Wattson EFY-6 vs Mid-Fi Demo Tape Fuzz vs others (on bass)

[Tendollarcat]

I'm looking to add a pedal to my board that is a departure from the Muff and Rat tones I currently have. I also have a bunch of overdrive options already so I'm really looking for something a bit distinctive and unusual (no clean blend).

Short list -

Wattson EFY-6 (but unsure how it goes on bass)
Midfi Demo Tape Fuzz (also unsure about it on bass)
Malekko B:assmaster (been on my list for a while, even though it has a type of blend)
Unpleasant Surprise (I just like the look of Fairfield stuff)
Four Eyes Fuzz (As above)
Pickle Pie B (had one and sold it and now think it was the only clean blend pedal I ever dug for bass fuzz)
Smallsound Mini (and crank the shit out of it)

Main thing I want is something that holds some bottom end and has a distinctive character that doesn't need clean blend to be usable on bass. As an example, the Demo Tape Fuzz sounds like a fucked up small combo amp on guitar in the best possible way. Thats a tone I really like. Normally, I like to stack an Arc Green Pi into a Dirge Boost to get a heavyish grind in the mix at times. I'm thinking something that is nasty sounding and an alter ego to that is ideal. I think that's why I'm leaning toward octave based fuzz.

Anyone run these on bass? Any favorites or recommendations?

[chillerthanmost]

With my Sunn Beta Bass through an 8x10, my Mini replaced my Rat Tail. It now sounds like a cranked SVT with more balls, just not as loud unfortunately, but very killer tone. I think the Mini is an all around excellent pedal.

The Pickle Pie I thought was too scooped. My friend loves his but every time I hear it it's just so hollow sounding from lacking so much mids. All bass and treble to my ears.

I also love my TAFM. Does use a clean blend but its kinda more of a dirty blend. Tons of options with it and lots of different sounds. I have it running to my Sunn Sorado through a 2x15 and also to the Mini/Beta Bass/8x10.

Another distortion pedal I highly enjoy that kinda has a bit of its own thing is the DOD 250. Late 70's. I used to love the way it sounded through my old Sound City 120 with my T40. Just the right amount of dirt with very very little low end loss at lower-mid gain settings.

[sylnau]

I would say:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUpeKYwqR28[/youtube]

and look at others vids by Mr. Excane, he's the best!
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrExcane

[Tendollarcat]

Thanks guys. Totally agree that a visit to Mr Excane's channel will help on this search. Between demos from Mr E, Behndy, Jwar, Delta and a few others, I'm usually able to ship a pedal to Australia without it being a lottery.

[kbit]

Mini rocks, as does the TAFM. You don't need a blend for it to sound good, but I do find just a little bit is nice.

[skullservant]

Mini sounds awesome on bass. I would think that the Wattson and Demo tape would have some low-end loss associated with them, but I could be totally wrong!

[9520575]

I really like the demo tape fuzz on my bass.

Ummmm...

I have an old demo where I played it on bass...

although I did have a dwaftcraft destroyer on as welll.........

errrr.....

anyway

check it out

right at the beginning and then at 3:39.



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFOho-8GPpk[/youtube]

[Tendollarcat]

That's an amazing demo! I had no idea the Tremoloessence had that sort if a range.

[Tendollarcat]

Did a big demo listen and research overnight. Going to go for a Mini. It's cranked tone sounds amazing on bass demos.

[Seizurema]

Please review it when you get it. I've been heavily considering the Mini for bass crunch/roar.

[chillerthanmost]

Please review it when you get it. I've been heavily considering the Mini for bass crunch/roar.

Dude, it rules on bass. It kicked my Rat Tail off my bass board, and I loved that pedal. It just sounds so natural when pushed. It makes my shit sound huge and thick like a cranked vintage SVT. In fact, recently I saw Mammoth Grinder and their bass player was playing a vintage SVT stack and it sounded so good that the next day I played all my pedals through all my amps to emulate that sound and the Mini beat them all. It just has that right amount of growl and does great in front of a clean clean to dirty clean, extended low end signal. Like I mentioned, I play mine through a Beta Bass and a flatback SVT 810 with a Precision bass rocking DiMarzio model P's. No clips but maybe I can try to get something tonight if it doesn't overclip my microphone.

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

also, would just add that brassmasters are really cool and definitely have a very distinct sound to them.

[Ghost Hip]

I can second (or third) that the Mini sounds hot on bass. The bias knob really makes it a keeper for me. It goes from krackle and ripping, to open and roaring in the sweep of the knob. And the lows and treble knobs help you get the precise tone for a recording/live mix.

[Tendollarcat]

Thanks guys. I grabbed one here yesterday. Can't wait to try it out and I'll report back.

I also got one of the best responses I've ever had from Chris at Wattson when I asked about bass usage. It's great when a builder has enough class to say nice things about other pedal builders and then also point out specifically how to get the best out of the EFY-6 on bass. Wattson definitely have an ILF builder vibe about them. I'll grab an EFY in the near future too.

[9520575]

Echodeluxe does post here. so, he is an ILFer...