Fuzz pedals

builder · Post by **builder** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 6:05 pm

Chech out cusack music. He makes a fuzz \ tube screamer hybrid you might like.

http://cusackmusic.com/?page=details&ty ... mer%20Fuzz

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:53 am

`
I wonder what Line6's stomp box modelling might offer here.
For the cost of a vintage fuzz pedal, you could possibly score a varied plethora of such beasties, with MIDI control to boot.

Just a thought, Chris.

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:08 pm

This is only my personal opinion of course, and lots of top-name vintage acts use Line6 on stage these days (and in the studio), but there is so much phase distortion in the low end that I don't like even the higher-end Line6 products.

I just always assumed it was the convenience factor that attracted people, but obviously we all have different ears and many if not most buy it because they prefer its sound. It sounds like plastic to my ears, at any setting. This is why I was so pleasantly shocked at how organic NI Guitar Rig 2 sounded to me, since it doesn't have the advantage(?) of dedicated hardware.

But aside from that, I couldn't get anything remotely resembling a classic fuzz tone on the Line6 (and the closest I have come on Guitar Rig 2 involves the use of the Octaver). I was using a standard G&L stratocaster, so maybe with a Les Paul or other guitar one would find a better match. Or maybe just a different pair of ears is needed

.

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:26 pm

builder wrote:Chech out cusack music. He makes a fuzz \ tube screamer hybrid you might like.

http://cusackmusic.com/?page=details&ty ... mer%20Fuzz

Well, these are definitely some of the coolest looking (unpainted) and sounding pedals I've run across in a while. Still, not the fuzz tone I seek, but good to know about nonetheless.

And I must say a screamer/fuzz hybrid is a great idea.

Am I talking myself into buying one of these things? Why is my wallet in my hands?

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:59 am

mhschmieder wrote:This is only my personal opinion of course, and lots of top-name vintage acts use Line6 on stage these days (and in the studio), but there is so much phase distortion in the low end that I don't like even the higher-end Line6 products.

I just always assumed it was the convenience factor that attracted people, but obviously we all have different ears and many if not most buy it because they prefer its sound. It sounds like plastic to my ears, at any setting. This is why I was so pleasantly shocked at how organic NI Guitar Rig 2 sounded to me, since it doesn't have the advantage(?) of dedicated hardware.

But aside from that, I couldn't get anything remotely resembling a classic fuzz tone on the Line6 (and the closest I have come on Guitar Rig 2 involves the use of the Octaver). I was using a standard G&L stratocaster, so maybe with a Les Paul or other guitar one would find a better match. Or maybe just a different pair of ears is needed .

I take it you're referring to the "Distortion Modeller" pedal simulation box?

My thinking here took into account Chrispick's impeccable taste, and the fact that he'd be giving the sounds air by miking one of his amps.

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:19 pm

I didn't find the elusive Bass Player issue yet. I went through the most obvious stacks last night and it wasn't there. It may have been in one of the bags that was stolen right before my last move. I hold out hopes that it is simply buried in a more intimidating stack that I have not yet sorted through

.

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:13 pm

I made it through a few more stacks last night, and while the elusive Bass Player review is still missing, I did find two other references I had been hunting down:

The SansAmp PSA-1.1, which of course has lots of direct front panel control and user presets, does have a single factory preset for fuzz tone that is meant to match the Fuzz Face. Probably not the tone you're looking for, but it is worth checking out a PSA-1.1 on your own and playing with the controls.

The other pedal whosed name I was trying to remember the other day is "The Sweet" from Frantone. Guitarists that I know give it high marks (that is, the ones that I know who have an incredibly broad and deep knowledge of everything that's out there past and present). It may or may not be the vintage tone you're looking for; I missed one opportunity to try out the pedal last year. But based on what I have been told, and on the design approach, I think there is some likelihood it might be close to your desired sound.

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:40 pm

mhschmieder wrote:I made it through a few more stacks last night, and while the elusive Bass Player review is still missing, I did find two other references I had been hunting down:

The SansAmp PSA-1.1, which of course has lots of direct front panel control and user presets, does have a single factory preset for fuzz tone that is meant to match the Fuzz Face. Probably not the tone you're looking for, but it is worth checking out a PSA-1.1 on your own and playing with the controls.

The other pedal whosed name I was trying to remember the other day is "The Sweet" from Frantone. Guitarists that I know give it high marks (that is, the ones that I know who have an incredibly broad and deep knowledge of everything that's out there past and present). It may or may not be the vintage tone you're looking for; I missed one opportunity to try out the pedal last year. But based on what I have been told, and on the design approach, I think there is some likelihood it might be close to your desired sound.

Thanks a lot for thinking about all of this. I really appreciate it. You're a worthy, helpful UCorn contributor!

Yeah, I'm curious about the Frantone pedals. I've just discovered them this week via online sales, but only heard one sample. Hopefully, I can find out more soon.

And I've been interested in that SamsAmp box for a while after reading that Prod/ME Tchad Blake uses his a lot for adding subtle distortion to an overall mix(!). His not-so-secret weapon, I guess.

Thanks again.

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:14 pm

Anytime. It's good to finally have a kick in the seat of the pants to get me to go through my stacks of 8.5x11 product lit sheets and computer printouts from my last move

. I always seem more motivated to do such gruelling tasks when I rationalise that it's for someone else and not myself

.

FWIW, some say that the PREVIOUS version of the PSA, which can now be found quite cheap on eBay, is better constructed. But I don't think it had as much programmability or user preset memory. It's been awhile since I compared the two models. There may have also been different I/O options.

I generally don't care for SansAmp stuff after some bad experiences blowing some down-stream equipment with it (in spite of following its ratings carefully). The Tech21 PSA stands out as unique in that it covers as wide a range as possible of fuzz, overdrive, and distortion settings.

The other Tech21 gear is primarily more literally aimed at the "too poor to buy a real preamp" crowd -- or just those who want something in a small form factor for a studio session or gig. And you REALLY have to be careful with your gain structure when using Tech21's main SansAmp product line. It's not terribly flexible in where it can sit in your overall signal path, which is another reason I have steered clear of it recently. I think the PSA 1.1 is set up more for typical series-or-parallel-insert use though.

That's good that you were able to find some on-line sound demos of the Frantone fuzz pedal in action. I almost bought one on reputation alone from a local Craigslist buyer last fall, for $140. I didn't have the dough during a double-payment period surrounding my move, but if I saw one again at that price, I would consider it a risk worth taking.

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:46 pm

Well --

I haven't found the fuzz of my dreams yet. Quest continues.

However, this thread did sidetrack me to the Cusack Screamer which sounded great in many of its samples. So, I ordered it -- because, believe it or not, I don't have a screamer or clone. What kind of single-coil neck pickup guy am I?

Also picked up another MXR Dyna Comp (last one got swiped with the Maestro). Best pedal ever!

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:15 am

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That Sansamp PSA-1 is something else, Chris; you'll find many a use for it.

I had a ball with one 6 or 7 years ago.
I even used it to fatten up dance bass drums; it added a warm "weight" that was unbeatable and unachievable using any other means at my disposal.

As a bonus, patches can be dumped and stored using sysex.
It's basically an analog engine with a digitally controlled interface.
Brilliant, IMHO.

You seemed curious about it, so I thought I'd encourage you to check it out.

Kind Of Loud · Post by **Kind Of Loud** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:19 am

Hey Chris...

This is suppose to be in stock, sometime this month. (July '07)
Check out the demo. Sounds pretty spot on to me.

http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=599

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:53 am

Kind Of Loud wrote:Hey Chris...

This is suppose to be in stock, sometime this month. (July '07)
Check out the demo. Sounds pretty spot on to me.

http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=599

Yep, that's the pedal, Loud. I had one of my own for two days, then thievery struck.

I'm pretty sure these are discontinued though, despite what their rolling order info says. Could be wrong though. I'll keep an eye open.

Thanks.

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:54 am

monkey man wrote:`
That Sansamp PSA-1 is something else, Chris; you'll find many a use for it.

I had a ball with one 6 or 7 years ago.
I even used it to fatten up dance bass drums; it added a warm "weight" that was unbeatable and unachievable using any other means at my disposal.

As a bonus, patches can be dumped and stored using sysex.
It's basically an analog engine with a digitally controlled interface.
Brilliant, IMHO.

You seemed curious about it, so I thought I'd encourage you to check it out.

Cool. Good to know someone esle here has good things to say about it. Might be a while before I can check it out -- gotta make more dough and buy some acoustic panels -- but I will.

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:38 pm

In case you would still be curious (or others here might be) and/or can't get ahold of the Maestro FuzzTone reissue, here's the run-down of some boutique pedals whose lit sheets I tracked down last night (warning: not all of these are fuzz pedals, but I will say so when they aren't):

Godlyke Guyatone Ultron Optical Hybrid Effect Pedal -- this is more or less an update to the Mutron, so isn't a fuzz pedal per se but can push into that territory pretty easily. A unique analog/digital hybrid and worth checking out along with their Ultrem tremolo pedal.

Ashdown Sub Octave Plus -- again, not a fuzz pedal per se, but octave pedals that combine distortion features can often work as good fuzz pedals if you play things up an octave and use a close to 100% blend ratio.

Black Cat Bass Octave Fuzz -- said to be the most aggressive fuzz pedal ever made, but extremely difficult to track down last time I checked. It has a filter switch, a harmonic switch, and three knobs for normal, drive, and effect. Many guitarists actually prefer bass-designated fuzz pedals as they tend to sound fuller. From what little I know about the Maestro pedal based on recordings it was used in (bearing in mind how the sound might have been changed during production), I am guessing this would be closer to that character. There are some excellent reviews over at Harmony Central.

The direct quote on the Tech 21 PSA-1.1 Amp Simulator is that there was an internal redesign to accomodate the use of improved, more efficient and cost effective parts in order to preserve its original price vs. the PSA-1. This comment made a lot of people nervous as some saw it as double-speak. I'm not sure what to make of it as I never tried the original, but was quite impressed after three hours of working with the current model last year. But a separate comment on the Talk Bass forum says they actually did improve it with the version 1.1 re-release so that it works better with full-range cabinets, as well as guitar and bass cabinets. I don't know why it went up over $50 this past year though.

I remember now though that the main reason I didn't buy the PSA-1.1 is that I couldn't find a way to hook it up into my setup as a permanent installation vs. as something I would replug on-the-fly whenever I need distortion, fuzz, or overdrive (which is rare in my bass playing). So I figured I may as well stick with Guitar Rig 2 for studio use and skip distortion altogether for live use. I am still on the hunt like you, but it simply doesn't have a very high priority given the current material I am playing (literally the ONLY song in my current repertoire that cries out for it is "Should I Stay or Should I Go").