El Grande Bass Fuzz

[MrPotsmokingmonkey]

@BassGuitarMag

Which pedal would you choose between this one, the MXR Blowtorch or BOSS ODB-3 (or if there are others please suggest!)? Also, BOSS or MXR on sound and build quality? Cheers!

[1RedSox9]

How well does this thing sit in a mix? Most bass distortion/overdrive/fuzz units take away the presence of the bass in a band situation. I love the sound of it solo'd, but will I get lost when I use it in my band?

[davevar1]

Yeah, what a sound!!!!

[Zackr27]

If you had to choose between this and the Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi, what would it be?

[BassGuitarMag]

@Zackr27 - I myself never use distortion pedals, but I'd probably take the Big Muff.

[Zackr27]

@BassGuitarMag I've been trying to decide between the two for a while. I guess I'll go with the EH pedal. Thanks =)

[yekshemesh4alig]

@Zackr27 If you haven't decided which one to get, I have the Big Muff and it's really cool to emulate some warm tube overdrive. I usually set it VERY low so it only kicks in if I pluck hard. Both have a the option to boost the bass, which is handy because from what I read, overdrive pedals tend to drain the low end. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

[Zackr27]

@yekshemesh4alig I tried the bass big muff and to be honest I wasn't very impressed. I think I'm ok with my bass just straight into my amp for now.

[gibby1117]

@Zackr27 - I have the EHX Bass Big Muff Pi, and I'm returning it to get this. Versatile as the Pi is, I just can't find a usable tone for what I do. This pedal, to me, seems to have much more character.

[Zackr27]

I was gonna get a EH Big Muff Pi.... but then I saw this video.

This pedal sound freakin sweet!

[Zackr27]

I was gonna get a EH Big Muff Pi.... but then I saw this video.

This pedal sound freakin sweet!

[Zackr27]

I was gonna get a EH Big Muff Pi.... but then I saw this video.

[Ceejikins]

That thing snarls like a fucking Tiger, pure beauty

[robdelabassist]

I have this pedal its awesome :) shame about how theres barely any tonal difference between 7 and 12 o clock

[AttitudeCastle]

@BassGuitarMag Was this before or after the Model P was installed on that P? If it sounds like that with flatwounds(?) it must sound even BETTER with rounds!

[BassGuitarMag]

@AttitudeCastle - No, this was the stock Fender pickup, and it has rounds on it.

[AttitudeCastle]

@BassGuitarMag Wicked, thanks Ed :)

I was getting confused with the other vid, d'oh! I knew this had rounds so i do apologise, great sounding bass and pedal, did you enjoy reviewing it?

[AphoticAgony]

i prefer my devi ever

[Vizillar2505]

my speakers came to life when you pressed the deep switch, they moved!

[victorgtz]

So Ed, do you recommend the pedal? I currently have and Boss ODB-3 but I'm looking for something a little more extreme and bassier. In short, I want something that will make my nuts shake.

[BassGuitarMag]

@victorgtz - If you want your 'nads to rattle, this will do it! It's definitely extreme, as you can tell.

[victorgtz]

@BassGuitarMag It does gritty "overdriven" sounds pretty well too, eh? For when I don't want a bowel churning mayhem of fuzz.

[selimsucram]

What do you think about the Way Huge Green Rhino for bass effect? anyone

[FunkKlock]

@selimsucram personally i think that is the most versatile and bass friendly pedals from way huge

[brainstormer9]

umm something's wrong with the compression. my face melted.

[fatgoogle]

Has any one tried this with an active bass??

[Vanjal]

Unless for solo it seems unusable. To much grit, grind, fuzziness.

Tech 21 SANSAMP VT BASS killed all other pedals.

[EyeAmPagliacci]

@Vanjal You'd be surprised how dirty you can get your tone once it's in the context of other instuments.

[EyeAmPagliacci]

@Vanjal You'd be surprised how dirty the tone can get and still sound awesome once you add in the rest of your band.

And yeah, Tech 21 is the king.

[TractorTheBassist]

it's almost a square wave! in a BASS! do you know what it is?

[AttitudeCastle]

Needs more compression, my face melted...

[vorontube]

I dont understand why after demo like THIS people still going to buy bass big muffs....

[Danmorbid]

3:28 - LSD

[cheeseperson03]

hah at 2:48 i thought youtube had gone dodgy

[thestrunes]

one of the best bass effects I LOVE IT sounds great 70's ruel

[IndianMetalhead]

oh man, that little box can rock

[samthehiggins]

1:36 what the hell hahaha

[AttitudeCastle]

The compression didn't work, my face melted =/

[MrSuperdico]

Isn't the bassline you played at the beginning White Room of Cream? Or it just sounded so ^^.

[russianspiesx]

This guy is jesus christ on bass! I love him!

[BassGuitarMag]

@russianspiesx - uh, thanks for the thought, but I don't think Jesus played bass. And if he did, he probably played acoustic.

[MrBluePsych]

@BassGuitarMag thats funny

[steelwizard]

@russianspiesx

More like John Locke from Lost on bass

[madmartyr17]

2:47 the fuzz is too much for your puny mortal cameras to handle>:)

[evilplatypus6208]

these are the kinds of videos i wish everyone would do for pedals. humorous, informational, and the person doesn't give their life story at the beginning... oh yeah, and the person playing through the pedal is amazingly talented. great videos!

[cheeseperson03]

i realy like the sound of this pedle.......its got the strong sound/distortion ive been looking for

[CountRammerhymen]

Love the Hank Hill impression! ..."Bobby, I told ya to quit playin' them gahdang videa-games!!

[Meckipsychman]

Does it give this same fuzz sound on guitar aswell? If so count me in

[CubensisAtiv4Strings]

3:22 wow.  x D

[TheZombieRitual]

1:37

Hahaha.

[iPodGaming]

Is this the kind of effect I get when I hear Pulling teeth by Cliff Burton?

it sure does sound the same.

[BassGuitarMag]

@iPodGaming - I believe Burton was using a Morley Fuzz-Wah pedal.

[iPodGaming]

@BassGuitarMag

Please excuse my retardness, but it's still a fuzz right?

[BassGuitarMag]

@iPodGaming - Yes, but the Morley also has wah-wah built in.

[iPodGaming]

@BassGuitarMag

Thanks you so much for your time, got it now.

[robdelabassist]

@BassGuitarMag cliff used a big muff too

[CodyGrey]

@BassGuitarMag

From what I hear Burton used a EH Big Muff and Morley Wah.

[mrwiskerz666]

@iPodGaming Cliff used a Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal and a Morley power wah

[iPodGaming]

@mrwiskerz666

Thanks, I have done some research after I asked him,

Though I couldn't find any Morley Wah's for sale anymore...

[AttitudeCastle]

@mrwiskerz666 The Muff Pi wasn't out in Burtons Day, He did use a Morley Power wah and a Morley Fuzz wah, like on most of "Kill 'em All" He used both at the same time amoung other things though

[Zevonfan524]

@iPodGaming Burton used a Big Muff..I think the russian version

[iPodGaming]

@Zevonfan524 It wasn't the Big Muff for bass though, right?

[diekontrolleure]

0:00 - 0:40 sounds like shit! i play bass since 6 weeks and i sound better

[BassGuitarMag]

@diekontrolleure - Yeah right, you rock dude.

[Martiluk1]

@diekontrolleure And you've got great English, too.

[OmniTron1000]

@diekontrolleure show some fucking respect. cunt.

[JFreakeOut]

Did you seriously do a Hank Hill impression? XP

[eduardobadra]

i bought this two days ago and its a lot of fun. how are playing so close and not getting crazy feed back?

also, thanks for this video otherwise i would have never picked this up

[MeanCondes]

Holy Fuzz !! i gona get one these and make some fucking Fuzz Noise !! :D

[CaptnMoto]

It's so fuzzy that the camcorder goes crazy, Love it Ed! Hahaha

[Hysterryes]

Do you typically disengage the tweeter when using fuzz/overdrive?

[BassGuitarMag]

@Hysterryes - Sometimes, depends on the fuzz, the cab, the bass.

[maigaard7]

I really like what I hear. Now I'll just need that pedal, a bass, and a bass amp. God damn expenses!

[g0inginside]

Hi Ed,

from all the fuzz/distortion/overdrive pedals youv'e tried,

which would be your favourite or most versatile in your opinion.

Thanks.

[BassGuitarMag]

@g0inginside - they all have their plusses and minuses, and unique tone. I'm waiting on an MXR M 80 pedal, I really like the tone of that. I also like the MXR Bass Blowtorch. The Chunk System Brown Dog is nice. The EHX Bass Big Muff is also good. The main concern for me is retaining the attack and punch, and not getting lost in a blur of fuzz. I think those models do that pretty well

[g0inginside]

@BassGuitarMag Cheers Ed, appreciate your swift and informative reply :)

[robdelabassist]

i think this sounds more like the US big muff only with a bass boost, nothing like the russian

[parkourfreak27]

i use this to play Around the world by Red Hot Chili Peppers

[maxf130]

that is the first fuzz pedal that i personally like

nice and dirty fuzz

[MusicTrainerDotCom]

I really enjoy the demos thanks.

[AzeWithBlades]

Gotta say, this was a damn good review! I thank you a lot for this, was thinking about this one and you made me decide!

[MushroomDisorder]

1:37 ROFL YAAAYK

[Warmachineizationist]

hahahaha funny video :D xD a little mooore xD

[dav767]

i love this guy

[MLGxSLasH]

AMAZING !!!

[Basselusk]

I just love your reviews mr. Friedland. You are my true "mentor" as bass playing goes.

[MrHappytroll]

i have one!its a monsterrr!!!!!

[PsychoSymantic]

i dont know if i like this pedal, sound like you lose too much tone.

[IdyllicEnema]

hey. does anyone know the name of that bass guitar he's playing?

[BassGuitarMag]

@IdyllicEnema - Uhm.... Fender Precision

[ChrisClarkeSSR]

@IdyllicEnema Not being a douche here or anything, but if you cant recognize a P Bass man I think you should do a little research on gear...again not a dick comment, just giving some advice :) haha

[IdyllicEnema]

@ChrisClarkeSSR my advice to you: don't be frustrated about not being able to afford the el grande. but u know: she's a hot one... :)

[mubbamubba]

great video

[beneaththefallen]

Could you please tab the riff at the very end of this segment, I luff it.

[beneaththefallen]

Sorry, I figured it out pretty easy A blues stuff. Thanks for the riff@beneaththefallen

[Dthraco]

LOL..hilarious at about 3:00 as the video changes with the fuzz. Clever, and GREAT demo! Just ordered one.

[steveonoir]

Might have to go out and buy this pedal now.

[tommysick]

which one is better, the EHX Bass Big Muff Pi or the Dunlop/MXR El Grande Bass Fuzz ???!!! please help me to make a good choice!

[4stringFanatico]

@tommysick well this has more power but the big muff the big has more grit and the if u blast everything of the muff u get this destroying distortion that kills all life

[Davidxhack]

Cool! Can you play Muse - Hysteria whit this?

Allso. Where do I get this? :)

[BassGuitarMag]

@Davidxhack - I don't know the tune, but I assume you could play it with this pedal. Where to get it? Try Google.

[Colliernator1000]

@Davidxhack musiciansfriend has this pedal

[poofythebassplayer21]

@Davidxhack go to guitar world.com the have kickass gear for kickass prices

[dumblewald]

@Davidxhack Seriously? Who cares if it plays hysteria? It sounds sweet, play an original bass line instead.

[MightySaxKid]

@Davidxhack You could play Hysteria with any distortion, but I recommend a big muff pi or an EBS Multidrive.

[leonkennedy74]

@Davidxhack You can play that tune on any bass pedal. Will it sound good? Well that's up to your ears.

[Emm1Twe4kz]

hahaha she's a hot one alright, great video. When I get the money to spend on gear I think I'll get this fuzz pedal, it sounds great.

[bassman7530]

Great review, as usual. This is an interesting pedal. I've never been one for effects, but I'm really considering picking this one up.

Also, I've got a question. Have you tried this pedal with a 5- or 6-string bass? I'm curious as to how it responds to the extra low notes on a low B string. Thanks Ed!

[feverhood]

3:20 stars appearing in my eyes! :D

[Pablogogo]

"I'm gona reacharound...... the back" :)

Great review as usual and great riff at the end, must go practice now.

[reluctantbeating]

Thanks for this demo, Ed. You just sold me on this thing and saved me a couple hundred bucks on a boutique pedal.

You should get a commission from Dunlop for this video - all the other ones out there are crap, especially the official MXR demos.

[BassGuitarMag]

@reluctantbeating - Glad you enjoyed the demo, and that it helped you make your choice.

[joelaka3pac123]

this thing is beast

got that electric wizard feel to it

[GITTZA]

Bobby I tell you what, you should take up the bass.

[simonkurtbass]

You're funny man, good review vid! Very helpful, good quality - thanks! ^_^

[georgeharrisonfan789]

paul mccartney used this in the beatles' song (or george harrison's song) in "Think For Yourself" on Rubber Soul

[niebuhr92]

WTF??

at 1:14 the fuzz-knob goes from 9-o'clock to about 1-o'clock in an instant...

and then at 1:20 it is back at 9-o'clock, when he describes how "low" it is....

[BassGuitarMag]

Bad editing, I didn't have the shot I needed. Everyone is a critic.

[asifineededaname]

i want one NOW !!

[Meckipsychman]

Wow lovin it dude!!

Pity people wimp out when they play in bands..folks use these monster sounds when playing in bands

Heavy Psych monster vibe..imagine this on BIG B A S S amp.....

Thanks for restoring faith in fuzz pedals dude

[Harbec]

I'm thinking about getting either that or a Juggernaut pedal =/

[asifineededaname]

the El Grande wins hands down !

[Harbec]

I actually went with the Juggernaut RAT pedal and I now believe they're noticeably different.

[draggndoors00]

x2 seems like nobody gives a damn about bass gear

[BassGuitarMag]

Check out bassgearmag(dot)com

All bass gear, all the time.

[schismpunk]

Very well put together review. I'm glad there's someone reviewing sweet bass gear!  We don't get enough review-love.

[Haydeosmith]

Would this sound good with some bass wah added?

[Haydeosmith]

sounds great with a p bass.

[bestbassplayer102]

Awesome pedal!! I just have 1 question. Within the next week I'm getting this pedal, and I just want to know what that black switch does in the pedal, as well as in the trim pot, which way boosts your bass signal/cuts it, and when do you know that the boost/cut is maxed?

[BionicTom]

Th black switch switched the frequency of the Deep knob... watch the video, Ed explains which setting is which frequency. The trim pot works just like every other pot. 7 o'clock means -15dB, 5 o'clock means +15dB

[HeavyontheRide]

haha this was such a good demo, really appreciate your sense of humour guys, awesome sounding pedal too!

[enok69]

There is no such beast as a slab maple p-bass! Slab p-basses are from 1959 through late 1962 and it was a thick rosewood slab.

This MXR pedal is a decent retail fuzz pedal without spending fat cash for a boutique pedal. The EH Big Muff Fuzz sounds great yet it's junk and falls apart as mine had

[Muze42]

Is there another effect being used? It sounds like there's a flanger, phaser, or a chorus effect being added.

[BionicTom]

You're probably talking about the end of the riff... he plays a chord, and the individual notes go ever so slightly out of tune with each other. that's natural.

It's also the technical description of the Chorus-effect.

[Muze42]

Nah, I hear a very faint 'wooshing' throughout the whole demo. In most other bass distortion videos the sound is really flat and static. I just want to know if its the pedal's sound or if its his amp's reverb/chorus or what.

[moggieman10]

get a woolly mammoth.

[craigdamage]

...gimme $369.99 and I will.

Hell,you can get a good bass envelope filter AND a fuzz from Electro Harmonix for about $160 and have enough left over for a quality tube compressor or something.

I would absolutely kill for over $300 to blow on bass effects right now. I sure as hell wouldn't waste it all on a single goofy fuzz with a dopey cartoon on it.

[menga111]

mm fuzzy

[ALIENSPANKER69]

hhhaaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa hank hill 1:39

[canalcaveira]

LOL

[metalman383]

great sound

[iLikechevelle]

Ha! you sound like Hank from King of the hill 1:39

[orlyvai7]

I just bought this pedal and it kicks ass! I found a cool setting really quick. This pedal can create a LARGE array of different tones.

[NapoleanXV]

I love fuzz, it works really well with my kahler, the sounds I can get are just limitless!

[ElectroStompbox]

what was that first setting?

[wusl88]

sounds good.

[sexpistolio]

btw. GREAT review!

[sexpistolio]

i love this thing!

[Mortycakes]

Love this pedal! The only thing I don't like with fuzz is that your righthand techniquecha changes

[BassGuitarMag]

Well, that's not a big deal to me, you have to subtly change your technique to get the most out of any effect, so... whatever.

[alex01010101]

nice gag with the warp 12 haha

[MagyarRockerHonved]

Look at the poor camera :))

[TommyGunnTheBassMan]

What kind of pups do you have in the precision?

[BassGuitarMag]

Stock Fender

[TommyGunnTheBassMan]

Really what year is the bass?

Man those sound like duncans!!!

[BassGuitarMag]

88 MIJ

[TommyGunnTheBassMan]

Man that thing is meaty!!! Very nice!

I also like the Classic Vibe vid.

Nice work

Also for the assmaster vid it said "19?? jazz bass (passive mode)" is there an aftermarket pre-amp installed? Or were you just telling the people it was an passive bass?

[BassGuitarMag]

There is a J-Retro preamp installed, but I bypassed it.

[feverhood]

lol from 2:52 was funny :DD everything started to shake in stuff. damn i would lvoe to have this fuzzy thing, but my mom wold beat me with this pedal when i would start playing... :D

[FunkyFellaDaBassist]

"let me tell you what, that El Grande she's a hot one" :D

Lol Ed are you born in Arlen, Texas? And maybe you sell propane after hours huh? ;)

Oh and lemme guess... Your son is named BOBBY! :D

[BassGuitarMag]

I tell you whut!

[nachobassman]

"Let me tell you a story about El Grande" LMAOL

Nice review, Ed, as always.

[fogertzernam]

.

el grande, or big muff?

for punk rock wich one would you go with?

[BassGuitarMag]

It depends on what bass you're playing, the amp... the tone you want to hear.... The El Grande is super hot, the BIG muff gives you the clean signal blended in.... they have different characteristics. Try them both and choose for yourself.

[soki454]

I was debating on getting this pedal. But, now that I know what it sounds like I'm sure I want it!

[BDL1991]

have you reviewed the MXR Bass Blow Torch??? i'm just wondering, because the videos review i found wasn't, totally informative, it was good, just got awesome

[BassGuitarMag]

I didn;t actually review it, but I did record some sound samples which can be found at thebasswhisperer(dot)com

[ShadyPain]

do you consider this fuzz better than those ones on the market like the muff, etc ?

[rancid247]

The video effects on this are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And this pedal rocks hard!