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A Big Muff is not a good fuzz pedal unless you're looking to sound like Blue
Cheer or The Stooges. Don't get me wrong- I love them (as well as the
Superfuzz) and they do have their uses, but they're not good for that 60s
sound. I have 18 different fuzz boxes and can assure you that's not one to
use of you're looking for a Davie Allan style fuzz. (Davie Allan used a
Mosrite Fuzzrite by the way). They have been reissued but they don't sound
right. They apparently didn't use the original schematics which are in the
hands of someone in Nashville who I've been bugging to make them again under
a different name (he doesn't believe me that there's a market for them). The
reissue Maestro is ok but it doesn't sound nearly as good as the original.
The best fuzz pedals out there are boutique pedals. The guys that make those
things are in love with fuzz and they make them sound right. Out of the ones
I own, my favourite is a Verbatone Verbafuzz that's made in San Diego. It's
got a good range of fuzz and it sounds great on the Davie Allan and Ventures
fuzzy stuff, as well as Music Machine, Seeds, Yardbirds, Outsiders and
Aussie 60s punk stuff. It's based on the schematics of the Fuzzrite but also
has some of the bite of the Maestro. It also sounds a little like the
Gretsch Contra Fuzz. It's cheap ($80 including shipping), dependable,
durable and batteries last forever! After playing garage, surf and punk
since 1980, I think that this pedal is one of my faves ever.
