GAS + xmas monies = dirt box hunt

[frigid midget]

Want one or maybe two dirt pedals for my new and improved small board. Can't cover too much of the same ground as the one only dirt pedal that's on it: Clusterfuzz. Needs to be simple and straight forward, and easily avalaible as well as somewhat affordable. Here's what I've come up with:

- Acapulco Gold: Maybe a little too straight forward. Never had much luck with one knob overdrives in the past, the lack of seperate gain/volume controls always annoyed the hell out of me

- EQD Fuzz Master General: Don't own an actual octave fuzz, and it'll take forever for me to build me my FM-2 clone

- Harmonic Percolator: Always been really curious about this one. I can't bring myself to buy one that DOESNT have the awesome slanted enclosure though, and those usually cost way more than what I want to spend

- HM-2: Not even kidding. Not sure if it's different enough from my fabtone to justify adding it to the arsenal though.

At this point, three dirt peds would be overkill for the board I'm planning, I mainly use my tiny terror these days anyway, which has a decent lead channel. Ditching my hotcake, cause it's only useable at higher gain settings when I put an eq pedal on front of it to bring back a little mids&treble. It would make a great clean-ish booster, but I need that a lot less than I need something that can sound hairy/nasty/fuzzy/raspy.

So what's the verdict? Suggestions for a acapulco gold 'deluxe' of sorts? A slightly cheaper version of the fuzz master general? A HP with a classic style wedge shape enclosure that doesn't cost more than $125 or so?

Oh yeah, besised the pedals I mensioned, the only other (good) dirt I've got laying around somewhere: FZ-2, Maxon D&S. So the new one can't be a muff or superfuzz clone. I like both, but I don't have much use for 'em these days, so one of each is more than enough at the moment. Cheers.

[fcknoise]

How about a TAFM? I think that would work well with other stuff too since it has blend and stuff

Edit: Oh, saw the price limit now. Used I think they go a bit more than that.

Also, tbh, I think fab tone and HM-2 are quite similar in many aspects. Perhaps a rat is a better choice? I want to own all of the ones you listed too, but I haven't tried most

[frigid midget]

The TAFM is twice the size and number of controls/switches of what I what I had in mind...

But I just checked some demos

I'm in Europe though, I doub't I'll be able to find a good deal for a used one

[frigid midget]

How about a TAFM? I think that would work well with other stuff too since it has blend and stuff

Edit: Oh, saw the price limit now. Used I think they go a bit more than that.

Also, tbh, I think fab tone and HM-2 are quite similar in many aspects. Perhaps a rat is a better choice? I want to own all of the ones you listed too, but I haven't tried most

Edit: Just checked some more TAFM demos. Might be willing to stretch the budget a bit

Rats are picky with amps in my experience. And I never liked how they kill all the low end when the gain's cranked

[fcknoise]

I think there is a used one for 150$ in BST

Edit: that was a fuck oh well

[ck3]

Frederic Effects makes amazing/affordable Harmonic Percolator clones, but they are not in the classic enclosure format. I previously owned both the Perky Harlot, currently have a Utility Perkolator, and both have earned my seal of approval. Avoid the Catalinbread Karma Suture if you're in the market for a more authentic Harmonic Percolator experience.

There are plenty of affordable Acapulco Gold knockoffs available from small-time boutique builders on Reverb.com that likely sound identical to the original pedal. I had the Murphy Effects Kush at one point, which has an additional input gain level control (which basically eliminated the need for tinkering with my guitar's volume knob). It was interesting, but probably better suited for a real tube amplification rig than my solid state/digital modeling gear.

The Yellowcake Furry Burrito (one of my top pedal picks for 2016) is a Rat variant with plenty of low end that is less icepicky than others I've tried and also has dual gain controls, a bass boost switch, and a nifty voltage starve knob for simulating battery power and/or creating bizarre, horny synth dirt with slight oscillation. If you can find one used or on sale at a deeper discount, it may be within your budget.

[frigid midget]

The Yellowcake Furry Burrito (one of my top pedal picks for 2016) is a Rat variant with plenty of low end that is less icepicky than others I've tried and also has dual gain controls, a bass boost switch, and a nifty voltage starve knob for simulating battery power and/or creating bizarre, horny synth dirt with slight oscillation. If you can find one used or on sale at a deeper discount, it may be within your budget.

Wow, never heard of it, sounds pretty damn impressive. Not overflowing with useless controls, yet tweakable and versatile, but also compact and with top jacks
Don't think these are easy to come by on the used marker though

I haven't ruled out the Frederic Effects HP clones btw. But I'm not now leaning more towards stuff lke this Furry Burrito, EQD Dunes, etc...
Haven't come across anything that's not rare and/or pricey though...:/

[lost in music]

I was just pricing TAFMs on ebay and was surprised to see sold items coming in in the low $100s. But it's totally worth it to just plunk down $175 for a new one.

[frigid midget]

Well...The first TAFM I come across that's priced in the low 100s...Is mine

Another one that caught my eye: Way Huge Fat Sandwich. Plenty of gain that's neather in the generic 'miab' or rat cathegory, nor the tubescreamer/blues category. The price tag's not too 'booteek', they're easy enough to come by on the used market, and there's the top jacks. Not nearly as adventurous as a TAFM ofcourse, but as a straight forward middle of the road high gain-ish distortion it might just do the trick on my board

[popvulture]

That Adventure Audio Glacial Zenith looks/sounds p cool

[rickenbastard]

Acapulco Gold gets my vote. While it only has one knob it responds very well and noticeably to switching pickups and instrument volume to change the dynamics of tone

[odontophobia]

Used Buzzz

Also HM2 is awesome. I shouldn't have sold mine. Smh.

[SMS]

I really want to try a Fuzz Master General but my rec is another EQD pedal, the Gray Channel.

It stacks well with other pedals, it has master and gain knobs only, nice clipping options. Over all a great dirt pedal and can be found in the low 100's used.

[frigid midget]

I really want to try a Fuzz Master General but my rec is another EQD pedal, the Gray Channel.

It stacks well with other pedals, it has master and gain knobs only, nice clipping options. Over all a great dirt pedal and can be found in the low 100's used.

The lack of a tone control doesnt bother me that much, but man...What a damn shame those two channels/stages can't be stacked

[popvulture]

Would that not be a fairly easy mod? I'm technically inept, but that doesn't seem like a crazy request.