Questions about bass guitar circuits

[ran_dizolph]

For my next project, I'd like to build the bazz fuzz circuit (another one that Tonefiend projects use), but more geared to bass specifically.

Is it just input cap values that make it a more bass-oriented circuit, or is there more to it than that?

I was also thinking of putting a switch in that would select between 2 sets of 2 cap values (could have 'guitar mode' and 'bass mode'), which you could then adjust with a pot between the 2 selected caps. Would this be pointless?

By pointless, I mean would it just make sense to take the lowest cap value from the 'bass' side, and the highest cap value from the 'guitar' side and adjust via a pot without the switch?

Thanks!

[skullservant]

You could do the switch. I was thinking of doing that too. 2.2uf sounds good on bass from my experience and is geared towards a more dark tone too!

[ran_dizolph]

Okay cool, just wanted to be sure I wasn't adding an extra step in there for no reason.

So it's really just the input cap values that dictate which instrument it's best suited for?

[skullservant]

Pretty much. Large output caps can help too. I like to use something HUGE at the end of that circuit

[ran_dizolph]

How huge are we talkin'?

Thanks!

[skullservant]

I use 470uf, which is loud enough to push your amp at the same time

[ran_dizolph]

Cool, thanks! Got some experimenting to do once my next batch of parts arrives!

[skullservant]

Sweet!

[McSpunckle]

Yes and no.

The reason Big Muffs work so well on bass is that they block some of the bass from distorting-- there are caps blocking the low end from reaching the diodes. Sometimes, no matter how big of caps you use, the high end added by the circuit will still overpower it, so then you'd want to cut some treble and boost the volume a bit.

Overdrives are even more complicated, since sometimes you want to cut low end to get a smother distortion. Blocking low end from clipping helps (Tubescreamers do this) keep it smooth and keep some low end... like an overdrive version of the Big Muff... oh my god. You can also just not allow the bass through, then add a bass boost to make up for it.

So yeah, raising capacitor values will allow more bass through, but it's not always necessary or as awesome as you want.

I know it's unpopular here, but a tiny bit of clean blend can basically make the bass-friendliness of a circuit irrelevant, and can help the fact that a lot of circuits don't let bass come through clearly. If the clean blend volume is low enough, it won't SOUND like a clean blend... it'll just add a bit of low end and clarity. And you can put a tone control, and maybe a bit of overdrive on the clean blend and it'll blend in even better. It's like magic, except not magic at all.

[ran_dizolph]

Hmm...okay. This complicates things a bit, but I'll look into a clean blend and see what I can come up with.

Thanks!