Fuzz instead of distortion pedal

In the past couple of months I've realized that I prefer getting a distorted tone old-school-style with a fuzz box instead of a distortion pedal. I sold my distortion pedal, and settled on the Voodoo Labs Superfuzz as my main fuzz squeeze (I also got rid of my OD pedal as it didn't sound as good as the OD generated by the Blues Jr I got in January). It's versatile enough to go from light OD-style crunch to buzzy fuzz, with darker tones, too.

Anyway, the question is, who else out there prefers to do it like they did before distortion pedals came into vogue: fuzz box instead of distortion pedals?

as a 60´s music buff I´d have to say I love the fuzz.

Distortion pedals sound a bit too clinical for me :P

yah me too, I likes me a bunch of fuzz as well!

I usually don't play with a lot of gain, and prefer low gain OD pedals like the Barber LTD, but if I need a searing lead tone once in a while, I prefer a fuzz (germanium-based) to most distortion pedals (currently I'm using a Fuzz Face clone built from a kit, though I'd really like to be able to afford an Analogman Sunface).

I love fuzz. I am a fuzz addict....Lately I like running my TS808 clone as a clean boost into my BigMuff clone.:twisted:

You know my answer!

See back row, center section:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/uncle_han/pedalboard0801.jpg

Count me in as a big fan of 60's style fuzz, latest acquisition is an EH metal muff, great pedal.

I will eventually join the FUZZ ranks. Have two different OD pedals right now and have often wondered if a fuzz pedal would yield results too close to what I already have?? I do love that 60's tone though. Sounds like they are a slightly different animal than the average Distortion or OD pedal.

I wanted something for a '60's garage band/British invasion sound so, hopefully, I should be receiving my Mojo Hand Huckleberry fuzz in the mail today. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Fender Blender....a cool fuzz pedal with a blend control to blend it with your clean signal
http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/accessories/0234500000_xl.jpg

I was just thinking about this. I recently sold my multi-effects unit and have been building a pedal board. I bought a bunch of pedals, including a modded Blues Driver, which I expected to be the only pedal I really use the majority of the time. I also purchased a really low budged fuzz pedal (around $50 new), and I am finding that is the pedal I am using the most.

I think the reason is because I have an amp that does not sound good at low volumes, but I play in my house and need to keep it low. The fuzz seems to give me the nicest tone at low levels...so thumbs up to fuzz for me too.

i like the blues driver. never tried one with the mod that's popular with these, but i've heard good things about this as well

With the gain cranked, the Blues Driver gets a bit fuzzy itself. It pairs up nicely with a fuzz pedal for higher gain.

Blues Driver for rhythm + Fuzz for lead = a nice simple and versatile rig.

It depends on what I'm playing. I have a Tubescreamer I rely on most of the time but I do like having my Yardbox on the board too. Needless to say, they're used for completely different stuff. I'm still getting used to the germanium fuzz thing and just figured out at a gig last Saturday that it sounds best with the volume/gain wide open.

What? Nobody's mentioned a Rat? I've got the 3-way Keeley mod. While I've used mine forever.....I'm thinking of replacing it with an OCD. I love the Rat but I don't like how it's hard to coordinate with my Klon OD.

I've also got a Fuzz Factory....but it's just a fun toy - you never know what to expect if you step on it. I'd like to audition a Box of Roc - the demo on youtube looked promising.

I like em all. Defnitely love my OCD for overdrive.....have a lot of love for the 69 Fuzz pedal though....way different animal....work pretty well together too. Of course, when it's balls to the wall....the RAT comes out of its hole. :-)

With the gain cranked, the Blues Driver gets a bit fuzzy itself. It pairs up nicely with a fuzz pedal for higher gain.

That's pretty much how I use my Blues Driver. I wasn't happy with the last (and probably THE last) fuzztone I had, a Flashback Fuzz. It was very muddy and quacky. Tried a Fab Tone, but it was over the top and impossible to tame. So now I use the BD for buzzy/crunchy OD, and a Tubescreamer TS7 for lower gain OD. It works for me, anyway. I'd love to find a pedal that gives that buzzsaw tone that Richard's had on "Satisfaction".

Likes me some FUZZZZ couldn't live without my Keeley Fuzz Head!

I'd love to find a pedal that gives that buzzsaw tone that Richard's had on "Satisfaction".

The reissue Maestros are both hard to find and not as good as the original. I've found the Ashbass Fuzzbrite to nail that buzzy 60s fuzz tone (ala "Satisfaction").
It's the big silver box on the top right on my board (pic posted earlier in this thread). TeleBrew also has one (though I seem to remember seeing it up for sale). He may be able to vouch for the Fuzzbrite's ability to "Satisfy"!

Works for me.

I've been using a Bjorn Juhl's (from the BJF effects) Folk Fuzz I built myself.
He released the circuit for this silicon tranny fuzz and it's very OD-like.
Very good compromise and terrific tone and dynamics.

I wouldn't want a Maestro Fuzztone or Big Muff as my only gain pedal, but a milder fuzz like some Fuzz Face clones, EHX Muff Fuzz and Double Muff (not Big Muff), the Voodoo Lab fuzz, etc. can cover a lot of ground from just breaking up OD to full on fuzz. I think you could use any of those as a substitute for OD or distortion.

The reissue Maestros are both hard to find and not as good as the original. I've found the Ashbass Fuzzbrite to nail that buzzy 60s fuzz tone (ala "Satisfaction").
It's the big silver box on the top right on my board (pic posted earlier in this thread). TeleBrew also has one (though I seem to remember seeing it up for sale). He may be able to vouch for the Fuzzbrite's ability to "Satisfy"!

Works for me.

Yeah, the Fuzzbrite nails the buzzy 60's tone. I got one, but my bandmates kept giving me the hairy eyeball whenever I turned it on, and combined with a recent simplify-my-life jag I sold it last week along with a couple other things, keeping the Voodoo Labs Superfuzz. The Fuzzbrite is a great pedal if you want the "Satisfaction" tone, and I'd recommend it over the Maestro any day.

I wasn't happy with the last (and probably THE last) fuzztone I had, a Flashback Fuzz. It was very muddy and quacky.

Agreed - but the DOD Flashback Fuzz isn't really a great example of fuzz...
I personally like Germanium-based fuzzes that work well at lower gain stuff, usually very warm sounding, I'm tempted to say "organic". But then, I'm not really looking for the '60s garge rock buzzsaw tone, but more of a different flavor of OD.

I agree, I have a Boss SD-1 and I built a Silicon Fuzz Face and prefer the sound of the Fuzz better. I also agree that at low amp volume it really adds a nice flavor to the sound, I can get the tone I want without breaking a window.

My main (only) distortion is a Monsterpiece clone of an MK.II Tonebender. It's not an exact clone, but it's still great. Took me a while to tweak it, but once I got it right, it's great.

I love the fuzz.
Doing pretty much the same as bowlfreshener atm:
different od's in front of different fuzzies.

My favorite tone is my Analoman Germanium Sunface plugged into my friends BlackFace Bassman head, the combo of fuzz and tube overdrive is heavenly!