Best Fuzz Pedal for a Fender Blues Deluxe (Tweed)

I currently have a Little Big Muff Pi and I find the tone it gives pretty generic. Is their another Fuzz pedal that will make my Jazzmaster shine on my Fender Blues Deluxe?

Thanks!

Well, that's one slippery slope you're on there!

'Shine' is very much in the ear of the behearer, but a Muff is kind of a fuzz, kind of a distortion. Any other fuzz will probably sound 'fuzzier'.

Square one when it comes to fuzz would have to be the Fuzz Face. It's a great place to start, will likely give you what you're after, and will give you a good place to judge where you want to take it from there (darker, brighter, crazier). One of the Germanium ones will give you [what is generally accepted to be] a more classic, musical tone, the silicon ones are harsher and less versatile, though, depending on what sound you are after, not by any means 'worse'.

The world of fuzz is a bit like wine- they all taste like wine, but the subtle nuances can make all the difference in how it goes down (or so I'm told, I just stick a straw in the bottle!). The simplicity of the circuits means that just a little variation in the component values means that even units of the same model can sound different, so be prepared for a bit of a search. If your coming from a Muff, again, I'd say try a Fuzz Face and see where it goes from there, but there are many lesser known but well loved fuzzes which might get you where you want- for a start; Tonebender, Maestro Fuzz, Fuzzrite, Super Fuzz, the modern Z-Vex Fuzz Factory... there are countless other 'wild' fuzzes made by interesting builders. It all depends on what that 'shine' means to you!

I'm guessing what I'm going to look for is Germanium Fuzz. I use just a bit of Germanium Overdrive on my basic sound with a Germanium 4 Big Muff and I love it.

Here's me playing a vintage Vox Tonebender through a Fender Blues Deluxe. Should give you a really good idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuUhNBFnbmo

Germanium Fuzz? Can't go wrong with the Joe Bonamassa Fuzz Face. I love it. The way it cleans up with the guitar's volume knob is something you have to hear for yourself. Max it out and use your volume knob to get tons of different shades of fuzz.

You could also check out the MJM London Fuzz. I own one and love it.

Giacomo

Hey Gerald, what kind of music do you play?

Algal bloom fuzzhugger (fx)
Sounds great with chords and single note runs. Has a starve pot for the choked out dying battery effect, as well as a bloom and pickup input limiter pot. Sort of like controlling the fuzz from the guitar volume control. Works great with single coils and humbuckers. It is silicon however.

Hey Gerald, what kind of music do you play? I play 90's style indie rock/surf/shoegaze/pop/punk. You can check out our old EP here: http://www.newtooth.bandcamp.com

The Devi Ever Shoegazer, or any of Devi's fuzzes.

90s shoegaze sounds like a Rat to me!



Or a Marshall Shredmaster.




I love that stuff too. Currently using a Big Muff, Fuzz Factory and a Rat for that kinda thing. For different flavors, a silicon and germanium fuzz would be nice to have in your disposal.

Stack a Dano French Toast (set at lower fuzz/distortion level) under a Germy Fuzz Face going full bore and you will have a lot to work with.

Im personally a fuzz virgin and have spent most of my time in the realm of od, but the mxr classic 108 really has my attention. Think im gonna treat myself.

When it comes to the Fuzz Face might I point out the two-switch Retroman Sybil? It is essentially two Fuzz Faces in one box, one germanium and one silicon. I was lucky to pick up a blue custom painted one, but if you can live with the pink finish it is a great way to get into the Fuzz Face sound. Has the option of using a 9v power adapter too.