First Annual Fuzz Wars, Round 1: Fuzz Pedals x 4 [review]
The world of fuzz pedals continues to grow, thanks to boutique builders and large manufacturers competing for our dollars and hoping their product becomes the industry standard. Some companies are motivated by selling as many of their great pedals as possible, while many smaller designers simply want to make interesting fuzz pedals to give musicians more creative options. In short- there are a ton of choices out there for us- which is great- but how do you find the ones that work best for you? I’m hoping I have the answer: Pedals And Effects First Annual “Fuzz Wars!”
In preparing for Fuzz Wars, I asked all of you to suggest what fuzz pedals you’d like to see me review and I have to admit, I was impressed- there were a few I’d never heard of. That is the crazy thing about fuzzes- there are so many being manufactured right now and they all create different sounds, so it’s virtually impossible to keep up with the production output. So again- Fuzz Wars was born.
For our very first installation (and don’t worry- I will do my best to make it more than just annual) my friend and fellow bassist Jonathan Hischke (Dot Hacker, Broken Bells, Hella) and I review our current favorites and cover some that we have never had the opportunity to play with.
Up first is Way Huge’s Swollen Pickle, my Russian Sovtek Muff (out of production- see pic above), Last Gasp Art Laboratories’ Super Oscillo Fuzz and Dwarfcraft’s Eau Clair Thunder. I love all four but each has very different and unique sounds and functions.
Note: Three out of the four fuzz pedals showcased here are available. For the Sovtek, check eBay (where I got mine), search the internet or vintage shops like Future Music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oxQmz-lqWM check out black out effectors amazing little boxes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrSaz_i7fE8&feature=relmfu liked the muff and the way huge!!
You need to check out the Bluebeard. It’s a MD/VA local favorite. I can send you mine in January when I get back from the states.
I picked up a Trex Bassjuice and really like it! Thinking about a Darkglass pedal though. Of the pedals you reviewed here I prefer the Swollen Pickle and the sovtek. They sound a little meaner and thicker to my ears.
coolest video yet!!!
i have the Swollen Pickle, and I’ve yet to find something i like as much as that.
and it gets alot of use in my band.
I have had an eau claire thunder for about a year now and I LOVE IT (on guitar.. never used it with a bass). Its gnarly and brutal as all hell.
of the video i liked the oscillo fuzz the most, then the sovtek. but check out this new line of pedals called Walrus Audio with their Jupiter fuzz. they demo it with a bass very briefly but it sounds like a fucking wall of sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9ZI6mvWK9Q
awesome!!
I got an electro harmonix graphic fuzz from the 90s that im in love with
earthbound audio supercollider is nice… going to go home and watch this after work
Daamn. Makes me want the Pickle and the Eau Claire even more. I keep seeing this Pickle on Craig’s List going for $75 but I just can’t make myself spend the money right now. I’m going to kick myself for it later…
Awwwwww. that swollen pickle sounded beasty…….
you must try that Darkglass!
http://www.darkglasselectronics.com/
I’ve been in the market for a fuzz and I think I was just sold on Dwarfcraft’s Eau Clair Thunder. It sounded mighty mean.
tall font russian, tall font russian, tall font russian
Sovtek
I rock the Pickle and its one my my main fuzzes (I use 7). Love me some fuzz bass! Got the Geiger Counter based off your vid and had it modded for a better bass response (MUCH larger caps). Another one of my favs that I own and recommend you check out is the Tech 21 Red Ripper. Its VERY versatile and thanks to its very powerful 3 band EQ it covers a lot of range. Its a fuzz pedal but it can do ovedriven tones, synthy bass fuzz, moog like laser stabs and I even use its EQ for a DEEP dubby sound. Check it out!
Dig the Swollen Pickle!!
The Swollen Pickle is my one and only Fuzz. I use it with flatwounds and they don’t tame it much. LOUD, bassy, sputtery, angry pickle!!
I’m currently using a Red Witch Fuzz God. It’s a pedal that on first use seems pretty straight up in terms f its sound, but wih just a few tweaks, you can go from blues all the way to thick doom. I love it.
http://youtu.be/9snwfnv8xcc
The Fuzz God on bass aswell. http://youtu.be/He0veutqKjg
I’m using Big John’s Hairy Balls or any number of my bass synth pedals for a fuzz sound (Synth Bass Wah, SB-7, Gonkulator, Punkifier). Lots of fun, thanks!
on my speakers the pickle tone from this clip sounds amazing