Big muff, RAT2 or something else??
Discussion
So last week I finally got myself a TS808 Tube Screamer and it's great for those edgy overdriven tones with my (Blackstar HT5-R)amp set clean/nearly clean and the TS kicks in on top. It's a great OD and I'm pleased with it after the long wait (I'd been after one for 30+ years and never got round to it). However, since my 30+ year old no name 'fuzz box' is really rubbish (it dulls the tone of the guitar in the 'off' position)I need something for those more saturated and compressed tones.
Something like Santana or maybe Richie Sambora (as in Living on a prayer solo sound) is what I'm after as the guitar class I go to has an end of term concert soon and the TS doesn't cut it for the LOAP solo that I might be playing.
I'm thinking either Little Big Muff, or just a Big Muff or maybe a RAT2/Dirty RAT pedal unless there are alternatives I should also consider. I'm most likely to go to Andertons in Guildford so ideally something they stock if I need to consider alternatives.
Despite being big on DIY (and I've previously built my own Marshall MV rip off pre amp using valves) I just want something I can buy, not build.
Something like Santana or maybe Richie Sambora (as in Living on a prayer solo sound) is what I'm after as the guitar class I go to has an end of term concert soon and the TS doesn't cut it for the LOAP solo that I might be playing.
I'm thinking either Little Big Muff, or just a Big Muff or maybe a RAT2/Dirty RAT pedal unless there are alternatives I should also consider. I'm most likely to go to Andertons in Guildford so ideally something they stock if I need to consider alternatives.
Despite being big on DIY (and I've previously built my own Marshall MV rip off pre amp using valves) I just want something I can buy, not build.
I've only played on Muff clones and RAT clones, but they sounded worlds apart to me, the muff is a fuzzy fuzz the RAT was a scrappy distortion!
Of course if depends what you run it through, how you set it, but the muff is very fuzz.
If you're going to andertons, Id peruse their site then see if they have a vid of it (they probably do!), might help you zone in a bit!
Personally I found the HT gain setting far better than the pedals, but as I said they were clones.
Of course if depends what you run it through, how you set it, but the muff is very fuzz.
If you're going to andertons, Id peruse their site then see if they have a vid of it (they probably do!), might help you zone in a bit!
Personally I found the HT gain setting far better than the pedals, but as I said they were clones.
Yes, definitely subjective seeing the two opposite responses so far (unless 'scrappy' is a good thing??). It's more fuzz than over drive that I'm after, but I just wanted to narrow it down to a few choices. Andertons have about 35 pedals listed under 'fuzz' so I'd need a whole weekend to get through that lot (and I'd have forgotten which one I liked best by the end knowing my memory. 
). Good call on the videos though and I've had a quick look on Youtube and already found comparisons of Big Muff and RAT2, so I just need to plug my laptop into my AV amp to get a better idea of what they sound like instead of my tinny laptop speakers.
It's funny; before I started going to the guitar club this year I'd barely spent more than the cost of a couple of packs of strings over the last few years. In the last 6 months I've bought a new amp, various upgrade parts for my Epiphone LP, taken my JV Squier in to get it refinished and fretwork done, the TS808 and now the new 'fuzz' pedal. I think I've just replaced my AV gear 'GAS' with a guitar based one...
(I am playing better though, so it's all worth it in the end).
). Good call on the videos though and I've had a quick look on Youtube and already found comparisons of Big Muff and RAT2, so I just need to plug my laptop into my AV amp to get a better idea of what they sound like instead of my tinny laptop speakers.It's funny; before I started going to the guitar club this year I'd barely spent more than the cost of a couple of packs of strings over the last few years. In the last 6 months I've bought a new amp, various upgrade parts for my Epiphone LP, taken my JV Squier in to get it refinished and fretwork done, the TS808 and now the new 'fuzz' pedal. I think I've just replaced my AV gear 'GAS' with a guitar based one...
(I am playing better though, so it's all worth it in the end).
OldSkoolRS said:
Yes, definitely subjective seeing the two opposite responses so far (unless 'scrappy' is a good thing??). It's more fuzz than over drive that I'm after, but I just wanted to narrow it down to a few choices. Andertons have about 35 pedals listed under 'fuzz' so I'd need a whole weekend to get through that lot (and I'd have forgotten which one I liked best by the end knowing my memory. ). Good call on the videos though and I've had a quick look on Youtube and already found comparisons of Big Muff and RAT2, so I just need to plug my laptop into my AV amp to get a better idea of what they sound like instead of my tinny laptop speakers.
It's funny; before I started going to the guitar club this year I'd barely spent more than the cost of a couple of packs of strings over the last few years. In the last 6 months I've bought a new amp, various upgrade parts for my Epiphone LP, taken my JV Squier in to get it refinished and fretwork done, the TS808 and now the new 'fuzz' pedal. I think I've just replaced my AV gear 'GAS' with a guitar based one...
(I am playing better though, so it's all worth it in the end).
Yeah sorry, I didn't mean scrappy in a particularly bad way, just the tone is rather raspy. I was trying to describe the tone but lacked any mental capacity at that moment. ). Good call on the videos though and I've had a quick look on Youtube and already found comparisons of Big Muff and RAT2, so I just need to plug my laptop into my AV amp to get a better idea of what they sound like instead of my tinny laptop speakers.It's funny; before I started going to the guitar club this year I'd barely spent more than the cost of a couple of packs of strings over the last few years. In the last 6 months I've bought a new amp, various upgrade parts for my Epiphone LP, taken my JV Squier in to get it refinished and fretwork done, the TS808 and now the new 'fuzz' pedal. I think I've just replaced my AV gear 'GAS' with a guitar based one...
(I am playing better though, so it's all worth it in the end).
With tone their really is no right or wrong just different!
Fuzz wise you'll be in for a treat, as their is a lot of love for these, especially 'vintage' sounding ones by tone hipsters/addicts, so you should be able to find something you like, and get some advice online.
Off the top of my head mxr do a few - there is a rather nice octave fuzz but I doubt that's what youre after, Dr green do one called bearded lady - andertons have a vid of that and all of the DR Green pedals up, plus a load of smaller companies which can be a pain to look up but I know Earthqauker devices do some tasty stuff, I think Red Witch have one (maybe 2 now?,
Music radar is a good tool I've found for pedals as you can use their 'top tens, 25s etc' as a good catalogue to start youtubing!
http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/guitars/round-up...
http://www.musicradar.com/guitarist/fuzz-pedal-rou...
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/50-of-the-b...
Fuzz can be a tricky beast sometimes, too much and its into crazy Stoner overload, as well as getting that octave sound at certain points, so it make take some fiddling to get the sound right. On the HT5 play with ISF.
Although, neck pick up, tone knob to zero, max crazy fuzz - gives some great sounding stuff!
Consider a clean boost. I use a Boss EQ pedal which has a (IIRC) 10dB cut/boost on it. By upping the treble a bit and ramming the boost all the way to the top it really works nicely, especially with a little valve amp that's just on the edge of breakup when it is exactly what I wanted for a tone. It sounds like the TS-9 I use, just a bit "more", and is transparent.
Thanks Fantuzzi and DavePoth. Lots to have a read through there to and videos to look at and listen to.
The Blackstar HT5-R can be overloaded nicely by the TS, though I'm after a more master volume type effect with the fuzz since it all gets a bit too loud doing it the boost way (though I do like the tone when I do that, thankfully we're detached).
Kind of related, at least in terms of the search for tone: I've just done some rewiring on my (12 year old) Affinity Telecaster tonight; just used up some spare parts I had for my JV Strat which I decided to keep standard.
I put in a new volume pot (with treble bleed) and a TBX tone circuit, I'm really pleased with how it's worked out for such a cheap guitar, giving me more control, new tones and no crackles. I did fit a set of decent Fender pick ups about 8 years ago and I'm ordering a 4 way switch to put in next week so it's been a gradual upgrade process. Financially it doesn't really make sense (I'd be better off buying a new MIA Tele really, but where's the fun in that?).
The Blackstar HT5-R can be overloaded nicely by the TS, though I'm after a more master volume type effect with the fuzz since it all gets a bit too loud doing it the boost way (though I do like the tone when I do that, thankfully we're detached).
Kind of related, at least in terms of the search for tone: I've just done some rewiring on my (12 year old) Affinity Telecaster tonight; just used up some spare parts I had for my JV Strat which I decided to keep standard.
I put in a new volume pot (with treble bleed) and a TBX tone circuit, I'm really pleased with how it's worked out for such a cheap guitar, giving me more control, new tones and no crackles. I did fit a set of decent Fender pick ups about 8 years ago and I'm ordering a 4 way switch to put in next week so it's been a gradual upgrade process. Financially it doesn't really make sense (I'd be better off buying a new MIA Tele really, but where's the fun in that?).
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Thursday 12th June 08:20
Just purchased one of these. Lovely thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eouxsxpYVdw
Andertons stock them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eouxsxpYVdw
Andertons stock them.
Joyo keep coming up on various forums I go on (MyLP, Squier & TDPri). I tried one of their little 1 watt amps before buying my Blackstar and I was quite taken with it despite it's low power and single control.
I'll have to make a short list then get over to Andertons or maybe Dawsons, possibly on a day when England are playing as the shops and roads should be quiet (perks of not being into football ).
I'll have to make a short list then get over to Andertons or maybe Dawsons, possibly on a day when England are playing as the shops and roads should be quiet (perks of not being into football
).Fantuzzi said:
I think andertons love the fulltone pedals and Lovepedal, pretty sure they're top of their pedal list so maybe give them a listen, and should have them in stock.
The Fulltone OCD gets a lot of love.
i think the OCD is the pedal I see guitarist using more than most as' main' overdrive at gigs now... The Fulltone OCD gets a lot of love.
Fulltone octofuzz is a great pedal, thickens up a strat brilliantly (the blackstar is quite bright so might work quite well). id check out a heap the new boss pedals as well as I believe some of their releases are exceptionly good. I think Boss gets overlooked sometimes as the smaller brands make a lot of noise about all their true bypass b
ks and military grade switchgear etc but never heard of boss breaking unlike the the others and I personally think pedals like the adaptive distortion sound damon good
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qJIyQAvoINk
Ditto - always thought big muffs just sound weird, Rats are ok though
ks and military grade switchgear etc but never heard of boss breaking unlike the the others and I personally think pedals like the adaptive distortion sound damon goodhttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qJIyQAvoINk
Ditto - always thought big muffs just sound weird, Rats are ok though
Fulltone octofuzz is a great pedal, thickens up a strat brilliantly (the blackstar is quite bright so might work quite well). id check out a heap the new boss pedals as well as I believe some of their releases are exceptionly good. I think Boss gets overlooked sometimes as the smaller brands make a lot of noise about all their true bypass bks and military grade switchgear etc but never heard of boss breaking unlike the the others and I personally think pedals like the adaptive distortion sound damon good
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qJIyQAvoINk
Ditto - always thought big muffs just sound weird, Rats are ok though
ks and military grade switchgear etc but never heard of boss breaking unlike the the others and I personally think pedals like the adaptive distortion sound damon goodhttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qJIyQAvoINk
Ditto - always thought big muffs just sound weird, Rats are ok though
I've had a couple of mooer pedals recently. I'm considering buying either their pure boost or green mile overdrive to stick on my board next to my ancient boss SD-1. Although it can sound a little harsh without a bit of fiddling with the knobs I've always found the SD-1 works pretty well with a valve amp. I'm using a recently acquired ht40 which I'm really pleased with (although it was dead when I got it) it is very easy to get a very nice over driven sound just using the SD-1 as a boost on clean rather than an OD (if all that makes sense!).
Cheers
D
Cheers
D
Check out earthquaker devices, when I was in my stonerrock phase I remember they stuck in my fuzzy mind from the stuff I heard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erTpNiDjZow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erTpNiDjZow
I called into a local guitar shop today as I'd finished early. They had a few pedals including an odd looking secondhand orange fuzz pedal the make of which escapes me now. However we got plugged in and it didn't work. Maybe it was a blessing as I'd prefer to compare a few together, so I'll have to get over to Andertons when I get a free Saturday/Sunday.
I've tried comparing a few on You tube, but it's hard to tell if they will be what I'm after, since I really need to play though it myself.
Our guitar 'school' has an end of term show soon but I don't know if I'll get chance to sort out the new pedal in time, so I'll just have to make do with my Zoom 505 and/or Tube Screamer since all three songs need OD/distortion to some degree. Better not to rush and buy something online just to have it for the show I guess.
I've tried comparing a few on You tube, but it's hard to tell if they will be what I'm after, since I really need to play though it myself.
Our guitar 'school' has an end of term show soon but I don't know if I'll get chance to sort out the new pedal in time, so I'll just have to make do with my Zoom 505 and/or Tube Screamer since all three songs need OD/distortion to some degree. Better not to rush and buy something online just to have it for the show I guess.
Just for the hell of it I searched on the fuzz pedal I've owned since about 1980. It has a great sound when engaged, but the bypass mode sucks the tone from the guitar. So it's no good in a live situation unless you're going to use it for every song. I paid about £10 for it as I couldn't afford the Tube Screamer at the time (forgive me I only had a paper round for income at the time 
).
Anyway turns out that it's described as having an 'early RAT' tone and response, but more defined. So maybe I'll take well to the RAT, when I finally get chance to go across to Andertons.
http://effectsfreak.com/effect/coron/distortion_10...
Average sale price of around $100 too, which is laughable really...
).Anyway turns out that it's described as having an 'early RAT' tone and response, but more defined. So maybe I'll take well to the RAT, when I finally get chance to go across to Andertons.
http://effectsfreak.com/effect/coron/distortion_10...
Average sale price of around $100 too, which is laughable really...
I'm sure there's a good reason, but why not use the drive channel on the amp? I've not yet found a pedal that can match the overdrive sound of any of my amps, from my Microterror through to my DSL100. Set the sound you want and if necessary back off the guitar a bit for the cleaner sections.
Tom_C76 said:
I'm sure there's a good reason, but why not use the drive channel on the amp? I've not yet found a pedal that can match the overdrive sound of any of my amps, from my Microterror through to my DSL100. Set the sound you want and if necessary back off the guitar a bit for the cleaner sections.
I'm guessing the O.P has a tone in mind that the HT cant get, but I'd agree, I'm not much of a gearslut so tend to spend a long time picking an amp that has the tone I want.The Blackstar HT5 I had was particularly awesome on the gain channel, wish I never sold it!
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