The big muff has long been one of the most ubiquitous fuzz boxes on pedalboards and in the gear market. View all results for big muff at sweetwater the worlds leading music technology and instrument retailer. New in 2004 were the bifilter and polyphonic octave generator neil young once said. Primarily the big muff was used for electric guitars but later bass guitars also were able to make use of such a powerful yet. The musket can do a great wall of sound, but you can get a lot of other usable tones out it too. It includes all the different versions, and each of the permutations of parts within each version. The tone bender timeline history the big muff pi page. History of the guitar pedal archives stompbox book. Today the big muff comes in many different shapes and sizes and this guide will help you to choose your perfect big muff fuzz pedal. Gritty, raw, and untamed, the electroharmonix big muff pi earned its place as a legend in the pedal world for the unique flavor of versatile distorted fuzz it gave players with the stomp of a switch. They always take a tiny, clean amp and drive the living out of it with the muff.
The overall sound, components, and quality vary a bit from version to version so shop around for one that suits your style. However, due to demand and the high prices guitarists were paying for old 1970s pedals on the vintage market, it reissued the more popular old pedals in the mid1990s, including the big muff. Electroharmonix green russian big muff distortion and. Electroharmonix germanium 4 big muff pi overdrive and distortion guitar effects pedal. I think that once you realise that the big muff is so much more than just the pedal david gilmour used on comfortably numb, a whole new world of tone and inspiration will emerge. The big muff pi was the first overwhelming success for electroharmonixs line of pedals. Jhs pedals muffuletta distortion fuzz guitar effects pedal. Unfortunately for wannabe soundalikes, billys big muff was actually an unusual vintage opamp version.
Of all their effects, electroharmonix is probably best known for the big muff pi. Sounds very close to a new york big muff with the added bonus of true bypass switching, 9volt power supply compatibility and a sturdy pedal board friendly enclosure. Everything you want to know about big muffs with sound clips. The electroharmonix rams head big muff has found its way onto the pedalboards of influential guitarists since the early to mid70s. Electroharmonix opamp big muff pi reissue fuzz reverb. The circuit also appeared in a tone bender mkiii enclosure with the vox logo. There are fuzzbox schematics, signal booster projects, audio mixers and much more available free. The little big muff nano is more or less identical to the us reissue although with a bit more presence and sustain, which makes the whole difference. They are arguably the pedals with the most interesting and colourful history in the annals of. A pedalboard staple for guitarists like kurt cobain, pete townshend and ace frehley, the big muff pi has played a crucial role in rock history.
The electroharmonix big muff pi distortionsustainer pedal with tone wicker taps into the sonic power of the legendary big muff pi, but creates new tonal possibilities at the flick of a switch or two. Due to its reliability, its low price and its distinctive sound, the big muff sold consistently through the 1970s and was found in innumerable guitarists pedal collections. Big muff pi history of the guitar pedal the big muff pi from new york city based effects pioneer electroharmonix celebrated its 50 year anniversary in 2019. Even if youve never heard of this pedal by name, its almost a guarantee that youve heard it in action. Take a trip back to 1976 for a look at one of the original big muff pi ads and uncover even more electroharmonix artifacts and history in our flashback posts. The electro harmonix big muff pi is the most popular fuzz pedal ever, celebrating 50 years of production a brief history of the big muff. Open quick view dialog for electroharmonix opamp big muff pi fuzz effects pedal.
Tone benders were popular pedals among guitarists in the late 1960s through the mid 1970s. The big muff pi is one of the earliest distortion pedals ever created. Never before has there been a single pedal that gives you all these different eras of its tone. Scores of iterations on the original circuit have been released over the decades, tweaked to suit a wide variety of different players and music styles. Just in the category of fuzz pedals, new offerings took the music scene by storm in the late 60s, such as the sola sound tone bender, and electro harmonix lbp1, which would later evolve into the big muff pi, a pedal that to this day is extremely popular with rock guitarists such as dan auerbach the black keys and jack white. The cult classic green russian big muff first shook the ground in the mid1990s. Electro harmonix big muff fuzz pedal guide guitar tabs and chords guitar songs diy guitar pedal cool guitar guitar effects pedals guitar pedals les paul guitar shop fuzz check our complete guide to all big muff pedals available today, with top 6 things guitarists really need to know about the big muff. I guess we have to rewrite all the strat history books posted by lwilliams in guitars in general today at 8. For over 40 years, the big muff pi has helped define the sound of rock guitar. The big muff has been favored by some very famous guitarists, and the. Guitar pedals, an interactive art installation of 96 guitar effects pedals by david byrne via laughing squid david byrne talking heads stuck a bunch of guitar pedals together and this kid seems to like it.
The electro harmonix big muff pi distortion sustainer pedal with tone wicker taps into the sonic power of the legendary big muff pi, but creates new tonal possibilities at the flick of. Far from a pariah, this version of the pedal made its way onto some important recordings. Sonically, its a touch more articulate than a lot of big muffs, with a string separation that sets it apart from others that share its lineage. A bonus is the small pedal board friendly foot print. Unfollow vintage big muff to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Awesome pedal most of you if looking will know just how good this is. The electroharmonix big muff pi is the pedal that started it all. Electroharmonix nano big muff guitar distortion effects pedal 4. But if you want to explore new sounds you could try the ibanez 850 fuzzmini, which provides two effects in a compact format. A child walks over david byrnes pedal installation in tokyo, japan. Everybody seems to know about the kitrae big muff pi page, which, admittedly, is probably the most authoritative page on the internet about the history of the electro harmonix big muff distortion pedal. Buy electroharmonix nano big muff guitar distortion effects pedal. The green russian big muff creates a huge tone that is all its own, but is undeniably big muff.
The big muff made it into many of rocks most successful guitarists bag of aural tricks. Electroharmonix rams head big muff pi fuzz pedal fuzz effects pedal with volume, tone. The nano big muff pi works and sounds identical in every way to the classic nyc big muff pi. Revered by contemporary guitarists and rock legends for its rich, creamy, violinlike sustain, from pink floyd to the white stripes. The big muff history of all versions part 1 kit rae.
This pedal is already a classic in its own right, and, alongside the muff overdrive, they are only new muffs not inspired by the big muff, but by the original muff fuzz. The bass heavy effect can be used with a variety of guitars including six string guitars as well as bass guitars. The double muff is great for simple, vintage fuzz tones, with no tone control raw, loud, with a silky overdriven tone. Controls sustain knob tone knob volume knob bass boost. Of course, part of the answer was a lot of overdubs, but when the word got out that billy corgan had used a big muff on the record, the pedal became hugely sought after overnight. Guitar effects pedals the history of guitar effects. Electroharmonix nano big muff guitar effects pedal guitar. A timeless piece, the electroharmonix big muff pi has been defining the sound of rock guitar for the past 30 years. There was a tone bender fuzz reissue made in the 1990s that also used a version of this simplified big muff circuit. Version 4 opamp big muff usa circa 1978 the four transistors circuit design was radically changed to a new design that used opamp ics for this version. It may have a childish name, the enclosure may be massive, and sure, it will eat your mids, but the electroharmonix big muff is a stonecold classic.
How to use big muffs to dialin the tone of five famous. Feb 24, 20 electroharmonix big muff pi and some muff history. Stacking big muff style fuzz w od and boost before, after, etc. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. The big muff fuzz pedal has been shaping the tone of rock music for over 40 years, made famous by countless guitarists such as jimi hendrix, carlos santana, jack white, kurt cobain and many more. Skreddy pedals bc239 fuzz classic mid 70s aggressive sustain based on late rams head big muff skreddy pedals giant meat pie based on violet rams head version skreddy pedals mayo based on 1971 triangle muff skreddy pedals mayonaise. Electroharmonix guitar fuzz pedals for sale in stock ebay. The muff was created, introduced and manufactured by electroharmonic company ehx together with its sister company, the russian sovtek. The big muff fuzz pedal has been shaping the tone of rock music for over 40 years, made famous by countless guitarists such as jimi hendrix, carlos. The big muffs continued appeal is partly due to the aesthetic tweaks that electroharmonix has made throughout its life. Thats what a big muff sounds like when i plug it into a tiny practice amp, but nothing like plugging in to my beast of a tube amp. Partnering with bell labs engineer robert myer, the duo produced the linear power booster lpb1 distortion effect in 1969 that, through several iterations, would evolve into the big muff pi, a fuzz pedal renowned for its complex and rich distortion effect. The big muff has an amazing history and has been used by some of the most influential guitarists ever. This is a great distortion pedal with a big sound and much of the same scooped mids character of the previous transistor versions.
Skreddy pedals rust rod fuzz based on rams head big muff solidgoldfx imperial bc183 based on the op. All electroharmonix big muff pedals compared fuzz shootout duration. They are often associated with the vox brand, and guitarists like jimmy page, jeff beck, mick ronson, and pete townshend. Jun 07, 20 the electro harmonix big muff pi is a classic pedal thats still going strong. A simplified three transistor v3 big muff circuit, minus one set of diode clippers from the first gain stage, and the final recovery stage. A quick history and comparison on the big muff pmt online. Mar 28, 2016 gibson wouldnt remain the only game in town for long. Whether you want tasteful lead tones or allout sonic mayhem, the big muff pi handles it all with ease. Amz is a resource with information about diy guitar effects pedals, stompboxes, audio circuits and tips on how to build them. It was their second best selling pedal in the 1970s after the small stone phaser, and mike matthews said in 2017 that in terms of units sold for all. Wren and cuff box of war a big muff civil war clone for. Combining four classic germanium transistors, the germanium big muff pi is the result of a focused modern design dripping with eh analog heritage.
Electro harmonix little big muff pi the current xo version is not to be mistaken for the 70s model with the same name. Hendrix and santana were among the first to get a piece of the pi, and for over 40 years the big muff pi has been defining the sound of rock guitar. You think the eh big muff and other eh pedals went through. This distortion has seen the hands of such musicians as hendrix and santana all the way to chemical brothers and korn. What began as a simple release date timeline for the american electroharmonix big muff pi turned into a broader fuzz and muff pedal timeline, which in turn got me looking at the history of the american gibson maestro fuzztone, its many clones and spinoffs, and the 1970s clones of the big muff pi.
With over 30 documented variants under its own name, the muff is one of the most modified circuits in history, with many mods part of official ehx muff canon. Guitar legends and upcoming stars, each choose that one pedal that best defines their sound. An infographic guitar pedals, music guitar, guitar. The big muff pi is the distortion pedal countless musicians, including hendrix and santana, relied on for its rich, creamy, violinlike sustain. Electroharmonix big muff pi distortion sustainer pedal. Take some time to browse the site and discover information that can help you with your next diy effects pedal project. Electro harmonix big muff fuzz pedal guide pmt online. Not a onetrickpony by any means, electroharmonix has mastered every corner of the effects spectrum. The bass big muff draws its roots from the legendary sovtek battletank green big muff pi, from the late 90s as well as from the original electroharmonix big muff pi from the early 70s.
History of the electroharmonic ehx big muff guitar pedal. Revered by contemporary guitarists and rock legends for its rich, creamy, violinlike sustain, from pink floyd to. For your consideration, garrett park guitars presents the electroharmonix bass big muff pi. Buy electroharmonix little big muff distortion pedal. Get the guaranteed best price on sustain effects pedals like the electroharmonix classics usa big muff pi distortion sustainer guitar effects pedal at musicians friend. A big muff is a big muff, true, but its the fine nuances between each model, your guitar and amp, your playing and how you set up everything that makes the magic. The big muff with tone wicker seems like a good idea, i can never tell from the demos online though.
A team effort a meeting between two likeminded engineers, mike matthews and bob myer set the train in motion for the production of the big muff. The history of boss compact pedals guitar pedal effects. The big muff tone tutorial posted on february 14th 2015. New in 2008 were so many pedals, like the big muff with tone wicker, the voice box, etc new in 2007 germanium od, micro pog, new in 2006 are the eh 2880 super multitrack looper, hog, little big muff, and metal muff. For example, david gilmour and carlos santana although santana owned one it is. Produced since the late 1960s, the big muff pedal can produce a sustained and versatile sound. Electroharmonix classics usa big muff pi distortion. In the beautiful city of new york, the big muff, which acts as a guitar pedal that can distort fuzz sounds, became very wellknown.
These big muff pis are often employed by bass players to thicken up their sound or to. Since that fateful day in 1969, nary a pedal has been copied more times or tweaked as much as the ehx big muff. The rat pedal, and the proco brand do not have nearly the same reputation for breaking down as does the big muff. Classic 60s germanium transistor overdrive, control bias for attack and the circuit volts for that sweet spot found when a batterys voltage dips. Electroharmonix guitar effects pedals for sale in stock ebay. Well, more like over 200 so far, and hopefully well find more to add to the list of effect pedal clones. Stacking big muff style fuzz w od and boost before, after. Big muff pi, electro harmonix, rams head, triangle, sovtek, green, green russian, black russian, civil war, byoc large beaver, p2, p2, pete cornish, mike matthews, little big muff, muff fuzz, lpb1, linear power booster, axis. Electroharmonix stopped making pedals in the mid1980s, and in the early 1990s started selling vacuum tubes rebranded with its name for guitar amplifiers, which it had also been making since the 1970s. With original late70s opamp big muffs selling for exorbitant prices, mike matthews decided to take the power to the people and reissue the classic pedal at a price that players could afford. Billy corgan of the smashing pumpkins used it extensively on seminal records gish and siamese dream. He took a job as a salesman for ibm in 1967, but shortly afterwards, in partnership with bill berko, an audio repairman who claimed to have his own custom circuit for a fuzz pedal, he jobbed construction of the new pedal to a. This is to be expected with a fuzz with massive amounts of gain.
I would highly recommend this pedal to fans of the big muff sound. I started looking into this after doing some makeovers to a couple of joyo pedals i had. The usa big muff pi is the distortion that hendrix and santana, up to the top contemporary guitarists and rock legends, rely on for its rich, creamy, violinlike sustain. So as you can probably guess, the big muff lineage is surprisingly deep and has a rich and colorful history. Boutique pedal makers have often used the big muff circuit as a canvas on which to paint their own interpretations. Electro harmonix took the big muff circuit and simply shrunk it without changing its rich sustain and legendary sound. This pedal will definitely help you towards those out of reach gilmourcorgan tones without taking the gamble of vintage ehx.
A history of the big muff, from the foxey lady, to the russian sovteks, to the current usa reissue. Electroharmonix nano big muff guitar distortion effects pedal. The rat uses a darlington pair of transistors for popfree function when switching the pedal onandoff. Their flagship pedal, the electroharmonix big muff, has seen countless iterations and has found its way into some of history s most iconic recordings. Tweet heres a great show of big muff pi force from jeff bennett. Since then it has been heralded by guitarists and bassists for its devastating lowend and unique sludge and sizzle. A surprisingly musical box, this pedal might be just what you need to craft your perfect sound. For example, the electroharmonix nano big muff probably has the best fuzz sound, or at least, the sound that we expect to get from a fuzz pedal. Unfollow big muff guitar pedal to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The ones ive included here are those that are readily available off ebay. In the pantheon of guitar pedals and of tone in general, the big muff is one of the most ubiquitous fuzz circuits. Weve heard this essential fuzz pedal called everything from a guitar army to a wall of sound to a vacuum, showing that its.