you're hooked, it's tough to stop buying them. There are so many great ones being made right now. I've bought three tonebenders just this month. I find fuzz far more addictive than any other type of pedal, and at this point, I've got four of them on my board with more on the way!

[KBN]

Check out a Subdecay Flying Tomato. It is a really flexible fuzz and has loads of great tones. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wowL6JdA_tI

[wck]

Get a monsterpiece 2 headed monster! You can choose 2 of his fuzzes to put in one enclosure e.g silicon fuzz face/ MKII. It'll be really versatile fuzz plus its pretty affordable.

[zephaniah zion]

A lot of guys are gonna suggest something somewhat pricey and boooteek which is cool. I would say try something out on the less-expensive track in you actual rig to see if you actually like fuzz. I love it and always like to have one in the setup but not everybody does. EHX would be my recommendation but then again I think their fuzz pedals are better than a lot of the "better" stuff.:D

[Tenebrous]

EHX Big Muff, £50, legendary pedal. My favourite boutique alternative would be the Earthquaker Devices Hoof which is based on an older version of the Big Muff.

Muff !

[James M]

It's not boutique, but the Dunlop Hendrix Fuzz Face is really great...and cheap.

[marvelboy_04]

fuzz face is always a good idea for a first fuzz i think, and theres lots out there. the mxr classic 108 is nice.
for a very nice but still not too expensive muff, check out stomp under foot.
my personal favorite fuzzes though are the trombetta mini bone and fudge.

[Gham]

I just love my Fuzzy Lady

It's pretty new and it eats Sunface and Big muff for breakfast imo

one bad ass fuzz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG8CjsJsnOA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmhG9OjohhM&feature=channel
I've seen the demo and been to the sight but where can you get one?I think they sound great

[meterman]

I've never had or used a Fuzz pedal, but have lately been getting the itch to try one. What would you folks suggest for someone as a good starter fuzz? Initial thoughts I've had are Fulltone '70 (big Fulltone fan in general), Musket, Lunar Module.

I've always thought I wouldn't like the sound enough to use it, although I'm a big fan of a lot of music that uses fuzz, like Jimi, Pink Floyd, CCR.

Can you also school me on the different types, like Fuzz Face vs. Muff, etc?

Thanks in advance

I'd get a silicon fuzzface to start with, I like the Foxrox Hot Silicon and the new Fulltone small box '70 and both are less than $175. You'll get most of the great characteristics of the germ fuzz but more gain and more temperature stability. Silicon FF will get you later Jimi, early Gilmour, EJ, etc, and still clean up fairly well at the guitar volume, though not as nicely as a germ FF. Muffs are loads of fun but not as versatile IME. Tonebenders have lots of gain and honk but I prefer the FF and Muff sounds personally...

[meterman]

Anybody have any opinions on the Fulltone '70?

I just got the new small box '70 with BC108s and it sounds great, get one!! You won't regret it....FWIW I never owned an older '70 but the ones I played seemed a bit more spitty and harsh than this new one which is pretty smooth with lots of gain, and the Mid knob is a great addition to the FF circuit which can tend to get scooped and somewhat lost in a band mix if you're not careful...

[BBender]

Deviltone Jezebel ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL-nuPySpe0
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[StopReferencing]

Deviltone Jezebel ;)

Devi Ever anything.

[Clifford-D]

I got my Fuzzy Lady from the maker direct

great people to deal with

one week turnaround.


Since I got my Fender SuperSonic amp with cascading gains I haven't found any need for my 2 wonderful od pedals, Zen2, and the Greenline by SPF. The amp does just what I want and sounds better than the pedals, period. The pedals have been off my board, in fact my board is basically gone, but I want to incorporate them back into my sound, for variety, I do have a streak of Nels Cline in me lol.

The one pedal that has worked with the amp from the beginning was the
Fuzzy Lady. the pedal gets a TS type bite in a fuzz, what I mean is it has a 'chirp' to the tone.

EH fuzzes sound tubular and I mean 'in a tube', it has an eq thing that doesn't do it for me.

AnalogMan is very nice and could have a place if I owned one but the Fuzzy Lady is still my go for pedal so,,,

The only other pedal that would be a great 2nd fuzz would be ?


The Fuzzy Lady acts like a third stage for my cascading gain amp, very good fit.

[jboyjams]

Have:
Hartman Vintage Germanium (as good as any - fat and warm - 2SB415 and AC142)
Sunface NKT White Dot (awesome - as we know - and versatile)
Hendrix Fuzz Face (favorite silicon - BC108 - great fuzz face)
Gypsy Fuzz (unique - NPN and PNP silicon - can set up like overdrive too - the most flexible)
Cornell 1st Fuzz (NOS NKT 275) - THE BEST (this is the real deal from the U.K.)

On the way:
Fulltone 69 Slight Return

Had:
Diaz Square Face (heavy but cleans up like nobody's business)
London Fuzz

Want:
Sunface NKT 275 Red Dot

I can't afford to keep all of these and it's going to be very tuff to choose - all are excellent!

[Painasusual]

I too suggest that you go to the nearest guitar superstore (if there is one in your proximity) and try a big muff and an mxr bc108/hendrix fuzz face and see which type floats your boat. Then you can start figuring out which fuzz box to go for.

I've had loads of different fuzz boxes and have been downsizing lately to only a foxrox Hot Silicon. It just sounds right to my ears. Very versatile with the grit control, cleans up superbly and sits perfectly in the mix with a band.

[Godspeed64]

In your budget I'd recommend these:
http://proguitarshop.com/store/images/LondonFuzz.jpg
http://www.elitetone.com/images/site/fillmore.jpg
http://www.musictoyz.com/img200903/blackout_musket.jpg

[deeohgee]

Get a monsterpiece 2 headed monster! You can choose 2 of his fuzzes to put in one enclosure e.g silicon fuzz face/ MKII. It'll be really versatile fuzz plus its pretty affordable.

This!!! I just got a Monsterpiece Classic/MKIII and its incredible. Looks like my Roger Mayer Axis is going into retirement.

[WolfmansBrother]

If I were you, before laying out serious money and getting into the buy / try /sell / buy cycle, I would head to your local guitar mega-store and try out the MXR BC108 (FF), and EHX Big Muff w/ Tone Wicker. See which camp floats your boat. Hell, they both sound good and you could pick up both for low $! And if you find things about them that you wish were different, you can come back to the table and see if there's a clone / modified circuit out there that would suit you better.

Excellent advice.

But as others have warned...falling into fuzz is a dangerous business. Like overdrives, there are a plethora of flavors available, but unlike overdrives, every fuzz is so incredibly unique; it's almost like each one has its own personality. ODs and distortions are relatively predictable. Fuzzes keep you on your toes...

[JUSTJOB]

Anybody have any opinions on the Fulltone '70?

The Fulltone 70 is an excellent fuzz! In fact, it is my favorite Si FuzzFace pedal ever! Mine is the older large enclosure, but it came with the BC108 cans in it, great sound and very decent cleanup ability with guitars volume knob.

[meterman]

I've had loads of different fuzz boxes and have been downsizing lately to only a foxrox Hot Silicon. It just sounds right to my ears. Very versatile with the grit control, cleans up superbly and sits perfectly in the mix with a band.

Yeah I like my Foxrox alot, great fuzz. Kind of a tossup between it and the small box '70, they sound different enough and each has it's strong points...

[JimiStrat]

Have:
Hartman Vintage Germanium (as good as any - fat and warm - 2SB415 and AC142)
Sunface NKT White Dot (awesome - as we know - and versatile)
Hendrix Fuzz Face (favorite silicon - BC108 - great fuzz face)
Gypsy Fuzz (unique - NPN and PNP silicon - can set up like overdrive too - the most flexible)
Cornell 1st Fuzz (NOS NKT 275) - THE BEST (this is the real deal from the U.K.)

On the way:
Fulltone 69 Slight Return

Had:
Diaz Square Face (heavy but cleans up like nobody's business)
London Fuzz

Want:
Sunface NKT 275 Red Dot

I can't afford to keep all of these and it's going to be very tuff to choose - all are excellent!
Why did you sell the Diaz Square Face? I am considering buying a new one... Any difference between the new ones and the ones made when he was alive?
Thank you!

[scottro123]

Fuzzes and Fuzz Face circuits specifically are very dependent on the amp & guitar. Many of the classic recordings are a fuzz paired with some amount of overdrive, usually achieved through EXTREME amp volumes. What kind of amp do you use?

If you're using a something bright/clean like a blackface fender, some of these suggestions may not give you what you are looking for (may sound extremely bright and trashy). There are solutions out there voiced for cleaner amps that should be able to get you what you are looking for.