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Hi, just wanted to get peeps' opinions of which is felt to be the better type of pedal for boosting a fuzz, particularly big muffs: a boost like TC Electronic Spark or a EQ pedal like the Boss GE-7?

I should point out that this would be for accentuated rhythm playing in 'choruses' or breaks as opposed to needing a boost for solos etc.

Look forward to hearing form you.

The GE-7 is a cool pedal but has one problem: in its stock form, it can get pretty noisy if you boost any band too much. Not sure how this would work with a Muff...

BUT the good news is that you can get rid of this noise problem via any number of mods out there that upgrade a couple of the components. I bought mine off of eBay with the Monte Allums mod already done. Sounds great, no noise at all.

The Fuzzrocious Feed Me looks awesome—I haven't gotten a chance to try one yet, but I imagine I'll probably bite the bullet and just buy one sometime soon.

The Source Audio EQ is also very much worth a look.

Are you looking to put the boost before or after the fuzz?

Fromel Shape EQ

EQs are pretty fun with fuzz because ithey allows you to often get many more sounds than would otherwise be possible. The paraeq is nice, a little pricey but a solid piece of gear- it has a boost as well.

popvulture wrote:The GE-7 is a cool pedal but has one problem: in its stock form, it can get pretty noisy if you boost any band too much. Not sure how this would work with a Muff...

BUT the good news is that you can get rid of this noise problem via any number of mods out there that upgrade a couple of the components. I bought mine off of eBay with the Monte Allums mod already done. Sounds great, no noise at all.

The Fuzzrocious Feed Me looks awesome—I haven't gotten a chance to try one yet, but I imagine I'll probably bite the bullet and just buy one sometime soon.

The Source Audio EQ is also very much worth a look.

Cool, thanks for the info, especially about seeking out a modded version of the GE-7.

HM-2

Chankgeez wrote:Are you looking to put the boost before or after the fuzz?

I was thinking of placing the boost behind the fuzz so as just to get a volume lift rather than adding more gain to the fuzz. Having said that, if I got a booster I would probably play around with in front and behind just to see what it sounded like. What is your preference?

amnesiac305 wrote:EQs are pretty fun with fuzz because ithey allows you to often get many more sounds than would otherwise be possible. The paraeq is nice, a little pricey but a solid piece of gear- it has a boost as well.

Yeah, that's what has me leaning more to an EQ pedal - that I can conjure up more tonal shapes than I can with a boost (although The Spark does come with its own EQ controls). The Empress Paraeq looks mega but is well out of my price range. The Boss or MXR range of equalisers are more what I can afford.

Brandsmannen wrote:HM-2

Really? I am intrigued, tell me more.

Smarty wrote:

Brandsmannen wrote:HM-2

Really? I am intrigued, tell me more.

Gain on zero, it's still a bit dirty, but has massive volume on tap and a rad asf EQ

Brandsmannen wrote:

Smarty wrote:

Brandsmannen wrote:HM-2

Really? I am intrigued, tell me more.

Gain on zero, it's still a bit dirty, but has massive volume on tap and a rad asf EQ

I dunno about massive. Even running at 12v my HM-2 is pretty quiet on all settings.

I remember loving my Rangemaster and EP Booster for this purpose, which would be similar to the TC Sparkle. These don't offer you the same level of control as an EQ would, but they definitely bring a new life to a lot of fuzzes when you put them after the fuzz. I'm currently running my Mini after my Baby Thunder for this purpose (as well as others). BT can be set thick and the mini can blast some more charisma into it for the best of both worlds.

Smarty wrote:
I was thinking of placing the boost behind the fuzz so as just to get a volume lift rather than adding more gain to the fuzz. Having said that, if I got a booster I would probably play around with in front and behind just to see what it sounded like. What is your preference?

Yeah, I'm generally with you and run the boost after the fuzz. I'm usually not looking for more gain out of a fuzz. A lot of times I'll look to boosts to add low end to a fuzz.

I use Klon-like pedals, the Mantic Thug, DOD 250 derivatives or the Stone Deaf PDF-1 for this application with good results.

I'd say for a Big Muff this'd work fine. The exception to this method would be for fuzzes with lots of character which'd get lost by stacking 'em into another gain pedal. If I wanna smooth out a fuzz like that, then I'd place a boost before it. That doesn't happen too often though.

If you wanna go the EQ route, I'd probably put a graphic EQ before the fuzz.

Definitely mess around with placement. It's so pedal dependent.

Chankgeez wrote:

Smarty wrote:
I was thinking of placing the boost behind the fuzz so as just to get a volume lift rather than adding more gain to the fuzz. Having said that, if I got a booster I would probably play around with in front and behind just to see what it sounded like. What is your preference?

Yeah, I'm generally with you and run the boost after the fuzz. I'm usually not looking for more gain out of a fuzz. A lot of times I'll look to boosts to add low end to a fuzz.

I use Klon-like pedals, the Mantic Thug, DOD 250 derivatives or the Stone Deaf PDF-1 for this application with good results.

I'd say for a Big Muff this'd work fine. The exception to this method would be for fuzzes with lots of character which'd get lost by stacking 'em into another gain pedal. If I wanna smooth out a fuzz like that, then I'd place a boost before it. That doesn't happen too often though.

If you wanna go the EQ route, I'd probably put a graphic EQ before the fuzz.

Definitely mess around with placement. It's so pedal dependent.

Yeah, there are a few ge-7s on eBay that I might be able to pick up cheap and get modded here in England for a reasonable price