Big Muff Pi (big box) -- Worth buying?

[Spaced Out Ace]

I am contemplating a secondary board off to the side to place a couple gain pedals in a loop. I'm not much of a fan of fuzz, but seeing some videos of the Big Muff boosted with an overdrive seems to move it closer to something I'd use. I am curious if the Big Muff Pi (big box) is worth buying. I had a Big Muff Pi that was modded by Alchemy Audio, but I didn't care for it at the time. This was likely due to the rig/setup I was using at the time. My rig is completely different now, so I'm interested in trying it again to see if it is usable for my tastes.

Any thoughts? Some have also suggested Wren and Cuff, but I'm curious if the size of the full sized boxes are the same as the Big Muff Pi big box version.

Additional notes: I play 70s/80s rock and metal. I use H, HSS, HSH, SSS, and HH pickup layouts in my guitars. My amp setup consists of two Synergy Syn-2 preamps with 4 Synergy OS modules (based on the Dumble ODS).

 

[maguchi]

I am contemplating a secondary board off to the side to place a couple gain pedals in a loop. I'm not much of a fan of fuzz, but seeing some videos of the Big Muff boosted with an overdrive seems to move it closer to something I'd use. I am curious if the Big Muff Pi (big box) is worth buying. I had a Big Muff Pi that was modded by Alchemy Audio, but I didn't care for it at the time. This was likely due to the rig/setup I was using at the time. My rig is completely different now, so I'm interested in trying it again to see if it is usable for my tastes.

Any thoughts? Some have also suggested Wren and Cuff, but I'm curious if the size of the full sized boxes are the same as the Big Muff Pi big box version.

Additional notes: I play 70s/80s rock and metal. I use H, HSS, HSH, SSS, and HH pickup layouts in my guitars. My amp setup consists of two Synergy Syn-2 preamps with 4 Synergy OS modules (based on the Dumble ODS).

Never tried the Big Muff Pi Big box version before yet. I got a EHX Big Muff Pi Green Russian regular size pedal though and that one's been working out pretty good for me so far.

 

[metropolis_4]

The big box does a thing. It’s different than the small ones for sure.

There are a ton of muffins variants, the trick is finding the right one for you.

The main “food groups” of muffs are:
Triangle
Rams Head
Op Amp
Tall Font Russian
Civil War
Wicker
Modern

Each has a different tone and vibe

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

I think I may try to find some used Wren and Cuff Eye See 78 and Caprid, as well as get an EHX big box to see which I prefer. I'd probably pair it with a Centura and an SD-1W to boost it.

 

[newholland]

man, big muffs are super gainy in and of themselves.. doubt youd need to boost it much if at all!

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

man, big muffs are super gainy in and of themselves.. doubt youd need to boost it much if at all!

To get the lows under control and add some mids.

 

[newholland]

To get the lows under control and add some mids.

oh i gotcha- that makes sense. id have a ge8 on hand too! they really will crack you up with how over the top they are dirt wise... big muffs are just silly. fun.. but silly.

 

[newpedals]

I am contemplating a secondary board off to the side to place a couple gain pedals in a loop. I'm not much of a fan of fuzz, but seeing some videos of the Big Muff boosted with an overdrive seems to move it closer to something I'd use. I am curious if the Big Muff Pi (big box) is worth buying. I had a Big Muff Pi that was modded by Alchemy Audio, but I didn't care for it at the time. This was likely due to the rig/setup I was using at the time. My rig is completely different now, so I'm interested in trying it again to see if it is usable for my tastes.

Any thoughts? Some have also suggested Wren and Cuff, but I'm curious if the size of the full sized boxes are the same as the Big Muff Pi big box version.

Additional notes: I play 70s/80s rock and metal. I use H, HSS, HSH, SSS, and HH pickup layouts in my guitars. My amp setup consists of two Synergy Syn-2 preamps with 4 Synergy OS modules (based on the Dumble ODS).

Quoting my friend's dad:

"Nothing sounds like big box EHX pedals. Muffs, Memory Man, Holy grail.."

However, he sends his memory man periodically to someone to get it serviced because according to him, it is kind of "delicate on the inside".

I have heard the smaller, recent Muff. You will have to pair it with another pedal, if you wanna cut through a mix. Maybe a TS mini.

Way huge makes the swollen pickle fuzz which some people like, rumored to be based on a muff.

TC's affordable Honey Pot is based on some russian muff.

I find fuzzes too gnarly for me. I prefer overdrives and medium gain amp in a boxes.

 

[metropolis_4]

Have you used Big Muffs before? What kind of sound are you looking for?

 

[JiveTurkey]

As a fuzz noob; I think the Tone Wicker Muff was great \m/

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

Have you used Big Muffs before? What kind of sound are you looking for?

I had a modded Big Muff Pi, which I didn't like due to it being pretty scooped and boomy. However, my rig at the time was likely the culprit, as I have tried several pedals again since changing my rig significantly, and have liked them quite a bit. I also did not try to use something (EQ, overdrive, etc) to reign in the bass as well as give the mids a push.

 

[metropolis_4]

I had a modded Big Muff Pi, which I didn't like due to it being pretty scooped and boomy. However, my rig at the time was likely the culprit, as I have tried several pedals again since changing my rig significantly, and have liked them quite a bit. I also did not try to use something (EQ, overdrive, etc) to reign in the bass as well as give the mids a push.

I would recommend trying a Wren & Cuff Box of War, a EHX Wicker, or a Russian.

The civil war and Russian have more mids and are less scooped and boomy. The Wicker is great if you want a Muff sound that pokes out more in the mix.

Another one to consider is the EHX Bass Big Muff. It’s basically a Russian Muff that has options to allow more of your dry signal to come through. This can make it very useful for stacking with an overdrive to flatten the EQ

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

I would recommend trying a Wren & Cuff Box of War, a EHX Wicker, or a Russian.

The civil war and Russian have more mids and are less scooped and boomy. The Wicker is great if you want a Muff sound that pokes out more in the mix.

Another one to consider is the EHX Bass Bug Muff. It’s basically a Russian Muff that has options to allow more of your dry signal to come through. This can make it very useful for stacking with an overdrive to flatten the EQ

I was considering a Caprid OG or Eye See 78 OG.

 

[SonVolt]

I've got an original big box Green Russian and the new reissue small box. They're close enough to not have to deal with quirks of the original (size, battery power etc). They both benefit from stacking a TS9 before it.

 

[Riffraff]

My first pedal in the mid '70s was a Big Muff Pi. I used it with a cocked Crybaby wah to get my crunch tone in my early years of playing. I stupidly sold it for next to nothing in the '80s.

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

My first pedal in the mid '70s was a Big Muff Pi. I used it with a cocked Crybaby wah to get my crunch tone in my early years of playing. I stupidly sold it for next to nothing in the '80s.

What was it? A Ram's head?

 

[DrewJD82]

Definitely check out the PastFX stuff, they’ve got a few Big Muff circuits and some boosted ones.

M-1-A Stacked Sheep's Head Fuzz

www.pastfx.com

Ram’s Head and a Colorsound Power Booster stacked in one pedal.

Patriarch Fuzz

www.pastfx.com

Civil War circuit with a Mid knob and an additional Mid boost/cut switch.

I’m not sure I’d bother with actual Big Muff’s at this point outside of a collector’s perspective. The sizes are a bit much (hypocritical of me because I love Fuzz Faces and won’t buy a mini) and newer options have much more tweakability while still doing what they’re intended to do.

 

[sleewell]

i just got a swollen pickle. it fucks.

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

Definitely check out the PastFX stuff, they’ve got a few Big Muff circuits and some boosted ones.

M-1-A Stacked Sheep's Head Fuzz

www.pastfx.com

Ram’s Head and a Colorsound Power Booster stacked in one pedal.

Patriarch Fuzz

www.pastfx.com

Civil War circuit with a Mid knob and an additional Mid boost/cut switch.

I’m not sure I’d bother with actual Big Muff’s at this point outside of a collector’s perspective. The sizes are a bit much (hypocritical of me because I love Fuzz Faces and won’t buy a mini) and newer options have much more tweakability while still doing what they’re intended to do.

If I wasn't big on the NES cartridge, the PastFX stuff would definitely be appealing. The big box Muffs, like the NES cartridge, are mostly empty, but I still like them. Lol

The mini Fuzz Faces look stupid!

 

[Riffraff]

What was it? A Ram's head?

Nah, the original big box Big Muff Pi. I have one of the small Ram's Head versions now. I want to like it but I don't.

Must be operator error because I've heard people getting pretty cool tone out of them. I've always struggled with fuzz pedals though. They sound woofy and mushy to me most of the time when I try them.

I have a Blackout Effectors Musket I like though. It's not too bad on It's own and if I boost it a little with a BD2 I can get some pretty legit Gilmour tone going. It's supposedly a knockoff of a Russian Muff and a LPB-1.