Useable gated fuzz?

[frigid midget]

Low and behold: a thread asking for fuzz recommendations in ILF

- Affordable, easily available, preferably used.

- Compact, not overflowing with controls and switches that re mostly about subtle tweaks. Doesn't have to be a two-knob set&forget pedal, but I tend to suffer from option anxiety, and I just get annoyed when pedal builders feel the need to add controls for the sake of adding controls. I like it when they get it right straight of the work bench, with most of the swxeet spots already locked in.

- Most importantly: a fuzz factory or wolf computer won't cut it. I'm after something that does that typical sputtery thing, without going overboard into synth country. Something that'll get super saturated and still retain enough low end to cut through a messy mix.

All I can think of when it comes to large company stuff: Way Huge Conquistador. Anything else/better I should check out? Cheers.

[MechaGodzilla]

sounds like you want simple and classic, like the SUPER ELECTRIC italian tonebender clone (2 transistor) that no one ever wants to buy from me when i list it anywhere!

but yeh, an old school circuit - fuzz face, even - with an extra gate/bias control will probably sort you out. my fav gated fuzz is my creepyface, set that bias just right and you get super compressed sputtery gated fuzz like a mk1 TB.

[frigid midget]

Sounds about right I guess, now it's just a matter of finding something that fits the description and doesn't cost 300 bucks. I don't think I really need to spend boutique money for this one, I would think there should be plenty of options that don't require a waiting list or custom order or something

The sputtery gated thing I'm hearing in this reverb demo isn't something I really hear in any mk1 TB demos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qP1UJPgQfo&t=183s

[mcatano]

INFANEM 141 G or T might do it for you. I don't think those have become particularly valuable or anything, and in the non-oscillating range they're good-sounding fuzz pedals with a very usable gate.

[MechaGodzilla]

The sputtery gated thing I'm hearing in this reverb demo isn't something I really hear in any mk1 TB demos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qP1UJPgQfo&t=183s

mk1 tbs are way less gated than that, but they are sputtery by nature, it's just most ppl build them in the two knob format and most ppl play them with LPs with humbuckers to copy ronson and page. i had a faceless marquis back when they were cheap secondhand and it was TOO gated, TOO sputtery with my weak single coils, but there was a lot of flexibility in those three knobs. not that i think you should get a mk1 at all really!

[lordgalvar]

sounds like you want simple and classic, like the SUPER ELECTRIC italian tonebender clone (2 transistor) that no one ever wants to buy from me when i list it anywhere!

but yeh, an old school circuit - fuzz face, even - with an extra gate/bias control will probably sort you out. my fav gated fuzz is my creepyface, set that bias just right and you get super compressed sputtery gated fuzz like a mk1 TB.

I agree that these will all work. There are some cheaper clones if you look around.

And, yes, guitar pickup makes a huge difference in the way a lot of these simple fuzz circuits sound and react. The Pep does wildly different things with microphonic pickups, varying pickup output level, single coils, or humbuckers. It's just something you've got to try with your gear in a way.

Check out Ian/Ghost's stuff. Usually very affordable and we'll built. Basic Audio can be had for a cheaper second hand.

Silicon Pep Fuzz (ghost, basic, diy, etc) - my vote is for this fuzz. I don't know if there are any videos of it doing the gated sputter thing, but it will... (The GE one more so, but it's super sensitive to the weather).

Ghost Mind Rocker (fuzz face)

Death By Audio Soundwave Breakdown - I have the two knob. Don't really know if the updated one is changed outside the addition of a volume

[frigid midget]

Thanks, I'm on it!

Fwiw, (vaguely) similar pedals I had that either got stolen or flipped:

OBNE Haunt, Blackout Effectors Fuzz Bear, Lovetone Big Cheese, Zvex Fuzz Factory, Zvex Mastotron, Empress Fuzz God II, Mellowtone Wolf Computer.

In most cases they were either too limited in the gain/gating departement, or overly glitchy and finnicky to dial in. Some of 'em came close though, but I'm looking to try something different.

[MechaGodzilla]

And, yes, guitar pickup makes a huge difference in the way a lot of these simple fuzz circuits sound and react.

yeah. i LOVE that demo of the conquistador, but i reckon it would probably sound pretty lame with my single coil guitars. that and i love it when a fuzz makes my plinky dinky guitars have maximum sustain/feedback

[lordgalvar]

Another one I was thinking about and ran across this week (thanks, skully) was the holy island superfreq. It's an LAL rattle crow with a squarewave fuzz. Haven't played one though, but knowing the rattle crow, it should do the gated weirdness. Might be too touchy though. Don't know.

Pro Suzzzz Fuzzzz would be another good one, but it's rare.

Dutch Kazoo might be an excellent choice too, but I haven't seen any demos that really sound like it does with my setup.

Iron Butterfly Fuzz (I think Dino/DeadEnd cloned it?)

MAE One Knob Clang - A very gated and saturated percolator. It's so gated with my guitars. And not very clangy too me. But it's fuzzy.

Death By Audio Absolute Destruction - Super sensitive and has the ability to do swells, but it's pretty gated. It's just very very sensitive to input amplitude and very set-and-forget with a setup (controlled more by picking and guitar volume, you kind of set a threshold with the controls)

And, yes, guitar pickup makes a huge difference in the way a lot of these simple fuzz circuits sound and react.

yeah. i LOVE that demo of the conquistador, but i reckon it would probably sound pretty lame with my single coil guitars. that and i love it when a fuzz makes my plinky dinky guitars have maximum sustain/feedback

Conquistador sounds great with my Mosrite. I just find it a bit boring. Totally solid and the tone control is good (it has good treble which is something I probably only care about) but it just doesn't have the dynamic attack or decay/release of some other fuzzes. kinda more like the Faustone fuzz unit or sinfoton or something of that nature.

[Gone Fission]

Like this? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hQNMZshcU6k

Misbiased Fuzz Face, in this case a pretty cheap silicon with higher gain transistors. On about any FF: Swap the 8k2 Q2 collector resistor for a 5k linear trimmer to tune it to break up ugly/beautiful. Make it switchable if you still want the normal sounds.

[Chankgeez]

Another one I was thinking about and ran across this week (thanks, skully) was the holy island superfreq. It's an LAL rattle crow with a squarewave fuzz.

Hadn't heard of that one. Thanks, skully & lg!

[retinal orbita]

Perhaps the Unpleasant Surprise? Two knobs, three switches, sounds as described “like getting your shoulder caught in the reciprocating saw”.

Not cheap but can be found used. Small footprint. Sounds horrible.

[neonblack]

To add to what retinal said, with the right settings and the right dirt pedal pushing the unpleasant surprise, it can get really articulate while still being nice and gated.

Not to spam my band here (r.i.p.) but the unpleasant surprise was my main fuzz on our EP.

This whole song is US being pushed by a Mini:

https://open.spotify.com/track/7fBk7RXW ... P8mBVbTUWg

[UglyCasanova]

INFANEM 141 G or T might do it for you.

I was going to recommend this as well. Seems to fit your bill.

[coupleonapkins]

Fuzzhugger Velcrobot?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFvj6doRQSU[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFvj6doRQSU