Electro Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff Pi Distortion Fuzz Sustainer Pedal

Product Information

Russian Big Muffs - The high pass resistor value was almost always 22k high pass resistors, creating heavy but smooth bass with the mids scoop frequency boosted a bit. Note that the original Silicon diodes are marked SYL GD938, but the actual diode types used are unknown. 1N914 (shown on the schematic) and 1N4148 are some modern equivalents that work, but they may not be identical to the original diodes. The differences are minor, but diode types do affect the sound frequencies that are clipped. V2 "73" RAMS HEAD BIG MUFF PI - The second variant of the V2 circuit appeard circa 1973. All of the .047µF caps were replaced with .1 and .15µF. Very similar sound to the violet schematic that would follow . The more common version of this variant had .12µF coupling and clipping caps rather than .1µF shown here. The same circuit was also used in the Guild Foxey Lady OEM version. Several very good clones were based around this version, including the Stomp Under Foot '73 Ram's Head Classic Series and Pigeon FX Ram's Head.

This pedal is one of Josh Scott’s greatest conceits: 6 beloved Muffs in one compact enclosure. Selectable on a dial are the V1 Triangle, V2 Ram’s Head, V3 IC Muff, V7 Civil War, V8 Russian, and a special JHS Muff with more midrange and less compression. Using all-analog circuitry, these aren’t just approximations of the original circuits, they are identical. V1 "STANDARD" TRIANGLE BIG MUFF PI - Circa 1971. This is the most common variant of the V1 circuit, although it is rarely cloned. I estimate that 60-70% of all vintage triangle Big Muffs used this exact circuit. Electros were dropped in favor of ceramics and a few film caps, but the primary change for this variant was the larger 33k resistors at R5 and R8 in the tone section, for a slight reduction in the mid range frequency scoop. If one version could be said to have that "triangle" sound, this would have to be it. The same circuit was also used in the Guild Foxey Lady OEM version. The Skreddy Pedals Mayonnaise was cloned from a variant similar to this, but with but with larger resistors at R11 and R13.

Heads-up! Arguably the most anticipated of the Big Muff reissues has landed

I believe the effect different transistors have is minimal, but many pedal builders believe they have a large impact on the sound. That is why many of these makers screen batches of transistors to weed out the less desirable ones. Electro-Harmonix never screened transistors when they made the original Big Muffs. That may account for some of the wide variety of different sounding Big Muffs of the same model, but that variety really comes from the various different schematics used from one production run to the next, and how the component part values changed over time as the parts aged. I suggest not getting too hung up on the transistor type when looking for a vintage Big Muff though. A Muff with old 2N5088 or BC239 tranys may sound just as good, or bad, as one with old 2N5133 transistors. The other circuit components are much more important to the tone. In general terms, the new Ram's Head is growlier in the midrange than most Russian-style Muffs (which are famously extra-scooped and wooly) and “triangle" versions (which are often more focused, fizzier, and white-hot in the high-mids). Sustained single notes are smoother and more sonorous than the output from triangle versions, and tend to split the difference between a triangle's silicon fizziness and a Russian-type's cabernet-smooth contours. It marks an absolute sweet spot, in my opinion, and a reason for Animals-era Gilmour fans to take note.

Comparison of solos 1 - with Demeter Compulator (compressor), Boss CE-2 chorus (modulation), and Carbon Copy (delay echo) On clean channel they all sound very similar. Op amp has its own character which is super cool and I already miss it (both on dirt and clean channel)...Note that the original Silicon diodes are marked SYL GY925 926, but the actual diode types used are unknown. 1N914 (shown on the schematic) and 1N4148 are some modern equivalents that work, but they may not be identical to the original diodes. The differences are minor, but diode types do affect the sound frequencies that are clipped. A peek at the circuit reveals few overt clues about how the new Ram's Head differs from other mass-produced, four-transistor Big Muffs, or how it might achieve any special Ram's Headiness. There's four prominent but generic BC547 transistors arrayed on a through-hole printed circuit board. And if it weren't for the handsome reproduction of original Ram's Head graphics on the circuit board and enclosure, you'd have little reason to suspect it was special. REPLACEMENT SLIDE SWITCHES - Power and tone bypass switches on vintage USA Big Muffs are Alpha Slide DPDT 90 size. Small Bear Electronics carries Big Muff replacement switches. With respect to amps, some of the Ram's Head's most distinctive qualities, particularly the detail and air in the midrange, are less distinctive in Fender-style pairings. (Many Ram's Head tones were made downright Russian with a Bassman downstream.) With a brighter Marshall in the mix, though, you can more distinctly hear the Ram's Head's midrange sparkle and throatier voice.

V3 BIG MUFF PI with TONE BYPASS - The very first circuit mod by EHX. A rare variant of the V3 circuit with tone bypass switching (C15, R28, switch) and power filtering (R27, C14), made simultaneously with the V4 and V5 op-amp versions. Many people think the tone bypass was added with the V5 Big Muff, but it actually first appeared in this V3 variant, circa 1979. It was simple switch in between C14 and C3 that completely bypassed the Big Muff tone control, making the tone pot inactive, flattening the EQ, and giving a slight volume boost. This variant used MPSA18 transistors, very rarely used in a BMP. Ram's head = very similar to Russian but it has less definition and goes more towards OG triangle in terms of mud. Still very powerful and bassyThe #2 is first seen lying on top of David’s Pete Cornish Animals touring board during the 1976 rehearsals and the following tour in 1977. It was again featured in the 1984 About Face stage rig and the 1989-90 leg of the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour. The pedal was also used during the rehearsals at Bray Studios, London UK, in May 2006 but replaced by a triangle model, which was used for the remainder of the On an Island tour. This entry into the JHS Legends of Fuzz series is a replica of one of Josh Scott’s own vintage Red Army Overdrives from the early 90s. Despite being called an overdrive, this was the first Muff Mike Matthews made in Russia. Like all of the fuzzes in the lineup, the crimson has a special “JHS Mode” button which in this case activates a mid frequency boost. HOHNER TRI DIRTY BOOSTER - Another very good clone of the BMP. This one appeared on the market around 1974 or '75 from Hohner. Component values are similar to a few V1 schematics, but it does not follow any of them exactly. An extra .022µF cap was added in the tone section between lug 1 of the tone pot and R8, presumably to widen the tone pot sweep, although I hear little difference when it is removed. V1 Triangle Big Muff - Clipping cap values ranged from .05uF, .1uF, .12uF, and 1.0uF, giving a wide variety of bass response from unit to unit. You will find the same range on the Guild Foxey Lady version. IV1 Triangle Big Muff - The high pass resistor value was 27k in the early units, but 33k was the most common. 22k and 39k were also used, but rarely. You will find the same range on the Guild Foxey Lady version.