• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best Big Muff Pi variant for bass.

Am building a Big Muff Pi and am a bit unsure which variant to go for.

Several have changes to prevent the mid scoop of standard BMPs, which sounds good, but apart from that I have no idea which would best suit bass.

No low roll off is obviously crucial, with fuzz giving apparent bass roll off anyway I don't want actual loss of my lows.

Anyone any thoughts? I know people here like the Fuzzrocious version of this classic.
 
the fuzzrocious does sound great. myself i like my good ol' ehx big muff.

63ee1dd9.jpg
 
My favorite is the Blackout Musket, with the Wren & Cuff Pickle Pie B coming in second.

I haven't had the pleasure of trying all of the "real" Big Muffs, but I do prefer the Black Russian to the newer American Muff. I had a tall font Russian that I liked, but that was a long time ago and I wasn't able to compare between others.
 
My favorite is the Blackout Musket, with the Wren & Cuff Pickle Pie B coming in second.

I haven't had the pleasure of trying all of the "real" Big Muffs, but I do prefer the Black Russian to the newer American Muff. I had a tall font Russian that I liked, but that was a long time ago and I wasn't able to compare between others.

I thought pickle pie b is based on swollen pickle which is based on fuzzface
 
I thought pickle pie b is based on swollen pickle which is based on fuzzface

In what universe is the Swollen Pickle based upon the Fuzz Face?

Anyway, to the OP: I love my green Sovtek Muff. So does Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five). And Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, if her divorce didn't end that band). If you're to build a Big Muff clone, that's always a popular one.
 
In what universe is the Swollen Pickle based upon the Fuzz Face?

Anyway, to the OP: I love my green Sovtek Muff. So does Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five). And Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth, if her divorce didn't end that band). If you're to build a Big Muff clone, that's always a popular one.

I read somewhere on talkbass but I may remember it wrongly, its a thread on wooly mammoth and people were discussing the fuzz face variant.
 
Guys...I think your missing the OP's point. He's building a muff.
The version online with a schematic that has the least midscoop is the GGG-tuned (via general guitar gadgets).
That is, unless the OP is buying a muff clone to trace and mod.
Also google "big muff mods" and check out the mids mod to add in mids to kill that midscoop.
 
I'd recommend a Tall Font Russian clone (make sure you use 500pF or two 1nF in parallel for the feedback caps) with an added mids knob. I find there is low roll with the GGG but apart from that it's a great pedal..

Also have a look at the madbean mudbunny boards which make it really easy to add a mid control, with them you'd be looking at the Civil War variant as they don't have the Tall Font listed but their Civil War matches the Tall Font I have here, just remember the 500pf rather than the 470pf listed..
 
Guys...I think your missing the OP's point. He's building a muff.
The version online with a schematic that has the least midscoop is the GGG-tuned (via general guitar gadgets).
That is, unless the OP is buying a muff clone to trace and mod.
Also google "big muff mods" and check out the mids mod to add in mids to kill that midscoop.

yeah, i'm building one from scratch

I have googled, and obviously know how to modify it in a dozen different ways. What i'm interested in is how these things sound, which is hard to judge from a BOM.


Thanks for the GGG tip, I've seen that name recommended elsewhere.

I'm probably going to replace the tone stage with a two knob version, and play with some different diode combinations. I really need to bread board the whole thing and see what I like.
 
IMO, the blackout effectors 'Musket' is a nice BMP variant. it has an additional mid boost/cut control as well as the standard tone control. it also has a 'pre' control that lets you 'load' the input to suit you pickups and a 'focus' control to adjust how much low end goes thru the clipping circuit. i built one and modded it to taste and i think it's a great version of a BMP for use with a bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: filler83
IMO, the blackout effectors 'Musket' is a nice BMP variant. it has an additional mid boost/cut control as well as the standard tone control. it also has a 'pre' control that lets you 'load' the input to suit you pickups and a 'focus' control to adjust how much low end goes thru the clipping circuit. i built one and modded it to taste and i think it's a great version of a BMP for use with a bass.

The pre control is an LPB1 and the focus control blends between two input caps. Cool mods alright but you'll get more bass through the circuit with larger feedback caps.
 

Latest posts