Tonebender vs Buzzaround for chord clarity and gain

[bionic]

Almost have my set up together but am still looking for a fuzz that can cut through the mix, offer a fair amount of gain and have enough mids for chord clarity as I am using a Rangemaster for single note leads. I've been through a fuzzface (B173 transisiters, dull), v3 Big Muff (too much low end), MJM Foxey fuzz (triangle muff) and a Frantone Sweet (the most scooped pedal that has ever existed). The closest for chord clarity is the MJM but it still gets a little lost in the mix, especially when switching from the Tim. Leaning towards a buzzaround or tonebender as they seem to have more mid qualities that is lacking in most muffs, judging from youtube videos. Also want something that won't completely over power my rangemaster which will sit behind the fuzz and is first in line. Using Tim for low gain with a Jazzmaster/Tele going into the normal EF 86 channel of a Hayseed (Vox four input clone). Cut is at 3 oclock and volume is at 1 o clock. Any help here would be greatly appreciated

[D.o.S.]

So your signal is Rangemaster>Tim>Tonebender/Buzzaround>amp?

[Tristan]

Cool, a fellow Hayseed user!
I would definitely recommend a Tonebender MKI or a Buzzaround / Dizzy Tone if you're looking for a more open but still unmistakenly fuzzy sound compared to a Muff or Fuzz Face.

ARC Effects Crimson King
Arcane Analog Buzzsaw, NKT213
Creepy Fingers Buzzaround
D*A*M Fuzzaround
Jext Telez Dizzy Tone
Pigdog Spectrafuzz
Skinpimp Buzzaround

Acid Fuzz MKI
Faceless FX Marquis
Jerms MKI
Pigdog Electric Eye, Loony II
Skinpimp MKI

[bionic]

I was told the MK II had more mids and gain than the MK I. I was also told that the buzzaround was the perfect middle ground between a MKII and a big muff so thought that might be my ticket.

[bionic]

D.o.S., Yep, it is currently rangemaster - tim - mjm foxey - wah - maestro phaser - boss dd2 - etnernity into normal EF 86 channel of AC 30

[Tristan]

I don't think an MKII has more mids than an MKI to be honest.
An MKII has more lower mids while an MKI has more cutting mids maybe but an MKII also has a less direct feel and is overall less versatile as it's really mostly suited for single note type stuff.

Chords and rhythm playing sound a bit more flat and have less punch, articulation and grittyness than on an MKI.
I also feel an MKII has more of a distortion like character than an MKI (in that sense it's closer to a Muff), an MKI is more raw and fuzzy and it rocks harder.

The Buzzaround and Dizzy Tone are basically the perfect marriage between a fuzz and a distortion, more fuzzy than a Muff or MKII and also less mushy and indirect so they can handle more complex chords better.

I personally really dig the special character of an MKI with the attack low so it will basically gate on lighter picked single notes and then still rock out with a fuzzy yet articulate sound when you hit it harder with some chords.

[Uncle Grandfather]

I was told the MK II had more mids and gain than the MK I. I was also told that the buzzaround was the perfect middle ground between a MKII and a big muff so thought that might be my ticket.

yeah the mkII is about perfect. love the mkI too. and the mk1.5 is great as well its pretty much a fuzz face so you're already familiar with it. lately my favorites have been mkIII/IV variations, going with builders who are emphasizing a heavier low end. Dizzy Tone and Buzzaround are both wonderful flavors. They are all fine for chords and single notes tbh. You might want to check out the Faustone Fuzz Unit too, it is the british "tonebender" take on the big muff circuit, is just incredible sounding.

[lordgalvar]

Fuzz Unit is awesome...though I have been leaning toward dizzy tones lately (and there is quite a bit of variation depending on the transistors used). Fuzz Unit is solid all around though...

[bionic]

Damn the fuzz unit is huge though. Will it pop out of a mix with keyboards and another guitarist?

[lordgalvar]

I assume so...never been in a band with it. It's a lot more hi-fi and tight than a traditional muff...I think it would.

Montarbo Sinphoton is another one to look at. I think that one sounds great too...

[bionic]

I love the sound of my foxey fuzz when it is on it's own but when in the mix it just doesnt' stick out. Band mix and just being played without accompaniment are sooooo different

[Tristan]

Meh, the Fuzz Unit seems to sound even more like a distortion than most Muff type pedals, I haven't played one in real life but in the demo's it sounds quite boring and uninspiring, it's just not a real fuzz.

Personally I would omit the whole Muff category, especially since you're playing a souped up AC30 like the Hayseed.
It's basically the worst fuzz to go with that type amp and to make a Muff perform better you'd need a more modern but also a more distortion like and boring sounding one, which makes it kinda moot to get a Muff type if you're looking for a real fuzz anyway.

The only Muff types I really liked with my Hayseed 30 so far are the BAT Pharaoh, EFE DP-01 6618 and the EQD Hoof.
They're good but still for the sound and situation you're describing a Buzzaround / Dizzy Tone or an MKI would be a much more suitable choice I think, that's only my few cents though.

[bionic]

Tristan, going to lookinto a MI, MII and buzzaround. Are you plugged into the normal channel?

[Tristan]

Don't forget the Dizzy Tone, Jext Telez have a sale going now and I can attest that they sound stupid good, it's also a huge pedal though.

Yup, normal (top boost) channel for me mostly, though I don't think the character or the way the amp reacts on pedals differs that much between the two channels really.
Do you have the latest version Hayseed?
Just to say, the difference is ridiculous, really opens the amp up big time.

[bionic]

will look into the Dizzy Tone. I am in Montreal and MJM makes both the buzzaround and MK II and MKIII tonebenders so may try those out as well. Yeah, I had one of the first Hayseeds but have all of the update mods all sorted on it. That's what made my normal channel (not top boost) with EF 86 usable again.