I’ve recently got back into guitar properly after a long break, and over the last week I’ve rebuilt my pedalboard. Most of these pedals are ones I already had from when I was playing more regularly. The only new additions are the Boss TU-3, Digitech Whammy V4, and Boss BP-1W.
Current chain is:
2009 Fender Road Worn Telecaster > Boss TU-3 > Digitech Whammy V4 > Boss DS-2 > NYC Big Muff > Ibanez WH10v2 > Boss BP-1W > Marshall DSL40CR
The board is loosely Frusciante-inspired, because I was really into his sound when I was playing years ago. I still love that style, but obviously my own tastes have changed since then, so I’m not necessarily trying to copy his rig exactly anymore. I’m more trying to work out what actually works for my guitar, amp, and the music I want to play now.
The issue I’m having is that the NYC Big Muff really seems to suck the tone out of my guitar in the neck position. Everything becomes muddy, woolly, and undefined. It sounds better on the bridge pickup, but with the neck pickup it feels like the clarity just disappears.
I know the Big Muff is naturally scooped and compressed, and I also know my setup is not the same as Frusciante’s. I’m using a Tele into a Marshall DSL40CR rather than a Strat into a big loud clean Marshall setup. So I’m wondering whether the issue is the pedal itself, the way I’m using it, or just the fact that I’ve outgrown this particular setup.
A few things I’m considering:
Lowering the Muff sustain and raising the tone
Changing the order of the WH10, Muff, and DS-2
Removing either the DS-2 or Big Muff
Replacing the DS-2 and Big Muff with something like a ProCo RAT
Adding an EQ after the Muff
Accepting that the Frusciante-style chain may not suit my current taste or rig
Has anyone else had this issue with a Big Muff and a Tele neck pickup? Would you tweak the chain/settings, try a different Muff variant, or move towards something more mid-focused like a RAT?