Muff with it's own personallity

[maggot]

You know I'm mostly into OEM so I'll suggest some of'm. Jumbo Tonebenders [simplified muff circuit] do their own thing w/massive bass.
They have dynamic input sensitivity like old Fuzztone/Fuzzrites where a light touch can produce AM radio tones, then when you dig in it roars like ze lion...or rather a fire-breathing dragon. Range of the tone knob seems more usable than most Muffs.
They're low-gain as far as Muffs [and Tonebenders] go. Fortunately they love being goosed by Toobskreemuhz or stacking with a boost...probably more than any other in their lineage. They also love loud, dirty amps.

You might also find what you're looking for in a v3, v5 or v6 Muff with Tone Bypass switch
With tonestack bypassed they get LOUD.

The Jumbo Tonebender clone I had sounded great, but was more scooped in the mids than about any other Muff I've ever tried. It disappeared really quick in a band mix. You'd really need a middy boost. On the low gain side, I'd suggest a Mark III Bender like a Tone Reaper or a Soul Bender. Those have plenty of mids, and it's thick like a Muff, but doesn't sound quite Muffy. On the high gain side, the Abominable Electronics Hail Satan imparts some unique tones. I'll report back on the Earthquaker Hoof, but unique personality isn't really the reason I got it. TBH, the best "Muff with personality" is probably a thick sounding fuzz that isn't a Muff.

[SMS]

The 71' Supercollider is full of muffy personality.

[popvulture]

TBH, the best "Muff with personality" is probably a thick sounding fuzz that isn't a Muff.

Yep, that's a better way of saying what I was trying to get at earlier. And +1 for Soul Benders. I used to have one of the older big box ones and really miss it.

[maggot]

TBH, the best "Muff with personality" is probably a thick sounding fuzz that isn't a Muff.

Yep, that's a better way of saying what I was trying to get at earlier. And +1 for Soul Benders. I used to have one of the older big box ones and really miss it.

Me too! I'll get a newer one eventually, but it won't be the same.

[MechaGodzilla]

The dope priest I just sold had tremendous amounts of low end, more than any other clone I've tried.

[Snufkino]

Frantone Cream Puff.

Just built myself one, and "Muff with it's own personality" is exactly as I'd describe it. I think of a muff as a "fuzzy distortion" with more emphasis on "distortion", whereas the the Cream Puff puts the emphasis on the "fuzzy". It's got the heavy lows, a more interactive tone control than a regular muff, and a more fuzz-like texture. Might be worth a look.

Just to give some context, I've always got bored of Muff tones, no matter how good the build or type/era of Muff (though there's a couple I've not tried), but not with the Cream Puff, and it's just due to the slightly different texture and EQ. It's a genius take on the muff tone. Same but different. No frills or endless tweaking.

I digress, but it'd be great to see Fran collaborate with EHX on a 'signature' muff. Just whack the circuit in the nano muff enclosure with a pink paint job and call it the "big puff pi" job done.

[maggot]

You've made me want a Cream Puff!

Another Mufflike fuzz with personality that I recently had is a Caroline Olympia. I sold it and I don't know why. I thought it wouldn't cut through with a band, but I never ended up trying it. It's not super versatile in terms of EQ, but it makes muffy noises with a bit more mid and fiber, and at the same time it captures the sweetness that some Muffs have and a lot don't. Good for Dino Jr muff sounds and things like that. Tight enough for palm-muting and arpeggios while still being fuzzy.

[whoismarykelly]

Frantone Peach Fuzz does what you're asking for and is way more interesting than most muffs.

[MechaGodzilla]

The 3-knob fuzz war can get muffy, but always sits better in a mix than a muff imo.

[ognoy]

Fuzz War. If you like nasty muffs.

[tremolo3]

An EQ pedal.

[Jwar]

If the Fuzz War is muff based, then seconded that fucker. It's awesome.

The ECT is great as well. I was partial to the Baby Thuda though because of size.

Walkure was always one of my favorites by Sunnmachine. Dunno how or where to find that shit though?

Anything by Wren and Cuff or Earthbound Audio. The Beast is fucking killer.

[DRodriguez]

Yeah, depends on what fuzz war version you get. The later ones are closer to the muff circuit. I miss my fuzz war, thing is a beast.

Also doom Bloom doesn't sound muffy to me but that thing is heavy. Love it.

[frigid midget]

I haven't tried enough of these top contenders to make any sort of muff related claims...But I still owned a good number of different muff style fuzzes, and the one I've been impressed with the most had more gain and low end than your typical triangle/rams head based muff circuit: Musket. Weird it seemed to have fallen out of favor here. It used to be impossible to talk about muffs or walk into a 'show yer board' thread and NOT trip over a pile of muskets

At least two of those controls were totally useless to me though. Two seperate gain controls? They can't pack all the gain in one control? And what the hell does a damn disortion pedlol need a "focus" control for anyway, when there's already two different tone controls?

/rant

Srry, it's a pet peeve of mine, but I DO really like the musket. If they ever start building one with three or four controls, I'd be all over that like flies on poo.

Btw, the supercollider and pharaoh were mensioned...Aren't they regarded as being a bit more mellow in the gain departement, rather than heavier?

[Jwar]

I heard your mother's muff has a great personality.