Shields Blender - All The Distortion I Need?? (help w/ distortion/fuzz pls!)

[copacetic]

Howdy gang! This will be a REALLY long one, but i know if theres any place full of weirdos who will actually read all this and take the time to give their 2 cents, its good ol' OSG.

Its december, and you know what that means! When questioned for christmas gift ideas from my parents, i had no actual idea of anything i wanted so i asked them sort of off-the-cuff for a guitar pedal i dont really need but have been quite interested in since they launched... The pedal in question is the Fender Shields Blender Fuzz.

Saw them going for $216 on the 'Zon with free two day shipping and figured my parents could handle that easily enough as they are avid Prime users. So knowing them, i will probably have a Shields Blender under the tree, and ive been watching more videos on them lately and getting unreasonably stoked for it. Problem is: I'm realizing i kinda have no idea how to actually use the thing lol.

(Long back-story about my experience/goals with distortion/fuzz incoming, feel free to skip ahead)

When i first got into guitar, i was all about distortion. I had a DS-1, a Metal Zone, several cheapo distortions and overdrives, then a big muff and so on. I loved everything rock n roll, from Kiss to Nirvana to Motley Crue and pretty much only played guitar with distortion engaged. Thus my clean playing was horrid and i never did much more than chug the same riffs over and over. Despite all the different distortion sounds i had, and always having plenty of distortion on deck, i look back and know that my tone sounded like absolute dogshit at that point. I had no real concept of "tone" and pretty much just dimed the gain on whatever was around and called it a day.

Got back into playing after taking a break for a couple years and started trying to form metalcore/post hardcore bands with my friends. At this time, i pretty much just copied what everyone else in the scene was doing for amps, guitars, pedals etc. I ran an EMG equipped LTD into a tube screamer into a Peavey Valveking. The valveking was my compromise for a 5150 or 6505 which were way out of my price range as a kid working part time with his dad for $5 an hour. It was a nice little amp, but just didnt quite have enough gain for my needs and even with the TS i struggled to get the right sound to play metalcore/post hardcore stuff. I eventually started dabbling more in the clean tones territory which led to a renaissance of focusing on clean, focused playing, learning full songs instead of riffs, learning songwriting, etc.

Eventually i found my tastes had totally shifted by the time high school was over, and i had basically no interest in distortion whatsoever when playing. I was really into Mac Demarco, The smiths, connan mockasin, and stuff like that, and began to be obsessed with those types of clean, chorusy tones and focused more on weird modulation effects, delays, envelope filters and stuff like that. Eventually that landed me with the rig/studio i have today. I have since slowly started dipping my foot back in the waters of distortion since going thru an MBV phase and a Deftones phase in recent years. But i feel that in my over-focus on clean tones the past 5-10 years or so, I've fallen way behind on my understanding of how to build a good "driven tone" and my choice of pedals here is sorely lacking for the type of distortion(s) im after, which leads me to the point of this post:

If you skipped the backstory blah blah blah, continue reading here for the Meat n Potatoes

Here is my current pedalboard setup/signal chain:

Signal Chain: Wah -> Line 6 FM4 Envelope Filter Modeler -> Berry Pedals Doom Fuzz -> Boss DS-1 Distortion -> June 60 Chorus -> EQD Aqueduct -> Phase Shifter -> Demedash T-120 Delay -> Catalinbread Soft Focus Reverb -> Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp

I;m mainly here to ask about the drive section of my board as im mostly happy with my mod/time based pedals, but i felt it was important to list my signal chain and get feedback on whether i should swap things around for better results with what i already have, or get the new pedal(s) i have in mind.

The DS-1: This pedal is basically only on my board because it came through the store i was working at and i got it for like $40 with my employee discount. Its a limited colorway of a pedal im familiar with from childhood, so it was a 'safe' choice for an effect i was barely ever using. I have since learned that I would probably be way happier with some sort of Overdrive, as im really after a thick, creamy tone that retains a lot of the round character of the clean tone ive worked so hard to shape. But at the same time, i want it to be able to handle "aggressive" playing without sounding too dry, bland, or crispy if that makes sense... Some bands i think of when i imagine the type of tone id like: The Mars Volta (think their softer less chaotic stuff), Circa Survive, Kings of Leon, just a few that quickly came to mind. Circa and TMV can get pretty heavy without using big walls of distortion and still have lots of melodic elements to the sound. I dont have my eye on any in particular, but im thinking i'll go with some sort of Klone. if anyone can recommend a good (affordable!) klon clone or a different type of OD or distortion that would scratch this itch, im all ears!

The Doom Fuzz: I impulse bought this because i liked the design of the enclosure LOL. It was like $50 from a tiny builder in AUS and i could only find like 2 videos of it being played online, but i figured what the hell, it makes me smile to look at it and i have an empty space so why not throw it on the board? Well i personally think i just had no idea what kind of Fuzz sound id even like or what my use for it would be, and Ive played through it maybe 2 times in the past 2 years. It sounds alright, just not at all in line with the types of fuzz i find myself wanting to hear when i play or record. Perhaps for more of a doom/metal vibe itd shine more, but my more gazey, clean-centric playing as of late is just not well suited to this pedal at all.

Which brings me to my ultimate question(s):
Is the Shields Blender the answer to my distortion-shaping woes it seems to be? Are there any other, better options im not considering? Any glaring cons youve noticed if you own a Blender of your own?

I have been pretty wowed by the more recent demos ive heard of this thing to say the least. It seems to perfectly lend that spacey, warm, washed out kind of fuzz sound that i love so much but have never quite been able to capture. All the options to shape the tone seem like you can literally dial in any tone you want from this thing, from doom metal to shoegaze and everything in between. Seems to bridge the gap between fuzz and distortion an insane amount, allowing you to shape exactly the tone that sounds best to you. Even has some more subtle settings that seem to evoke a bit of what i like in klon/overdrive tones. It seems like this paired with a nice reverb like the soft focus will be the key to adding some drive and grit to my sound without losing the "spacey" character of my overall sound and clean tones.

I feel a bit reticent though, since i know a couple folks on here werent too impressed by the thing and felt its marketing was a bit gimmicky. Im not even gonna pretend like im not susceptible to that stuff, i very much am, especially with effects like this that im no expert on. To me, it sounds like the perfect way to add those fuzzy textures to my board. But if you guys think id be better off going with something different, or that it wont be different enough from what i have, id certainly love to hear your suggestions. Also would LOVE any tips/tricks on dialing this thing in, different ways to layer my effects, etc.

I'm really hoping this could be kind of a one-and-done fuzz/distortion to consolidate those two pedal slots on my board. Ive already decided to remove the gigantic FM4 from my board to make room. Helps that i already have one gargantuan whale of a pedal on my board so i can swap the two out without really sacrificing anything--especially since i literally only use like 2 settings on the FM4 once in a blue moon. Itll do just fine tucked off to the side until i need it. Ditching the FM4, DS1 and Doom Fuzz and adding the Shields Blender and maybe a mini cheapo OD of some sort still leaves me with room enough (i think) for the Maestro Agena Envelope Filter ive been eyeing.. That would effectively make my whole board feel brand new and i feel like itd be a much more "final form" board for me, allowing me to execute my ideas better and importantly, helping me to show off that the guitars i build actually sound good with fuzz/distortion, because my playing and crappy pedal setup/settings/choices have been seriously hindering me there

Anyways its late and im rambling. If you made it to the end of this odyssey of a post, i thank you very kindly for taking the time. I look forward to hearing any ideas or suggestions from you guys, or perhaps just laughing at this post getting zero replies because you all said "F that, im not reading that novel"

[marqueemoon]

I read most of that.

If you’ve never tried a Rat I would start there.

The Shields Blender strikes me as pretty niche and it is also huge.

Fuzz is really a journey. I would play as many as you can in person to start narrowing it down.

[copacetic]

I read most of that.

If you’ve never tried a Rat I would start there.

The Shields Blender strikes me as pretty niche and it is also huge.

Fuzz is really a journey. I would play as many as you can in person to start narrowing it down.

I agree, definitely a journey. And one ive never really gotten past buying a ticket for.

I tried the Rat around 2017 when i was working in a store and we got them in. Demoed it for plenty of customers and sold a good number of them, but it always just seemed like a regular distortion pedal to me. I feel like i have "regular distortion" pretty well covered by the DS-1 which i dont plan on selling.

What draws me to the Shields Blender is all the ways you can shape -- and most importantly soften-- the sound of it. Im looking for fuzz/distortion/noise that still sounds airy and fluffy rather than present, mean and in your face. I dont really know of any other distortion or fuzz pedals that offer that sound besides the Blender, but im obviously very inexperienced in this area of pedals due to kind of ignoring them for years so i probably have blind spots here. Maybe im being won over by the marketing of them simply playing MBV riffs in the demo videos or something other than doom licks on a fuzz pedal which makes me hear the potential in it lol

A lot of people seem to want this for the "niche" of stealing the MBV tone. I'm not even really a huge MBV fan, i jam some songs off loveless but never had that full 'aha' moment with them. (Not yet at least) I feel like a bit of a poseur for wanting it but this pedal seems like a great tool to take that element of their sound i really like and reimagine it in my own music. Its just a texture id really love to play with but have never found a winning combo

And yeah, the size of it definitely is crazy, but it makes sense with all the knobs and ways you can shape the sound. Still they couldve probably used smaller knobs and shrunk it down at least 33% haha. Ive literally never seen a Fuzz with more knobs/settings. But I already have that huge ass FM4 on my board that i use for basically 1 sound on the whole thing. I think i'd use the Blender way more if i connect with it like i think i will, so it seems like an easy swap

[fuzzjunkie]

I think KS use of the Fender Blender is massively overblown. Other than being a key component of “You Made Me Realize” I don’t think he used it all that much. I saw them a number of times back in the day and while it was in his signal chain, he used an Octavia and other fuzz pedals, including a Rat more often than not.

He has said he likes the octave function on the Blender and he does seem to gravitate to adding an octave to his tone whether clean or fuzzy.

Here are a few pedals from a builder that I really like that have different levels of octave and gating. Kevin seems to like the unpredictable results from combining those and requesting the “Sag” function on his signature pedal reinforces that notion to me.

Basic Audio Superfuzz - achieves a massive, chaotic sound like the Blender, but this modded version also lets you dial a lot of that back.

Basic Audio Kay Fuzz - has some really saggy and gated octave character while still sounding like an amp about to explode. A lower gain Superfuzz.

Basic Audio Bye-Bias - has really interactive controls. It can do a big traditional fuzz tone, but I prefer the crumbly, gated tones it makes. Sometimes it sounds like the guitar can’t quite make it out of the speakers, as if there’s a black hole sucking it back in. Some octave can be dialed in but it’s less pronounced than the other two.

The Kay Fuzz basically sits in the middle, less gain than the Superfuzz and more octave than the Bye-Bias.

Edit: this is why I want a Kay Fuzz : Orange Kay

I’m almost surprised KS doesn’t have one. I’m pretty sure he has an Ampeg Scrambler, which is another pedal in that niche.

The Bye-Bias has that quality that I think you are describing as “fluff” : Bye Bias fuzz

[sciuri]

Copacetic early adopter here! Cool to hear about your music genre journey. I haven’t tried the Shields Blender so can’t help you there.

Fuzz taste is so subjective… what about trying out a ton of different pedals?

I’m not sure if you already work at a place where you can try different pedals, but in Austin, Rock N Roll rentals has the Pedal of the Month Club. I don’t know the cost now, but a few years ago it was $21 per month to borrow 3 pedals at a time, as many times as I wanted to over the course of that month. They don’t have everything, and sometimes high end pedals are out of stock, but the selection is still really good.

For me, it was way cheaper than buying and selling/shipping. I probably tried around 30 pedals over several months, and it helped me narrow down which flavors I liked and didn’t. Maybe it only temporarily held off GAS, but it was a great getting to A/B so many pedals and learn a lot about fuzz families and other effects along the way.

[del]

The original Fender Blender is a great octave-fuzz pedal.
The Shields version is just too complicated for me: four switches, eight knobs (not located over the switches they control)...

It sounds to me like you might enjoy a three pedal sequence: octave fuzz -> reverb -> overdrive/distortion

I'd propose (relatively) inexpensive starts:
Octave fuzz: Behringer Superfuzz or DOD Carcosa
Reverb: JHS 3 Series Reverb or EQD Ghost Echo (old spring amp sounding - a little expensive) or Death By Audio Reverberation Machine (dirty sounding - a little more expensive)
Overdrive/Distortion: DOD 250 (ragged) or MXR Distortion+ (soft) or your existing DS-1

[Unicorn Warrior]

I’ll agree with others that the shields Blender probably isn’t what you want. Admittedly, I’ve never played one.

I’m not the best with fuzz. But, if I were in your shoes, I’d certainly entertain what fuzzjunkie has recommended. He’s very knowledgeable on the subject in my experience on here

[MrShake]

I'll split the difference in opinion here somewhat.

First off, congrats on getting your SB - it seems like a wild thing, and capable of a lot of different exciting sounds. Seems like something that could take time to really shine a light on every corner of what it does, and likely has a ton of sounds inside.

But, based on my older-style Fender Blender RI pedal, it's not a jack of all trades. What it does is absolutely beastly, though, and that doesn't mean yours wasn't the right choice. I'd suggest adding two pedals to the SB setup and making it a part of a small "ecosystem", like some of our OSG brethren suggested.

My personal choices? I'd say a Boss Reverb (the RV-6 I just got is excellent) and a Rat. Pedal order can give you a ton of choices, putting reverb before/after fuzz/dist can really smooth it out and make it cloudy/smeary/airy/fluffy, or can make it more aggressive, too - all depending on settings and pedal order. But I think (counterintuitively) that very mild and subtle settings on a Rat could really compliment the SB as either a tonal shaper before, or as a way to explode or wash it out (in a good way) if you put the Rat after. The Shields Blender is far more versatile than my RI, but airy and fluffy aren't words I'd use to describe mine - it's probably the most in-your-face fuzz I own.

But I think those are some of the most useful fuzzes if you're going to soften and blur the edges with reverb or distortion (like smoothing out a nasty fuzz into a mildly dirty amp).

I think a Rat has a little more versatility than my beloved old DS-1, it's easy to find a good spot on the Filter (tone) knob, and for some reason, Rats pair great with a Boss Reverb. I think that using those to help define/blur the edges of the sounds you get on the SB could really give you a lot of space and expansion and texture in tandem with the SB.

Either way, congratulations on your new fuzz. It's specific, it's niche, and if I'm being honest, the added complexity isn't for me but I absolutely see the appeal. The "core" voices of my old FBRI are absolute monsters in my Fuzz Army, and I think with some subtle support from a couple other pedals, you could lose yourself for months finding a "default" Rat/reverb sound you like and just experimenting with Shields Blender settings and finding new recipes.

And don't let anybody sway your opinion on your choice until you've spent time with it. If it speaks to you, if you were drawn to it, if even the idea of it inspires you, well... maybe it will be what you expected, maybe it won't. But if it gets you wanting to play, get to know it, see what you can make it do, and if you bond, see how you two can partner with each other.

And it might be total love at first kerrang.

Oh, and eventually, get an EQ pedal, because pioneers like KS discovered you can essentially change the entire character of a fuzz with one.

Happy expermenting!

[Soniqfreq]

Good luck on your fuzz quest. The Shields Blender is definitely not an all around kind of fuzz. It’s a heavy and scooped fuzz, ala a Big Muff…just square wave madness. It’s also boomy…lots of low-mid resonances which can be problematic if not tamed. Might be a similar fuzz style to that doom fuzz on your board.

When the octave is engaged, it’s octave dominant. The octave is pronounced and thick in the mix. I find I generally prefer an octave fuzz more like the tychobrahe/octavia style….but every octave fuzz has its place. When I really want the octave to stand out…like on a lead line…I would use this the Shields Blender.

I also think the trigger gate is too stark…I love gated, spitty fuzzes, but this one seems even less nuanced when turned up…so I don’t use it that way at all.

I prefer my fuzzes with the guitar tone rolled back (rhythm circuit on the jazzmaster is perfect for this). When you kick it in front of reverb and delay it’s sounds massive.

[blacktiger]

I’m late to the party (maybe too late), but if the SB isn’t working for you, there are a couple of other options you might try. My most versatile fuzz is a Fuzz Face/Tone Bender MK 1.5 (there’s a switch to choose between the circuits) with the standard volume and fuzz knobs, but also a bias knob. If you dial back the bias, you can get into clean boost territory. From there, you can dial up the bias and fuzz controls and get everything from light OD to full-blown fuzz. If I was limited to a single dirt pedal, I would probably pick this one, as it really can do just about anything I need.

Another good option is a Super Fuzz with a tone knob instead of just the traditional switch offering two different settings. Being able to dial in your sound with a tone knob makes this circuit so much more flexible. The one I have also has an internal trim pot to set how much octave you want, which, again, makes this classic circuit so much more flexible.

[distressed]

Roger Mayer Mongoose

[Alex!]

I think fuzz is the way to go as I use the EHX Op Amp Big Muff but with distortions I use the Boss DS-1 hope this helps