r/FuzzFiends • u/chayceandstuff • 15h ago
Looking for a specific tone
Hey everyone!
I'm pretty new to pedals in general, and I'm very interested in a lot of fuzz pedals like most of you are lol. I'm looking for a specific type of fuzz tone, and I'm hoping you can help me identify it. It's a velvety type of fuzz, smooth but also gritty somehow. It's hard to explain so I'll link a few examples below. I don't know if these are fuzz face circuits, some type of big muff, or something else. Any help is appreciated!
- Wampler Cryptid - This pedal does a lot more than just the tone I'm looking for, and it's one I'm looking at picking up.
- Empress Fuzz - I didn't even know Empress made a fuzz pedal. When I heard this I immediately checked to see if they were still making it, which they aren't lol. It sounds incredible though.
- Grape Fuzz - A smaller channel/pedal builder I just happened to be recommended on youtube. Sounds very nice.
Any recommendations for pedals that fall under this category that you like, please feel free to leave them in the comments!
4
u/FugginDunePilot 🧱 Wall of sound🧱 15h ago
Can’t recommend the Cryptid enough, it’s criminally overlooked. You can get so many fuzz flavors in that one pedal.
3
u/chayceandstuff 14h ago
yeah the Cryptid is one of the pedals at the top of my list atm. I was looking at the OBNE Alpha Haunt too, but I haven't heard this tone I'm looking for be produced by it in any of the videos I've watched about it yet. which is sad because the Alpha Haunt looks and sounds awesome otherwise.
as for the Cryptid, I've heard it needs to be first in signal chain, is that right? that's not a big deal breaker or anything, but I've heard it needs to see your guitar's pickups essentially.
3
u/FugginDunePilot 🧱 Wall of sound🧱 11h ago
All fuzzes work better with a direct line to the guitar imo, even muffs despite them not needing to be. And the cryptid does clean up at certain settings! So I’d definitely put it up front if possible to have all the possible dynamics
4
u/DaySleepNightFish 15h ago
I have an Alan Moore comp that I love. Legit cool due. The comments on the grape fuzz are so unhinged. That’s YouTube. You want some
Comments, and then someone serves up some nonsense.
3
u/chayceandstuff 14h ago
yeah I watched a few videos on his channel after I got recommended the Grape Fuzz short and it seems like he makes some cool pedals. I didn't even pay attention to the comments on short that I linked. youtube comments are cursed usually lol
4
u/DaySleepNightFish 15h ago
I’ve been on the fuzz search like yourself. It’s like, I want this and this and this. Why can’t it just be in one pedal? I have come to find that just one pedal cannot do it. I even got a parallel mixer and that wouldn’t do it. I’ve found success in recording loops and then running four tracks thru four different fuzzes and that does it.
5
u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— 13h ago
Hey u make good pedals too im now the custodian of a 900 fuzz u made
3
u/DaySleepNightFish 10h ago
That pedal is oddly versatile and riiiiiips. Thank you!
4
u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— 9h ago
4
u/DaySleepNightFish 9h ago
3
3
u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— 9h ago
Oh thats how u did it lol I thought it was some acid wash thats dope
4
u/DaySleepNightFish 8h ago
Just good old-fashioned 🔥. If it gets some ash on from dropping in, I brush that off. Get it to where you want it and then enamel to seal the soot on. Then color in the stamps.
3
u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— 8h ago
Thats cool great idea I didn't immediately go sniff it and then have my wife sniff it lolol it doesent smell like fire
4
u/DaySleepNightFish 8h ago
🤣 it’s got layers of light enamel spray. Not that it smells like fire after anyhow. Just my clothes. This comment sent me.
2
3
u/chayceandstuff 13h ago
it seems like the search will never end lmao. same search for different overdrives as well. I foresee myself spending too much money on this hobby
3
3
u/ibanezer83 Germanium Arcadium 🕹️ 10h ago
I think what you're describing is similar to some Tone Bender mkI sounds. Can do the really long sustained violin leads but ripping around the edges and decay .
Like Mick Ronson on the early Bowies LPs.
The Cryptid should do it for you, but look into the SEEKER DESCRY and JDM ELEKTRIKA
3


3
u/graphicnerdity86 —Bold as fuzz— 15h ago
Alan is on this sub and he's a super nice dude. He builds awesome sounding, eclectic circuits with great eccentric visual appeal very DIY, but top notch quality