I used to have one of these and it’s really like 3 sounds in one. You got the classic muff tone, the tone bypass sound (which I liked for leads and goosing the shit out of a preamp), and the wicker variation of both. I like it going into an overdrive (preferably with a bit of a mid hump) to filter in more mids, although you can turn it into like a scooped pseudo rat thing if you put one before it instead. Especially with the tone off, has that quack of old distortions. It’s a good muff variant with a bit more versatility than the red ones. I’d get it again for gigging although I might get a bass muff instead.
I was experimenting with a newer big muff I just acquired and found a new way to use it. Turn the tone knob all the way up. You'll lose some volume because it's cutting so much low frequency, but you have some more midrange. Then crank the volume up to add more low end back in just from the sheer volume boost. Then you can back off the tone knob a hair to tame some high end. Basically you start with the knobs all the way up then back them down to taste.
Excellent review!! Now I am considering to get myself one of these. I really did not know what these extra switches did. This video really clarifies it ! Good job 👍🏻
I use mine WAYYY more than i thought i would...the amount of bass you get with the ton knob rolled over to low end...and any other distortion will pale in comparison ...you can tame this pedal or let it loose...using the volume knob on your guitar too - you can get clean tones... its very sensitive, tiny adjustments make big improvements if you tweak it! I picked up a new in box, ( He's got the Box!) for cheap. only like 4 coffees.
I absolutely love this pedal for my uses. I play in a heavy blues rock type of band and im the one guitar. I run a ryra clon clone as my "clean" sound and use this with the tone wicker on, tone off sustain almost at zero and its just enough to totally fill my tone up without getting too gnarly. tone off wicker on always for my money. Ive tried a few othert fuzes but I always comer back to this one.
The Sovtek is based on the Russian version Big Muff and this one is based on the classic Big Muff sound, not sure how important that is to you but I think they both sound great. The Sovtek costs at lot more so it might not be worth the extra money if your highest priority is to have the tone wicker switch. If money was not a factor, I would go with the Sovtek because you get a lot of extra features that are very unique to have on a fuzz pedal!
Thanks for the advice. I already own a wren and cuff super russian and i keep trying to convince myself to buy a deluxe sovtek muff. Then i remember its the same exact circuit. But it has a tone wicker. There i go again🤣
Cool video. I can't believe you maxed it! My setting is Tone on, wicker on. Balance the three knobs on the pedal with the guitar's volume. Done properly, one can control their distortion tone/amount by the volume knob on the guitar and by attack by a full sweep. From *mostly* clean to dark brown dirty. It's a lot of fun! And probably useful in a mix. Huge versatility with a muff pi!
I have the Big Muff Op Amp reissue to try to capture the Smashing Pumpkins tone but I also wanna use it as a general distortion pedal but it is so unruly
Thanks for sharing, the Op Amp was really high my list and I almost went with it. It seemed like it would have less tonal possibilities and it sounds like you agree. JHS has a modded one that seems to give it more variety, might pick one up someday!
Add a lower gain overdrive after it, can be a cheap Klon clone, Screamer etc, e.g. Moskey, Behringer etc. to tighten up the sound. Keep in mind that it may sound thinner, worse to fool around, but much better to cut through band and mixes.
The Pelt Fuzz looks awesome! You will probably get more tonal variety out of the Pelt Fuzz but the Big Muff as a very distinct tone. The Big Muff also has a "heavier" sound in my opinion, so it depends on what sound you are going for.
@@DisorderlySoundStudios Literally for years i've always felt like my tone lived somewhere, i don't know, in a fog. Added this treble booster and it's like the sun broke through and my leads started to *scream* like i always wanted them to. Amazing. Probably the best money i've ever spent on music equipment.
my only issue is what u said about the tone circuit because with the wicker off and the tone engaged the circuit that is passing current is the exact same as the nyc/mini/nano big muff so when u have it disengaged it will remove that characteristic scooped sound which and thus not being the "classic big muff sound" don't necessarily pay me any heed i play sludge/power violence stuff so really rapid tempo changes with plenty of palm muting and have one permanent setting: tone off, fuzz maxed, wicker on. run a humbucker thru that into a transistor based acc 150 and u have most disgusting tone you've ever heard.
Thanks for the info man! I believe you are right about the classic tone circuit needing the tone switch on, I must have misspoke. I fined it hard to hear the palm mutes without the tone on but you can defiantly get some crazy tones like you described.
People don't realize, Big Muff is Not a fuzz pedal! it's technically a Type of distortion.....it's even written Right on the box, Lol. Fuzz pedals would be Hendrix. The terms are kind of thrown around loosely.
