MUFF vs FUZZ: What's the Difference? | Too Afraid To Ask

They're both hairy, chewy, filthy dirt boxes - but what's the difference between a Muff and a Fuzz? We take a look at each circuit to find out so that you don't have to be Too Afraid To Ask.

#fuzzpedal #bigmuff #scienceofloud

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[ScienceofLoud]

They're both hairy, chewy, filthy dirt boxes - but what's the difference between a Muff and a Fuzz? We take a look at each circuit to find out so that you don't have to be Too Afraid To Ask.


#fuzzpedal #bigmuff #scienceofloud

More from Science of Loud:

*Description contains affiliate links. Purchasing using one of these links will generate a small commission for Science of Loud at no additional cost to you.*

[mcswordfish]

The argument over whether a Big Muff is a fuzz or not is like arguing if a tomato is a fruit or vegetable - the answer is that it depends on who you ask

If you're a chef, a tomato is a vegetable and if you're a musician, a Big Muff is a fuzz.
Conversely, to a gardener, a tomato is a fruit, and to an engineer, a Big Muff is an overdrive.

Of these four disciplines, gardening is definitely my weakest - I just dig the holes where I'm told.

[Vaifan]

Thanks for explaining how the Big Muff utilizes soft clipping to get fuzz. I hadn't realized that it did until Robert Keeley released the "Angry Orange" Distortion/Fuzz that had both hard clipping (Boss DS-1) and soft clipping (EHX Big Muff).

[brtalbrskeez]

would love to hear the differences between 10 inch and 12 inch and 15 inch guitar speakers and the science behind it.

[ericfritts]

TATA: Soft clipping vs hard clipping. I know what they mean in theory sound-wise, but what are they actually?. If clipping is gain exceeding headroom, how is there a soft and a hard version? Is it that there is clipping that allows some of the wave to still pass through? Or is it a matter of how square it makes the wave, with hard clipping chopping it off at the shoulders and soft clipping giving a bit of a haircut?

[Insert_Bland_Name_Here]

Thanks for the excellent explanation. I knew you would be able to answer this question 😁

[Thomalom]

Yayyyy Colin's TATAs are always so fun

[maplechill]

Very cool to see the actual differences of the circuits. I’ve always thought of them as similar tools for different jobs. Basically, fuzz face for rhythm and big muff for lead.

[zadtheinhaler]

5:00 Wolfmother! Hell yeah brother, cheers from Canada!

[pcbullets]

Definitely a couple of fun pedals. I like both, but the fuzzface circuit is my favorite of the two. I prefer the unpredictability it has as well. Finding the right spot at the point of no control is a bit challenging, but well worth it for some of the crazy tones you can get out of it. Cheers Colin!

[Smurfman]

For a wild time, play the fuzz face *into* the Big Muff.

With the Fuzz Face's gain maxed, roll back your guitar's volume until you're in overdrive territory, then step on the Muff. Keep the gain on the Muff on the lower end, though. No higher than noon; start at zero and then turn up the knob until its *just* at the point where it almost wants to sputter out.

Also works really well with other vintage type fuzzes that are super dependent on being the first pedal in the chain like ColorSound/Macaris style pedals.

[trx]

Yes, thanks for the explanation of the electronics - fascinating! ....I still love a light tube distortion personally though.

[daviddelossantos]

Thank you! Was wondering what the differences were, this was perfect.

[danielhahn]

Holy crap!
Video production looks crisp!!
Upgrade⬆️🏄🙌

[robcerasuolo]

Great job! I really appreciate the topology comparison as well. I've had people try to tell me that they're the same circuit, and I knew better, but couldn't explain why. The clipping diodes in the BM were a surprise to me, too, but it makes sense.

Here's an idea. Run a FF and BM in parallel. Back off the distortion a bit (at least at first), and make it so that the FF sit in the midrange (no bass, treble to taste) of BM's scooped mids. If you dial it in right, you can even play jazz chords and hear their qualities clearly; or, you can crank both and get threatened with eviction (even if you own your house).

🤘😈🎸

[alococuccoyo]

Ayooo. I want more TATA's like this! I love discerning differences between pedals of the same kind of effect with their own reverence in the community.

[grantstevenson]

I always loved the rams head muff. I wish there was a way it could react more to the volume knob, like a fuzz face.

[antonycharest]

I think you just helped me realize that it’s not all fuzz I don’t like but just the muff type fuzz witch is too compress for my liking. Thanks

[gringogreen]

For me as a rhythm player I prefer the Big Muff. Running a Tubescreamer ahead of a Big Muff is also a fantastic sounding tone too!

[plumbummusic]

I like the fuzzface for how simple and easy to mod it is. Also personally prefer the transistor overdrive compared to clipping diodes because it's closer to how an actual amplifier behaves. Both are legendary circuits and sounds we've heard for as long as guitars have had distortion