Big muff vs. RUSS Big muff vs. Little big muff

bonzo4880 · #1 02-14-2008, 10:54 AM

What are the differences between these pedals as related to bass? I tried going to GC to try them out, figuring that they would have at least two of them. Wrong - they only had the Sovtek and it wasn't working for some reason. Laaaaaaaame. So lay it down for me. Pros/cons and differences between these three would be appreciated. My Qtron needs a brother.

SpankyPants · #2 02-14-2008, 11:00 AM

See, this is one of those questions that has been asked over and over and over again, but I can't really tell you to search because they're all mentioned to often to produce a fruitful search.

The general consensus is the NYC Big Muff is smoother than the Russian muff. The LBM is the exact same thing as the NYC, except it's smaller. Some people pretend like they can hear a difference between the NYC and the LBM, but those are the same people who buy Tara cables.

JanusZarate · #3 02-14-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

The LBM is the exact same thing as the NYC, except it's smaller. Some people pretend like they can hear a difference between the NYC and the LBM, but those are the same people who buy Tara cables.

You sure about that?

I gotta mess with an old NYC Big Muff again... but I do remember it being different. Could've just been my amp/bass back then, but I'm sure there was more to it than that.

EDIT: From the EHX website. I forgot about this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electro-Harmonix

The Little Big Muff presents the classic, true-to-heritage, 1970 tone that falls somewhere between the current U.S. Big Muff and the Russian Big Muff.

They based it off an earlier Big Muff.

SpankyPants · #4 02-14-2008, 11:23 AM

Granted, the surface-mounted design might alter the sound a bit, but I doubt that it's more than the sound differs from each NYC pedal to the next. Think of the story of how Larry Graham had to dig through a pile of 12 Juggernauts before finding the one he used. None of the pedals are going to sound exactly alike, but the difference is so small it becomes inconsequential.

JanusZarate · #5 02-14-2008, 11:37 AM

True... they're still Muffs at heart, after all. Although IME, the consistency between SMD-based EHX pedals is excellent - perhaps to a fault (i.e., the Nano Clone

).

It's sorta like comparing boutique Muff clones - unless you've significantly modified the circuit and/or added new controls, it's still very much like a regular Muff, perhaps with more mids or clarity. But with each control or mod you add, you step away from the Big Muff and step into the sonic territories of other fuzz pedals.

johnvice · #6 02-14-2008, 06:05 PM

The Russian muffy has a boomier bass sound. IMHO, it works better for a bass guitar than it's NYC counterpart.

loendmaestro · #7 02-14-2008, 06:58 PM

See, now I used to have a Green Russian Big Muff....currently I have a Little Big Muff & I find the LBM is better suited to bass.

At least for me.

YMMV.

Opinions are like a**holes....everybody has one.

It's what works best for you & your setup/situation.