Big muff sound different from current production

Blille

Blille

New member
I have a current production Big Muff that I'm using more and more. I would love to know what of the other Big Muff flavors would be most complimentary to the current one. e.g. rams Head, violet, Russian etc

The only thing I don't like of the current one is that I can't really do chords, it's too harsh. Not saying that that is what I want but I put it out there in case it's helpful.

So what other Big Muff is the most different to the current production one?
 
Re: Big muff sound different from current production

Nearly all of them haha, I haven't played two muff that were really the same, they all have similar characteristics but are quite different. I'd try a clone of a rams head, civil war or black Russian, the Russian being the less gainer and darker of them all. Or any of the boutiques based on these. I have a blackout twosome which has the musket built in (a Russian muff circuit with a boosted front section and heaps of tweaks) and also a muff clone I got on ebay and they both sound quite different. I have a short video if you want to see thathttps://youtu.be/EO-ceR041ec. I've had 6 muff types including several clones, a tone wicker and the germ 4 (not really a muff at all) and they didn't sound at all the same (current production tone wicker being my least favourite and some byoc clone being the most different).

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Big muff sound different from current production

James Rock said:
Nearly all of them haha, I haven't played two muff that were really the same, they all have similar characteristics but are quite different. I'd try a clone of a rams head, civil war or black Russian, the Russian being the less gainer and darker of them all. Or any of the boutiques based on these. I have a blackout twosome which has the musket built in (a Russian muff circuit with a boosted front section and heaps of tweaks) and also a muff clone I got on ebay and they both sound quite different. I have a short video if you want to see that https://youtu.be/EO-ceR041ec. I've had 6 muff types including several clones, a tone wicker and the germ 4 (not really a muff at all) and they didn't sound at all the same (current production tone wicker being my least favourite and some byoc clone being the most different).
Click to expand...

So you're saying I should just buy them all? I like that lol

I'll check the video, thanks. Any would work a bit "better" on chords? Maybe the Russian?
 
Last edited:
Re: Big muff sound different from current production

Yeah, nearly every Muff is different. Early ones were transistor based, later were opamp based. I bunch of different clipping diodes over the years. The typical tone stack is scooped, the Russian version is far more so with even more bass. The biggest thing I think most builders do is take one of the formulas and modify the tone stack to add midrange, add or remove bass, tweak the treble, etc. Unfortunately all you can really do is listen to a bunch of clips on YouTube, then try them out for yourself.

Here are mine, all are different sounding...

Skreddy does a lot of really cool things that make classic but useable Muff tones. If you want to build, the BYOC can be built with all kinds of mods that can give you almost any flavor you want.

0MiwAap_d.jpg
 
Big muff sound different from current production

PFDarkside said:
Yeah, nearly every Muff is different. Early ones were transistor based, later were opamp based. I bunch of different clipping diodes over the years. The typical tone stack is scooped, the Russian version is far more so with even more bass. The biggest thing I think most builders do is take one of the formulas and modify the tone stack to add midrange, add or remove bass, tweak the treble, etc. Unfortunately all you can really do is listen to a bunch of clips on YouTube, then try them out for yourself.

Here are mine, all are different sounding...

Skreddy does a lot of really cool things that make classic but useable Muff tones. If you want to build, the BYOC can be built with all kinds of mods that can give you almost any flavor you want.

0MiwAap_d.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks! Nice collection.

The thing is that on YT the current production Big Muffs sound far more scooped than what I get with mine, likely because I play a 5e3 so I don't really trust it that much. I also was concerned about buying a few and hearing little changes like it often happens with TS pedals. When I've listened in YT my favorite has been the ThorpyFX Muffroom, but given the cost I can't be wrong.

I also checked a couple of websites with so much information that it became overwhelming. E.g. http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_history2B.html

Hearing that the changes are real and that there's a wide range is reassuring.

The two I had the most interest on were:
- Ram's head clone: mainly because it feels like it's the most used reference in clones (along with the triangle)
- current bass big muff: I see it compared with the green Russian which seems to also be revered and I like the idea of mixing dry

In case it helps, most of the time I hit my muff with a TS or Soul Food.

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Re: Big muff sound different from current production

For chords any of them that let you control clipping and the tone before clipping stages help by cleaning up the low end. If chords is harsh then the Russian isn't really harsh but dark and muddy. I'd think civil war, red pi (post rams head 70s models), op amp muff or modified boutique type works best for rhythmn but wall of sound is generally what you get with a muff unless you go for something that is fairly modified like the pharoah. Thorpy muffroom sounds good to my ears via YouTube the balance of wall of muff and clarity. If you really can't choose the jhs muffuletta has 7 different circuits. There is comparison videos of this and original circuits which are great for hearing the difference through the same rig.
 
Re: Big muff sound different from current production

The g4 could have part of its circuit based on the muff overdrive but with germaniums or a different circuit not sure I sold mine years again thinking maybe I should of kept (along with the boss fz3 I sold)

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Re: Big muff sound different from current production

Yeah, +1 to most here. I would recommend maybe going a different route on your next fuzz pedal.

The fuzz world is one hole you will certainly dig yourself deep into. You've been warned
 
Re: Big muff sound different from current production

James Rock said:
For chords any of them that let you control clipping and the tone before clipping stages help by cleaning up the low end. If chords is harsh then the Russian isn't really harsh but dark and muddy. I'd think civil war, red pi (post rams head 70s models), op amp muff or modified boutique type works best for rhythmn but wall of sound is generally what you get with a muff unless you go for something that is fairly modified like the pharoah. Thorpy muffroom sounds good to my ears via YouTube the balance of wall of muff and clarity. If you really can't choose the jhs muffuletta has 7 different circuits. There is comparison videos of this and original circuits which are great for hearing the difference through the same rig.
Click to expand...

Thanks, really liking the TF green / civil war atm. The muffuletta sounds really good too and feels like a great way to avoid fomo.


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Re: Big muff sound different from current production

After a billion videos watched and audios samples heard I just ordered a JHS Muffuletta.

I really liked both the triangle and civil war so I figured it was the easiest way to have both (and more).

Thanks for your help!

https://youtu.be/Nxv-1fN5MFE



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Re: Big muff sound different from current production

Way Huge Swollen Pickle.

EQD Hoof


I've owned a number of vintage Muffs and they have the same problem as most of the current ones... the EQ is so limited.

My personal favourite is the Swollen Pickle, although it can be a pain to dial in because of the various options. It took awhile bout I found a setting that sounds like my speakers are coming apart.

The EQD Hoof is more straight forward and easier to dial in, although not capable of the range of sounds that the Swollen Pickle can do.
 
Re: Big muff sound different from current production

And here it is!

They did a pretty awesome job.

90ab86c88a68fbd7c6bc6817421d60cd.jpg



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