Fuzz is a fun, frustrating and rewarding rabbit hole! All Fuzz pedals do a similar thing, but they all sound a little different? It takes some time to crack open how to use a Fuzz. I had no idea how to use them for YEARS, and avoided them. Once you discover how to get good sounds from them, you realize how many recordings used them! Many sounds that I tried to recreate with Overdrive never could quite get “there”? When you start to figure them out, a whole new world of tones open up. The “clean” sounds (surprisingly) from a Germanium Fuzz ARE absolutely gorgeous. The controls in most Fuzz pedals are VERY interactive. Because of the impedance issue you outlined, Fuzz pedals are also REALLY interactive with your guitar Volume and Tone control. Some Fuzz are super simple, one, two, or no controls. You still may have to spend some time dialing all the controls, your guitar volume, and tone to get the sound to change in the direction you want it? I personally like Fuzz pedals that give access to the Bias, and have some kind of Tone shaping built into the pedal. It can add multiple layers of frustration, but also allow you to dial in a Fuzz Tone that cuts, and spits in just the right way? Running a Fuzz into an Overdrive pedal, or overdriven amp smooths out in a good way. EQ after can also help.
I didn't use to like fuzzz... until i bought a Dod Carcosa. It brings you a lot of different fuzz tones. Very versatile and inexpensive. I'm in love with my King in yellow...
I'm here cause I just got the Carcossa. I run it into and Ibanez 850 mini fuzz and it gets some nice sounds for sure. Using it live tonight for the first time and only had about a week with it so im nervous but excited to unleash it onstage.
One highlight of Fuzz that I truly enjoy is the ability to roll the volume off on your guitar to get incredible clean to clean-ish tones!! Now this obviously only works with certain fuzz circuits. Some that I own and love are the Chase Bliss Automatone, Kingtone Vintage Fuzz, Kingtone mini Fuzz GE and even the Hudson Broadcast. It's a serious rabbit hole haha!! I've even started building my own at this point and that can be a great affordable way to try out and learn a bit more about analog Fuzz circuits. Great video Chris as always! Thank you!! I know this is a year old but I hadn't seen it yet so thought I'd add my 2 cents. Cheers 🍻✌
My favorite fuzz at the moment is the MXR Classic 108. I have the mini. It's essentially, the mini Dunlop Jimmy Hendrix silicon Fuzzface with a buffer switch/button. The buffer allows you to wah before fuzz without self-oscillation. The buffer engaged does give the pedal a brighter tone, but that is useful when turning down the fuzz/gain to more of an overdrive. Rolling back the gain makes it darker, but the buffer engaged adds some top end. The mini is just as good as the full-size.
The Arctic Fuzz is good - it has a blend knob unlike most. And it is under £30. One of the only fuzzes that works anywhere in your chain is the boss FZ5. Many fuzzes will drop your perceived volume so are not good for lead. These 2 don't. 👍😊
Volume drop can be an issue, you're right. That's why I use the Gypsy Fuzz for that. First of all it has a tone knob which helps a lot already. Second, it has way more mids than many other fuzz pedals. Cheers!
You say towards the end "You shouldn't generalize" and I think that's true about *EVERYTHING* regarding fuzz, especially fuzz face circuits. Example, there are many modern fuzz face circuits that aren't affected by anything in front of them. I think it was RG Keen who came up with a way to emulate a pickup going directly into the fuzz input, so buffers, wah pedals and whatever else won't interfere with the way they respond or behave regarding guitars, other pedals in front of them. A few people (Kyle Chase of Chase Tone) builds fuzz face circuits that don't have to be the very first in line. I really thought I was going to have a problem with my compressor in front of the Fuzz Fella, nope! I've tried it with guitar directly in, and then after the compressor. Works the same either way, and it still cleans up nicely.
Great advice per usual. You hit the nail on the head. Fuzz on single notes or power chords and great in lead role. Germanium are good for volume roll off/clean up but under hot stage lights, it farts out. Legend has it people kept them refrigerated until show time. The Silicon are temperature stable but dont clean up as well. My main two mythical transistors are the NKT275 unobtainium Germanium & the BC108 Silicon. So when mine break I'm screwed lol. This is why Hendrix always had Roger Mayer messing with them because even changing diodes affects the sound as well. They didn't even know what was in some stuff as equipment was stolen. Iommi had this same issue when some roadie/tech threw away his 1 of 1 modded Treble booster he used on early Sabbath, thinking it was trash. To fund my gear acquisition syndrome (Gas) I sold my Analogman Sunface with NKT275. I still have a NKT modded Dunlop Dallas Arbiter style Fuzz face and the 3 NKT transistor Fulltone Soul bender mk1. I'm glad I still have my Silicon SIB Nick Nitro as the octave + fuzz is outstanding. Love that thing better than the MXR blue box which is muddy w/o something boosting it. You reminded me how the out of print SIB is so useful and has quality sounds. Again you're correct as I like my BATS Pharaoh fuzzes for C# standard downtuned metal. I'm considering trying out the EHX Octavix or Flatiron Fuzz as they are both unique to me. I'm still pleased with the EHX Green Russian & need to pull that 1 out as well. To me the smashing Pumpkins tone lives in the EHX Op Amp pedal with JHS mod. I think its all personal tastes but I like having choices on my board. As long as they play nice together I'm looking to assemble on any board I build a gain section with: Fuzz. Distortion. Octave. Boost. Low or Mid Gain Stackable Overdrive... And... yep...you play with the order. Just like delays modulation and reverbs. It doesn't have to be out of print cork sniffing expensive for me either... The Behringer SuperFuzz at 30 bucks is a fantastic clone of a Boss Hyperfuzz. You ever play the Morgan Fuzz pedals?
Hallo Kris, als erstes, meinen Respekt für das tolle Video. Sehr schön erklärt . ☺️ Man merkt halt, dass Du brennst und es nicht NUR nen ( Dein ) Job für Dich ist . Super echt 👌👍
Awsome! I was looking forward to this video when you mentioned you were working on it. I think lots of people need to watch this video to tell them how to properly use fuzz.
So true re: Buffers! A session friend suggested Keeley Comp>Fuzz>rest of pedals. I have six or seven very good fuzz pedals and only one of them survived with any power and cutting strength past the comp>fuzz (into my TS-9)! Great advice … 🫶✌️🎸👨🏼⚕️🎸😎 Still, experimenting is the key.😊
COC's Wiseblood album is what sold me on Fuzz pedals. Those single note lines and solos they did using fuzz made me learn how to use a fuzz pedal. Add an octave pedal and have a blast.
Hi Kris, great tips! I never liked fuzz pedals, but a few months ago I watched a video in which you said Strats and Fuzz are made to each other. Then I tried a fuzz in Bias FX, and must admit I loved the sound. Now watching this video, I am even more interested in trying more Fuzz pedals. Thank you!
I'm just starting to love fuzz after 25 years hating it. Fuzz Face / Fuzz Factory style has really made me sit up and test them. Tate FX is great and I am using a new one from a guy called UnderFluked - the FuZR - that is great fuzz pedal. So much fun to be had!! Biggest lesson I had was riding the volume on the guitar can make such a difference.
Guitar volume becomes a crucial part of your sound when using a fuzz. 100% positive, man! And to be honest it's just so inspiring trying to figure out different fuzzes, adjusting your approach to playing the guitar, etc. Cheers man!
TheGuitarGeek hey brother! Sooo you mean the first one? The Nick Nitro? It’s a tricky pedal because it’s very sensitive to pedals around it but man does it sound sweet. And I didn’t even show the Octavia side of it. It’s goosebumps pure.
Hi, Great video presenting really the essential points to use a Fuzz... Regarding Buffer and pedal position in the chain I just want to point a fact regarding the electronic system inside the Tate FX Raise the Dead : No need to worry about where in your chain the Raise The Dead should go, unlike the 60's fuzzes this has a built in pick up simulator. No mater where in your chain it is it the fuzz will sound the same
Great video and sounds! Totally captured and showed the nature of these wild beasts. I would have added number 8, which is creating crazy apocalyptic noise like gated fuzz, video game sounds, self-oscillation, and all that good stuff you can unknowingly do with a ZVex Fuzz Factory
Great video.. Perhaps one video talking about fuzz face, tone bender, Dallas range Master, etc. One question.. This include big muff? or big muff play in other league?
Great Video as always🤘 The two guitarsyou made the setup yesterday are now really awesome! And the d-seed 2 is a killer delay!! Thank you so much! Have a lot of fun at the NAAM! Cheers Andy
@@PageandPlant4Life nor really true, as the fuzz JAMC recorded with, was damaged (a resistor was dislodged and later removed altogether) which made their TR-6 gate a bit. There are plenty of fuzzes that are gated AND work well with chords.
4 transistor fuzzes like the EHX rams head, JHS Crimson, Sovtek Red Army Fuzz, or Browne Amplification T4 don’t care about position in the signal chain or the presence of buffers. They’re incredibly stable, clean highs, and tight low end. The T4 even cleans up like a fuzz face. This stability has everything to do with the 4 transistor topology and not the silicon vs. germanium transistors. Yes, germanium _is_ temperature sensitive, but that’s got nothing to do with its place in the signal chain. 🙂 Circuit topology is signal chain destiny for fuzzes.
I never used any paddles or anything else. But i really like the fuzz sound. I play guitar since januari i am saving up money for an electrick guitar, i am going to get a fuzz paddle too then. i like it really much
Great video. I have to relook it couple times to really comprehend whats going on. There was sounds I love, sounds I hate and on top of that sounds that are quite funky.
@@KrisBarocsi my thing with fuzzes is, that I dislike them in most demos (besides DOD Carcosa and EQD Hoof). But then, I really love them, in "real world" applications. Like Tash Sultana has magnificent solo sound with fuzz in Jungle or Notion, Tony Iommi in Paranoid (not sure if there was actual fuzz pedal used, or the fuzz effect is achieved differently), or something like intro to Purple Haze, not to forget how David Gilmour uses fuzz and delay to create that iconic wall of sound type solos. The last thing, that attracts me to fuzz, is how some of the cleans extremely well and you can have probably the best clean sound possible using fuzz and rolling volume down (Im huge volume and tone knob user). So my question will be, what pedal to look for if I want fuzz that is not "that extreme" and cleans with volume pot well.
Why pick between silicon or germanium when you can have both at twice the price and blend them together - Spaceman Gemini. More importantly, what is that Blue and White Tele on the wall? Baller!
Hi Kris, nice video. I've started following your challenge few days ago and let me say your contents are really interesting are I like your sound. Speaking about fuzz pedals, do you consider the Big Muff as a fuzz or something little different? In my opinion is something else, very close though...
I’m gonna start trying germanium out. Kris, you are the best and just laying things out dude. Oh and love seeing the shell pink bass in action, really might look into doing that to a strat, loved that series.
Hi Kris! Great and very informative video. I just want to ask, what about guitars with active pickups (EMG, etc.)? Do you think it's better when fuzzes are combined with passive pickups in general or it depends on the particular type of fuzz? What is your experience? Take care! :)
The "creamiest" fuzz I've ever heard is the Univox SuperFuzz -- like the one Pete Townsend used with his SG Special. I scored one back when it was still cheap (available?) and it remains my favorite. The Supreme by JHS comes close, there might be others.
Kris I learned so.much In this video..I was a fuzz-dismisser but I think ill give it another shot Oh guru may I come to.trependorf and learn the secrets of the Barosci master,? Seriously , ignoring me taking the piss except wanting to visit ( run Kris while you can) you taught me loads about the pedal.i dismissed thank you now which fuzz in the kemper to start with?? ........
Paul Dugdale I’ll buy you a coffee if you come to visit in Treppendorf. Haha! Thank you Paul, I’m stoked to hear you enjoyed the video. Try the Gypsy Fuzz (link in the description box) or the DOD Carcosa fuzz. Both very nice fuzzes and pretty easy to use without a lot of experience. Cheers mate!
This really opened my optical sensors I’ve always seen Fuzz as just that my input is OVERLOADED and the transformer is about to go DC and Blow that 12 in Driver or the “spirit in the Sky” tone but the mega thick harmonics can open new territory for fuzzy speaker fart or dying battery sounds 🤘🏽👍🏽
Happy to hear Ninja! I ignored fuzz pedals for that long because I just couldn't make them sound any good. It's so much fun using them though, as soon as you figure them out. Cheers dude!
Eine Frage zum Video hätte ich aber noch an Dich @KrisBarocsi . Dieses wunder schöne Intro Riff/ Song, wie heißt der? Bzw von wem ist der ? Lieben Gruß Dirk
Danke Kris, für Deine Antwort. Ja Mensch, da bin ich natürlich wirklich sehr gespannt, auf das fertige Stück, aber natürlich auch auf Dein Solo Album. Viel Spaß noch bei der Produktion und viel Erfolg mit dem Ergebnis. Überhaupt, frohes schaffen noch . Und noch Mals, Respekt, sehr schönes Intro, liebe es total. 👍
I saw the pink guitar and thought "OH NO A PINK GUITAR!" Then I noticed it was a bass pfeeew! Had me worried for a while. I've never used the fuzz on my multi but Il try it on some parts! 👍
I keep seeing everyone say “fuzz THEN overdrive” but I actually hate how it sounds that way compared to tube screamer into my green Russian. Am I just doing it wrong and I should tweak it differently with fuzz into overdrive?
Hi I am from Brazil... Congratulations for your work here! Have you tried boost a fuzz face style pedal with a Tube Screamer before it?! I only have big Muff and It is amazing doing It while reducing the fuzz level! Just Wonder How a fuzz face would react too...
I love fuzz when other people use it. I never could get along with it. Still can't. It farts when I use an overdriven amp, and is paper-thin when I use a clean amp. Really can't use the neck pickup with it, either. Can't seem to find a sweet spot where notes don't fart out, and it sounds full at the same time. I've only used my Fuzz Face, but with quite a few amps, and I've also tried modelers that model the fuzzes and the amps, and the modelers do exactly what the real ones do. Either fart out, or too thin.
I have a germanium fuzz face into a boss tuner then into a strymon compadre compressor and then into a strymon sunset and riverside.. I get amazing sounds but after watching your video I do wonder about the boss tuner being a buffer and if the compressor makes a difference.. 🤔
As long a the fuzz is in front of the buffered pedals you should be fine. Most important thing with Tahitian fuzzes is that they see the high impedance signal of the pickups (so the fuzz is the first thing you plug into). Cheers
Kris, hello from Russia! What about Big Muff type of fuzz, can them be after buffered bypass? I've got violet fuzz (it's muff type) and i like it after wah (vox 847) and sometimes also after my ts808. Where should I place big muff type of fuzz in my pedal chain order?
Hey, thanks for watching the video! Big Muff style fuzzes are not too sensitiv to buffers, that’s one of the reasons why so many like them. If you hear a difference when your fuzz is the first pedal compared to it being after the wah or the 808, then feel free to use it where it works best. Cheers!
Just starting to get into fuzz. Ive always had a Nano Big Muff Pi on my board, but never really liked it all that much. recently i decided to try a Spaceman Effects Sputnik III Germanium Fuzz and i am in LOVE with that pedal, but it doesnt clean up well. If i turn down the volume on my guitar my tone gets very muffled. Now i want to dive head first down the rabbit hole of fuzz, and find a good one that cleans up well. I really want to try an Analog Man Sun Face, but im at a loss on what to choose since there is a ton of transistor and gain options to choose from. Black Spiral II by Spiral Electric FX, and Benson's Temp Controlled Germanium Fuzz are some other ones i want to try.
Those are awesome fuzzes. You could also give the Kasleder Vintage King a go. It’s stupidly good and the clean up is magical. You can get it direct and in a few weeks at Thomann too.
@@KrisBarocsi What can i say... i'm a bass player with a weakness for gracefully worn P-basses. However, thanks for the usefull insights on fuzz. I love 'm for both guitar and bass. I can really work with that single note aproach. By the way... thats some tastefull playing!
Kris a question for "gear corner and geek street combined" I have a prs Tremonti se I changed the pickups to a bare Knuckle war pig on the bridge and a hand wound p90 in humbucker shell on the neck Both pickups on their own are amazing BUT middle position is thin and nasty ..is this impedence I.E two different impedences .? .don't think it's phase As I'm sure they're wired correctly ....
I guess it's just the difference between what people think sounds good or not,but I've never had the problems people seem to have. I turn them on turn them up and they sound as bad ass as I thought they would.
I put my fuzz after my overdrive but when I engage only the overdrive it doesn't sound as chunky as it did before I added the fuzz to my chain. Why is that?
One thing that frustrates me is that every fuzz I buy/try sounds different depending on which amp and guitar I am using. For me, the best fuzz tones I get are Strat into a Prescription Electronics Experience Octave Fuzz & Swell Pedal into a RI 4x10 Bassman. Every other amp/fuzz/pedal combination I try is just different...I should just stop buying more pedals...impossible... ))
I hav a silicon big muff , iv put it everywhere in the chain with no problems at all . Trying to get the quirks people talk about. Did i luck out ,It sounds fine , but is it broken , i dont get it .
Big muff style fuzzes are a different beast to fuzz face style pedals. They are less fussy about position in the signal chain. They also don't clean up like a fuzz face will when you roll of the guitars volume.
Tab Tuburan I don’t have first hand Infos but I’m 99% sure it has a silicon transistor. The amount of gain, the type of distortion, the sound and the fact that Boss will wanna make sure the fuzz will work with their other buffered pedals all speak for a silicon transistor. Cheers!
Fuzz is a fun, frustrating and rewarding rabbit hole! All Fuzz pedals do a similar thing, but they all sound a little different? It takes some time to crack open how to use a Fuzz. I had no idea how to use them for YEARS, and avoided them. Once you discover how to get good sounds from them, you realize how many recordings used them!
Many sounds that I tried to recreate with Overdrive never could quite get “there”? When you start to figure them out, a whole new world of tones open up. The “clean” sounds (surprisingly) from a Germanium Fuzz ARE absolutely gorgeous.
The controls in most Fuzz pedals are VERY interactive. Because of the impedance issue you outlined, Fuzz pedals are also REALLY interactive with your guitar Volume and Tone control. Some Fuzz are super simple, one, two, or no controls. You still may have to spend some time dialing all the controls, your guitar volume, and tone to get the sound to change in the direction you want it?
I personally like Fuzz pedals that give access to the Bias, and have some kind of Tone shaping built into the pedal. It can add multiple layers of frustration, but also allow you to dial in a Fuzz Tone that cuts, and spits in just the right way? Running a Fuzz into an Overdrive pedal, or overdriven amp smooths out in a good way. EQ after can also help.
I didn't use to like fuzzz... until i bought a Dod Carcosa. It brings you a lot of different fuzz tones. Very versatile and inexpensive. I'm in love with my King in yellow...
Chema Jiménez good call man! The Carcosa is insanely good. So versatile too.
I'm here cause I just got the Carcossa. I run it into and Ibanez 850 mini fuzz and it gets some nice sounds for sure. Using it live tonight for the first time and only had about a week with it so im nervous but excited to unleash it onstage.
@@odrot3055 ENJOY TONIGHT!!!!
@@chemajimenez447
Thanks we shall. Follow our youtube page we'll have vids up tomorrow !!
The Carcosa is the BEST!
ty segall made me fall in love with fuzz
One highlight of Fuzz that I truly enjoy is the ability to roll the volume off on your guitar to get incredible clean to clean-ish tones!! Now this obviously only works with certain fuzz circuits. Some that I own and love are the Chase Bliss Automatone, Kingtone Vintage Fuzz, Kingtone mini Fuzz GE and even the Hudson Broadcast. It's a serious rabbit hole haha!! I've even started building my own at this point and that can be a great affordable way to try out and learn a bit more about analog Fuzz circuits. Great video Chris as always! Thank you!! I know this is a year old but I hadn't seen it yet so thought I'd add my 2 cents. Cheers 🍻✌
I fell in love with the fuzz when I got my SolaSound Tone Bender from the UK!
Great tip on how buffers screw up Fuzzes...
Your guitar playing is awsome, great feel and groove! Really learned alot using the episode you made about gain stacking.
Thanks so much Graham! 🙌
My favorite fuzz at the moment is the MXR Classic 108. I have the mini. It's essentially, the mini Dunlop Jimmy Hendrix silicon Fuzzface with a buffer switch/button. The buffer allows you to wah before fuzz without self-oscillation. The buffer engaged does give the pedal a brighter tone, but that is useful when turning down the fuzz/gain to more of an overdrive. Rolling back the gain makes it darker, but the buffer engaged adds some top end. The mini is just as good as the full-size.
I found out using fuzz about a year ago and I love how it’ll make everything sound huge!
what a helpful video! i love that you were methodical but also shared your opinions/anecdotal experience. thanks so much for this
The Arctic Fuzz is good - it has a blend knob unlike most. And it is under £30. One of the only fuzzes that works anywhere in your chain is the boss FZ5. Many fuzzes will drop your perceived volume so are not good for lead. These 2 don't. 👍😊
Volume drop can be an issue, you're right. That's why I use the Gypsy Fuzz for that. First of all it has a tone knob which helps a lot already. Second, it has way more mids than many other fuzz pedals. Cheers!
Yes octave fuzzes are the answer - that is a nice one 👍
You say towards the end "You shouldn't generalize" and I think that's true about *EVERYTHING* regarding fuzz, especially fuzz face circuits. Example, there are many modern fuzz face circuits that aren't affected by anything in front of them. I think it was RG Keen who came up with a way to emulate a pickup going directly into the fuzz input, so buffers, wah pedals and whatever else won't interfere with the way they respond or behave regarding guitars, other pedals in front of them. A few people (Kyle Chase of Chase Tone) builds fuzz face circuits that don't have to be the very first in line. I really thought I was going to have a problem with my compressor in front of the Fuzz Fella, nope! I've tried it with guitar directly in, and then after the compressor. Works the same either way, and it still cleans up nicely.
Great advice per usual. You hit the nail on the head. Fuzz on single notes or power chords and great in lead role. Germanium are good for volume roll off/clean up but under hot stage lights, it farts out. Legend has it people kept them refrigerated until show time. The Silicon are temperature stable but dont clean up as well.
My main two mythical transistors are the NKT275 unobtainium Germanium & the BC108 Silicon. So when mine break I'm screwed lol. This is why Hendrix always had Roger Mayer messing with them because even changing diodes affects the sound as well. They didn't even know what was in some stuff as equipment was stolen. Iommi had this same issue when some roadie/tech threw away his 1 of 1 modded Treble booster he used on early Sabbath, thinking it was trash.
To fund my gear acquisition syndrome (Gas) I sold my Analogman Sunface with NKT275. I still have a NKT modded Dunlop Dallas Arbiter style Fuzz face and the 3 NKT transistor Fulltone Soul bender mk1. I'm glad I still have my Silicon SIB Nick Nitro as the octave + fuzz is outstanding. Love that thing better than the MXR blue box which is muddy w/o something boosting it. You reminded me how the out of print SIB is so useful and has quality sounds. Again you're correct as I like my BATS Pharaoh fuzzes for C# standard downtuned metal.
I'm considering trying out the EHX Octavix or Flatiron Fuzz as they are both unique to me. I'm still pleased with the EHX Green Russian & need to pull that 1 out as well. To me the smashing Pumpkins tone lives in the EHX Op Amp pedal with JHS mod.
I think its all personal tastes but I like having choices on my board. As long as they play nice together I'm looking to assemble on any board I build a gain section with:
Fuzz. Distortion. Octave. Boost. Low or Mid Gain Stackable Overdrive...
And... yep...you play with the order.
Just like delays modulation and reverbs.
It doesn't have to be out of print cork sniffing expensive for me either...
The Behringer SuperFuzz at 30 bucks is a fantastic clone of a Boss Hyperfuzz.
You ever play the Morgan Fuzz pedals?
Hallo Kris, als erstes, meinen Respekt für das tolle Video. Sehr schön erklärt . ☺️
Man merkt halt, dass Du brennst und es nicht NUR nen ( Dein ) Job für Dich ist .
Super echt 👌👍
Awsome! I was looking forward to this video when you mentioned you were working on it. I think lots of people need to watch this video to tell them how to properly use fuzz.
So true re: Buffers! A session friend suggested Keeley Comp>Fuzz>rest of pedals. I have six or seven very good fuzz pedals and only one of them survived with any power and cutting strength past the comp>fuzz (into my TS-9)! Great advice … 🫶✌️🎸👨🏼⚕️🎸😎
Still, experimenting is the key.😊
COC's Wiseblood album is what sold me on Fuzz pedals. Those single note lines and solos they did using fuzz made me learn how to use a fuzz pedal. Add an octave pedal and have a blast.
That riff at the beginning was lovely
Thanks a lot mj! It will be one of the songs on the album I’m writing atm. 🤘
For me it has always been a great riff, I look forward to that album with great enthusiasm, it will be one of my favorite songs. Success! 🤘
Hi Kris, great tips! I never liked fuzz pedals, but a few months ago I watched a video in which you said Strats and Fuzz are made to each other. Then I tried a fuzz in Bias FX, and must admit I loved the sound. Now watching this video, I am even more interested in trying more Fuzz pedals. Thank you!
I'm just starting to love fuzz after 25 years hating it. Fuzz Face / Fuzz Factory style has really made me sit up and test them. Tate FX is great and I am using a new one from a guy called UnderFluked - the FuZR - that is great fuzz pedal. So much fun to be had!!
Biggest lesson I had was riding the volume on the guitar can make such a difference.
Guitar volume becomes a crucial part of your sound when using a fuzz. 100% positive, man! And to be honest it's just so inspiring trying to figure out different fuzzes, adjusting your approach to playing the guitar, etc. Cheers man!
@@KrisBarocsi the volume control on your guitar is a mystery for the first 20 years I think 🤣
Man I love that fuzz!
TheGuitarGeek hey brother! Sooo you mean the first one? The Nick Nitro? It’s a tricky pedal because it’s very sensitive to pedals around it but man does it sound sweet. And I didn’t even show the Octavia side of it. It’s goosebumps pure.
So much Nick Nitro love. Gday from a fellow Nitro owner in Australia
It's just such an underrated and fantastic fuzz. One of my favourites. Cheers mate!
Wah with fuzz is truly jimi Hendrix tone, no one sounds good with it than him, he owned that tone 🤘🤘🤘
My very congrats, Kris. You Just achieve to resume the whole story!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Hi,
Great video presenting really the essential points to use a Fuzz...
Regarding Buffer and pedal position in the chain I just want to point a fact regarding the electronic system inside the Tate FX Raise the Dead : No need to worry about where in your chain the Raise The Dead should go, unlike the 60's fuzzes this has a built in pick up simulator. No mater where in your chain it is it the fuzz will sound the same
This is so useful I didn't know any of this ..Many Thanks Kris .
Great video and sounds! Totally captured and showed the nature of these wild beasts. I would have added number 8, which is creating crazy apocalyptic noise like gated fuzz, video game sounds, self-oscillation, and all that good stuff you can unknowingly do with a ZVex Fuzz Factory
Fantastic episode!
Thanks a lot!
Great video.. Perhaps one video talking about fuzz face, tone bender, Dallas range Master, etc. One question.. This include big muff? or big muff play in other league?
Excellent, I appreciate the pointers.
Great Video as always🤘
The two guitarsyou made the setup yesterday are now really awesome! And the d-seed 2 is a killer delay!! Thank you so much!
Have a lot of fun at the NAAM! Cheers Andy
Andy Guitar Hey Andy, good to hear you like the setup on your babies 🎸 NAMM is gonna be really intense. But certainly fun too. Haha
Thanks Kris. I’ve never had time for a fuzz I consider myself well educated now 😄
Thanks Tom! Go for it one day. You might even love it more than you think. Haha!
Useful info, thank you! I learned a lot. As always.
Great video!🎉🎉🎉
Outstanding video! Congrats!
Thank you! 🙏
Wow! Awesome Intro Song!Love it
Michael Bourdin Music thanks man! Happy to hear you like it. 🙌
New sub here! I love your knowledge and appreciate your content. Keep on going brother!
So cool man, I really appreciate it! Enjoy the videos! 🥳
i like to use my fuzz the Jesus and Mary chain way, full strummed chords in a noisy type of fuzz that lets the beauty of the full chords come through
that works well with something big and open sounding(big muff).. sounds like doodoo with a gated fuzz
@@PageandPlant4Life nor really true, as the fuzz JAMC recorded with, was damaged (a resistor was dislodged and later removed altogether) which made their TR-6 gate a bit. There are plenty of fuzzes that are gated AND work well with chords.
4 transistor fuzzes like the EHX rams head, JHS Crimson, Sovtek Red Army Fuzz, or Browne Amplification T4 don’t care about position in the signal chain or the presence of buffers. They’re incredibly stable, clean highs, and tight low end. The T4 even cleans up like a fuzz face.
This stability has everything to do with the 4 transistor topology and not the silicon vs. germanium transistors. Yes, germanium _is_ temperature sensitive, but that’s got nothing to do with its place in the signal chain. 🙂 Circuit topology is signal chain destiny for fuzzes.
This video and advices are just like … Gold !
Thanks 👍
Thanks so much!!
I never used any paddles or anything else. But i really like the fuzz sound. I play guitar since januari i am saving up money for an electrick guitar, i am going to get a fuzz paddle too then.
i like it really much
I actually like the buffer after or before in some cases. Yes it changes the sound for sure. But that’s not ALWAYS bad.
Awesome video, thank you Kris!
Great video. I have to relook it couple times to really comprehend whats going on. There was sounds I love, sounds I hate and on top of that sounds that are quite funky.
Do it dude, it's a lot to take in if you're new to fuzzes. :) Let me know if you have any questions. Cheers!
@@KrisBarocsi my thing with fuzzes is, that I dislike them in most demos (besides DOD Carcosa and EQD Hoof). But then, I really love them, in "real world" applications. Like Tash Sultana has magnificent solo sound with fuzz in Jungle or Notion, Tony Iommi in Paranoid (not sure if there was actual fuzz pedal used, or the fuzz effect is achieved differently), or something like intro to Purple Haze, not to forget how David Gilmour uses fuzz and delay to create that iconic wall of sound type solos.
The last thing, that attracts me to fuzz, is how some of the cleans extremely well and you can have probably the best clean sound possible using fuzz and rolling volume down (Im huge volume and tone knob user).
So my question will be, what pedal to look for if I want fuzz that is not "that extreme" and cleans with volume pot well.
Super useful video! Thanks :)
Why pick between silicon or germanium when you can have both at twice the price and blend them together - Spaceman Gemini. More importantly, what is that Blue and White Tele on the wall? Baller!
Nice video dude 👍🏼
Thank you 🙏
❤ super cool video. Useful information. Thx man.
Hi Kris, nice video. I've started following your challenge few days ago and let me say your contents are really interesting are I like your sound.
Speaking about fuzz pedals, do you consider the Big Muff as a fuzz or something little different? In my opinion is something else, very close though...
I’m gonna start trying germanium out. Kris, you are the best and just laying things out dude. Oh and love seeing the shell pink bass in action, really might look into doing that to a strat, loved that series.
Eric Carpenter thanks s lot Eric! Much appreciated! I love playing the pink lady. I just wish I had more time to practice on the bass. Cheers
I love this guy
Nice video I’d Learn so many things whit this. Thank you. What do you think of the fuzz Fenzy?
Such a great channel! Subscribed!
Hi Kris! Great and very informative video. I just want to ask, what about guitars with active pickups (EMG, etc.)? Do you think it's better when fuzzes are combined with passive pickups in general or it depends on the particular type of fuzz? What is your experience? Take care! :)
Well I'm glad i have a couple fuzzes. I liked both wah sounds before and after. Before sounded more classic, after had a bit of a synthy vibe.
Absolutely! Wah after fuzz does have a talk boxy / filter synth kinda vibe. Such an inspiring and fun sound! Cheers dude!
Thank you very much, that was highly interesting and very usefull!!
Thanks Kris!
Really informative. // Per
I’d definitely recommend the rainger fx bleep fuzz with egor expression pad and z.vex effects fat fuzz factory
The "creamiest" fuzz I've ever heard is the Univox SuperFuzz -- like the one Pete Townsend used with his SG Special. I scored one back when it was still cheap (available?) and it remains my favorite. The Supreme by JHS comes close, there might be others.
Kris I learned so.much In this video..I was a fuzz-dismisser but I think ill give it another shot
Oh guru may I come to.trependorf and learn the secrets of the Barosci master,?
Seriously , ignoring me taking the piss except wanting to visit ( run Kris while you can) you taught me loads about the pedal.i dismissed thank you now which fuzz in the kemper to start with?? ........
Paul Dugdale I’ll buy you a coffee if you come to visit in Treppendorf. Haha! Thank you Paul, I’m stoked to hear you enjoyed the video. Try the Gypsy Fuzz (link in the description box) or the DOD Carcosa fuzz. Both very nice fuzzes and pretty easy to use without a lot of experience. Cheers mate!
@@KrisBarocsi thanks Kris I'm a typical Englishman..it's tea old chap !
I think the DOD fuzz looks the one ..time to do some work!
This really opened my optical sensors I’ve always seen Fuzz as just that my input is OVERLOADED and the transformer is about to go DC and Blow that 12 in Driver or the “spirit in the Sky” tone but the mega thick harmonics can open new territory for fuzzy speaker fart or dying battery sounds 🤘🏽👍🏽
Happy to hear Ninja! I ignored fuzz pedals for that long because I just couldn't make them sound any good. It's so much fun using them though, as soon as you figure them out. Cheers dude!
Or did that fuzz loving geek that f’d up your Bass make you do it he’s a big menacing guy😱😂
Even his hair is fuzzy
Excellent!
I've heard that that guitar should ALWAYS go into fuzz. Not, even a tuner in between. But, is it ok to go into an A/B/Y before the fuzz??
this month I'm building trying a couple parallel fuzz loops and I'm so excited
Hey Kris, what are your favorite Fuzz? Looking for a stoner/doom fuzz 😊
Fuzzalicious!
Eine Frage zum Video hätte ich aber noch an Dich @KrisBarocsi .
Dieses wunder schöne Intro Riff/ Song, wie heißt der?
Bzw von wem ist der ? Lieben Gruß Dirk
Danke Dirk!! Das Intro Track ist ein „Songstück“ was ich gerade fertiggeschrieben hab. Es wird auf mein Soloalbum erscheinen später in diesem Jahr. 🤩
Danke Kris, für Deine Antwort.
Ja Mensch, da bin ich natürlich wirklich sehr gespannt, auf das fertige Stück, aber natürlich auch auf Dein Solo Album.
Viel Spaß noch bei der Produktion und viel Erfolg mit dem Ergebnis. Überhaupt, frohes schaffen noch . Und noch Mals, Respekt, sehr schönes Intro, liebe es total. 👍
I saw the pink guitar and thought "OH NO A PINK GUITAR!" Then I noticed it was a bass pfeeew! Had me worried for a while. I've never used the fuzz on my multi but Il try it on some parts! 👍
I keep seeing everyone say “fuzz THEN overdrive” but I actually hate how it sounds that way compared to tube screamer into my green Russian. Am I just doing it wrong and I should tweak it differently with fuzz into overdrive?
Hi I am from Brazil... Congratulations for your work here! Have you tried boost a fuzz face style pedal with a Tube Screamer before it?! I only have big Muff and It is amazing doing It while reducing the fuzz level!
Just Wonder How a fuzz face would react too...
Do you happen sell any "licks" packs? Like your top 10-20 fav blues licks or rock licks..etc. You've got great phrasing!
I love fuzz when other people use it. I never could get along with it. Still can't. It farts when I use an overdriven amp, and is paper-thin when I use a clean amp. Really can't use the neck pickup with it, either. Can't seem to find a sweet spot where notes don't fart out, and it sounds full at the same time. I've only used my Fuzz Face, but with quite a few amps, and I've also tried modelers that model the fuzzes and the amps, and the modelers do exactly what the real ones do. Either fart out, or too thin.
I have a germanium fuzz face into a boss tuner then into a strymon compadre compressor and then into a strymon sunset and riverside.. I get amazing sounds but after watching your video I do wonder about the boss tuner being a buffer and if the compressor makes a difference.. 🤔
As long a the fuzz is in front of the buffered pedals you should be fine. Most important thing with Tahitian fuzzes is that they see the high impedance signal of the pickups (so the fuzz is the first thing you plug into). Cheers
Electric Wizard 🤘🤘
Kris, hello from Russia! What about Big Muff type of fuzz, can them be after buffered bypass? I've got violet fuzz (it's muff type) and i like it after wah (vox 847) and sometimes also after my ts808. Where should I place big muff type of fuzz in my pedal chain order?
Hey, thanks for watching the video! Big Muff style fuzzes are not too sensitiv to buffers, that’s one of the reasons why so many like them. If you hear a difference when your fuzz is the first pedal compared to it being after the wah or the 808, then feel free to use it where it works best. Cheers!
@@KrisBarocsi thanks for fast reply, l'll be waiting for new videos
Just starting to get into fuzz. Ive always had a Nano Big Muff Pi on my board, but never really liked it all that much. recently i decided to try a Spaceman Effects Sputnik III Germanium Fuzz and i am in LOVE with that pedal, but it doesnt clean up well. If i turn down the volume on my guitar my tone gets very muffled. Now i want to dive head first down the rabbit hole of fuzz, and find a good one that cleans up well. I really want to try an Analog Man Sun Face, but im at a loss on what to choose since there is a ton of transistor and gain options to choose from. Black Spiral II by Spiral Electric FX, and Benson's Temp Controlled Germanium Fuzz are some other ones i want to try.
Those are awesome fuzzes. You could also give the Kasleder Vintage King a go. It’s stupidly good and the clean up is magical. You can get it direct and in a few weeks at Thomann too.
@@KrisBarocsi awesome thanks man! Your demo on the Vintage King is phenomenal. Definitely going on my list. 😁
What about using a mixer pedal to combine overdrive and fuzz?
That P bass at the beginning stole the show for me
Seg@fredo Haha! Fair enough. It’s pretty, right? 😁
@@KrisBarocsi What can i say... i'm a bass player with a weakness for gracefully worn P-basses. However, thanks for the usefull insights on fuzz. I love 'm for both guitar and bass. I can really work with that single note aproach. By the way... thats some tastefull playing!
Great tone and dynamics!!!
🎸Great Job!!!! You are Super Talented! Full Watch, LIKE & SUB!!!!!
Ahh man, thank you!! Welcome and enjoy the ride. Haha!
Kris a question for "gear corner and geek street combined"
I have a prs Tremonti se I changed the pickups to a bare Knuckle war pig on the bridge and a hand wound p90 in humbucker shell on the neck
Both pickups on their own are amazing BUT middle position is thin and nasty ..is this impedence I.E two different impedences .?
.don't think it's phase As I'm sure they're wired correctly ....
I get great cleans with my silicone
12:37 are those the settings for muse?
I guess it's just the difference between what people think sounds good or not,but I've never had the problems people seem to have. I turn them on turn them up and they sound as bad ass as I thought they would.
What is that sparkle finish guitar on the wall?
I put my fuzz after my overdrive but when I engage only the overdrive it doesn't sound as chunky as it did before I added the fuzz to my chain. Why is that?
my bloody valentine, nirvana , Mudhoney and smashing pumpkins are my inspiration to get a big muff or a modern fuzz pedal
Turn 🎸 tone knob down, add octave pedal, crank and enjoy fuzz.
Have you tried the plasma coil?
My two favourite fuzzes are the Pedal Pawn, the Black Ash and the new Ram’s Head. Ok, I guess I have three favourite fuzzes.
One thing that frustrates me is that every fuzz I buy/try sounds different depending on which amp and guitar I am using. For me, the best fuzz tones I get are Strat into a Prescription Electronics Experience Octave Fuzz & Swell Pedal into a RI 4x10 Bassman. Every other amp/fuzz/pedal combination I try is just different...I should just stop buying more pedals...impossible... ))
I hav a silicon big muff , iv put it everywhere in the chain with no problems at all . Trying to get the quirks people talk about. Did i luck out ,It sounds fine , but is it broken , i dont get it .
Big muff style fuzzes are a different beast to fuzz face style pedals. They are less fussy about position in the signal chain. They also don't clean up like a fuzz face will when you roll of the guitars volume.
I sounded so different with the boss eq
What year is that telecaster?
Even after around 1 year I am into Fuzz I am still at the beginning...
Please mr kris can you show us this beautiful riff you play in the beginning . Thanks alot
That would be great. I noticed it in some more of your videos and cant get it out of my head 😍
The best way to make a Fuzz work is to put a buffer first but off
how about boss fz2? could be a silicon?
Tab Tuburan I don’t have first hand Infos but I’m 99% sure it has a silicon transistor. The amount of gain, the type of distortion, the sound and the fact that Boss will wanna make sure the fuzz will work with their other buffered pedals all speak for a silicon transistor. Cheers!
Fuzz before wah actually sounds like someone choking on nuts in a blender
😂
I stack blues overdeive 2 with swollen pickle, anyone else does?
Properly.
This is the way to use a fuzz: Properly.
LOL