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Fuzzhugger Arc Flash.

It does a clean boost.
It does OD.
It does spluttery OD.
It does fuzz.
It does holy-shit-I-plugged-my-guitar-into-the-power-outlet-instead-of-the-amp

It's cheap.
It is equally good for rhythms or leads.
It's easy to dial in - it's obvious what the knobs do (not necessarily so with all fuzzes)
It's consistent.

All of these factors are good for a first fuzz.

My first fuzz was an Algal Bloom but I didn't properly appreciate it until recently...when I traded it....I'll definitely buy another in the future
For a first fuzz I think either the Algal Bloom or TAFM would both make excellent first fuzzes.
Especially the TAFM if you plan on using it on everything.

DBA Fuzz War is a good option for your first fuzz in my opinion. The Fuzz War was my first fuzz several years ago, and it started me down a path where I've gone through god knows how many fuzzes in the last few years. I've actually thought about picking one up again lately, especially since the gain knob is actually on the outside now. Not too expensive either, especially if you track down a used one.

a Fuzz Face or some kind. say, one of the newish Dunlop 'mini' fuzz faces.

Buy them all!!!

I would say get a couple and see what you like and what you don't and go from there... It's a Never Ending Quest and that's why we're all here...

Algal, TAFM, or a Pharaoh would sound good on different things...

archlilim wrote:I might look into Earthquaker. Good place to start imo.

(youtube embed isn't working for me for some reason )

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q9cnzgk0V8[/youtube]

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

Nick does a really good job at explaining imo.

Take out the "s" from the https and add youtube brackets: [youtube][/youtube]

My first fuzz was a giant Big Muff in a silver box. Loved that thing till I found other flavors of muff based circuits.

Just don't get the bass big muff, it sounds like donkey poo leaking out of ass doughnuts.

Would need more data to begin to recommend anything.

I have never liked a Muff-type circuit into a clean Fender amp. They're polarizing pedals - you love them or you don't.

I'd look at a Fuzz Factory and see how that works.

Joe Gress wrote:My first fuzz was a giant Big Muff in a silver box. Loved that thing till I found other flavors of muff based circuits.

Just don't get the bass big muff, it sounds like donkey poo leaking out of ass doughnuts.

Yes, this! BBM SUCKS. My first fuzz was a Little Big Muff and it's still my favorite in-production muff.

spacelordmother wrote:my favorite in-production muff.

Ragged Trousers wrote:Algal Bloom

yup
I have yet to get an uninteresting sound out of it using anything as a source.

Ragged Trousers wrote:Algal Bloom

goroth wrote:Fuzzhugger Arc Flash.

It does a clean boost.
It does OD.
It does spluttery OD.
It does fuzz.
It does holy-shit-I-plugged-my-guitar-into-the-power-outlet-instead-of-the-amp

It's cheap.
It is equally good for rhythms or leads.
It's easy to dial in - it's obvious what the knobs do (not necessarily so with all fuzzes)
It's consistent.

All of these factors are good for a first fuzz.

Yeah I think both of these are good recs. Versatile, nice sounding and not too pricey. Reminds me I really ought to get an arc flash again... (I think you have my old one goroth?)

Arc Flash doesn't get enough love.

Did you buy mine, monkeydancer? Has it made its way around the world now?

Arc Flash seems crazy. Algal Bloom sounds a lot more standard to me?

Arc Flash.... mmm....

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, I have a lot to digest.

How about a Great Wall? I just got one and LOVE IT.