Geared Up: Junior Bruce Bassist Tommy Crowther Discusses His Rig and “Big Muff” Distortion Pedal

Florida-based stoner/doom metal band Junior Bruce, just dropped their amazing new album, Endless Descent, on October 31, 2016 via on A389 Recordings (purchase your copy right here) and as such we’re celebrating the new music with some interview action! The band’s sound, which is a blend of High on Fire and DOWN, has won the group critical acclaim and a spot at the prestigious Maryland Deathfest 2017. In our latest edition of Geared Up, bassist Thomas Crowther discusses the band’s sound his ’90s Russian-made Army Green Big Muff distortion pedal.

What one piece of gear do you use to obtain your signature sound?
Crowther: Prob my ’90s Russian-made army green Big Muff; although my fingers have a lot to do with it too, but we are talking actual gear here, so yeah, the muff.

What about it makes it so important to you?
Crowther: The green Muffs, unlike some of the other versions, are able to maintain that signature Muff tone, without sacrificing low end, which makes it a perfect companion for bass.

How was this gear used during the recording of your latest album?
Crowther: Not too much different from my live rig, actually. While recording Endless Descent, I used a Fender jazz bass and the green muff through a Mesa 400+ w/Mesa 2×15 cab and Ampeg 8×10 fridge (both cabs seperately mic’d). In a live setting, everything is the same except I only use the Mesa 2×15 cab.

Do you have a backup for this gear, if so, what?
Crowther: Prior to the green Muff, I used a yellow Boss bass overdrive pedal, which is still kept pretty close by (I have two). Unfortunately, no backups for the live amp, but I would like to get an old Ampeg Blue Line SVT head, which would likely make my Mesa 400+ a backup head. I did recently purchase a Ampeg Micro VT w/ 2×10 cab, which obviously isn’t going to push the air that the big guys do live, but the tone that comes out of it is incredible, so I might play around with it in the studio next time we record.

How long have you had it, how do you use it, would you ever change it?
Crowther: I’ve owned most of the meat of my gear (amp and cabs) for about 15 years, which is a good testament at how fucking awesome they are made. Other than normal maintenance, I wouldn’t change anything about them.

Give us your best “gear goes wrong” story.
Crowther: Don’t have one, cause my shit works!

Check out the album Endless Descent