WTF is that noise!? - Electro Harmonix Satisfaction Plus Fuzz review and comparison Guitar + Bass

[@AlbinoTuxedo]

Gotta say, i'm shocked at how versatile that little thing is. I was looking into buying a bunch of different fuzz pedals for different sounds but after looking at this demo this one pedal does like... everything i want out of a fuzz. Crazy. Thank you for noodling around with all the knobs! Really sold me on this one

[@MrGallade475]

I've been playing with this for a few months now and I've learned that this really needs to be overdriving some kind of dirty preamp circuit. Going into a blues driver set to edge of breakup (gain at noon for me) with the Satisfaction's volume on max, attack on max, with the Bias rolled counterclockwise to the point where the noise drops out. It becomes pleasantly squishy and the BD-2's circuitry cuts off the fizz on the top. If any of you guys have this and hate it, try this out. It also makes the Normal mode really great since it becomes mid-forward instead of the can of angry cyborg bees it was without an overdrive after it.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Good tips!

[@thathandleistakentrythisone]

I agree with this, it doesn't seem to do anything without drive. It works well with my Orange on Dirty setting, not too great on Clean.

[@mike42356]

EHX Ripped Speakers deserves a review like this, too. (as much as any other fuzz pedal out there!)

[@MrCarthus]

Somehow I missed this video when it came out despite having the bell selected! As good as always. Btw. Listened to your album. Loved it. Witches reminded me of Soundgarden Louder than Love era. Gunt was definitely AiC Dirt era! Vocals reminded meassively of Layne.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Oh man, compare our stuff to Soundgarden and AiC and I am melting with pride! Thank you! That really means a lot. So glad you enjoyed it.

[@MrCarthus]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox yeah loved it. Been a staple in my van driving from job to job!

[@MrGallade475]

As far as I know, Octave fuzz (as a separate category of fuzz) and the exaggerated "octave up" screeching comes from the harmonics generated by asymmetric clipping. This is how the super fuzz (Univox, Behringer, Boss FZ-2) works. The Octave down effect is likely from a similar cause.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Good info! Thanks!

[@crapmalls]

Yes! Just bought one. Nearly bought a tonebender, then nearly bought a jordan buzz tone, but heard a satisfaction can be modded to sound like a buzz tone, but then they made this! this sounds rad.

[@leob4403]

So this pedal is now the same as buzz tone?

[@crapmalls]

@@leob4403 close. But thats just going by ear on youtube. I dont actually have a buzz tone to comapre it to

[@crapmalls]

@@leob4403 the fat switch changes the old thin sound to a different beast

[@leob4403]

​@@crapmallsinteresting Im thinking of buying it but I have the behringer super fuzz and they might be too similar to warrant the purchase

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

They're definitely different beasts. Lack of upper octave, for one and the Satisfaction can be much smoother and more general purpose. Give it a try!

[@Luk4zguy97]

The octave below is half the frequency of the root note so technically the lower octave is contained within the root. I imagine it's possible to have a "distortion" circuit that chops up the signal to something like a lower octave...?

[@camdero3294]

Gives me a bit of a weedeater sound with the fat setting

[@rojd71]

I like how it sounds on bass. I think I'm going to pick one up.

[@onlyusernameleft2]

I got this fuzz on sale and spent the weekend messing around with it. It might just be me but I'm not vibing with it. It has more versatility than a muff but it's not like a Carcosa, where you can set it pretty much however you want and get a useful sound. I have to mess with settings more and use what it gives me instead of dialing in a desired sound. It has a certain sound that the behringer super fuzz also has that I don't like, but to a lesser degree. Speaking of not vibing, it doesn't play well with a univibe. If I didn't already have another fuzz that pairs well with vibes that would be a deal breaker. I'm keeping it on the board, but it hasn't displaced anything.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I found this, too. There are knob positions that are niche use if anything! I also found it was kind of dry and muted even on more open settings - like you really had to fight a sound out of it. For someone doing a very specific LoFi fuzz thing, it could work a charm, but it's not the go-to tool in the box. What was it about the Univibe that didn't work?

[@bobbystereo936]

Sounds digital.

[@onlyusernameleft2]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox turning the bias clockwise past noon gives it a high gain transistor overdrive sound like a BD-2- which I would normally put after a univibe- but the S+ makes a lot of hiss if it's not first in the signal chain.

[@laurentsaint-laurent3659]

There were at least two different Jordan Bosstone, so these might not be inspired by the very same cicuit .. It's possible that the "fat" switch adds (or cuts less) low end at the input.. could the lack of mids explain the weak guitar volume clean up?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Very good point on the mids and clean up. It's certainly a factor when it comes to Muffs, the more mids they have the more they kinda clean up.

[@spekenbonen72]

Ever gotten your hands on a Schaller Fuzz/Sustain pedal? I think you will like it (but hard to get).

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

No! I'll have to look into it though. Is it based on anything or is it its own thing?

[@spekenbonen72]

OFF = volume pedal ON = fuzz (amount set with a dial) and the pedal controls volume (sustain) It is built in an expression pedal, like a wah. Nothing subtle about this pedal b.t.w.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

@@spekenbonen72 Sound cool. I'll keep an eye out. Thanks!

[@michaelfowler3187]

I think the eqd dirt transmitter (or the many clones you can find) sound very good with the tone control rolled CCW- it is such a thick and unique texture of fuzzstortion that stacks incredibly well with drives going before it and tightening it up.

[@markferguson3745]

The Dirt Transmitter was discontinued due to the key components becoming unavailable.While I agree that it was a great release, this hinged on the use of those specific Silicon parts.Copies are going to vary wildly in capturing the original mojo.

[@michaelfowler3187]

@@markferguson3745 so far I've only tried a couple clones but they were very spot on for me! But yes definitely important part of the recipe. I think the PCB was named contaminator. Highly likely that they will vary in sound with different transistors, so far I've not experienced that but they claimed to have used the same transistors and they appear the same- either way they sound good, def worth being wary of differences though.

[@user-jj2zb1ep4d]

thanks for he detail ed test Dr. Fuzz. dif you sand the bodies edge of that blue tele? i was conaidering hat for one of mine. didnt it become neck diving after it?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks! Yeah, I did! (Well, a friend did it for me.) And no, it doesn't have any strange balance that I noticed. It's really only about 5% of the body that's gone, if that, as it's just that one contour added.

[@user-jj2zb1ep4d]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox thanks for the reply! problem with my tele baritone is, it has a thin frame one the top edge. not sure, if it will brake partially off the edges.

[@rogerYT69]

have the pedal and for the moment i am semi impressed ...maybe it changes over the time. its difficult to set a consistent tone with the bias knob. the knob is very fragile! cool video thx ;)

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks! Yeah, there's a lot of variation to be had so maybe you'll never get the same sound twice! 🤣

[@rogerYT69]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox thanks. it is of course better if you can test a guitar before you buy it. the only criticism of my vintage II is that it could be a little lighter. by the way, I like the fiesta red a lot ...greetings from switzerland ;)

[@jdjk7]

Could you demo the Fuzzly Bear on bass? I got kind of excited when I saw it, but you only put the guitar through it...

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Not a bad idea! I don't think I've even plugged it in because it's not so bass heavy on guitar to give me the idea that it would be good on bass, but you never know!

[@MoneyBooBoo]

I really enjoyed your video. I like how you just play small riffs and dont start wanking off like other guys who review gear. EHX pedals are all about dialing in that sweet spot. most of their pedals sound the same. I actually use an EarthQuaker Hoof for Fuzz with a hot tube amp and reactive load box to get nice bubble bursting fuzz tone with lots of gargle. That's just my taste. EHX Ocatvix on occasion at 24V after a POG to really give me that failing battery sound. And there's a noticeable difference between the made in nyc Big Muff Pi and those that are not. either way. great video.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks, man! That's exactly what I try to do. Quick side by sides are the best for your ears to actually hear what's going on and no one needs all that noodling!

[@subclangor]

Reckon I dig a "bubble bursting fuzz tone with lots of gargle." 🤘

[@PorchBass]

Best bass fuzz you can actually buy

[@ShinoGuitar]

Average black metal tone 5:42

[@seasonedstefan]

I had one of the og satisfaction fuzzes. Really hated the thing, found it useful only if i plugged a distortion after it to kinda “EQ” it.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yeah, it never interested me after hearing how shrill it is!

[@mjmisp]

It's a truly dirty, sassy liquor! Try running with the original Satisfaction. Quite nauseating...

[@AspiringSpaceWizard]

Lmao the “foot shot” at 8:04 is hilarious. You should only do that behind the paywall or start an onlyfans dawg haha

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Good point! Everything can be someone's kink! 😅

[@TooPunkToBeAPodcast]

These are on sale right now. Almost bought one. Thanks for this video lol dont think id like it

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Don't blame you. I sold mine! 😅

[@subclangor]

Gaha! Grats for the bass noises..!

[@markferguson3745]

If you are a beginner, and want to capture a majority of decent fuzz sounds for under $150, get the Joyo Voodoo Octave and JHS Series 3.This will give you SuperFuzz, Fuzz Face, Big Muff, Moserite, Maestro, and even a little Tone Bender Mk.4. Less sensitive and inexpensive fuzz circuits generally sound even better on bass . Some hidden jems, - OBN Haunt and Alpha Haunt, Ramble FX Twin Bender, and JHS 4 Wheeler.

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

Wasp in a bottle. Like it with the bass tho

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Haha! Yeah, it got there at times. But hey, everything is something for someone!

[@bldallas]

This pedal pisses me off. I now have two Electro Harmonix pedals that suck. A while back I bought the Lizard Queen when Josh first rolled it out. Damn I wanted to like that pedal, but it’s just noise. So to replace that spot on my board, I bought this thing. Again, just noise. No usable tones. And I don’t know if mine is screwed ip, but the Bias knob crackles when I turn it and it has dead spots. Irritating.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

That's not too surprising with the bias knob. I think it's part of what they do in some circuits. But honestly, it sounds like Fuzz isn't your thing, man. Octave and sputtery kind of Fuzz, anyway. And that's OK!

[@bldallas]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox my favorite pedal is the Muffelatta and I’ve got that Behringer Super Fuzz on my board right now too. So, I dig fuzz, man.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Fair e'muff!

[@PorchBass]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox ironically I see an sf300 on the shelf behind you lol

[@geordiedog1749]

Alright fuzz, if you like that sort of thing. The market is so saturated with fuzz and you have to put out something very special to have any kind of impact. I can think of about ten fuzz pedals I’d have before this weee box. Might stack well, maybe? Not a fan of the bass side either but that’s a whole other can of worms, Innit. The video is great though. Nice to see a Fuzzley B used for a change. I love my one and I only bought it ‘cos it had a bear on it.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

"saturated with fuzz" - I like what you did there! Thanks dude! Personally, I just can't get enough fuzz! (Fuzzes with animals on? Even better!)

[@geordiedog1749]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox ‘saturated with fuzz’ was soooo an accident! A happy one, though.

[@MrGallade475]

it's cheaper than the Carcosa by 50 dollars. My broke ass appreciates that.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@MrGallade475 I hear you!

[@daviddumont5582]

Ben c est de la couille en boite, je viens de l acheter et ca fait pas du tout cette varieté de sons!!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

It's not all that great of a fuzz. I've sold it since making this, but it certainly does what I demonstrated. no trickery was used. What is your core amp sound like?

[@daviddumont5582]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox thanks for answering! I m a beginner, so.. My amp is a basic epiphone, 5w, with only Volume, Treble and Bass... I tried several conbinaisons, but nothing sounds like your demo...

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

@@daviddumont5582 OK, the issue can go 2 ways and both to do with gain on the amp. You might not have direct control of it either. But if it's a very clean amp and you can't get more signal into it, you can end up with a very thin, scratchy sound. If it's always a little distorted and you struggle to get lower signal into it, it can sound very muddy. Speaker size can also play into either of those when it's small. I suspect, with a small, 5w amp, we're talking the latter. Thing is, unless you go into something very similar to a Fender Deluxe Reverb, the sound you get compared to me can be invariably different. It's also going through an SM57 microphone which has its own filter compared to hearing it in person. But that's all part of the fun. Different gear will sound different with different gear and in different situations!