Distortion Guitar FX

[Sean Costello]

Bert Schiettecatte wrote:
> 
> Hi!
> 
> can anyone tell me which is the best guitar distortion (DIY only
> offcourse) for
> metal guitar music ?
> 
I haven't seen any of the actual "metal" distortion box schematics on
the Internet (the Boss Heavy Metal pedals are the usual suspects).  You
basically want a fuzz box with a scooped midrange (i.e. some form of
notch filter).  Most metal boxes also have a smaller input capacitor, to
get that trebly, "tube" sound; this also allows you to play chords
(besides the root-5th power chord) without too much intermodulation
distortion.  

The closest example I have seen on the Internet would be the Pro Co Rat,
available at Leper's Abode.  It has the smaller input cap, and a
filtering section that sounds fairly metallesque.  The Melvins use this
box, as do untold legions of other guitarists and bassists (it ROCKS for
bass).  Personally, I find the sound of this box rather unpleasant,
especially at high volumes.  Additionally, high signal levels (hitting a
guitar string real loud, for example) causes the box to "fart out" - the
attack turns to mush, in a real unpredictable way.

I personally prefer the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for my fuzzing
needs.  It is very distorted, and has enough midrange scoop to get away
with playing metal (although I prefer the Mudhoney/Robert Fripp/Eno type
fuzz guitar myself).  The notes don't have the "tinniness" that metal
guitar often does, but chords sound real nice, thanks to the soft
clipping and nice filtering.  Additionally, it sounds GREAT for synth (I
often run my SH-101 through one of these boxes).  Schematics can be
found at Leper's Abode; R.G. Keen sells PC board layouts for the Big
Muff (check http://www.eden.com/~keen).

If you want even more psychotic fuzz, check out the Univox Super Fuzz
(a.k.a. Unicord Super Fuzz, Jax Fuzz, Ace Tone FZ-1, Apollo Fuzz, and
many other names).  This fuzz combines full-wave rectification (for that
Hendrixy octavia sound) with a superb notch filter for the ultimate in
bottom heavy fuzzy goodness.  Power chords sound huge; all other chords
turn into ring modulated splats (which may not be good for some metal
styles, but sounds great for guitar insanity, and/or ring mod effects
using a monosynth with a resonant filter).  Schematics available at
Leper's Abode and R.G. Keen's site.

BTW, if you want to buy a metal pedal, I have seen lots of used Boss
HM-2 Heavy Metal pedals for around $40 U.S.  These provide the classic
scooped midrange heavy metal sound, with amazing clarity for even the
most dissonant of chords (stacked minor seconds, for example, come out
really nicely).  Justin Broadrick from Godflesh uses one of these, as
does the Godflesh bassist.

Later,

Sean Costello