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EHX Bass Big Muff Pi

grunge_freak

grunge_freak

Aug 3, 2010
126
3
#1
I've had this pedal for 3 months now (bought it new) and while I can get plenty of "useable" tones out of it, I just can't seem to get any tones that sound truly great. Does anyone else find this? I just ordered a used Deluxe BBM because I was told it is much more flexible so I'm hoping it's better. Also if anyone wants to buy a lightly used BBM, I am trying to get it off my hands asap.
 
#2
Yup, I felt the same way with mine. Its kind of a "Gets the job done" kind of muff. Does what it does at an acceptable standard but it leaves a lot to be desired. My biggest issue was how easy it would get lost in the mix. The mid scoop on the BBM seemed more exaggerated than regular Big Muffs...probably thanks to the "bass-specific circuitry".

The BBM Deluxe looks like a promising alternative especially if you like the general tone of the BBM. The extra features will help you shape and sculpt better fuzz tone, for sure, but its just a matter of tweaking and learning what everything does. Doesn't look very user friendly but it sounds great from what I've heard.
 
#5
Same here. To me the muff is a mess of a fuzz - quite difficult to dial in tone with good note definition whilst not having a massive jump in volume. I sold mine quite easily on amazon market place - quite a good way of selling off the shelf items IMO.

After spending a few unhappy months with the MXR bass fuzz deluxe, I've now settled on the Mooer bass fog. That pinch knob is the key to getting defined clarity whilst being absolutely filthy.
 
#6
Ok awesome! Thanks guys.

How about some feelings on the Deluxe BBM? Mine will be coming tomorrow and I have yet to find alot of good feedback about it or which settings sound good with the crossover and what not. Any comments are welcomed, I've been curious about the Deluxe BBM ever since I got the original BBM.
 
#7
The best thing you can do is to play with the settings yourself and find a combination that works best for you and your band (assuming you're in a band). I spent a lot of time playing with my Supercollider at home and found a combination of settings that I really enjoyed while practicing by myself at home. Once I brought those settings into the band mix, I quickly realised my bedroom settings simply weren't good enough for the band mix so I had to play around with the settings once again so that it sounded good with the band.

Its all a matter of context. Trial and error will give you better results than any pre-programmed setting on the internet.
 
#8
Received the deluxe bbm today... played with it for 3 straight hours and found so many tones I like that it was almost overwhelming. This thing blows the regular BBM out of the water in pretty much every way. The noise gate is awesome and the crossover is just nuts. I was getting a tone very similar to "for whom the bell tolls", very cliff burtony with the crossover on. Sounds like a crazy wah-ish effect except without the actual wah if that makes sense? I am so glad I got this pedal, it fits into my groups style perfectly. Obviously I will try it out alot more before writing a review, but so far its miles ahead of the regular BBM!!
 
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#9
ga_edwards said:
To me the muff is a mess of a fuzz - quite difficult to dial in tone with good note definition whilst not having a massive jump in volume.
Click to expand...

That's why I did the additional master volume pot mod on mine. I liked the sound, but didn't like the boost it created. The addition of another volume pot as a master, then turns the original vol pot to a gain. So now I can dial as light fuzz or as much dist and maintain constant volume.
 
#10
Caca de Kick said:
That's why I did the additional master volume pot mod one mine. I liked the sound, but didn't like the boost it created. The addition of another volume pot as a master, the turns the original vol pot to a gain. So now I can dial as light fuzz or as much dist and maintain constant volume.
Click to expand...


+1 The volume mod is a necessity for the BBM in my opinion... I found out I'm not much of a muff guy anyway... I prefer "sparkly" or "staticky" fuzz over the "tinny" muff. The volume mod gives it a lot more girth though... Even so, I tend to lean toward the fuzz face or tonebender type circuits...
 
#11
Glad to hear you are digging the deluxe bbm.... ive been narrowing down which fuzz pedals to get... down to the deluxe bbm and the Ibanez bass tube screamer (I don't need way crazy amounts of fuzz anyway)...to me it seems like the deluxe bbm can do it all better than the TS..any opinions?
 
#12
Caca de Kick said:
That's why I did the additional master volume pot mod one mine. I liked the sound, but didn't like the boost it created. The addition of another volume pot as a master, the turns the original vol pot to a gain. So now I can dial as light fuzz or as much dist and maintain constant volume.
Click to expand...

I also added the extra master volume to my BBM and IMO, it helps a lot. IMO, another mod that I did on mine that's equally important is a tone control bypass so it gets rid of the scooped mids (AKA the 'tone wicker' switch on other models).

that said, I think that the DBBM is probably the better, and more versatile of the two current Bass big muffs.
 
#14
grunge_freak said:
This thing blows the regular BBM out of the water in pretty much every way.
Click to expand...

+1. I had the regular BBM and recently upgraded to the deluxe. It pretty much solves all the problems of the regular (for me anyway) and I find the crossovers VERY useful. I can dial in some truly thunderous tones with them. :bassist:
 
#16
I've had one of these for about 2 and a half years. I just brought it out last week after probably a year or so sitting in a box and I was amazed how much better it sounded than I remember it sounding. I've also been using it with the dry switch on and the really helps the bass cut through. Sounds great.
 
#17

Bass cover by Caney from Kanowit, Sarawak. Using my B.C. Rich Warlock Paolo Gregoletto Signature Bass 5 String upgrade with Seymour Duncan Passive Phase II Soapbar SSB-5 pickup and Seymour Duncan Basslines Active 3-Band Tone Circuits™ STC-3 onboard preamp, Warwick 42300 ML Red Label Stainless Steel String, DiMarzio cable, Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor, Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B7K Analog Bass Preamp Limited Edition, Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Bass Big Muff Pi and Behringer UC6102 interface.
 

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