Cheap enough bass-friendly fuzz ?

[oscillateur]

I recently started playing around a bit with my (Mustang with flatwounds) bass instead of the usual modular/toy keyboards and even though I can't actually properly play the damn thing, it makes me happy to make noises with it and I do like it a lot. I'm planning to set everything up so that I can process it through/use it to control the modular but I'd still like to have a small pedalboard (or some space on my desk) just for the bass.

Right now I'm using a Hustle Drive overdrive, Red Panda Context, Boss DD20 (and DSD2/DSD3 if needed) and a Tech21 VT VBass DI plugged in my mixer. No real amp but I've got good headphones (Beyer DT770 Pro) and sort-of decent monitors (KRK RP5) and I can't play with loud stuff in the apartment anyway.

I've got some overdrive/distortions that I like enough (Hustle Drive, an old Shredmaster, the VT Bass itself) but the only proper fuzz I have is a Little Big Muff and that thing is not super bass-friendly. It gets all muddy pretty quickly.

So, what are good options for cheap enough bass-friendly fuzz ?

[KaosCill8r]

Noisemaker fx Soda Pop is good on bass. Also the Joyo Ultimate Octave is supposed to be good. Haven't tried it, but it's supposed to be a Tone Machine clone. If you can find some sort of Ampeg Scrambler clone cheap then get it. They are the best fuzz for bass in my opinion. Rats also are great on bass too.

[untilshewokeme]

What's your budget? I am guessing what I am about to suggest is a little over, but totally worth it. Look for a used Earthbound Audio Supercollider.

[oscillateur]

Thanks for the recommendations. I've watched a few demos of these...

The Supercollider sounds great (and a nice EQ section is probably useful when used with synths, etc, too) but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere here .

The Joyo Ultimate/Octave seems nice too (in a different way) and super cheap.
I might even get this one until I can find something better later.

Anything else ?

[UglyCasanova]

Infanem 141T and 141G are still $99 + shipping, and they are really awesome for both bass and guitar (and synth)

[Jwar]

Need your budget, bass, type of amp and also what tone your looking for. I've tried a LOT of fuzz. hah. No joke. All ranges of price.

So for new. Center Street Electronics is your friend. Stupid cheap, well made, I know the guy personally and he's fucking awesome. I'm sure he'll ship it to you.

If you're wanting something even cheaper, used IMO is the best route.

I hated the Supercolider the 4 times I tried it. LOL. So I wouldn't recommend that muff. IMO it's does not cut well enough. It's kind of soft for a fuzz. Like a sissy fuzz.

Top cheapies for me

Boss FZ-2
Solidgold FX Formula 76 (saw one go for like 105 recently)
Audio Monk Fuzz Potion (people under appreciate these and sell them cheap. They can be harder to find now though).
CoPilot FX Orbit
Devi Ever Ruiner
Smallsound Bigsound TAFM or HAWK


There's a ton more. Just need set up info so I don't steer you wrong.

[amnesiac305]

Like a sissy fuzz.

Which Center Street's have you tried or liked for bass?

[KaosCill8r]

Smallsound Bigsound HAWK

Very good call, sadly they are getting hard find. I'm on the hunt for another.

[oscillateur]

Budget : it depends on whether the stuff is available locally or not, prices can increase a lot when stuff is ordered internationally. I've got some nice big gear expenses (modular case and big-ass PC) coming soon but if I wait a bit more I guess it'd be in the "up to about $200" range.

Bass : Fender Mustang Bass, with Chrome flatwounds

Amp : No real amp, just a Tech21 VT Bass DI plugged in a mixer and then into decent headphones/monitors (BeyerDynamic DT770 Pro and KRK RP5).

Tone : not too noisy/self-oscillating/etc. Something that can be controlled would be better. I actually do not have much experience with fuzz, the only one I've got now is a Little Big Muff. I bought an XVive "Fuzz Screamer" on amazon a couple of months ago because it was ridiculously cheap but that thing is a fuzz as much as I am a catholic priest.

I'll check videos of all the things mentioned so far, that should take some time .

Thanks .

[oscillateur]

And what about the Mastotron ? I've seen these in shops regularly and they seem nice. But again, I'm no expert for these things...

[KaosCill8r]

Never tried the Mastotron, but have got a Mammoth clone and that is great on bass.

[frigid midget]

Cheap and bass-friendly...Those are actually the two main requirements for all of my dirt peds. This is pretty much all on my boards right now, and I can vouch for their nastyness and bass friendlyness:

FZ-2: I don't really like superfuzz type pedals on bass, but the FZ-2 is more than a superfuzz clone, plus the eq helps a lot too.
ODB-3: Ironically it's more of a guitar fuzz than a bass overdrive imo, but the eq controls make it a great fuzzy dostortion for bass too. Especially if you don't really care for subtle break up and transparancy in yer toan
Mastotron: Not as cheap as those Boss peds maybe, but imo it's kinda like a more useable and more bassy version of the fuzz factory.
Dano Fabtone: Kinda over the top if you don't appreciate sludgy nasty HM-2 style action, and it also has the bass/treble controls, which helps to turn your bass into a fire spitting trash dragon

Aside from that, I've also got a Hotcake, for more civilised stuff. Kinda dark and muddy on guitar at higher gain settings, but it seems to work better on bass than a Rat or OCD.

[Pete]

Maybe look into the Earthquaker Devices Terminal as well? Or a Green Russian type fuzz

[jrmy]

If you're just looking for cheap and bassy, and don't care about things like LEDs, it's hard to beat the Danelectro French Toast - it's a straight Foxx Tone Machine clone w/ the octave on a switch. Can usually find one for stupid low moneys.

[Eivind August]

Well, you live in Tokyo, so maybe look out for a MASF Starry Wisdom? Seen them being used live by bassists a couple of times, and it's an incredible bass sound.