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So I've been tweaking my TAFM and Unpleasant Surprise for the past hour, trying to find some distinct, bass friendly tones out of both. After a little while, it all started to sound kind of the same to me. I mean, it was obvious when I went to the extremes of both Fuzzes, but dialing in some usable tones on both of them, it started to lose all nuance and got pretty frustrating.

Does this ever happen to you guys after a long session of tone-searching? I had to take a breather.

Perhaps these Fuzzes are just too similar? They're both modern, gatey Fuzzes. Obviously the UP can do the ear splitting octave up thing, but I'm not really using it for that. Right now, I've got some other dirt out on loan, so I'm left with these two so I don't have much to A/B them with. Maybe I should sell one. Maybe I'm just rambling.

One time I was at a friends place listening to records and I said "this sounds like The Incapacitants" and it turned out to be Merzbow!! So embarrassing.....

I have this too - I've flipped so many dirt pedals over the last 6 months because they more-or-less sounded like what I already had on my board. I think I'm just bad at fuzz. Can the TAFM do the cool UP onset/envelope thing? That was my favorite part about it.

What do you mean? The weird octave type thing? I like it with the onset up but it loses bass. And with the onset down, there's plenty of bass but less unique aggressive character. There's too many options. It all sounds good but I'm trying to find one thing and stick with it.

The TAFM is more of an all-purpose fuzz to me. It sounds good no matter what basically, but it doesnt do anything crazy.

You just described exactly why I sold you the TAFM. It sounds really good, but it never sounded great. I couldn't make it sound distinct.

haha, I thought it was the answer to my fuzz quest, and, let me reiterate, its great. but I still think Ill end up flipping it. I can get the same sounds out of the unpleasant surprise but with the turn of a knob, all new ones too.

and I have a Huge Box on the way soon. And Im going to tour Black Arts Toneworks soon and trying out some pedals, so I feel like I'm getting close.

I usually think fuzzes aren't as fuzzy as they are. For instance, when I'm recording I think the fuzz I'm using sounds super dynamic and variable, but when I come back it's just a swashy, indistinct ocean of angry bees.

I also hate when I'm sitting on the floor in front of my amp and I dial in a killer tone, and when I stand up it sounds totally different.

The fuzz, she is a cruel mistress.

STEP AWAY FROM THE FUZZ!!!

It may just be ear fatigue.

Listen again when you've given your ears a chance to rest. The fuzz may sound totally different.

yeah, this is what Im thinking. kid needs a nap anyways, so good time to give my ears a rest.

I was about to say ear fatigue as well.

I'm gonna go back later and try to dial in a standard fuzz on the TAFM and try to set the Unpleasant Surprise a little crazier. I'd like to try to get some of that octave up without losing too much bass. I can hit it with my Mini to fatten it up a bit.

My girlfriend "They all sound the same"
Me, incredulously: "What? *clicks on VTF* This? and this? *clicks on Muffy fuzz*?!
Her: "Those are different?"
Me: "Yes the angry octave up high pitched bees and this crushing low end with some sizzle are different."
Her: "Sound the same to me."

The lesson here is that unless youre playing to a room of ILFers, you only need one fuzz.

I can tell the difference in all the fuzzes I've tried. So I can honestly say I'm in tune with fuzz. I've gone through A LOT of them. The TAFM is one of the most versatile fuzzes on the market for a bassist. So not really sure why you couldn't find something useful. Odd. Sometimes people just jive better with different things. The best fuzz, hands down IMO, out there right now is the Depth Charge. It has the perfect tone.