I'm currently in between Fuzz/OD pedals and am looking for some good recommendations and opinions

Looking for something that will give me a lot of dirt but still stay articulate sounding for big chords and melodic passages. Think the likes of newer YOB, nothing too wooly and resonance for days

Also if people want to chat generally about Doom pedals I reckon this might as well be the place!


#1 April 18, 2019, 10:43:42 AM Last Edit: April 18, 2019, 10:51:48 AM by StoutAndAle
I have a EHX Russian Big Muff re-issue on my board. You can dial in plenty of filth but it's great for playing Soundgarden-esque stuff too. Also the hidden message on the PCB is a nice touch. Reasonable at about €100.






Look at rat pedals & clones of them. Can get three mode rat clones like R.Attack or Super rat, that I have, from alo express pretty cheap.  Have both distortion or fuzz esque tones. I use that & tube screamer clone into crunch channel of Crate amp.

Also the Behringer Sf300 is direct copy of Boss fz2. That pedal into clean valve amp is old Electric wizard.

All good ideas! I'll find some demos of these online and give them a listen. Definitely heard a few good things about the Russian Big Muff in the past. Already have a tube screamer I was considering parting with but maybe I'll hold on to it to try run it in tandem with one of these and see what results I get.

Been hearing a lot of good things about Black Arts Electronics Pharaoh, anybody ever used one?

I'd second the EHX Big Muff above. I defo wouldn't say it very articulate. I use it mainly as a filthy boost for certain parts live (the big chords, as you call them), for pure and utter heft. It wouldn't be my main distortion. but for the odd section where you just want to kick stuff, it's the job! I'm not a fuzz expert by any means and if you were using it as your primary dirt maybe look elsewhere but if it's just for the odd part here and there, it really is good.

#6 April 18, 2019, 01:18:11 PM Last Edit: April 18, 2019, 01:21:23 PM by StoutAndAle
Quote from: Makeshiftatomsmasher on April 18, 2019, 11:25:42 AM
Also the Behringer Sf300 is direct copy of Boss fz2. That pedal into clean valve amp is old Electric wizard.

I was looking at those Behringer pedals earlier this week. For €20 a pop from Thomann they'd be worth a punt. I don't need more distortion/overdrive/fuzz boxes but curiosity has the better of me.




A friend of mine has a Battlehammer made by the board's own Moose - Moose Electronics.

That's a very tasty pedal as well.

There used to be a "Metal Ireland" special version of it with an extra option. Can't remember which one my buddy went for.

https://www.someneckguitars.com/products/moose-electronics-battle-hammer


Quote from: StoutAndAle on April 18, 2019, 01:18:11 PM
I was looking at those Behringer pedals earlier this week. For €20 a pop from Thomann they'd be worth a punt. I don't need more distortion/overdrive/fuzz boxes but curiosity has the better of me.




A friend of mine has a Battlehammer made by the board's own Moose - Moose Electronics.

That's a very tasty pedal as well.

There used to be a "Metal Ireland" special version of it with an extra option. Can't remember which one my buddy went for.

https://www.someneckguitars.com/products/moose-electronics-battle-hammer


Always nice to see an Irish made option, I'll give that a good look up over the weekend

The only problem with Behringer pedals, is there in a cheap plastic case. They won't last been stomped on hard.

I came across a video recently with a guy doing comparisons between Behringer pedals and the originals they're based on. A lot of them seem to be pretty decent, especially for the price. The FZ-2 clones seem to be sold out everywhere so I'm guessing videos like this have been doing the rounds recently and everyone has been snatching them up so they can sound like Electric Wizard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJZa8yCMCQ

Here's one I built a while ago. It sounds as wonderful as it looks




In here to second the Battlehammer.  I couldn't get the tone I have without mine, plenty of options to dial in any tone you want off it from low gain to cruel heft.  Second switch with a pot to add up to 20db clean boost to the circuit, animal.  Switchable diodes.  I'm running the EHX Russian muff reissue in front of mine for boost and it is merciless.  Currently running the Battlehammer in parallel with a GCI Brutalist Jr., and am unbelievably happy with it.  Going to build a second brutalist soon though with mods to tweak the tone a bit more, it's not as articulate as I'd like it to be in the mix but still adds a good whack in it.  Very quick video here for a two note basic example of the tone - playing this set up through two amps using a DD7 as a splitter, Laney 15W as a main and a Fender Bass Amp added just for the craic.  Phone quality but sounds decent all the same.

Thanks for the kind words I think the Metal Ireland special was just a discount (or free upgrade which the same thing) which I'm sure I can extend to Metal warfare.

Here's my descriptions and can pm direct with any questions. https://mooseelectronics.bigcartel.com/

A lot of people using the Battlehammers in Irish metal bands especially the doomier end of things. Dread Sovereign, Venus Sleeps, Coroza, Wild Rocket, Nomadic Rituals, Raum Kingdom, Third Island, Genuflection off the top of my head. Across the water Conan have done a few tours using one too.

Quote from: ochoill on April 19, 2019, 09:23:10 AM
In here to second the Battlehammer.  I couldn't get the tone I have without mine, plenty of options to dial in any tone you want off it from low gain to cruel heft.  Second switch with a pot to add up to 20db clean boost to the circuit, animal.  Switchable diodes.  I'm running the EHX Russian muff reissue in front of mine for boost and it is merciless.  Currently running the Battlehammer in parallel with a GCI Brutalist Jr., and am unbelievably happy with it.  Going to build a second brutalist soon though with mods to tweak the tone a bit more, it's not as articulate as I'd like it to be in the mix but still adds a good whack in it.  Very quick video here for a two note basic example of the tone - playing this set up through two amps using a DD7 as a splitter, Laney 15W as a main and a Fender Bass Amp added just for the craic.  Phone quality but sounds decent all the same.

That's hefty allright. Has a nice punch to it, its not too muddy sounding which I like. Think I'll have to give a battlehammer a try!

Quote from: moose on April 19, 2019, 04:28:51 PM
Thanks for the kind words I think the Metal Ireland special was just a discount (or free upgrade which the same thing) which I'm sure I can extend to Metal warfare.

Here's my descriptions and can pm direct with any questions. https://mooseelectronics.bigcartel.com/

A lot of people using the Battlehammers in Irish metal bands especially the doomier end of things. Dread Sovereign, Venus Sleeps, Coroza, Wild Rocket, Nomadic Rituals, Raum Kingdom, Third Island, Genuflection off the top of my head. Across the water Conan have done a few tours using one too.

Cheers Moose, I'll get in touch in a few weeks time about that

#13 May 15, 2019, 12:31:37 PM Last Edit: May 15, 2019, 12:45:37 PM by Pentagrimes
Also in the Battlehammer gang and highly recommend it., though I'd hardly play what you'd call doom (it's more grungey noise rock I guess), but I used it in Vircolac at some stage - I was always changing that pedal set up but I'm fairly sure that's the tone on "Codex Perfida", or it could have been a Grouch which was kind of a pre-cursor to the Battlehammer. I'm actually kind of tired of Rat based pedals nowadays but the Battlehammer is the job.

Also though it's a while since I've had one Moose's Dobsky was the best Muff based pedal I've used, along with the Blackout Effectors Musket  (which I don't think you can still get unfortunately). I  would definitely be the one to go for if doom/sludge is your thing I'd say. I used it in Lurch and may eventually get another one when funds allow.


I've also got a Big Muff Pi with Tone wicker that I really at the moment  like but unfortunately it just doesn't seem to play well with the amp I'm currently using (A Peavey Valve King 100 if yer asking), so it's mainly just for messing around with  recording at home. Actually must try it after the Battlehammer and see how that sounds come to think of it.


Other than that if you want an absolutely filthy more 70s sound (or are absolutely hellbent on just sounding like Electric Wizard) go for a Superfuzz  or Fuzzface type pedal maybe.

Oh, fuck HM2s. I've really, really grown to fucking despise those things over the last few years.

My top tip is trying muff before Battlehammer. That way it shouldn't have as much affect on the amp. It's also my preferred order these days.