Muff or Muff Clone???

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Hay fellas & ladies, I've decided that I want a Big Muff Fuzz pedal but while I was shopping around for them I came across some pretty interesting Muff clones and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of these, Violet Rams Head & such? If I go with a clone I want to be able to get everything out of it I could with a original EH Big Muff & perhaps a little something more? True bypass would certainly be nice but something that's got the heavy Muff fuzz & operates just a tad quieter (not that they are super noisy anyway) would also be great! Any suggestions on the subject would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I tried a Nano Big Muff Pi recently and thought it sounded pretty much like a typical NYC Big Muff. I didn't A/B them, but I've read that the Nano is actually quieter than its full-sized cousin.

There are a ton of different Muff clones out there. Many recreate specific models from the past like the Ram's Head, Triangle, Civil War. Others combine various versions into a more-flexible hybrid, or others add non-Muff features like a mid control. It helps to know what kind of BMP your favorite players use, and go from there.

OTOH, the Nano is a great pedal for small $$$ and is a good starting point.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I agree with Rich. If you don't know what you're looking for, get a nano or deluxe and play with it. Once you figure out what Muff tones are your favorite, you can key in on it.

Also, the old big box NYC Muffs are nice and big, easy to modify. A lot of the differences just come down to clipping diode selection, tone stack (resistors/capacitor value) and discrete transistor vs IC. If you are into modding, you can pretty much duplicate what the expensive ones do with a little research and and few components.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

JHS Muffuleta

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

Hay fellas & ladies, I've decided that I want a Big Muff Fuzz pedal but while I was shopping around for them I came across some pretty interesting Muff clones and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of these, Violet Rams Head & such? If I go with a clone I want to be able to get everything out of it I could with a original EH Big Muff & perhaps a little something more? True bypass would certainly be nice but something that's got the heavy Muff fuzz & operates just a tad quieter (not that they are super noisy anyway) would also be great! Any suggestions on the subject would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Ramsheads are more of a midrange lead kinda tone. Think Gilmour or early Santana.
Russians are more of a crushing rhythm tone lots more gain on tap. Think "zombie" by the cranberries.
Drew Half Empty reckons the NYC sounds like a hot air balloon that is on fire. I like that.

None of them quite do what i think of as a "perfect" muff tone, so I built one with a few tweaks to do all the good stuff and none of the stuff i don't like (the buzz, the lack of definition and the massive mid scoop). The thing is, what i like is not necessarily what other people like.

If you are not into building or modding or whatever, the Black Arts Pharaoh fuzz starts with a russian muff as a base and gives you lots of tone shaping and clipping options. I really like that one a lot. Its raw, gutsy, organic, aggressive and you get a lot of different and useable textures for live or recording.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

Ramsheads are more of a midrange lead kinda tone. Think Gilmour or early Santana.
Russians are more of a crushing rhythm tone lots more gain on tap. Think "zombie" by the cranberries.
Drew Half Empty reckons the NYC sounds like a hot air balloon that is on fire. I like that.

None of them quite do what i think of as a "perfect" muff tone, so I built one with a few tweaks to do all the good stuff and none of the stuff i don't like (the buzz, the lack of definition and the massive mid scoop). The thing is, what i like is not necessarily what other people like.

If you are not into building or modding or whatever, the Black Arts Pharaoh fuzz starts with a russian muff as a base and gives you lots of tone shaping and clipping options. I really like that one a lot. Its raw, gutsy, organic, aggressive and you get a lot of different and useable textures for live or recording.

Thanks guys, I've got some experience with the Muff tone, I actually keep a Metal Muff as a permanent fixture on my board (I know they are different monsters) but without the top boost engaged it's Muffy???

Originally I was mostly looking for a Siamese Dream kinda tone from it but the JHS & Black Arts are both pretty cool and a lot more versatile than the original, not to mention much more quiet!!! I think I'm going to look into them and a few more clones before pulling the trigger. I don't plan on modding it so I want something that's going to do everything the Big Muff will & maybe take it a few steps further? True bypass or switchable true bypass would also be really nice!!!

 

[Artie]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

This thread inspired me to A/B my Nano Big Muff with my Soul Food. Both are good, but, you can dial the Muff down to the Soul Food, but you can't dial the Soul Food "up" to the Big Muff. Interesting. The Nano Big Muff is a sweet pedal.

My 2-cents worth.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

The Metal Muff isn't anything like a Big Muff Pi besides also being a distortion pedal.

I'm going to add another recommendation for the Pharaoh. I use the Black Arts Coven fuzz which has a Pharaoh and a Black Forest Overdrive in one housing and it kicked all of my other gain pedals off the board.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

This thread inspired me to A/B my Nano Big Muff with my Soul Food. Both are good, but, you can dial the Muff down to the Soul Food, but you can't dial the Soul Food "up" to the Big Muff. Interesting. The Nano Big Muff is a sweet pedal.

My 2-cents worth.

I also have a Soul Food, I.M.H.O. it's kinda one of those pedals we should all have in our arsenal? I haven't been useing it much since I bought my O.C.D. but the fact that the Soul Food can switch between true & buffered bypass is a very cool feature! Especially when you run a pedal chain as long as mine, the built in buffering becomes an asset in some cases? I get what you are saying though, the nano is probably the way I'd go if I do go with a real Big Muff. It's the same pedal in a smaller box & they usually run about $20 cheaper than the full size versions?

 

[Artie]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I also have a Soul Food, I.M.H.O. it's kinda one of those pedals we should all have in our arsenal? I haven't been useing it much since I bought my O.C.D. but the fact that the Soul Food can switch between true & buffered bypass is a very cool feature! Especially when you run a pedal chain as long as mine, the built in buffering becomes an asset in some cases? I get what you are saying though, the nano is probably the way I'd go if I do go with a real Big Muff. It's the same pedal in a smaller box & they usually run about $20 cheaper than the full size versions?

I totally agree. That's why I'm keeping both.

Artie

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

The Metal Muff isn't anything like a Big Muff Pi besides also being a distortion pedal.

I'm going to add another recommendation for the Pharaoh. I use the Black Arts Coven fuzz which has a Pharaoh and a Black Forest Overdrive in one housing and it kicked all of my other gain pedals off the board.

So far that's the way I'm leaning, it's probably the closest thing I've found as far as meeting all my needs but the JHS that was recommended is also a great (clone & a step further) pedal! I wish there was as many of these used & for sale on the net as the various forms of the Big Muff!!!

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I totally agree. That's why I'm keeping both.

Artie

Soul Food's, O.C.D.'s, & Tube Screamers are the meat and potatoes of the Overdrive world? Fundamentally they have a lot in common but at the same time they're all VERY different pedals? That's why I'm keeping all three!!!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

The closest thing I have to a Muff is the Death By Audio Fuzz War. It is totally over the top, but a lot of fun.
It is also not very expensive.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I ended up getting a Earthquaker Devices Dream Crusher. It seems to have just the right amount of chunk to go with its fuzz & I just love Earthquaker Devices pedals! I picked the thing up for a steal, $65!!! It's essentially brand new, box, stickers, and all the fixings included!!!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I've got a Tone Wicker Big Muff, which is ok. However on my board is a BMF Aries fuzz that is a great Violet Rams Head Muff clone with a mids control! That ones a keeper...


Sent from my TARDIS using timey-wimey talk.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I used to have a Stomp Under Foot Brick Muff & it was a awesome Ram's Head clone! Someone stole it a couple years ago, I was pi$$ed!!! I nearly bought another one because of its uncanny ability to give you Gilmour-ish Fuzz through almost any amp with the turn of a knob but I think the E-D Dream Crusher is going to be a better fit for me overall?

I've only had it for less than a day so I'm far from an expert on this specific pedal but its super easy to use and seems quite versatile! It will do Muffy Ram's Head tones and it's also quite capable of doing vintage Silicon Fuzz Face tones as well! Its kinda a best of both worlds Fuzz pedal & it's built much better than either of them! There's also a lot of fun in between tones that border between Fuzz & Distortion as well as a bit of gritty breakup with all that beautiful Fuzz!!!

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I've owned a lot of muffs: a black Sovtek Russian, a the NYC Pi reissue, and clones of the triangle, rams head, and violet rams head.
Too me, the best tone was the black Sovtek Russian one. Unfortunately, it wasn't true-bypass, required a battery to AC adapter, and the cheap Russian parts were about to fall apart. Otherwise, to me, the old Triangle clone is the best. The gain was a bit lower, but it never got too muddy or sludgy.
The absolute worse was the NYC Pi Reissue. It had one usable tone, would not clean up with the volume knob, and was just a mud machine.
You can fine Clones in the $50 range (or slightly less), used on eBay if you watch. Chicago Stompworks makes some nice ones.
Tone-wise, the Siamese-dream tone is achievable with most any Muff, as is the violin-like old Santana tone. I've never gotten very close to the Gilmour Comfortably Numb tone (maybe because I use high-output humbuckers), except with the Triangle.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I wonder how much money people have spent chasing the Gilmour Rams Head tone? It's such an iconic sound and instantly recognizable as David and his Muff but I think even he moved onto a clone eventually? The fact that Big Muffs are not true bypass is their biggest downside & yes the NYC PI's aren't very versatile, you've got muddy and muddier but if that's the only tone your looking to get out of it they're great!

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I bought the JHS Mufuletta but have had almost no time with it at volume. What I want to experiment with is how close to one sound one can get by tweaking all the various Muff selections.

Two things that I have observed:
The noise floor is relatively low (as is the Pharaoh's)
The Ram's Head and the Triangle selections are easily my immediate favorites.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Muff or Muff Clone???

I wonder how much money people have spent chasing the Gilmour Rams Head tone? It's such an iconic sound and instantly recognizable as David and his Muff but I think even he moved onto a clone eventually? The fact that Big Muffs are not true bypass is their biggest downside & yes the NYC PI's aren't very versatile, you've got muddy and muddier but if that's the only tone your looking to get out of it they're great!

I'm not 100% sure exactly what he used to record Comfortably Numb, but live he's used a Civil War muff boosted by a rackmount Chandler Tube Driver since the early 90s. You can get pretty close with any Russian Muff boosted with a Tube Screamer.