UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45
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I have to admit I have a strange desire ...
but aside from that, I find myself hankering after a fuzz again after many moons of amp distortion and overdrive. I've started mucking about with down tuning and getting all doom ... it must be me age. But I have basically not had a fuzz in my rig since I was about seventeen ... no it wasn't steam powered. It was in fact an old Sola Sound Tone Bender. I've been quite taken by the Keeley Electronics Moon Op Amp Fuzz - it sounds thunderous in the bottom end in various demos - and has a lovely 'velcro edge'. Anybody got any other suggestions?
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Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ...
Oil City Pickups ...
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Basically a Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz copy, which is itself a Shin-Ei FY-6/Univox Superfuzz copy with added EQ and a clean boost mode.
Under £25 new.
If Chinese mass-produced plastic cheapness isn't your thing (and I don't actually blame you...) then I would go back to the source for the circuit, and look at a proper Shin-Ei copy like the Frederic Effects Super Unpleasant Companion - https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/251866/new-fredric-shin-ei-companion-fuzz-and-superfuzz-content/
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
I would recommend Fuzz Dog kits to anyone handy with a soldering iron. Fuzz circuits tend to have a high satisfaction to part count ratio
It's a FF with just more. The tone control does something magical that increases the filth in a wonderful way.
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An oft-overlooked gem is the Way Huge Swollen Pickle (any version); it’s a brilliant take on the Big Muff, with a lot more versatility and range available within the extra controls. A similar UK-made option is the StoneDeaf FX Fig Fumb which I keep meaning to try too
Leaning towards 'wall of power chord graunch' - which I guess is more Big Muff and muff clone territory.
The tone at 6.30 here is awesome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdCIRqZyRjg
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog
The most versatile of fuzzes.
I also bought a Jimi c fuzz off here recently and that’s more of your classic fuzz face, great with the volume control and just feels more ‘real’.
I see what you did there.
Would definitely agree re: kits. Fuzzes- particularly the early ones- Fuzz Faces, Tone Benders, Bosstone, Mosrite etc.- are generally pretty simple circuits so a good introduction to the world of DIY. Until you head off down the rabbit hole of germanium fuzz voodoo, anyway...
Funnily enough, Fuzzdog have you covered here. They offer an option to box two of their small kits (including a ton of different fuzzes) in one enclosure, which means you can go for something Fuzz Face-y and something Muff-y. You could even put both on at once if you're feeling frisky. I don't think they have anything octave fuzz flavoured in that particular range though...
https://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/product/fpdu
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Also any of the Thorpyfx ones, I really like the Silicon Veteran which has a built in boost.
Nearly as insane as the Fuzz Factory, but far easier to get the same sound more than once.
And it'll do subtle too.
I literally just put mine up for sale, but fuck, it is great isn't it. I'd be a fool.
This is it into a Delay & AC30. It's probably not anyone's style, but gives an idea of how it sounds. Just a guitar & drums jam I recorded a few months back. The glitchy stuff at the end is an Infinite Jets.
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It's possible to find clones out there if you wanna check that it's your kinda thing before dropping 200 spoons on it.
B.G. Harding Manic Fuzz (Prescription Electronics Experience) https://reverb.com/item/68056424?utm_source=android-app&utm_medium=android-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=68056424
Pete Thorn does a good demo of it, it has serious 90s/stoner mojo.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
You'll never get another one for sensible money.
I sold mine years ago for next to nothing.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
I had a Bogner Oxford for a bit, had to return it as the switching circuit wasn't right. They sound great, pretty flexible
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al