GASing for a Russian Big Muff

Falloffthebonetone

Falloffthebonetone

New member
I've been really into the Russian Muffs lately after scoping them out online. I'm a sucker for pedals that work well with guitar AND bass. Found a couple of black ones for about 100 and I don't know if I should spring for them or not.

Now 1st this would not even fit on my typical pedal board at all unless I make or get a bigger one and it already has a distortion and overdrive on it anyway. This would basically be me just saying "I have it." and maybe occasional use in the studio for guitar and bass. The guitar player I jam with could also have fun with it.

Apparently the black ones can vary a lot with the older ones being closer to the green ones that people love so much and the newer and smaller black ones being pretty cheaply made and having unresponsive/sensitive pots.

The ones I am looking at seem to be the smaller 6 screw versions, but I have no idea how they differ from the 4 screw ones that came after that or the taller ones that came before it. I am seeing a lot of 4 screws too.

Would I be better off just getting a Bass Big Muff? It's supposed to be based on the Black Russian with some added features and a tweaked tone stack but then there is always the "It's not the same" itch that can rear its ugly head.

I dunno, by brain is kinda everywhere right now so I thought I'd consult the forum for clarity and wisdom.
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

I have never tried the Russian. I have a NYC Big Muff re-issue from the early 2000's that has true bypass. I love it. I have never used it for bass though. I did not know the Russian Big Muff could be used for bass too. I imagine the Bass Big Muff would be better tailored for bass use than the Russian but if the Russian is good enough to get by I could see why you would want it so you can use it for guitar too.
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

If you have some cash to spare, I'd get one of the many boutique russian muff inspired pedals. Pretty much all the doom themed fuzz pedals are russian muffs. The originals weren't exactly the highest quality/most reliable pedals, and it's not like the circuit is any secret. Pedals like the Pharaoh, Supercollider, Musket, Hoof Fuzz, Swollen Pickle, Tall Font, Box of War, Stomp under Foot's Green Russian and Civil War, ARC Big Green, Mojo Hand Colossus, etc. are all variations on that theme.
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

PFDarkside said:
If you have some cash to spare, I'd get one of the many boutique russian muff inspired pedals. Pretty much all the doom themed fuzz pedals are russian muffs. The originals weren't exactly the highest quality/most reliable pedals, and it's not like the circuit is any secret. Pedals like the Pharaoh, Supercollider, Musket, Hoof Fuzz, Swollen Pickle, Tall Font, Box of War, Stomp under Foot's Green Russian and Civil War, ARC Big Green, Mojo Hand Colossus, etc. are all variations on that theme.
Click to expand...

OH MAN! I totally forgot how much I loved that thing! I'm gonna scope that out. Thanks!
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

Im with PFDarkside on looking at clones.
I built a couple of muff clones. A russian version being one of them. I ABed it with my buddys green russian and we both preferred mine. I ended up doing a couple of things to it to make it even thicker and meatier, but nothing major. What this means is that pretty much anyone can make a pedal that sounds as good or better than the original.
In that light, there are many many great current russian muff style pedals on the market that are cheaper, will sound better and work more reliably than the old ones. They will also be smaller. My clone fitted into a small hammond enclosure 1590b.
Try a pharaoh as well as the pickle. I found it to be more organic and meaner.
You might also want to check out the wren and cuff version too.
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

the black one does work well for guitar and bass, but mostly bass. there's tons of clones and copies, your options are endless
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

I've tried a couple different styles and didn't really mesh with them. I wanted a Pharaoh forever but my friend that builds pedals told me could do what I really wanted with an opamp muff. He was right. No one talks about anything else but there's way more sounds in this thing than smashing pumpkins.
IMG_1210_zps43bfcbca.jpg~original
 
Re: GASing for a Russian Big Muff

King IzzO))) said:
I've tried a couple different styles and didn't really mesh with them. I wanted a Pharaoh forever but my friend that builds pedals told me could do what I really wanted with an opamp muff. He was right. No one talks about anything else but there's way more sounds in this thing than smashing pumpkins.
IMG_1210_zps43bfcbca.jpg~original
Click to expand...

yup I have a dreamsicle fuzz, which is an ic/opamp clone. It does everything I want it to do, but I bought it to be an instant siamese dream tone, and that's exactly what I got
 
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