EricB
Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 01:29 AM
I ended up buying one of those Bigfoot FX Spaghetti Western Fuzz pedals. For fuzz and fuzz like distortion, I typically use a Muff with Tone wicker, a Rat II, or both at once (which sounds freaking sick). So, I've got hi-gain super fuzzed crunch covered, but not the lo-fi 60s variety. I figured this pedal would be good for a Davie Allen kinda sound, so I picked it up.
I don't know if its characteristics are typical of fuzz pedals from the era it seems to be trying to emulate, but I can't seem to get a sound I like out of it. It's very sensitive to volume, tone, and signal strength, and if you've got a buffered pedal in front of it, on or off, forget about it. It almost sounds like a busted synth pedal. Just figured I'd post my experience with this pedal here, so someone more knowledgeable can weigh in about whether this a factor you should be concerned with for any of the other fuzzes mentioned in this thread.
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psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 08:13 AM
If you're talking about a 60's type fuzz,
It's either a Maestro Fuzztone, a Mosrite Fuzzrite, Vox Tonebender, Sola Sound MKII Tonebender, or a Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz-Face. I'm sure there were other pedals used back then as well like the Univox SuperFuzz, or the Marshall Supa-Fuzz, but these seem to be the main culprits.
Examples:
Satisfaction = Fuzztone
Inscense and Pepermints= Fuzzrite
When the Music's Over= Vox Tonebender
Heart Full of Soul= Sola Sound MKI Tonebender (same circuit as Vox)
Purple Haze = Fuzz-Face
Fortunately, all of these pedals are either reissued, or available as cloned knock-offs.
These type of fuzzes are very finicky and don't work well with other pedals. Most people plugging into a Fuzz-Face or Fuzz-tone for the first time are usually disappointed as they are very dependant on the type of guitar pick-up and tone settings, and temperature in the case of germanium fuzzes.
These pedals were basically copied from each other. The Fuzzrite was copied and improved from the Fuzz-tone, as was the Vox Tone bender. The Fuzz-Face was copied from the tone-bender and in return The The MKII Tone-Bender is a Fuzz-Face with and extra transistor gain stage. They are all simple pre-amps, and all basically do the same thing.
You'd probably be happiest with the Ashbass Fuzz Brite. That's in my current stage set-up and I'm pleased with it.
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1277
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 08:41 AM
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 09:22 AM
CaptainSpringfield
Even "Karma Chameleon" might have won that one.
Now now. I used smashmouth to distract my sub-10 year olds from the vile Disney/nickelodeon "Neo-Monkees" music that all their friends were being fed. It was great for that. And much easier to transition them to what I consider the good stuff than the leap from Hannah Montana, High School Spewzital, and the likes... I recommend it heartily for that purpose. Of course they got just as much of the Johnny Cash as smashmouth...
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Reverb17
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 509
NYC
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 05:14 PM
Most fuzz pedals work best when first in line. They especially don't like having a buffered pedal in front.
I have the Spaghetti Western Fuzz and the sound improved after putting it first in line.
It is not the most flexible sounding fuzz, but for Davie Allan style fuzz, this is the closest I've been able to get.
It isn't smooth and doesn't have a lot of low end, which I find works really well for cutting through the mix without having to turn the level up. I know the rest of the band appreciates this.
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TarantinosNYC FB page
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Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival
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norcalhodad
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 07:40 PM
Is the Spaghetti Western Fuzz pedal germanium based? Any sound samples?
There's an outfit called Mid-Fi Electronics that makes a pedal called 'Psych Bike", but I haven't heard it. One of the guys from Fu Manchu builds clones of quite a few early fuzz pedals under the name of Creepy Fingers. They're too expensive for me, but there's some good audio samples on his myspace page. Some are side by side with the original.
http://www.myspace.com/creepyfingerseffects
—  > 
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norcalhodad
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 07:48 PM
Nevermind. I found some samples here... http://www.bigfootfx.com/
— >
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EricB
Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI
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Posted on Dec 07 2009 09:35 PM
Just got back from my first band practice with the spaghetti western fuzz on my pedalboard. It's not the 'fuzz for all occasions' that I think of the Big Muff as, but I'm liking it alot more than my first impression led me to believe I would.
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norcalhodad
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 12:28 AM
EricB
Just got back from my first band practice with the spaghetti western fuzz on my pedalboard. It's not the 'fuzz for all occasions' that I think of the Big Muff as, but I'm liking it alot more than my first impression led me to believe I would.
I don't think there is any one fuzzbox for all occasions. Quite a variety of flavors to choose from. There's even a film documentary about the current fuzz boutique culture...http://www.fuzzthemovie.com/
— >
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DaveF
Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1115
Green Valley, AZ
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 02:37 AM
What about overdrive pedals ? Any preferences ?
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EricB
Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 09:42 AM
For overdrive, I'll use one of three pedals. To add a little bit of 'hair', an MXR Microamp pedal into a tube amp sounds great. Although it's not an actual overdrive pedal, it's great for pushing your amp's tubes harder at a given volume for an overdriven sound. For more pronounced grit, I'll use either a Rat II with the distortion and filter knobs somewhere around 7-8 o'clock, or a Boss Blues Driver pedal.
The Rat I think covers more bases, and is an incredibly versatile pedal. For just overdrive though, I find the Blues Driver to be really transparent sounding in the vast majority of settings, and would recommend that first.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 10:00 AM
I use a TS-808 and an older Rat. I use the 808 mainly as a boost pedal and the rat to give me the bite. Although I was using it more as a distortion pedal in recent time. The pedal sounds huge with my amp.
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elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 10:26 AM
I like my Boss SD-2 Dual OD. It has two switchable levels of OD. I set one for a boost with just a little grit, the other for a more overdriven sound.
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psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 11:56 AM
For overdrive, I simply turn the amp up until it starts to break up. As for pedals, the classic Rat is a great all around pedal that stradles the line between Fuzz and Overdrive and functions well as both.
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elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 01:03 PM
psychonaut
For overdrive, I simply turn the amp up until it starts to break up. As for pedals, the classic Rat is a great all around pedal that stradles the line between Fuzz and Overdrive and functions well as both.
Ditto The Rat. Others in the same vein- Boss DS-1 (always available use and dirt cheap and MXR Distortion plus.
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groucho26
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 111
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Posted on Dec 08 2009 10:54 PM
Add one more vote for the Fuzzbrite - nice and Raunchy... 
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nedorama
Joined: Oct 10, 2009
Posts: 225
South Bay, CA
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Posted on Dec 09 2009 03:54 PM
Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal for very transparent overdrive - if you like the sound of your amp, this gives you more of it. Excellent pedal.
Barber direct Drive - also great, but more colored.
I own both and use them as well as Keeley-modded TS9 and his Katana Boost pedal. Both the Timmy and the Direct Drive clean up well with the volume knob.
—
'65 Fender Tremolux, '74 Princeton; 77 Vibrolux Reverb; '81 Princeton Reverb
'65-66 Hilgen Basso Grande
Dr. Z MAZ 18 Jr. + 1x12 Cab
Various Telecasters and noise-making pedals
Farfisa Compact Duo
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DaveF
Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1115
Green Valley, AZ
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Posted on Dec 09 2009 09:19 PM
What about the Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive or the ever cheapo Boss overdrive ? Anyone have opinions on these 2 ?
Thanks.
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LaFleur
Joined: May 20, 2009
Posts: 525
Leipzig
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Posted on Dec 10 2009 06:58 AM
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dannylectro
Joined: Aug 18, 2008
Posts: 368
Orange, CA
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Posted on Dec 14 2009 02:37 AM
psychonaut
If you're talking about a 60's type fuzz,
It's either a Maestro Fuzztone, a Mosrite Fuzzrite, Vox Tonebender, Sola Sound MKII Tonebender, or a Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz-Face. I'm sure there were other pedals used back then as well like the Univox SuperFuzz, or the Marshall Supa-Fuzz, but these seem to be the main culprits.
Examples:
Satisfaction = Fuzztone
Inscense and Pepermints= Fuzzrite
When the Music's Over= Vox Tonebender
Heart Full of Soul= Sola Sound MKI Tonebender (same circuit as Vox)
Purple Haze = Fuzz-Face
Fortunately, all of these pedals are either reissued, or available as cloned knock-offs.
I have yet to find a Maestro Fuzztone clone pedal out there except for the one Gibson reissued a few years ago and is long gone. Anyone know of an available clone of this pedal? I'd love to own one
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