Gated (synthy) fuzz that works well with ACTIVE basses? Recommendations please?

[Greg.Bassman]

Hi all.

I'm on the market for a gated (synthy) fuzz that works well with active basses.

When I was a passive man, my weapon of choice used to be the Zvex Woolly Mammoth; however, it's become common knowledge that they don't work so well with active circuitry. I've found this to be true [i]and[/i] false; the tone is still great, but the 'pinch' (gate control) doesn't appear to be effective anymore.

Any recommendations?
Cheers.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Greg.Bassman

[Byo]

Doesn't the Zvex have a control that allows Active basses to work with it? Can't remember the layout.

Edit: My bad, I think it's the Mastotron.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Byo

[Bo0tsy]

If you can find one still, the Chunk Systems Brown Dog works really well with active basses.

[AustinArto]

Another vote for the Brown Dog. Great, great fuzz and sounds just as good with actives.

[Dapper Bandit]

Yet another vote for the Brown Dog. A beast of a fuzz, I've never left the house without it!

[Byo]

And another vote for the Brown Dog too! Great sound and so simple to use.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Greg.Bassman' timestamp='1456795749' post='2992379']
Hi all.

I'm on the market for a gated (synthy) fuzz that works well with active basses.

When I was a passive man, my weapon of choice used to be the Zvex Woolly Mammoth; however, it's become common knowledge that they don't work so well with active circuitry. I've found this to be true [i]and[/i] false; the tone is still great, but the 'pinch' (gate control) doesn't appear to be effective anymore.

Any recommendations?
Cheers.
[/quote]

Why doesn't the Zvex Woolly Mammoth work properly with active basses?

[thodrik]

Darkglass Duality works well with active basses. Doesn't get to the synthy levels of the Woolly Mammoth though.

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1456908683' post='2993339']


Why doesn't the Zvex Woolly Mammoth work properly with active basses?
[/quote]

Something to do with the Mammoth wanting to see high impedance, which active basses tend not to have.


To the OP, I've had both the Mastotron and the Oxide and both work wpvery well with active bass

[cheddatom]

It's true that this is "common knowledge" but I have a woolly mammoth clone that's fine with my active basses. Not sure if it's different to the standard model

[AustinArto]

My old Mammoth didn't like my Warwick, it sounded really thin and reedy.

[Dapper Bandit]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1456959497' post='2994128']


To the OP, I've had both the Mastotron and the Oxide and both work wpvery well with active bass
[/quote]

Ooh, the Oxide is good too! Pretty versatile as it does a passable Brassmaster impression as well.

[dannybuoy]

[quote name='AustinArto' timestamp='1457011407' post='2994436']
My old Mammoth didn't like my Warwick, it sounded really thin and reedy.
[/quote]

So did mine, with any transistor stage / buffer before it. It likes to see a direct connection to the pickups. There are some clones around that work around this though.

The TAFM (smallsound/bigsound Team Awesome Fuzz Machine) is a good choice, as is the Malekko Diabolik.

I also have a Lucid Audio Fuzzopotamus for sale which is a very bass heavy tweaked fuzz face with a gate control and another knob to adjust for active/passive basses. I've never actually used it with an active bass come to think of it, if I get time I'll try and make a couple of clips to see if it floats your boat!

Edited March 3, 2016 by dannybuoy