Muff-ish Fuzz?

Everyone needs a stompbox.
User avatar
Jonesie
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4047
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:00 am
Location: Massachusetts

Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by Jonesie » Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:29 am

I'm looking for a muffy fuzz for my board, but honestly, there are so many pedals out there doing that now that I don't really know what to get. I got a Hoof a month or so ago and it's not really doing it for me. It's a bit too gritty on the edges for me, if that makes any sense. There's a muff that I love in my Idiotbox No Moon, but the pedal is huge and has a TS and Rat that I don't need on my guitar board, so that's out too.

I know that I don't like OpAmp muffs (too fizzy), and the Idiotbox one is apparently a modified muff that's somewhere between a Ram's Head and a Triangle. I'd love to have a muff that has a bit of versatility, a mids switch or knob would be great, or even if it just has slightly more mids than a normal muff that'd be cool too.

I'm looking at the new EQD Hizumitas, and I've almost pulled the trigger on it a few times, but I'm not positive if it's too DOOM for my rig? I know there aren't many of them out there yet, so I'm betting that there aren't any OSG demos of it yet.

Any help would be hugely appreciated, thanks!

User avatar
fever606
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1146
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:03 pm
Location: district of columbia

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by fever606 » Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:55 am

Hizumitas is based on the Elk Fuzz, which was based on the Triangle Muff... definitely not TOO DOOM, but could take you there is necessary.

If the Hoof isn't doing it for you, check out the Blackout Effectors Musket... it has a bit more control - the FOCUS knob can tighten up the woofiness that some people don't love in Muffs and the PRE boost is great for goosing things a bit.

User avatar
PorkyPrimeCut
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 24464
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:46 am
Location: Leipzig
Contact:

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:04 am

At running the risk of sounding like a parrot...

Whenever I read that someone wants a Big Muff but can't work out which one, I always suggest the Way Huge Swollen Pickle.
If you're looking to sculpt a particular Muff tone it would be ideal. Also, it's not too big, solidly built & has a 9v power socket and a battery drawer.
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.

User avatar
JSett
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8803
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
Location: Old Hampshire, Old England

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by JSett » Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:21 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:
Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:04 am
At running the risk of sounding like a parrot...

Whenever I read that someone wants a Big Muff but can't work out which one, I always suggest the Way Huge Swollen Pickle.
If you're looking to sculpt a particular Muff tone it would be ideal. Also, it's not too big, solidly built & has a 9v power socket and a battery drawer.
I liked mine, but if anything it gave me option paralysis...and I kept pulling it off the board and fiddling with the internal trimpots. It drove me crazy and I sold it yesterday. I think I'm just too simple for it :D

Great sounds out of it though, and a HUGE variety of them too. If you're a knob tweaker and like getting deep into things I would also recommend one.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

User avatar
MechaBulletBill
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2813
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:16 am
Location: UK

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by MechaBulletBill » Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:37 am

you need to try a fuzz war if you haven't already. king of muff-ish fuzzes if you ask me

User avatar
s_mcsleazy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18423
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:30 am
Location: glasgow

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by s_mcsleazy » Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:50 am

ok, i got like 8 different big muff pedals and let me tell you. the two best ones, you can get for quite cheap.

twinote pi fuzz: basically a big muff with a mid control, you don't know how much you miss it until you don't have it.
EHX metal muff: no really, it's basically a big muff with a 3 band EQ and a boost built in.
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

User avatar
Shadoweclipse13
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 12435
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:22 pm
Location: Stuck in the dimension of imagination

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:04 am

I'm not too experienced on having muffs in hand to play with, but I've listened to a lot of demos and information written about them, and if you're looking for a smooth muff, my recommendation would be to look into one in the Russian family (black, green, or Civil War) or something hybrid. Arc Effects makes a nice sounding green Russian clone. The one I've always wanted to try is the Jam Pedals Red Muck, which is supposed to be a hybrid of a Russian (not sure which version) and a Triangle.

Jam Pedals - Red Muck - Comfortably Numb
This is where I fell in love.

I know you said you don't want a RAT, but I've heard some RATS that can get solidly into Muff territory, and can be very smooth too.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by Maggieo » Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:12 am

There's the JHS Muffelata. It's all the Muffs in one.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
MechaBulletBill
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2813
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:16 am
Location: UK

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by MechaBulletBill » Tue Nov 16, 2021 3:37 am

yeah but then you have a jhs pedal! :-X

my fav muffs have been russian versions - fredric green or w&c box of war
i want to build a clone of the elka sustainar (or blow some cash on the new eqd boris muff when that hits shops)

User avatar
Gavanti
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1712
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:31 pm
Location: Des Noise, Idohiowa
Contact:

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by Gavanti » Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:29 am

It's probably worth looking at some of the Stomp Under Foot 4 knob versions. The Mids control pot is really useful for going between playing solo and trying to cut through a mix.

User avatar
Dr Tony Balls
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 476
Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:05 am
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Contact:

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by Dr Tony Balls » Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:54 am

If you dont like the grit and fizz from a typical muff look for a lower gain muff, such as what would be in one of the russian circuits. There are LOTS of people making direct Russian-type clones, or other variations that have the gain brought down a bit to sing and sustain without that fizz.
Instagram: thetonyballs

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by Maggieo » Tue Nov 16, 2021 9:57 am

MechaBulletBill wrote:
Tue Nov 16, 2021 3:37 am
yeah but then you have a jhs pedal! :-X

my fav muffs have been russian versions - fredric green or w&c box of war
i want to build a clone of the elka sustainar (or blow some cash on the new eqd boris muff when that hits shops)
Oh FFS. ::)
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
MechaBulletBill
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2813
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:16 am
Location: UK

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by MechaBulletBill » Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:03 pm

pardon me, i just think their pedals suck!

User avatar
elektrovac
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1007
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:22 pm
Location: Floating in space

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by elektrovac » Thu Nov 18, 2021 12:43 am

Did you consider a Jumbo Tonebender based circuit? It's a close cousin to the BM circuit, but still different. Most importantly there's only one clipping stage.

I am biased about this one, because I am the creator of it (so stop me if I'm out of line here), but I think it's great because it fixes some of the shortcomings of the vintage Jumbo circuit. The missing recovery gain stage is back (makes it loud) and there's a tight mod switch inside for less boomy bass - and there's a modern output buffer for a high quality output signal to pass on to the next pedal in the chain:

Image

User avatar
krossfader
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2017 7:43 pm

Re: Muff-ish Fuzz?

Post by krossfader » Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:21 am

Just to throw another one in the mix... really enjoying my Thorpy Fallout Cloud. I think it will come down to how "smooth" you like your fuzz. If you don't want something too gritty you might enjoy this one.

Post Reply