Guithartic
Senior Stratmaster
I’m going to get one of these Electro-Harmonix Big Muffs. I’ve been watching so many videos and waffling. Do you have a fav out of these?
You can choose two responses.
You can choose two responses.
Which Big Muff Pi do you like best?
- Thread starter Guithartic
- Start date
velvet_man
Senior Stratmaster
Op-amp!
Guithartic
Senior Stratmaster
Last edited:
Butcher of Strats
Senior Stratmaster
Depends on the mix really.
Rams head and green Russian got my vote but I stopped buying muffs from mike matthews when he kind of went all scrimpy on quality.
For about the new price of EHX you can get a used Stomp Under Foot that adds a mids knob, which makes muffs fit more mixes.
Rams head and green Russian got my vote but I stopped buying muffs from mike matthews when he kind of went all scrimpy on quality.
For about the new price of EHX you can get a used Stomp Under Foot that adds a mids knob, which makes muffs fit more mixes.
I don’t have any fuzz nor have i used fuzz. So I’m quite interested in this. Been thinking about getting one but I have no idea what I’d even wanna get.
JimJamJab
Strat-Talk Member
If it's in the budget consider the JHS Muffuletta. Very nice pedal that includes all the listed circuits above.
StratUp
Dr. Stratster
Ram's Head is a bit dark. Russian is even darker. Op Amp is the brightest IMO.
Guithartic
Senior Stratmaster
I know the Ram’s Head is associated with David Gilmour, and the Op-Amp with Smashing Pumpkins. They even colored part of the Op-Amp orange because of that.
Stratoskater
Fuzz Meister General
Fuzz Face 
Chont
Dr. Stratster
I have the Triangle and The Ram Head. Both are lovely. Best I can describe from my experience is the Rams Head has a little more bite where the Triangle is a little creamier. I've only ever played out of an original Green Russian years ago so can't speak on the others though so kinda weird for me to vote.
Rams Head for the win though I really like the Triangle too
92 Fiesta Red 62
Strat-O-Master
I have this one:
(Note: this is not my pedal, just a pic I copied…mine is a beat-up pawnshop prize I got for $10).
The only thing I have against it is the size. If you open up the case, there’s not a lot of circuit or wiring in there. It’s not on a pedalboard (due to the size), it just gets dragged out where it will “fit” sonically.
I’ve liked the sound of every version I’ve ever heard…I always wanted one of the Russian ones; there was just something inherently cool about them.
(Note: this is not my pedal, just a pic I copied…mine is a beat-up pawnshop prize I got for $10).
The only thing I have against it is the size. If you open up the case, there’s not a lot of circuit or wiring in there. It’s not on a pedalboard (due to the size), it just gets dragged out where it will “fit” sonically.
I’ve liked the sound of every version I’ve ever heard…I always wanted one of the Russian ones; there was just something inherently cool about them.
Check out this video with Rhett Shull. He demos and explains a few with Robert. Rhett also shows Tim Pierce what the fuzz can do. Fuzz pedals arent just about fuzz.
92 Fiesta Red 62
Strat-O-Master
Be careful—the Exploratory Journey of Fuzz can be insidious and nuanced…
You might end up living in a cardboard box in an alley, rocking back and forth in a fetal position, surrounded by dozens of variations, mumbling to yourself, “I love germanium…but silicon is more stable…or is it the other way around? Which one did Hendrix really use? Then Gilmore…and Trower…damn Keith Richards for putting it on that one song and never using one again! Was it really a Maestro? Don’t forget Cobain…and Corgan…and…is the Fuzz Face Mini the same as an original Dallas-Arbiter…Is the Muffaletto really accurate to the original Muffs? I gotta compare them side-by-side…
I just need two more…or maybe three, man…there’s so many flavors and I gotta try them all…and is a Rat a fuzz, a distortion or an overdrive??…somebody tell me!!”
It’s a sad end that many of our brethren have met…there, but for the grace of God, go I…
Matopotato
Strat-Talker
After looking through many vids on shootouts, I boiled it down to Ram's Head and Green Russian. The triangle and op-amp felt too bright (suzzly?) to me, and the "original" a bit lacking in comparison.
I ABed with kooper and playing for quite a while. (Even tried building a wooden "one step, flip both stomps" device, but failed...)
I wanted to like the Green more, but Ram's came up winner. Sometimes narrow, sometimes no contest.
I felt Ram's covered just about all I could dial in with Green. And then had more to give.
But I am not a seasoned pro playing big arenas...
I find Muffs to have a unique voice IMHO
Keep us posted on your thoughts and what you end up with choosing.
I ABed with kooper and playing for quite a while. (Even tried building a wooden "one step, flip both stomps" device, but failed...)
I wanted to like the Green more, but Ram's came up winner. Sometimes narrow, sometimes no contest.
I felt Ram's covered just about all I could dial in with Green. And then had more to give.
But I am not a seasoned pro playing big arenas...
I find Muffs to have a unique voice IMHO
Keep us posted on your thoughts and what you end up with choosing.
Restless Native
Strat-Talk Member
Personally I like the Ramshead and OpAmp, but the one I will not part with is my Big Muff Tone Wicker… as bright or as dark as you like, like full range/spectrum!
Tremdaddy
Strat-Talker
Great sound but cheaply made. You're better off with a used MJM Foxey Fuzz (if you can find one) or a JHS Muffaletta. Same sound, higher build quality.
StratUp
Dr. Stratster
This guy does great comparisons. Uses a looper for the sample, switches back to back, tries a variety of settings on each pedal. No flashing playing/showoff, no overdriven amps to cloud the picture etc.
It won't tell you exactly what a Big Muff will sound like with you playing, but it will let you get a feel for how they sound compared to each other.
It won't tell you exactly what a Big Muff will sound like with you playing, but it will let you get a feel for how they sound compared to each other.
