Yet another "fuzz pedal for fuzz hater user" question

[UrbanHymns]

I have a love/hate relationship with fuzz pedals. On the one hand, I really like when amazing players use them, especially on lead lines. But on the other hand, I spend most of my time playing more rhythm tones (plucked chords, two strings strummed, etc.) and this can sometimes sound muddy.

So what fuzz pedal would you suggest for my playing?

In the past, I've owned the red Dunlop Fuzz Face and a JHS Mini Foot Fuzz. Both cool pedals. It's been over 10 years since I played a Fuzz Face, but I do remember it working for my needs. I'm open to suggestions though.

 

[goodhonk]

for chords, stick with od

 

[markjsmith]

Roll your volume knob back a bit!

 

[7thString]

fuzz + chords = bad.
Two strings at once, maximum. Nature of the beast etc..

 

[Pizzaking]

Skreddy Lunar Module.

 

[NewDr.P]

you dont need to buy something you dont like just because other people do.

im in the same boat- i like fuzzes when other people use them but they feel terrible to play through. ive bought several nice fuzzes and hated every one of them.

 

[UrbanHymns]

you dont need to buy something you dont like just because other people do.

im in the same boat- i like fuzzes when other people use them but they feel terrible to play through. ive bought several nice fuzzes and hated every one of them.

I'm not looking for one just because other people like them. I'm looking for one because I find them to sound really neat, but haven't necessarily found one that fits with my playing.

If I was a classic rock lead player, this would be an easier choice.

 

[rummy]

for chords, stick with od

Truth.

 

[marvelboy_04]

Skreddy Screwdriver. My favorite pedal, and can either be an amazing boost, incredibly touch sensitive overdrive, or wooly fuzz for lead lines.
Or try a mini fuzz face with the volume rolled back for rhythm, and up for leads

 

[bt2513]

What kind of guitar/amp are you using?

With fuzz, I find that my guitar makes a huge difference.... There's also big differences even between my single coil guitars. Some of my pedals hate my HB guitars, some of my pedals hate my Tele. I'm also not a fan of the instant flamethrowing fuzz you get when you pair high-gain PUs with high-gain fuzz so that's the perspective I'm coming from. I like a more dynamic range and cleanup. That never happens with my HB guitars so for them I just try to get note-to-note clarity and no high-end loss.

 

[Bazaboy33]

Greer Black Fuzz/Orange Crush is great for chording.

 

[sstweed]

A good fuzz face cleaned up with the guitar volume IS a great OD and will sound great with chords. It's the uber-compressed cranked full-on fuzz sound I'm always iffy on. So when I use a fuzz face I rarely get above that level on the guitar volume (typically 8 to 8-1/2 -ish).

 

[la noise]

Don't be hater, Vedt.... we are here to help!

I love fuzz and I crave clarity. You can have both. Really, you can.

 

[la noise]

Fuzz with exceptional clarity that can be used for rhythm players
that I have especially enjoyed include the

Basic Audio Squarewave +
Bearfoot Candy Apple Fuzz Silver
Analogman Astrotone
Analogman BC108
PTD Minibone/Rotobone/Bone Machine
Basic Audio Scarab Deluxe
Basic Audio Zonk
Buffalo FX Evolution

These all work well with humbuckers, too, in my experience.

 

[TubeStack]

Keeley Fuzz Head

 

[Magi]

My DAM Drag'n'fly is better for chords than any OD I've ever used (including a Timmy and LTD). A fuzz face on 10 will definitely be too muddy, but that's common sense to anyone experienced with fuzz.

I hear the BA Spooky Tooth works well.

I would assume that any two transistor, non 100% germanium fuzz should work just fine. Three transistors fuzzes like Big Muffs can get pretty muddy. But I hear the Hoof can tackle chords pretty well if you like muffs.

 

[Multicellular]

Skreddy Screwdriver. My favorite pedal, and can either be an amazing boost, incredibly touch sensitive overdrive, or wooly fuzz for lead lines.
Or try a mini fuzz face with the volume rolled back for rhythm, and up for leads

A great versatile pedal.

But imo, sounds good with chords because it can easily go out of fuzz sound into overdrive.

Doesn't exactly solve OP's problem.

And really, I don't know the solution or if there is one. I tend to think Fuzz just doesn't work with most chords.

Only way I've ever made it work is with chords that span a long range, e.g. a D minor played on the 10th and 12th frets on the lower two strings and an f on the 13th.

 

[Blue Bee]

Skreddy Hybrid fuzz driver maybe? Im thinking about grabbing one for similar reasons, from what I've read and heard it seems worth a shot. Plus i love pedals that have good volume knob clean up.

 

[markjsmith]

It's already been stated a couple times! Get a good fuzz and roll the guitar volume back and basically you have a drive. By good fuzz I mean one that can clean up a bit with the guitar volume. Fuzz Faces and Tone Bender and their variants usually do this well!

 

[guitardudeness]

As someone else said, roll back the guitar's volume knob. That is really how most people use fuzz to cover a lot of ground.