Bass fuzz - Anybody prefer dark sounding fuzz?

[Tendollarcat]

I love the idea of a dedicated fuzz through my bass rig but now seem to chase that sort of sound by stacking a couple of drives. In recent years, I've tried a range of muff type pedals, plus stuff like an oxide, Pickle Pie B, b:assmaster, barnacle, Eau Claire thunder, Hair of the dog, TAFM, Rats and some I'm probably forgetting. Generally good stuff though. Stuff that works for other players. It's not the pedals, it's the stupid player

Of these, I've really loved the germanium b:assmaster I have and also didn't mind the pickle pie b and TAFM. I feel like they have proper bottom end and grind - where a few of the others went to mud or were a bit shrill for me. That's my main complaint - it's not a loss of low end as much as the fuzz voicing seems too bright for me. I want something that goes boom - instead of bang So starting with those as really good ones - is there anything out there that is a bit darker sounding and still great?

Tonally, I'm digging Anton from O'brother's tones. He has great fuzz sounds but he uses a Rat and a b:assmaster. Both of these sound waaaay brighter when I use them. Here's a cool example of his sound -

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEpDTQnY07o[/youtube]

What are the great darker voiced fuzzes for bass out there? I don't love clean blend but will use it if it works. I'm looking for something that can do loud and aggressive but is deeper voiced. Any recommendations would be great.

[Deltaphoenix]

My old school TAFM (#20) fits the bill for BOOM. It is not fizzy, muddy, or any adjective like that. It is little darker than more current versions I do believe.

[behndy]

ever try a Depth Charge? 's a BrassMmmmmmaster'y circuit and ig get low and GRINDY.

love that thing.

[chillerthanmost]

I also feel my older TAFM fits the description. Lots of low growl with, just as you mentioned, "BOOM" and not "bang."
As far as muff variants, be sure you're really playing with the tone knob on each of the ones you've tried. Muffs clones are very easy to mod the tone circuit, so a lot of builders have different emphasis on the lows, mids, and highs from the tone knob. I'm not huge muff savvy, but maybe try something based off a triangle muff? Last I played one, it was very creamy on the low end with a bit of compression to not make it so ice picky. It was built by Danndubbleewe (ILF name).

Another thing I look for or prefer are Germanium transistors. For instance, I find my Pharaoh to sound shrill, even though it's really dark, with the middle and SI positions, but it sounds excellent to me in the Ge. position. And I've noticed most fuzzes I like most, are driven with some type if germanium transistor or at least halfly driven by one.

What bass, and, and cab are you playing? My amps are pretty dark so it could mean nothing if you're pairing these up with bright amps (?).

(Edit: reason I mention "older" TAFM is because I've had a modern one that didn't sound as dark, gritty, and ballsy as my older built one. However, they were compared before I knew about the internal dip switches the new ones have.)

[Bassboar]

Bluebeard gets pretty dark, not muddy at all.
Megalith is a sub-bass machine.

[AxAxSxS]

Pharaoh set up properly will def get you there.

[chillerthanmost]

I usually do my Bluebeard with the tone bypass, which is not dark, but it does get dark and thick with the tone down. To me it does a good job at keeping your original low bass notes articulate and heavy while the gain and grittiness is kind of its own signal path. Not exactly like a clean blend, and obviously not controllable, but kind of in a way in that vein, which I only find when I I play my BB. At least through my YBA-3 and 2x15.

[Uncle Grandfather]

You might want to check out the Katanasound Super Bass Fuzz
Righteous

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whB-eVq-2jg[/youtube]

[retinal orbita]

A brassmaster clone is super easy to make (not that I make pedals, but I certainly had no problem paying a guy to make me one) and I know they can be modded to allow a master volume rather than a clean blend knob. I love that shit man, it sounds like the total fucking war....

[amorphous]

Frantone Bassweet = dark. I've got one f/s in the BST section. There is a demo from bassfuzz.com up on the tubes, but it really does do the pedal adiquate justice, IMO.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I think the tafm does that well but clearly ymmv. The BAT LSTR sounds good like that I think, turn the tone down and it gets dark but doesn't lose bite. Haven't tried one but the megalith looks like a good shout.

[D.o.S.]

Dark Muffs all day.

[retinal orbita]

Dark Muffs all day.

Fuck yeah bro

Oh you meant some kinds of pedal

[Tendollarcat]

Thanks guys. Was really impressed by the katanasound clip. And then I heard the Depth Charge and it sounds 99.97% like the sound in my head. Awesome awesome awesome full heavy tone. When cash can be raised, I'll be grabbing one of those.

[behndy]

yeah. the Depth is TITS. it's got that low grindy then low but HUGE. seriously one of my favorite fuzzy pedals.