More subtle fuzz tones

[Johnnyseven]

This is my first post on this forum so please be nice to me.

After pissing about for ages with various overdrive/distortion pedals I have come to the conclusion that I love fuzz more. I'm currently rocking an IC Big Muff clone, a Danelectro Cool Cat Fuzz and a Fredric Effects Harmonic Percolator clone but whereas most fuzz pedals have balls to the wall fuzz sounds i'm looking for something fuzzy but in a more subtle way, maybe something that is a OD/Distortion with a nice fuzzy edge - is there anything that you guys could recommend to me?

[tchen]

red llama clone. and im not just saying that because i have one kind of for sale/trade (ive been thinking about keeping it). and i say "clone" because the originals are way overpriced. anyway, i think they sit right on the overdrive/fuzz border. but if i had to be specific, id call it a fuzzy overdrive rather than an overdrivish fuzz if that makes since. theyre really warm and have good clarity for the amount of dirt they put out.

[Johnnyseven]

Thanks for that, i'll have to investigate via the magic of YouTube.

[HereticPride]

I'm sort of in the same boat. 90% of fuzz's out there are just too over the top for me( you know, unless over the top is what I'm looking for at the moment )

I'd recommend keeping an eye out here like the rest of us for The Snowdrift/Snowflake. The Fingerprint circuit is pretty much exactly what I'm after in a fuzz. There's really not a lot out there though when it comes to subtle fuzz(ahem, builders) But I've also heard a few times (but haven't yet tried) that you can get some really nice subtle fuzz-ish sounds out of an EHX Tube Zipper. Gah, I've been meaning to pick that pedal up for ages.

[hclapp219]

Try using your volume knob on your guitar. It won't really work on the muff, although I have no experience with the IC-based circuit, but other circuits, especially the fuzz face, are well-known for sounding great as roll off the volume. This is really true on the Arc Flash, but my favorite pedal to do this with is the EQD Dream Crusher, which is a high gain Fuzz Face variant. I also liked my Melx2 best with my guitar volume at 7 or 8. Hope that helps.

If you are just looking for a pedal that does this without any knob-tweakin, I've heard the Algal Bloom does this quite well, although I've never played it myself.

[futuresailors]

Melx2 is a great light fuzz if you roll back the guitar volume a little. Or wait for the Electric apple to make its debut...

But I've heard good things about red llama clones.

[Gunner Recall]

Melx 2, fuzzhugger algal bloom or arc flash, skreddy screwdriver

Red llamas are always cool, I'm sure somebody can hook you up with an affordable clone.
Supposedly a WH cameltoe reissue is in the works (llama/rhino dual).

[hasblueshoes]

Melx2 is a great light fuzz

I missed this one? What is it? Is it the same as the Melxotone?

As far the op is looking for, I like my arc flash a lot for not quite fuzziness (it still gets very fuzzy) but it always has a certain bite to it I can't quite characterize as subtle. Personally I like that, you might be able to roll some of that out with the volume knob. There does seem to be a few more pedals that are the sort of OD- to fuzz sort lately.

[CBGB]

+1 on teh VOL knob.

The Arc Flash has nice understated overdrives along with several shades of fuzz.

THe Wolf Computer has some light overdrives, brash ones, sputtery gated ones, as well as all the fuzz and the crazy. On the trebly side.

[devnulljp]

This is my first post on this forum so please be nice to me.

After pissing about for ages with various overdrive/distortion pedals I have come to the conclusion that I love fuzz more. I'm currently rocking an IC Big Muff clone, a Danelectro Cool Cat Fuzz and a Fredric Effects Harmonic Percolator clone but whereas most fuzz pedals have balls to the wall fuzz sounds i'm looking for something fuzzy but in a more subtle way, maybe something that is a OD/Distortion with a nice fuzzy edge - is there anything that you guys could recommend to me?

Sam Ash / Astrotone fuzz might be what you want. Ronsound does a clone, so does Analogman and Hartman -- the Tommy Bolin fuzz.
I have an original and a clone built for my by the very talented Jim Roth of Built to Spill. used to have the Ronsound too and it's also good -- a shade darker sounding but great nonetheless. Tone control is useless on this circuit though, but subtle almost OD fuzz it is.

Sounds kinda like this

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9jtYcOs5ec[/youtube]

Or a nice Ge Fuzz face for that matter, just turn your guitar down.

[futuresailors]

Melx2 is a great light fuzz

I missed this one? What is it? Is it the same as the Melxotone?

As far the op is looking for, I like my arc flash a lot for not quite fuzziness (it still gets very fuzzy) but it always has a certain bite to it I can't quite characterize as subtle. Personally I like that, you might be able to roll some of that out with the volume knob. There does seem to be a few more pedals that are the sort of OD- to fuzz sort lately.

Yeah, it's the melxowtone 2. Eric said he was going to make a little change or two, but I don't know what or if he actually did.

[tchen]

also, someone here posted a video a little while back comparing the Fingerprint to a Mountainking Rukus. they sounded similar as far as the subtle fuzz thing goes. actually, id really like to check out a Rukus. the person had it posted for sale not too long ago.

[theavondon]

I too enjoy the Red Llama. I introduced my guitar player to it today, and he very well may steal it from me.

[Rygot]

Algal Bloom and a rolled back dream crusher get that sound.

As well as a little project I am working on.

[sutarappa]

+1 Fuzzhugger Arc Flash and Algal Bloom
+1 Mellowtone gear - Singing Tree variants, Hi-Five Boost/Overdrive

love the drive range in these.