Hi-gain modern fuzz that isn't muddy/has clear note definition?

mzy12

mzy12

Active member
I might be barking up the wrong tree here, but I'm looking for high gain fuzz with a 'modern' sound plenty of sustain, but doesn't just sound like mush when pushed really hard. Any DIY projects you folks have tried that might fit the bill? I've got a few fuzzes I own and have tried, like for example, the DOD Carcoza (the closest to sounding like what I mentioned in the title), the danelcetro break down and a standard big muff. I've built the Aion FX penumbra which is nice but works best on bass and an Aion FX solaris, germanium fuzz face clone. It uses completely the wrong transistor that I don't think other builders ever use in their FF clones (interesting sound but very noisy) and it does sound very vintage.

Does anyone have any decent recommendations?
 
The amptweaker tight metal and GCI socialist jr both achieve high gain tones without the flub. Aion has a version of the tight metal. Both pedals are pretty similar and have plenty of tonal options.
 
The Scarab Deluxe might be a good look. I know it's a popular one around here. I don't know if I would say it's very modern.. but it's great and versatile and reacts well to dynamics and being pushed.
 
I might recommend checking out the Two Sticks of Derm fuzz? The extremely low parts count make it very cost effective to try out, and if you don't love it, you're not too far in the hole at all. Just make sure it's first in your chain :/

Here's my demo of it with guitar and bass.

 
Coda said:
Clearer, high-gain fuzz = distortion
Click to expand...
Yep, that's probably the most sensible thing to say tbh. But! I am not necessarily the most sensible person in the world ;) I have heard some fuzz sounds that are really clear (like those used by Adam Jones of Tool - I know most of hist fuzz-esque tones are just stacked amps, double tracked, but he 100% uses fuzz in the studio - probably) and I know my carcoza gets close-ish, so I'm kind of looking for out-there recommendations haha.

GizzWizzKing said:
The Scarab Deluxe might be a good look. I know it's a popular one around here. I don't know if I would say it's very modern.. but it's great and versatile and reacts well to dynamics and being pushed.
Click to expand...
Checked out some sounds on that, it does indeed look promising!

UtilityBeltFX said:
I might recommend checking out the Two Sticks of Derm fuzz? The extremely low parts count make it very cost effective to try out, and if you don't love it, you're not too far in the hole at all. Just make sure it's first in your chain :/

Here's my demo of it with guitar and bass.

Click to expand...
This also sounds really amazing! Probably gonna try and build that.

drgonzo1969 said:
The amptweaker tight metal and GCI socialist jr both achieve high gain tones without the flub. Aion has a version of the tight metal. Both pedals are pretty similar and have plenty of tonal options.
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I think they might also be worth checking out for my needs. Thanks.
 
Maybe Corduroy Fuzz in the tight setting.
Or possibly Pyrocumulus with the sustain rolled down?
 
I also like the Carcosa which led me to its inspiration and my current build, the Maestro FZ-1S. It has a clean blend so you can have all out fuzz, and clarity at the same time.

I wanted to keep the FZ-1S stock, but it needs some volume and gating tweaks. The improvements on the Carcosa work well, so I suggest trying it with a blend circuit.
 
mdc said:
Can you post some examples of what you're chasing?
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Adam jone's fuzz sounding effects. Again, I know people say he doesn't but there's no way that's just amp tones on the chorus of forty six & 2:

Or all throughout jimmy:

And I know it's the game changer audio plasma pedal on 7empest, but if I could get a fuzz sounding close to that, it would be great!

Can you tell I'm a massive tool fan?

For some none tool stuff, I think this Matt Belamy tone in you make me feel like it's halloween is inspired by Mike Oldfield, who uses a tonebender mark 3 a lot I believe, but I'm already in the process of building one of those.
 
On that first track, there's a bit of that kinda percussive sag that makes it sounds like the front end of a tube amp being demolished. I bet the Smallsound Bigsound Fuck would get you in the ballpark for a lot of that.
 
mdc said:
On that first track, there's a bit of that kinda percussive sag that makes it sounds like the front end of a tube amp being demolished. I bet the Smallsound Bigsound Fuck would get you in the ballpark for a lot of that.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I saw a post requesting the mini version of that on the forums here:

Smallsound/Bigsound Mini

I thought I saw this on the wish list before, but I can’t find it in the search. This is my number one drive pedal. For those who haven’t tried it - it’s very versatile, great overdrive sounds and great fuzz sounds when cranked. The bias control is lets you get a gated fuzz when cranked or acts...
forum.pedalpcb.com forum.pedalpcb.com

Looks like the guy who made it is apparently open with the schematic. And the ol' reliable tagboardeffects has a post on it:
tagboardeffects.blogspot.com

Smallsound/Bigsound Mini Overdrive

Collection of vero (stripboard) & tagboard layouts for 100s of popular guitar effects, with over 500 verified designs. DIY your own boutique effects!
tagboardeffects.blogspot.com tagboardeffects.blogspot.com

Unfortunately, the mini is missing the threshold control, which I think is necessary for what I want (that slight crackle you hear on forty six & 2 and the like),
 
mzy12 said:
I might be barking up the wrong tree here, but I'm looking for high gain fuzz with a 'modern' sound plenty of sustain, but doesn't just sound like mush when pushed really hard. Any DIY projects you folks have tried that might fit the bill? I've got a few fuzzes I own and have tried, like for example, the DOD Carcoza (the closest to sounding like what I mentioned in the title), the danelcetro break down and a standard big muff. I've built the Aion FX penumbra which is nice but works best on bass and an Aion FX solaris, germanium fuzz face clone. It uses completely the wrong transistor that I don't think other builders ever use in their FF clones (interesting sound but very noisy) and it does sound very vintage.

Does anyone have any decent recommendations?
Click to expand...
I tried a lot of fuzzes and couldn't find one that suited me. So, I built one myself. I used Texas Instruments 2G303/2G308 NOS Germanium BJTs from Small Bear. I kept to a basic FF circuit. Also, I modded my Strat with a high-pass 2nd tone control so I could contour the low end to remove excess "flubbiness" from the bottom. Along with the standard low-pass tone control I can really tailor my tone to my liking. Try it! It will make your fuzzes so much more useful.
 
May or may not be your cup of tea but Stephen Carpenter from the deftones used a Fz-2 I believe and a zvex fuzz factory at different points…
 
mzy12 said:
Adam jone's fuzz sounding effects. Again, I know people say he doesn't but there's no way that's just amp tones on the chorus of forty six & 2
Click to expand...
From what i could find online, Tool guitar player isn't a big stompbox user. When he does use effects they're from common brands like MXR or Boss.
And according to forums, on Aenima it's not a fuzz, the whole album is made with a Superbass amp (Marshall i guess), and a dual rectifier head, from Mesa.

So that's an expensive sound.

There are stompbox adaptations for the Mesa dual rectifier head though.
I built a project like that, it sounds nice but i suspect it's the amplifier that matters the most to get some similar Tool sound.
 
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