Fuzz Placement

[swleamon]

Well I couldn't resist it any longer. My board was missing one thing. Fuzz. After much research I figured the Zvex Mastotron was exactly what I needed. And I love it.

I know this has been discussed much before but it seems that fuzz placement is different per type and everyone's unique chain. I know it should go to the front. But how far in the front? I run two parallel paths on my board - the beginning goes like this

Tuner - EP Booster - Lehle Splitter (out two paths)

P1 - Keeley C4 - Paisley Drive, etc etc
P2 - Barber Tone Press - OCD, etc etc

I want to use the fuzz in path one. But I'm getting odd results both before the Keeley and after the Keeley. Odd being, the guitars volume control doesn't have the sensitivity one would expect from a fuzz. If I go guitar - fuzz - amp it's perfect. Thoughts?

[javabirds]

I think it only really matters with a germanium fuzz. That zvex is a silicon fuzz and you can put it anywhere. I run a germanium fuzz up front and then after my wah and OD section I have a silicon fuzz. After all that I have my delay. This arrangement works for me and gives me the best interaction between pedals.

But I do put my tuner first but being true bypass it doesn't mess with my fuzz when off. The problem that you have is that your signal going into a germanium fuzz can't be buffered. Sometimes fuzz pedals and wah pedals don't get along well without a buffer mod in the wah. But with a silicon zvex you should be able to put it anywhere it sounds best to you.

[baxterhuxtable]

Is your EP an "always on" kinda thing?

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by javabirds

I think it only really matters with a germanium fuzz. That zvex is a silicon fuzz and you can put it anywhere. I run a germanium fuzz up front and then after my wah and OD section I have a silicon fuzz. After all that I have my delay. This arrangement works for me and gives me the best interaction between pedals.

But I do put my tuner first but being true bypass it doesn't mess with my fuzz when off. The problem that you have is that your signal going into a germanium fuzz can't be buffered. Sometimes fuzz pedals and wah pedals don't get along well without a buffer mod in the wah. But with a silicon zvex you should be able to put it anywhere it sounds best to you.

Thank you for all the great info!

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by baxterhuxtable

Is your EP an "always on" kinda thing?

Yup, I just use it for the "color" hence being infront of my splitter. If I try to even use it as a boost the compressors obviously clamp it back down.

[baxterhuxtable]

Its possible thats the issue? Never used the ep boost but different fuzzes I've had have reacted differently to different things in front of them, even some silicon ones...
It might not like that "color", so to speak.

[baxterhuxtable]

Muffs I've had never really cared what hit them, but I had a si fuzzface on loan for a while that had to be first in line, anything hotter than my guitar in front and it would splat out on me. Is the mastotron a ff derivitive, like the fuzz factory? Anyone know?

[swleamon]

Originally Posted by baxterhuxtable

Its possible thats the issue? Never used the ep boost but different fuzzes I've had have reacted differently to different things in front of them, even some silicon ones...
It might not like that "color", so to speak.

Good point. It seems like fuzz pedals want nothing in front of them. I'll just keep the EP Booster off when using it. There is no advantage to keeping it engaged.

[A.B.Negative]

I have my Wooly Mammoth clone and Danelectro Cool Cat fuzzes after my Joyo US Dream and get some great sounds. Can't speak for the Mastotron.