Brassmaster Fuzz -- Are there other options?

arepa_funk

arepa_funk

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Nov 2, 2020
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#1
Hey everyone, hope all is well. I've been looking for a Brassmaster style fuzz that has a reasonable enclosure. Clean blend wouldn't hurt either. I've read all the threads I could find on TB about this and thought I'd start a new one to see if there were any new options out there. (I'm not handy with a solder, so GGG is not an option for me.)

This is what I've found so far, starting with what's currently available:
Malekko B:Assmaster -- tested one once, loved it, huge enclosure
Malekko Diabolik -- had it, didn't sound like the B:A, flipped it
Latent Lemon clone -- big enclosure, demos sound different than the B:A
Broughton Maestro -- crushed dreams
Iron Ether Oxide -- same

No longer being made, used ones are expensive:
Black Cat Octave Fuzz
Hiero BEAD
VFE Woodchipper

Is this it? Would love to find a brassmaster fuzz that won't destroy the bank nor take up a lot board space.

Thanks to all in advance!
 
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#2
That looks like a pretty good list of the current contenders I'm aware of!

By the sound of it, the B:Assmaster is probably your best bet out of the easier to acquire options.

I love the Maestro, and like the Oxide when I had it, but like you say, both are difficult to get your hands on currently.
 
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#3
gh0st42 said:
That looks like a pretty good list of the current contenders I'm aware of!

By the sound of it, the B:Assmaster is probably your best bet out of the easier to acquire options.

I love the Maestro, and like the Oxide when I had it, but like you say, both are difficult to get your hands on currently.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Appreciate your reply. For sure, I was afraid the B:Assmaster would be it, but it's definitely starting to look that way!

Maestro looks so good. Trying to get my hands on one, would be ideal for my setup.
 
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#8
arepa_funk said:
Hey everyone, hope all is well. I've been looking for a Brassmaster style fuzz that has a reasonable enclosure. Clean blend wouldn't hurt either. I've read all the threads I could find on TB about this and thought I'd start a new one to see if there were any new options out there. (I'm not handy with a solder, so GGG is not an option for me.)

This is what I've found so far, starting with what's currently available:
Malekko B:Assmaster -- tested one once, loved it, huge enclosure
Malekko Diabolik -- had it, didn't sound like the B:A, flipped it
Latent Lemon clone -- big enclosure, demos sound different than the B:A
Broughton Maestro -- crushed dreams
Iron Ether Oxide -- same

No longer being made, used ones are expensive:
Black Cat Octave Fuzz
Hiero BEAD
VFE Woodchipper

Is this it? Would love to find a brassmaster fuzz that won't destroy the bank nor take up a lot board space.

Thanks to all in advance!
Click to expand...
Hiero BEAD is still being made, post on Instagram says you need to contact him directly for orders right now (check comments):
 
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#13
I've been through several of the Brassmaster clones to replace the sound in my head from my original sold many years ago to get out of a jam and the closest has been the GGG Brassmaster built by @karter2000 but I did dearly love the Black Cat rendition. Currently I am pleasing my ears with creations on the Aftershock and Ultrawave.

+1 on @johnk_10 being able to build a custom for you, he just delivered a request of mine that turned out brilliant, not cheap but worth every penny to me.
 
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#16
You could probably get someone who's good with a soldering iron to build you the GGG kit. Or Madbean Pedals also has a PCB for a BM fuzz, too.

I firmly believe any new iteration or clone of the BM should have a master volume control though. The BEAD goes one better by simplifying the Clean and Brass controls to a Blend and adds a Master Volume.
 
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#17
Grapevine921 said:
The foldback distortion settings on the Source Audio ultrawave capture a similar vibe to the brassmaster thing. I imagine their aftershock distortion might have similar options.
Click to expand...
I made the "GMC B:assmaster & Gated Muff" patch that covers similar ground to the B:assmaster & BEAD pedals on a Source Audio Ultrawave using the Foldback engine. It's certainly close enough or my ears / playing.
 
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#18
arepa_funk said:
Thanks for the tips here, folks. Will check them out. @Nunovsky , I'm intrigued by the Noise Space Audio one. Do you use it or have played it before?
Click to expand...

I don't have this one and I was also intrigued by it when I first found it.
I'm a bit of a Brassmaster addict myself. I have a Smitty Pedals Brassmaster that was custom made for me and a Hiero BEAD.
I love them both but the Smitty's my favourite sounding of the two.
 
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#19
GMC said:
I made the "GMC B:assmaster & Gated Muff" patch that covers similar ground to the B:assmaster & BEAD pedals on a Source Audio Ultrawave using the Foldback engine. It's certainly close enough or my ears / playing.
Click to expand...

Nunovsky said:
I don't have this one and I was also intrigued by it when I first found it.
I'm a bit of a Brassmaster addict myself. I have a Smitty Pedals Brassmaster that was custom made for me and a Hiero BEAD.
I love them both but the Smitty's my favourite sounding of the two.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this! Yeah I haven't been a big fan of the SA universe, on me not them, but the options and tweakability can't be denied.

Might look into the custom route as well. Hmmm.
 
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#20
TheEmptyCell said:
You could probably get someone who's good with a soldering iron to build you the GGG kit. Or Madbean Pedals also has a PCB for a BM fuzz, too.

I firmly believe any new iteration or clone of the BM should have a master volume control though. The BEAD goes one better by simplifying the Clean and Brass controls to a Blend and adds a Master Volume.
Click to expand...
I really have stopped liking blend/mix knobs after playing the Hamstead Subspace and after comparing the Octabvre Mk. II to the Mk. III.

Where retaining low end and clean signal is concerned, it's far easier for me to think about it in terms of the volume. It's super easy for me to set the clean signal to unity and then set the effect signal to wherever sounds good to me and then change it at will, without needing to save my low end by compensating on the clean volume. If I mess with the blend, I then have to mess with the master volume in order to get the balance correct.
 
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