Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Father of Fires · Post by **Father of Fires** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:45 pm

Howdy!

Like many of you I'm on a never ending fuzz building/buying quest.

Like many of you I'm never completely satisfied.

I thought being new to the place I would solicit some ideas for great low gain muff style pedals. I'm looking for stuff that not only can be fairly low gain ( especially with a high output bass - G&L SB-1 ) but sound good that way, I guess it wouldn't be a fuzz at all.

I'm also looking for something that also sounds passable going direct into the PA (As a bass player I'm cursed with the constant DI/Fuzz struggle).

My Blue Beard into into my Sansamp doesn't cut it as a direct sound. Too much fizz without the Sansamp and too much mid suckage with the Sansamp.

I ordered a Mooer Micro DI but it's been on back order for a while.

I've owned or tried many pedals and being a junky, I've researched plenty but I like to get other people's opinions every once in a while.

Thoughts?

kbit · Post by **kbit** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:47 pm

Dunno how it would sound direct, but for low gain muff sounds with a lot of low end, a Pharaoh with the clipping diodes out could get you there.

pelliott · Post by **pelliott** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:51 pm

Many are going to tell you a Pharaoh is the way to go, and I agree. Sounds fantastic on bass.

skullservant · Post by **skullservant** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:52 pm

If it's the fizz that you don't like, why not look into some sort of EQ with a DI? Like a parametric EQ that you can tailor to get rid of fizz but still go direct in, if you wanted. You'd also be able to bring back some muff mids without losing character

Father of Fires · Post by **Father of Fires** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:01 pm

I guess I need to try a Pharaoh again. I borrowed my buddy's early version and it was too splatty for me.

I did like the hi/low switch though.

To be honest it doesn't even have to be a muff. I just like the design. There is so much room for modification. I like to see what people do with it.

I'm either slight overdrive or straight fuzz.

My band's EP was cut with a sparkle drive and RBI:

http://asthmacastle.bandcamp.com/

I like the sound for the most part but I want more girth. Hence the search for a low gain fuzz.

I used a bass big muff deluxe here. I doubt you can hear the bass clearly but it sounded massive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk-UQWvs8YE

I've also been using a Mesa Bottle Rocket but overdrives have been sounding too thin for me as of late.

chillerthanmost · Post by **chillerthanmost** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:02 pm

You should build or look out for a stock triangle or rams head. Those are my two favorite variants for lower gain muffs. Problem with looking for low gain modern made clones is that most of them are modded for more gain and more low end and more this and more that. Not all, but some. Then there's always something like the Pharaoh, which has the option for lo over hi, Nd the Germanium setting is pretty low gain. In fact, the only setting I like the pharaoh on.

rustywire · Post by **rustywire** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:04 pm

Low-gain.....Muff?

Does not compute

Father of Fires · Post by **Father of Fires** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:06 pm

Anyone played a G2 in real life?

I'm surprised by Bassfuzz.com's low-ish score.

D.o.S. · Post by **D.o.S.** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:04 pm

You could ask Grgryx about that--he posts a little bit on here, but he's more active on TalkBass.

Uh, for a low gain muff I use... not a muff.

One of the fun things you can do to add more "girth" is to throw a really subtle delay/echo at the end of your chain.

univalve · Post by **univalve** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:42 pm

Pharao

ChetMagongalo · Post by **ChetMagongalo** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:51 pm

Dude I think you should try a blunderbuss. I think you would dig it, I thought it was pretty good on bass. Great low gain. I also really like my fuck on bass but I'm not sure it's what you're going for.

sonidero · Post by **sonidero** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:11 pm

I sat in front of my bass amp yesterday trying out different pedals and found that the Pharaoh was the best for low gain heavies... The Mini Fuck was my second favorite and when I get my TAFM back I'm sure I'll be using that again on bass/baritone for low gain fuzzies...

blindrabbit · Post by **blindrabbit** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:17 pm

I think that the Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian sounds delicious when run at low gain with a bass. I used to use mine with active and passive basses, and it was great with both.

Of course, it was also excellent at high gain too, so you really can't go wrong with it.

Father of Fires · Post by **Father of Fires** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:05 pm

The Blunderbuss looks interesting. I haven't seen that one before.

sonidero · Post by **sonidero** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:09 pm

blindrabbit wrote:I think that the Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian

Oh yeah my Russian Tall Font KILLS on bass but is not as tweakable as the Pharaoh... Civil Wars are good on Bass too...

ilovefuzz.com

Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass

Re: Favorite Low Gain Muff Variant on Bass