1976fenderhead

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1336029358' post='1639590'] I think the answer is to just experiment. If you get them too high you will notice some strange sounds and possibly strings hitting the pole pieces, Too low you will lose volume. [/quote] What do you mean by strange sounds?

I have a Fender American Jazz Deluxe and always just set up pickup height to what Fender says in their setup guide, but those values are what they recommend as the 'starting point'... Where should I go from there? What should I be looking for hearing as I raise or lower them and when will I know I'm at the sweet spot? How far up and down from the starting point is it worth going? I've always neglected this bit of setup to be honest, but was reading about this yesterday and it seems it can make dramatic changes to tone? I don't think I ever noticed that when I adjusted them before... Any help/guide/tips appreciated.

[quote name='Thatguy59' timestamp='1335971950' post='1638848'] I never really liked the "Bass Octave" model in the M9(Same effects as the M5), what I use instead is the "Pitch Glide" model, without an expression pedal, set the pitch to -12.0 and the mix to around 50%, you don't get a lot of tone control over it but the tracking is brilliant, will take 2/3 notes and goes looooooow. [/quote] Funny you say that, I found the same when I bought it, but recently started using the Bass Octave model so I could change the tone and see how it affected the fuzz after it. But I agree with you, definitely better for some reason...

Only needed to play 5-10 minutes with the El Grande to know it's probably the worst fuzz I ever used. AWFUL! Won't have an MXR fanboy board after all. The pedal just sounded very erratic with my main (active) bass, not so bad with the passive one... like volume and fuzziness would vary widely in adjacent frets. There definitely seems to be some strange frequency cancelling issue between my bass and MXR distortions! So 2 MXR pedals returned in a week, GAK must be loving me now Now what hmmm... Mastotron is sounding too harsh for me, Oxide too much trouble to get, would like to give the Red Ripper a go but it's more money than I'd like to spend... EDIT: the BOD I got is going back too! Massive low frequency crackling noise when using it with distortion! Wow MXR have really disappointed me! The result is I think I'll have to stick with the Microsynth because I don't see a decent alternative for a decent price unless if waiting to try to grab an Octamizer and a decent fuzz second hand. My hurry is definitely gone though!

[quote name='1970' timestamp='1335883426' post='1637496'] Also my drummer doesn't use cymbals*. [size=1]*he does[/size] [/quote]

[quote name='phil.i.stein' timestamp='1335890685' post='1637647'] funnily enough, that's what happens with the mxr blowtorch too. pity, as it sounds good on it's own. [/quote] Interesting, I had one with me last week for a few days but returned it due to a weird phasing issue with my bass, I actually thought it would be good in a mix but never got to try it with my band...

[quote name='1970' timestamp='1335881858' post='1637466'] too farty? [/quote] Hahaha... well... yeah! I dislike the separation between dry and wet sounds. it's like there's 2 basses in the band, one with a nice clean tone and another one in the background with a terrible cheap distortion sound. I prefer one bass only with a killer distorted tone This is from web demos only, but I consistently dislike them all the same way. I expected a lot from this pedal and am quite disappointed so far. They say it's great that you keep your low end intact... But all that happens this way is that once the band comes in, your fuzz tone disappears under the hi-hat, cymbals and guitar and it sounds like your playing clean. There's a demo on youtube that shows exactly that...

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~MXR-Bass-Fuzz-Deluxe-Pedal-M84~ID~17022.asp Personally, I think it sounds like ass

Well now this sounds interesting... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5JPseB11-c Wonder how it sounds on bass...

Well, following the strange phasing issue I got with the Blowtorch (detailed in another post), I'll be moving on to my next bet which is the Mastotron, hoping I won't get the same problem... EDIT: Might actually see how I do with the El Grande first since it costs about half the price of the Mastotron, then if not happy will take the plunge and go for the Mastotron)...

[quote name='lxxwj' timestamp='1335624244' post='1633887'] I can't really tell if anything's happening on your samples, sorry.. [/quote] You can even see on the wave how there's a sharp decrease in volume immediately after the attack, but straight away it increases back again to a normal level. On the long notes, you can see an undulation in volume on the sustain, however the lowest point is always right after the attack, it never really goes back to being that quiet despite the phasing moving up and down... Doesn't really make sense when the quietest point of the note is immediately after the attack does it...

I also tried it with my passive Squire which has a terrible setup and it doesn't seem to be connected to fret buzz... It's less noticeable on the Squier though it buzzes all over the place. My main bass is a MIA Fender Jazz Deluxe btw (active)... there really seems to be some mismatch going on... When I play with my SFX Micro Fuzz or Bass Microsynth that issue is barely there, I can only hear it now because I'm looking for it but I never noticed it before and it's not a problem in the slightest, also with the T-Rex Bass Juice it's not there at all that I can hear it, however with the Blowtorch it's really a problem, if I alternate quickly between 3rd and 4th fret on the A string sometimes the 4th fret gets kind of cancelled out, like in a mix it would just disappear... When you actually feel the air from the speakers you can feel it vanishing there for a 1/4 second... I'm afraid the Blowtorch will have to go back as it just doesn't seem to agree with my bass...

[url="http://soundcloud.com/1976fenderhead/fuzz-phasing-issue"]http://soundcloud.com/1976fenderhead/fuzz-phasing-issue[/url] A string only, I start clean 5th fret down to open string, then Blowtorch on, same thing. Then I start going up the fretboard and you'll notice the phasing kicks in progressively later the highest I go... Any ideas on how to tame this?

I recently bought a Blowtorch and started noticing some weird phasing strongest between the 3rd and 5th fret on all strings but probably strongest on the A string. It kicks in right after I hit a note and say 1/4 second after I hit it, it 'cancels' out the strength of the fuzz for just a fraction of a second... then the phase cycle comes back again but this time slowly if I sustain the note. It doesn't kill the effect or anything, it's just like a quick phase cycle that disturbs the definition of the effect... I then tried the Bass Microsynth with only the fuzz on and noticed it happening too, but much less noticeable... It seems like a setup issue, as if I don't press the strings properly, that 'phase cycle' coincides with the buzzing starting. What I don't understand is, even if there's NO buzzing, the 'phasing' still happens just the same. Any ideas what's causing this and how to fix it? I'm quite happy with my setup and like to have a tiny bit of buzz in exchange for low action so it's annoying if that doesn't work with this pedal... I'll post a sample on Soundcloud and link to it soon.

[quote name='johnDeereJack' timestamp='1335546698' post='1633046'] I tried a POG yesterday in Guitar Guitar before I finally settled on reinvesting in the MXR BOD. I kinda liked the octave up feature of the POG - a bit of a novelty tho cos I'm not sure I'd ever use it and the POG just doesn't have the same warmth that the MXR does. I love the fact you can get pretty close to the old Boss OC2 with the BOD. Needless to say I walked out of the shop with a brand spanking new BOD! (Almost took the Carbon Copy too!) [/quote] Although I'd rather get the Octamizer, I'd only want to get it second hand as it's a bit expensive, and they don't come often like that so I bought a BOD while I wait I think I'm ending up with a very nerdy MXR fanboy board (adding the Blowtorch and the BOD to the Bass Compressor and M80 DI I already have)..

[quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1335518749' post='1632403'] I use my MI Audio Pollyanna to get a synthy distorted sound. [/quote] Woah, just saw a guitar video on youtube, that pedal sounds amazing... Do you use octave up as well? Would you be able to do any samples with bass? Would really be curious to hear it... What about this? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTEjyOlZyz8&feature=related[/media] Sounds pretty interesting too, but not sure how that Muff goes with bass and the lack of tone controls on the POG has always put me off... [quote name='theotherphiljones' timestamp='1335219675' post='1627641'] Red Ripper and BOD works for me [/quote] Missed this post before. Red Ripper sounds very interesting too, I'd say even probably the best option so far due to the apparent filter thingy it adds, but it's a bit too pricey and they don't come second hand often do they? I am enjoying the Torch button in the Blowtorch though, I already got a sound I like for normal distortion and another for the synthy sound keeping the same settings, simply using that button, which may allow me to actually get rid of my distortion as I'm liking having them with the same character... The Ripper doesn't have that but does have a kind of filter thing in there though... I guess if I get bored of the Blowtorch I'll go for that next...

[quote name='johnDeereJack' timestamp='1335509968' post='1632260'] Yep, octave box (BOD in my case) into fuzz box (El Grande); that's definitely the way I do it as well. The M82 is the Bass Envelope Filter so no issues with running a fuzz into it. [/quote] Right, sorry, thought M82 was the code for the BOD... :-/

[quote name='johnDeereJack' timestamp='1335373930' post='1630161'] No noise suppressor or gate - I just run the El Grande into the M82. [/quote] That's odd, don't 99% of people run the octaver into the fuzz? I have to say from my testing yesterday I didn't find a satisfactory result with either direction. I'm quite happy with the Blowtorch when comparing with the Microsynth with octaves off, however when I bring the lower octave up in the Microsynth, I still haven't been able to surpass that sound with the Blowtorch plus the octave in the M5. It may of course just be the case the octave in the M5 isn't that great... but either using it after or before the fuzz, I didn't get a result as good as with the Microsynth. I was also hoping I could sell my SFX Micro Fuzz but upon comparing, I'll be keeping both. The Micro Fuzz is not as full-sounding but is very punchy, focused and defined, great for fast defined notes as they all come out clear. The Blowtorch is fuller, very versatile and better a for synth sound, though not as clear-sounding in fast playing.

Following advice here and some consequent video watching on youtube, and considering I usually can't be bothered to get pedals that are boutique or a bit harder to find, I've purchased a Blowtorch and will see how it sounds with the M5's octaver today (I intend to buy a proper octaver once I've settled on the distortion). I listened to samples and reviews of the suggested pedals and this one seemed like one of the most gated synthy ones. I also listened to the El Grande and the new Bass Fuzz Deluxe and was surprised to find I'd much rather have the El Grande, is it just me or that deluxe fuzz really sounds like poo? I just can't find a review with an acceptable sound, let alone a great sound! I considered the El Grande because of the space it would save and the fact it only needs 9v, but it just didn't sound nearly as synthy as the Blowtorch on those videos and samples... I also used to have a Zoom Ultra Fuzz and agree it should work pretty well for this, but sadly I sold it and would now like to try something new. It was an awesome fuzz though! So let's see how it goes, I shall report back, and thanks for the suggestions everyone

Has anyone tried the new MXR Bass Fuzz Deluxe? I don't think it sounds great on its own but maybe with an octaver would be good...

[quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1334781986' post='1621319'] I used to own the MXR and I really liked it... It was quite 'rocky' and aggressive though which didn't work for me in the music I was playing. It's certainly a pedal I'd recommend though. The Aguilar is smoother and synthier - the closed to the OC2 I have used. It's filter is unique, allowing you to use it for sub-like tones rather than a full range sound as well. I like it as it performs a specific task for me - sub under my main sound. Both are great but voiced VERY differently. As the MXR has access to much more mid growl though it does sound pretty badass with a good overdrive or fuzz after it! [/quote] I'm going off my own topic here, but what about tracking, did you find one better than the other on that?

[quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1334779917' post='1621280'] OC-2 or Aguilar Octamizer into a Mastotron is my recipe of choice. Yum. [/quote] What do you think of the Octamizer compared to MXR's Bass Octave Deluxe?