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Dandolin wrote:Testify--Gnomeratron is so nice for the harmonic cloud shoegazery sound with the clean bend, and I really like my Culture Jam-built GGG Brassmaster for this too (the chewy/phasy/filtery overtones really heighten this effect for me)--I find with both of them, though, I crave just a little hair into the fuzz or on the amp for slightly better integration, but that's just personal taste. VFE Fuzz Cocktail does this nicely too--it's a Fender Blender clone--not sure if actual Blenders do the trick as well--don't have one. Also check the Black Box X-Ray Bass--sounds cool in this way on guitar. Not sure if the regular X-Ray works the same way.

For non-clean blendy overdrivey fuzzes, MI Audio Neo, PTD Bone Machine and EHX Germ4 BMP all give good hairy OD toanz without having to roll your guitar volume back at all, and then they give different flavors if you do roll it back; though on all of them you can go a little too far and end up with gated ring-moddy tones, and that''s cool, too, sometimes.

Not sure if it counts as "fuzz," but a Harmonic Percolator with a diode lift switch can also give very sweet fuzzalicious OD that resolves dissonant intervals very clearly considering the amount of shag on hand--I really like the sound of the Montgomery Appliances unit--can't wait for mine to arrive:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGVRoiI16M0[/youtube]

Check it from 3:10--definitely a different flavor than the above, and not for everyone...Frederic's also do this trick very nicely.

Is that you playing in the demo? I like the sort of dissonant Math Rock-ish rhythm playing in it. Seems to really fit the pedal.

How much does the Montgomery Appliances unit go for? Have you played one of the Fredric effects Perc clones?

Any other Harm Perc clones that people like?

Whoah--no--that's David Gill, the man behind the appliances--I do agree that the playing is very attractive. It looks like he keeps one of these on his board. I'd love to hear more of his music in this vein, but I think most of his projects are even thornier and more intense--this seems to be him in a mellow mood. One of the problems I had deciding on whether to order a Harmonic Dominator was trying tio figure out whether I liked the pedal itself or his playing--but I really do think this pedal suits this style the best out of all of his, and would be the best for rhythm. Despite its particular association with Albini, I think Percs can sound good in a wide variety of music--they seem to naturally have that halo of fuzz around a clear center without a separate clean blend functionI think even Blues Lawyers could get to like 'em. And pulling the diodes only heightens the effect. Back to Montgomery Appliances--I think his Badlands Germanium Muff would also sound really sweet on rhythm, but not as easy to put across the more complex chords--really nice sounding complex growl on power chording though--makes you just want to hit the sucker and let it corruscate.

Harmonic Dominator is $150 plus very reasonable shipping--seems well worth it to me. Haven't played one of the Fredrics, but have heard repeated positive testimony. Dave's demo really put the Harmonic Dominator ahead for me, though, and it didn't hurt that every one of his builds had looked so clean. Again, not meant to imply anything about the Fredrics--they look beautiful, too, and more than likely I'll have one or another of his pedals too someday.

Dandolin wrote:Whoah--no--that's David Gill, the man behind the appliances--I do agree that the playing is very attractive. It looks like he keeps one of these on his board. I'd love to hear more of his music in this vein, but I think most of his projects are even thornier and more intense--this seems to be him in a mellow mood. One of the problems I had deciding on whether to order a Harmonic Dominator was trying tio figure out whether I liked the pedal itself or his playing--but I really do think this pedal suits this style the best out of all of his, and would be the best for rhythm. Despite its particular association with Albini, I think Percs can sound good in a wide variety of music--they seem to naturally have that halo of fuzz around a clear center without a separate clean blend functionI think even Blues Lawyers could get to like 'em. And pulling the diodes only heightens the effect. Back to Montgomery Appliances--I think his Badlands Germanium Muff would also sound really sweet on rhythm, but not as easy to put across the more complex chords--really nice sounding complex growl on power chording though--makes you just want to hit the sucker and let it corruscate.

Harmonic Dominator is $150 plus very reasonable shipping--seems well worth it to me. Haven't played one of the Fredrics, but have heard repeated positive testimony. Dave's demo really put the Harmonic Dominator ahead for me, though, and it didn't hurt that every one of his builds had looked so clean. Again, not meant to imply anything about the Fredrics--they look beautiful, too, and more than likely I'll have one or another of his pedals too someday.

I do have to say....that is a great demo of a pedal....and it makes me want one.....that is the sort of tone I really like for rhythm guitar.

If I am not mistaken the Montgomery Appliances guy posts a lot on the gear page as WhoisMaryKelly or a similar moniker....not sure I have the name exactly right.

Here is a thread from Harmony Central about the Harmonic Dominator. Beware of the disturbing photograph of the guy, girl, and sword on the first page. I have warned you.

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... -Dominator

Dorfmeister: for your viewings--

Fredrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFXxCJdHq0Y&

(Sorry, can't get youtube embedding to take on this one).

Also--check out the Chuck Collins, which has many vocal claims on being the most accurate, though I'm pretty sure Dave has got the Dominator pretty close to the original, outside of the diode lift. Fredric makes no bones about having made changes in his circuits, and he seems to really know what he's doiung with this circuit.

The Barge Concepts is legendary for having been shredded on youtube by Albini hisself, and is discontinued along with their whole line, sadly enough, so I don't know how well it would really stack up.

Yes--Montgomery Appliances = whoismarykelly on TGP and Nitefly182 on harmony-central.

Algal Bloom! That thing has got chords nailed.

Dandolin wrote:Dorfmeister: for your viewings--

Fredrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFXxCJdHq0Y&

(Sorry, can't get youtube embedding to take on this one).

Also--check out the Chuck Collins, which has many vocal claims on being the most accurate, though I'm pretty sure Dave has got the Dominator pretty close to the original, outside of the diode lift. Fredric makes no bones about having made changes in his circuits, and he seems to really know what he's doiung with this circuit.

The Barge Concepts is legendary for having been shredded on youtube by Albini hisself, and is discontinued along with their whole line, sadly enough, so I don't know how well it would really stack up.

Thanks.....here is a youtube video of Albini with the Barge pedal and an original.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzNXKrMynW4[/youtube]

7#9 said it... I was thinking about this last night while cycling through pedals... I can get a good rhythm or lead out of most of my pedals, but I noticed the Pigtronix Attack Sustain has a knob that blends harmonics in with the clean sound... The A/S is always on but I don't engage the Attack or Delay buttons so it's just slight Sustain and the harmonics if I want; which is my "clean" sound... I think they use this same concept in one of the smaller pedals... When I play other dirt pedals after it, the Harmonics knob can alter the other pedal alot or a little which can make it sound less rough and easier to handle chords... My newest non pedal pedal GAS is the Pigtronix Keymaster which will let you use two separate loops of any kind (bal - un bal - line - amp) and blend them with an expression pedal... They make nice stuff and they're real clean sounding...

dorfmeister wrote: I like the sort of dissonant Math Rock-ish rhythm playing in it. Seems to really fit the pedal.

Dandolin wrote:I do agree that the playing is very attractive.

That was a great sounding demo. His playing at times reminds me of old Mock Orange... but a little more raw.

DE Aenima is probably my favorite for chord work.

modernage wrote:His playing at times reminds me of old Mock Orange... but a little more raw.

Mmmmmm-mmmm Mock Orange

we are so serious about everything
check out this ring
i got it from a child
working on a landmine
isn't that crazy

futuresailors wrote:Aenima. It's got just the right noyz to clarity ratio.

sonidero wrote:the Pigtronix Attack Sustain has a knob that blends harmonics in with the clean sound... The A/S is always on but I don't engage the Attack or Delay buttons so it's just slight Sustain and the harmonics if I want; which is my "clean" sound... I think they use this same concept in one of the smaller pedals... When I play other dirt pedals after it, the Harmonics knob can alter the other pedal alot or a little which can make it sound less rough and easier to handle chords...

I can testify to the Attack Sustain--excellent stacker that can create great rhythm tones. Aenima intrigues me, as does the DE Year of the Rat--stacking pedals that have a mixture of clipped frequencies and non-clipped frequencies can create some lush textures for sure. I'd love to hear those two stacked.

As I understand it, the Algal Bloom mates a discrete transistor boost stage to a bjt/diode clipping stage--sort of a self-contained stack that keeps the building blocks simple to let the character of the clipping stay more open and lets the texture bloom--ideal for rhythm fuzz, and it shows in the sonics.

Psst--dorfmeister--you've got PM

J-Fuzz wrote:TAFM for anything and everything. I like an IC Muff every now and then too.

Agreed, I've been leaning pretty heavy on the TAFM too, really amazing sounding fuzz and the first clean blend feature I've really found useful. Also like that you can dial it doomy and smooth or nasty and raw and retain clarity either way. Lots of flexibility with that one.

Also agree that the VTF is fuckin' great, although I use it for more weirdness than rhythm duty.

sevenSHARPnine wrote:Algal Bloom! That thing has got chords nailed.

Another favorite!