[quote name='clauster' timestamp='1332234569' post='1585064']
Huge and brutal?
Distortion/fuzz on it's own can get you the brutal, but not always the huge. Think angry Alsatian. Certainly big and strongh, but you can add more to get really huge and brutal.
For a real rabid Rottweiler of a tone, I'd start with a compressor. It'll fatten up your tone and can help your distrortion/fuzz produce a more consistent tone. If it can also introduce a bit of grit, this might not be a bad thing, but you want one that definitely does not lose your lows. Then into distortion/fuzz with blend - you'll want to keep that fat bass from the comp for the hugeness.
Want the guitarist quaking? Lets slip this p1ssed off pooch some crystal meth. Get an EQ and put it before the dirt and put both in the loop of blender. You've opened up your dirt choices, because we don't need a blend on the pedal and the EQ will let you push the dirt harder and shape it more.
Shall we add a collar with big pointy spikes? After the blender you could stick a milder drive to push the dirt a little further and add a bit of attitude to the clean tone.
One case for prosecution under the Dangerous [s]Dogs[/s] Distortion Act.
[/quote]
This.
My signal chain is bass - aguilar comp - sansamp (this has blend and EQ built in), Marshall jackhammer. Those are the core of my nasty sounds when I need them.
Big Muff and other effects come after. The only thing im missing is a noise gate! The sansamp is awesome but mines creates a lot of hiss