Using/picking a fuzz with headphones?

[plaidbeer]

I'd appreciate some help picking out a fuzz, but I'm wondering if it's worth getting one right now since I'm having to pretty much exclusively play through headphones for the next couple of months?

My wife is studying for the Bar full time until July (and we live in a duplex) so headphones it is. I'm using some pedals through a Pathfinder 15r (headphone jack) or I sometimes use a Mac with Logic or Amplitube or Guitar Rig. Is it going to sound like crap no matter what I pick and should I wait until I can play without headphones?

[weed_killer]

given your situation (good luck to your wife btw!), I'd say go for something with a wide eq range, like a Dr.Sci pedal.

[plaidbeer]

given your situation (good luck to your wife btw!), I'd say go for something with a wide eq range, like a Dr.Sci pedal.

Any particular one (Frazz Dazzler or Elements)?

I'm intrigued by the Terminal Fuzz since I want at least one buzzsaw Shin-Ei type fuzz (I like JAMC). But I'm open to other types, too.

Some examples of some fuzz tones I'm after:

JAMC:
@1:00
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz_G92ILhGY[/youtube]

Adorable:
starting@:47 (could not embed using the soundcloud button
https://vimeo.com/25963664

BRMC:
starting@1:55
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdF_4Glx52I[/youtube]

[Pepe]

I can only recommend to use an amp simulation between a fuzz pedal and headphones. All my fuzz pedals sound like arse when I run them through my mixing console and my AKG headphones. Through my tube amp it sounds totally different. But I cannot always use it for recordings since I can only really do that when the kids are asleep.

[PeteeBee]

Just chiming in to agree that you want something real flexible. All the cool one or two knobbers are pretty much out, unless someone has some other knowledge. Whenever I have to go headphones I end up using my modified rat with the gain cranked and a fuck as my fuzz. Between the two it's like 9 knobs of tweakability and I have to adjust nearly everything to get the tone I want. Something about headphones is way less forgiving than a proper speaker with fuzz. Blown out overdrive seems to work better for me.
I always use way for delay and reverb with headphones too. I think this is my brain wanting to simulate room sounds.

[plaidbeer]

I can only recommend to use an amp simulation between a fuzz pedal and headphones. All my fuzz pedals sound like arse when I run them through my mixing console and my AKG headphones. Through my tube amp it sounds totally different. But I cannot always use it for recordings since I can only really do that when the kids are asleep.

So, instead of using the headphone jack on the Pathfinder, just use Amplitube, Guitar Rig, Logic, or maybe a Zoom G3?

[blindrabbit]

I use all sorts of fuzz and drive, and I'm plugging straight into my Mac via an iRig and using Garageband, then using a pair of headphones to listen. Maybe it is because the headphones are decent that it sounds ok, but I've never run into any issues that made me think I should not play this way. Now, it could also be because I'm using a bass and so I've got some lower frequencies happening that shake my skull rather than attempt to slice my balls off, but honestly it sounds decent to me.

[plaidbeer]

For whatever reason, when I just use my pedals with my amp and listen through headphones, dirts, for the most part, sound like rubbish. The modified Rat clone sounds splatty and just the slightest bit of OD-3 sounds really overdriven. I know that these sound better than what I'm hearing in my headphones (Sony MDR-7506). Maybe I should just avoid going into the amp?

[Dark Barn]

I can only recommend to use an amp simulation between a fuzz pedal and headphones. All my fuzz pedals sound like arse when I run them through my mixing console and my AKG headphones. Through my tube amp it sounds totally different. But I cannot always use it for recordings since I can only really do that when the kids are asleep.

So, instead of using the headphone jack on the Pathfinder, just use Amplitube, Guitar Rig, Logic, or maybe a Zoom G3?

Use the headphone jack on the Pathfinder. I assume the headphone out is post-EQ, so if you need to just dial down the treble on your amp. Im guessing that will be easier than going into software. I think any of these solutions would work so just go with whatever is less hassle for you but I don't see why the Pathfinder won't work just fine.

[Blackened Soul]

I don't see why you need a amp. I record fuzz direct all the time. I use logic for most tracking. The reverbs and EQ work well. Don't use modeling, all modeling dirt sounds fake, if use must use such a clunky training wheel thing as modeling use it clean and use a pedal for dirt. You can get tons of milage with a big muff, dirty boost/OD, a octave fuzz of some kind and even more ILFsh type stuff, a TGD can "fake" feedback pretty well
So, think of the types or sounds that you want. Get pedals that will give you those sounds through a amp. Learn how to use EQ, compression and ambiance/reverb

[fcknoise]

I found that headphones through the micro terror sounds good with OD/fuzz. Not a very expensive amp, so it might be a reasonable idea to get one

[neonblack]

I use the headphone jack on my little ampeg practice amp alot. Its pretty good, but I have to remember not to tweak too much. I try to keep the settings where they would be through my big amp, even if it doesn't sound the best through headphones.

That may not be an issue if you're not playing through another amp too.

[tuj]

some good headphones help here a lot.