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mod RB Muff or buy BBMuff?

Nv_D_SlapnPop

Nv_D_SlapnPop

Mar 1, 2010
116
1
philadelphia
#1
i own a russian big muff that i've had for around 10 years or so with the box, i'm pretty sure i have the papers and battery door etc. i believe it is the V7 with the big box, it has some nicks and scratches but nothing outrageous. anyway the things that bother me are the size, the lack of power adapter, no true bypass and the inputs are on the wrong ends. i do love the sound tho. my question is should i mod my black russian and make it everything i want it to be, sell it (i've read they are climbing in value) or keep it and just buy the BBM for live and keep the RBM for studio/bedroom jams? thanks! (btw i already used the search function, just lookin for your personal opinions)
 
#3
As someone who just bought a modded Black Russian Muff (same V7 as yours), I'd say send it to TBer "Jimmy Rocket" (AKA Baddy One Shoe Pedals) to fix it up for you. The pedal I got from him was upgraded to "Civil War" specs w/ some additional cap work, had the flimsy pots swapped out for Alphas, had a 9-volt jack built in (no more batteries!), a blinding blue LED, and to top it off - a MID knob was added. This makes ALL the difference when dialing in "your" tone.

I've never been a "muff" guy, having tried some of the variants and not being convinced (I prefer my Depth Charge). But I bought this pedal "sound-unheard", and couldn't be happier. Driven hard, it just plain sings - makes you wanna hold the notes as long as possible.

As for the reversed in/out jacks, ehhh...makes it all the more strange.
 
#4
d180fuzz said:
As someone who just bought a modded Black Russian Muff (same V7 as yours), I'd say send it to TBer "Jimmy Rocket" (AKA Baddy One Shoe Pedals) to fix it up for you. The pedal I got from him was upgraded to "Civil War" specs w/ some additional cap work, had the flimsy pots swapped out for Alphas, had a 9-volt jack built in (no more batteries!), a blinding blue LED, and to top it off - a MID knob was added. This makes ALL the difference when dialing in "your" tone.

I've never been a "muff" guy, having tried some of the variants and not being convinced (I prefer my Depth Charge). But I bought this pedal "sound-unheard", and couldn't be happier. Driven hard, it just plain sings - makes you wanna hold the notes as long as possible.

As for the reversed in/out jacks, ehhh...makes it all the more strange.
Click to expand...

+1. Send it to Jimmy!
 
#5
Just 2 weeks ago I sent my stock Black Russian to Mike at Putnam Guitars.

Invalid Link Removed


For under $100

One changed capacitor
Alpha Pots
True Bypass
9V Jack
Bright Blue LED
Rehoused in a Hammond Enclosure
And also really cool is.....the output and input jacks are now standard setup, meaning the output is now on left and input on right. I always hated that about Sovtek BM's

Here are some pics.

Mike is a great guy to deal with and he has done a lot of mods for folks on here.
 

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#8
Volume4 said:
Here is another pic. this will last a lifetime I bet

DSC03455.gif


If you decide to go for a new pedal all together...I absolutely love my Stomp Under Foot Green Russian and Civil War Muffs.

http://www.stompunderfoot.com/
Click to expand...

that is awesome! exactly what i was lookin for thank you! it just seems like it has so much unused space in that enclosure, and i would love a new one so i can custom pain it myself, i'll call it ..... 70's Bush? ha. does anyone know what the goin rate of the black russians are now? the newer ones i see have a flat paint and mine is more of a gloss finish with sharp edges. i would just have to say down the line "oh man i should've never done this now they are worth .." but then again i paid like $45 for it 10 years ago and it's served me well. another thing that bothers me is that i get completely lost in the mix even tho i'm only playing with a drummer right now so what i've been doing is running a parellel out from my sansamp bddi before the muff into either the -15 db at the same tiem as the 0db is running on my drummers ampeg or running them on seperate tracks when recording on my 8 track, 1 effected and 1 not. is there a mod that could add a parallel output onto mine or possibly a blend knob like the new bbm? thanks so much everyone i appreciate the answers and especially the ones that don't say "use the search". i posted a couple other questions with no replies so i was starting to think i smelled or somethin.
 
#9
I got my Black Russian for $60 and it was in excellent condition with the battery door and box.

I've seen them go for as much as $120 but that seems to have calmed down a little lately.....$60 to $90 is average on Ebay and on Craiglist you might even get one for less.

Since you own the Black one already, I'd strongly recommend the Putnam overhaul if you like the stock tone.

Otherwise for $145 it's hard to beat the Stomp Under Foot Civil War or Green Russian. MXR size enclosure, true bypass, top quality, 9V jack and normal jack placement.

Have you tried the Muff before the BDDI? I used to run the BBM before a VT pedal and it was killer.

Mike at Putnam has a Blend knob mod for the Tech 21 pedals and you could ask him about the possibility adding one to the Muff. One thing though, mine was a tight fit in the enclosure pictured..... so only Mike could tell you if the Blend mod could be done and/or fit. Don't be afraid to tell Mike any ideas you might have, he isn't afraid to try anything, in fact he seems to love new ideas.

I wouldn't worry about the future value of Black Russians either. The Green ones are dropping in value lately....as they should since there are so many new Muff based pedals out there that are more consistent, better built and reasonably priced. They also made a gazillion of the Black ones anyway. You won't have a problem getting one anytime soon if ever.
 
#10
I actually tried the bddi into the brm tonight for the first time with the drive turned up and it sounded pretty nice. I'm still experiment with my board, I had it set up 1 way and read the effects order FAQ and changed it last night but I didn't like it too much. Right now I'm going bass-bass iq-105q-Dunlop doubleback-bddi-muff-micro pog. I may always use the bddi first so I can get a seperate uneffected tone during my filter as well. I'll shoot the guy mike an email tonight and see what he says.
 
#12
I love the BBM and I'm planning a pedalboard build and the BBM will be on it as well at least one other Muff.

The BBM offers enough that I don't think it's redundant to have it and a Sovtek on the same board. But if the BBM covers all those bases for you..then thats a huge plus.

For me the BBM in dry mode and boost mode offer something no other Muff can.....the normal setting is darn close in tone to a Sovtek but doesn't get anywhere near as filthy as the Sovtek or clones. It's missing a little mojo that the Sovtek has to my ears.

I also like that I can use the dry out into a tuner on the board without having a the tuner in the chain or use it to biamp and blend.

The dry mode of the BBM isn't really a true blend...but still very useful.
 
#13
Nv_D_SlapnPop said:
i own a russian big muff that i've had for around 10 years or so with the box, i'm pretty sure i have the papers and battery door etc. i believe it is the V7 with the big box, it has some nicks and scratches but nothing outrageous. anyway the things that bother me are the size, the lack of power adapter, no true bypass and the inputs are on the wrong ends. i do love the sound tho. my question is should i mod my black russian and make it everything i want it to be, sell it (i've read they are climbing in value) or keep it and just buy the BBM for live and keep the RBM for studio/bedroom jams? thanks! (btw i already used the search function, just lookin for your personal opinions)
Click to expand...

I think you should Mod it. You said you love the sound... that's the reason to keep it. People trade/purchase stuff all the time looking for stuff they love. I say keep it and mod it to your specifications.

Mike Putnam mod'd my VT Bass pedal to make it something I use all the time. Check it out here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=605642

His mod page:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=605642

The mods that he can do are not limited to what you see on that page. If you can dream it up, he can probably do it for ya. Mike is a patient and professional guy that will talk with you on the phone and help you design your mod. Give him a call. (716) 622-2000 :bassist:

Peace,
Joe
 
#14
I say mod it over getting a BBM. The likely hood that any mod you have done will decrease it's value is nil. You already like the tone. Adding a mid control is a good idea. Far too many people have purchased BBM and loved the sound playing solo only to discover they disappear in a band setting.
 
#15
ok so i've decided to have it modded, i sent out a couple messages (mike putnam and jimmy rocket) and mike has gotten back to me. i can add a blend knob (awesome) and i think i may have it made to still use a battery for just in case reasons and it will only make it a little taller. a friend of mine is an artist and i was thinking of either painting or having a sticker made to say "Big Beaver" on the bottom end where the picture has mike's name and covering the face of the pedal with faux fur so when the blue LED lights up it will light the fur as well. thoughts? sound cool or lame? thanks!
 
#16
Well, not lame. I mean BYOC already has a "Large Beaver" pedal and I've seen a few different Fuzz pedals covered with fake fur.....so it's not original.....but its still very cool :ninja:

Do what makes you happy!!

The Mods sound good.......why didn't I think of asking for the blend option? :crying:
 
#17
Nv_D_SlapnPop said:
ok so i've decided to have it modded, i sent out a couple messages (mike putnam and jimmy rocket) and mike has gotten back to me. i can add a blend knob (awesome) and i think i may have it made to still use a battery for just in case reasons and it will only make it a little taller. a friend of mine is an artist and i was thinking of either painting or having a sticker made to say "Big Beaver" on the bottom end where the picture has mike's name and covering the face of the pedal with faux fur so when the blue LED lights up it will light the fur as well. thoughts? sound cool or lame? thanks!
Click to expand...

I'd recommend a mids knob as well as the blend. Personally I think it's more useful but each to their own and you may as well get it now whne you're getting getting the blend done.
 
#18
Volume4 said:
Well, not lame. I mean BYOC already has a "Large Beaver" pedal and I've seen a few different Fuzz pedals covered with fake fur.....so it's not original.....but its still very cool :ninja:

Do what makes you happy!!

The Mods sound good.......why didn't I think of asking for the blend option? :crying:
Click to expand...

Darn I haven't heard of the large beaver and haven't seen any fur covered pedals, I hate when you think your being original and then you see a thread from 10 years ago. Well, back to the drawing boards. The blend knob is gonna be an extra $20, I'll ask about the mids knob. He also said a dry out would be $10 but I can just use my sansamp for that.
 
#19
Nv_D_SlapnPop said:
ok so i've decided to have it modded, i sent out a couple messages (mike putnam and jimmy rocket) and mike has gotten back to me. i can add a blend knob (awesome) and i think i may have it made to still use a battery for just in case reasons and it will only make it a little taller. a friend of mine is an artist and i was thinking of either painting or having a sticker made to say "Big Beaver" on the bottom end where the picture has mike's name and covering the face of the pedal with faux fur so when the blue LED lights up it will light the fur as well. thoughts? sound cool or lame? thanks!
Click to expand...

you'll be really happy with mike's work... awesome guy! congrats. :cool:
 

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