Fuzz VERSES overdrive

Gary Steele · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

I never did use any of these type effects much except what i got out of a ProFex II. I'm playing steady with a band that does lots of variety.I was talking to a steeler out of Florida and he said he thought i would like an overdrive pedal better than Fuzz. I dont doubt him but i would like to hear some other opinions on this and a good brand. He said that Ibanez had a couple good ones. I dont have the model numbers with me. Plus where would i patch this it using my Revelation tube preAmp. If anyone has a nice unit let me know. Thanks.614-316-1267

KENNY KRUPNICK · From: Columbus, Ohio

Gary, you want a BOSS "Super Overdrive". It's the yellow stompbox. You can get one at Guitar Center,or Sam Ash for $49.99.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Gary:I use both depending on what the song calls for.My favorite fuzz is the DOD "Flashback Fuzz"about $40.00,my favorite overdrive is the Boss"Blues Driver"I think that they are about $65.00.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I'm currently using a Digitech Distortion Factory, DF-7. It emulates 7 different boxes. The Ibanez TS-9, DOD Overdrive/Preamp 250, ProCo Rat, Boss MT-2 Metal Zone, Boss DS-1, Digitech Metal Master, and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. Really flexible unit with lots of control over the effect and tone. $99 at most mail order places.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I've never had luck with Swiss-Army knife gadgets.

For fuzz, the ZVex Fuzz Factory is incredible. A bit intimidating at first, but it will do just about any type of fuzz you can imagine.

For overdrive, I like the Klon Centaur or out-of-business Way Huge Green Rhino. The Lovetone Brown Source is also excellent.

The Digitech, DOD, Boss and other cheaper units just seem to lack a fullness of tone to me and sound thin and reedy. The ones I mentioned are all pretty expensive - but worth it if you really care about your tone. Sometimes I use all 3 on a pedalboard and the steel just sings with a cello-like sustain that's dreamy.

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

If you want to have some fun, get an Ibanez TS-5 on Ebay for $20-30. Then get the mod kit for another $20. It turns the TS-5 into basically the Tubescreamer 808. I just did this yesterday, and you wouldn't believe the improvement.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

Blackstone Appliances 2SV3 mosfet overdrive.

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Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Get a $25 used Boss DS1 just to see if you actually like distortion on your steel in the first place. Not the best pedal by any means,but fairly standard and wil get you in the game for cheap.

Michael- where did you get the mod kit for the TS-5...I got a TS-5 for 20$ at a garage sale and its pretty lackluster as is to say the least.

Jim Sliff-I heard Way Huge is going back into business so save those ebay dollars you were gonna blow on that $500 Way huge Camel Toe ...hehe ...and wait a few months.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

The "fuzz" effect is produced by amplifying the signal and then knocking it back down with a clipping diode. The effect on a sine wave is to change it into an approximation of a square wave. There is a sharp edge in the waveform at the point where the clipping takes place. This sharp edge is audibly harsh.

The "overdrive" effect is produced by pushing an amplification component beyond its rated output. With a vacuum tube, the effect on a sine wave is to flatten the peaks. The sharp edge of the fuzz waveform does not appear. The overdriven tube can produce a very tasteful musical effect, in my opinion.

Solid state "overdrive" stomp boxes use more complex circuitry to simulate the overdrive effect. A transistor pushed beyond its rated output will clip like a diode. Solid state "overdrive" stomp boxes are simulations of overdriven tubes, or they are fuzz boxes with misleading names.

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Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

Ben: go here: http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html He also sells his mods on Ebay. I just ordered the CS-3 mod, and from the testimonials, it looks to be very good also.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Thanks Michael, wow that is one of the worst website designs I have ever seen....but I will probably order the mod kit regardless

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

I haven't gigged with it yet, but it sure sounded good on my practice amp, and what the hey, it was fun to do and cheap. I also found a site that sell replacement switches for these things, so let me know if you need that. I have a Maxon OD-9, and the modded TS-5 sounded pretty dang good in an A/B test.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Michael-funny you mentioned the switch cause it is indeed failing, those soundtank things are notoriously cheap. I'd love to know about the rplacement switch. I am definetly gonna do this.

I made a pedal from a kit just recently, my first one , and had alot of fun doin it and it sounds great (Ross compressor clone from BuildYourOwnClone). So my fear of modding is gone, esp on a $25 pedal not much too loose..hehe.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Ben - Is Way Huge seriously going back into production? That would be terrific. I got my pedals (the Rhino and a Blue Hippo) back before prices went haywire. He was servicing things for a while after he shut down production and went to work for Line 6, but that stopped. I'd love to see these make a comeback - some of the greatest sounding stompboxes ever.

Off topic - the Way Huge Blue Hippo is THE chorus. Nothing close. It's impossibly lush sounding.

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Jim-its internet hearsay but supposedly this guy heard it from the man himself via email...who knows? its tough to beleive everything you read on the net but here's what I heard and the guy seemd beleiveable enough....
"Well folks I heard some interesting news today. Looks like Way Huge pedals will be available to all. No more big bucks for the esoteric pedals. Jeorge Tripps of way huge fame is leaving line 6. I hear it told production will begin soon after."

does this mean the line6 gear will suddenly become collectible?

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

Ben, before you get a new switch, try this: contact cleaner into the switch. I've had mine for about 6 years, and the switch hasn't worked right for about the last 3. Got on Harmony Central, and found that fix and it's been working great since. But if you need it: http://www.mohomods.com/store.htm

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

By the way, sorry for getting off topic. I've never used one of these for steel, just guitar. I guess I just like pristine steel tone and save the dirt for my 6-string.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Klaus Caprani · From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Bobbe wrote:

ed packard · From: Show Low AZ

Gary, you might want to try out what Joe Wright uses = a RAT.

If you are using a tube amp, class B output, pull one of the tubes and get soft on top, sharp on the bottom(or the other way around).

Most "hard rockers" seem to want the square wave...works well with the roots and 5ths they bang away on.

For the experimenters: try using logic (switching) circuits to square up the input waves, then apply the results to a programmable counter circuit, mix the outputs of the counter stages, and add an integrator and differentiator circuit to the combined output, and season to taste. You can have sharp, soft, pipe organ, clarinet, mosquitoes, and a bunch of other sounds from this simple rig.

Had some fun many years back at the Palomino with Red Rhodes, Jerry Cole etc. with the first one that I put together.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

"contact cleaner into the switch. "

Respectfully, I would NOT do that...at least not use "cleaner". You need to use a "cleaner/lubricant" or you'll ruin the switch. Same with potentiometers - the cleaners get off the gunk and corrosion, but the scraps that are left behind work like a file and tear the heck out of the contacts. A cleaner with lubricant leaves a thin film behind that improves both movement and contact while reducing wear.

And NEVER use WD40 on a guitar or amp part, ever. It gums everything up permanently.

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

Jim: I used Radio Shack Contact Control Cleaner & Lubricant. So far, it did the trick. If it ends up gumming up the works, the replacement switch is $3.50, so no big deal.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Jim Sliff:I really do care about my tone,and this stuff works for me,But I really do care about it,It's my fingerprint.

James Shelton · From: Austin, TX USA

Gary, I use a Boss Blues Driver II for my overdrive. Since I have to play Rock & Roll about 40% of the night, It’s a big part of my rig. I prefer overdrive to fuzz, but the biggest thing is how you hook it up.
I always put my stomp box first thing off the guitar before of the volume pedal. In this way you can turn down your volume and still be “dirty”. This has no effect on my clean tone, but the stomp box loves the hot signal.

Hope you find a sound you like…..James

John Ciano · Posted 14 Mar 2006 4:17 pm

I have used a Rat for years (probubly because PF said that is what he used) and
I like the control and warmth of its distortion. Gary you mentioned that you have a Pro-FexII. I actually stopped using the Rat because there are two factory presets that I REALLY like and did not have to modify: "Warm and Wet" which offers just a little bite and "Bak2Basics" that has a much rougher edge. Pro-Fex users check them out and let us know what you think.

[This message was edited by John Ciano on 15 March 2006 at 03:17 PM.]

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