Which Big Muff should you buy? The Big Muff Deep Dive Part 1a

[@void_snw]

This really doesn't feel like a small channel video.. none of them do! good luck man, I'll be along for the ride!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Cheers dude! I'm hoping it won't be such a small channel one day! 😁

[@Metalbass1979]

​@@doctorfuzzzdirtboxWell, you got one more subscriber toward being a big channel today with me. 😎

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thank you!

[@chrismorris3897]

I have had an Earthquaker Hoof, I've watched this video several times and decided to purchase a Green Russian Big Muff for my Bass rig! Wow! Super impressed! Excellent!

[@ivanstegachev]

Hey amazing video thanks for a huge work comparing them all! Just ended up watching the first part and wanted to add to i guess some little misconception around using guitar muffs on a bass. That rational logic "oh if this muff sounds low end boomy on a guitar then it will be great on a bass" and opposite doesn't work and that is why you get so confusing results in the end. The thing is the filtering on the input stage are different for bass and guitar pedals, for guitar it is actually cutting lows below around 150Hz. So if for a guitar it will just add those unnecessary (for guitar) frequencies at later EQ stage and will sound ok, for bass it means it will trying to recover something already lost. And this is why some of them became sounding unpredictable or completely smeared. Or others opposite surprisingly good, cause it becomes crossover for what actual part of bass spectrum will get dirt. As also there is a huge difference on how opamp or discrete transistors topology react basically on everything. And by the way building on this last statement I'm not sure about Deluxe version to be classic muff exchange as it actually an opamp circuit and as long as it is good on replicating muff's tone curves its opamp character actually makes itself felt time to time. Finally, give a try to the classic muff on a bass guitar with sustain at 0..1 you'll be surprised, especially with some kind of an preamp before it. So there is somes actually playing at those levels in here lmao.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Good info, man! Thank you!

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

I regularly come back here to watch the HAZUMITAS FACEBLAST at 3:04, never fails to make me cackle SUCH a great video, geezer!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Haha! Thanks, man! I think I'm still getting over the tinnitus from it 🤣

[@KeithShelley1]

Excellent video! As a Muff connoisseur, I really appreciate the deep dive and can’t wait for pt. 2! An often overlooked Muff variant is the Ibanez 850 Fuzz, which is like a Japanese-made Ram’s Head Muff. Just like you found in your video, it doesn’t sound too much like a Ram’s Head but when I had one, it was the only Muff I’ve played where the tone knob sounded excellent in absolutely every position.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks man! Ah yes, the illusive Muff in disguise! I'd love to get one of those and the Boss Power Drive for a comparison. See you on part 2!

[@moustachio334]

Beautiful Tele. I love it. Also love the Ehx amp.

[@The72birdman]

New subscriber, loved the CARCOSA video... now I'm checking out you other videos. Good stuff!

[@laurentsaint-laurent3659]

Sooo cool! Still discovering & exploring the channel.. great videos! Good points on about the Deluxe Big Muff.. I don't understand why there's isn't more Muff inspired pedals with simple footswitchable tone bypass to go from "wall of sound with room for the vocals" to "just a wall of sound".. Liked the Hizumitas when I tried it (the tone knob works differently IIRC) but went with the Barber Electronics Exacta, which is a monster too.. there's an EQ switch that controls the low end input (& saturation) & the second switch deactivates a pair of clipping diodes,taking it closer to a Jumbo Tone Bender.. Didn't bond with the Pharaoh (too clean or "refined" maybe?) .. it's it's own thing.. Like the Hoof I find it's not really a Big Muff.. I find the Hoof is more an overdrive/distortion .. the guitarist in my former band used one as a "mid forwards lead overdrive" & it worked fine .But it doesn't have germanium clipping (diodes) but 2 germanium transistors (for amplification,not really clipping but they probably compress/clip a bit). The clipping diodes are LEDs (red or clear)

[@jimtroeltsch5998]

I have the Deluxe Muff and its really flexible. One of the most flexible muffs. Ive since bought a few of the EHX reissues, and they are fantastic. The Russian is one of my favourite muff sounds. It sounds better than most boutique clones of the russian that I've tried. I even have a part for part Civil War clone from Tru-fi, and althoufh it sounds wonderful, I like the russian reissue a lot more. The rams head one also is brilliant. I had a J Mascis signature EHX RH reissue, and that things sounds wonderful. It out performs my Wren and Cuff blue-violet caprid. I really want to try the triangle one. Ultimately I think the Pharaoh is the best muff-inspired pedal. Its just fucking rad. The Pharaoh Supreme is so worth the money. Other great muffs, the Swamp Lord from Sonic Minotaur effects. That has a full-frequencg clipping option that just sounds so musical and heavy for a muff. Best one I've tried. Also, Frantone's Cream Puff and Peach Fuzz sound beautiful as well. The Cream Puff is the thickest muff on the planet, a great rythm destruction device. Only con is that its scooped. The Peach Fuzz is so sweet sounding. Makes for such great lead tones. The Peach Fuzz also cleans up super well with the volume knob, unlike most muffs. BAT also makes a great op-amp muff inspired pedal. Its like a op-amp muff with a pharaoh tonestack. Can sound a lot like that Moon from Keeley to my ears. And the BAT LSTR is like a super high gain Pharaoh. I need to play with it more to gain a better appreciation for it, because upon first playing it, it just sounds like a higher gain paraoh, which i feel can be achieved with just driving a normal pharaoh pedal.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Man, I sometimes forget there's a Pharaoh Supreme. I'd love to get a hold of one. But the other BAT mUffs are definitely on the radar. Is it the Crown of Horns that's Op-Amp? Can't wait to rip on that. And yeah, the EHX Reissues are so damn good but I'm afraid people still snub their noses at them just because they're not boutique. But hell, their loss! Thanks for watching!

[@AdADglgmutShevanel]

I had been using a Walrus Audio Eons for over a year. It's a really really great pedal. I just finally bought a Ram's Head nano after wanting one for like 6 months. And damn... it's an unbeatable sound! I didn't buy one before because I thought that the Eons covered this pedal, but the Ram's Head has a really gritty, crunchy sound that the Eons can't quite get.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I'm keen to try the Eons. The graphic is an obvious nod to the Rams Head Muff but it seems to do so much besides!

[@AdADglgmutShevanel]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox Yes it has all kinds of great sounds. Mode 2 was the closest to the Rams Head, which is how I always had it set. So now I'll probably use Mode 5 or 3 because those were my other favorites.

[@pattepato4592]

Absolutely loved it. Mixing them parallel with an overdrive stack (SD into BD is my choice atm) gives some nice sound opportunities.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Interesting! Honest, I haven't experimented with parallel yet. I'll have to make a video on it and discover as I go!

[@Kozhanich_i]

Очень толковые видео. Спасибо

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Спасибо!

[@CorbCorbin]

I’ve used the Pharaoh for a long time. It works killer, on its own, with a low gain overdrive before it, as well as plexi or Marshall in a box pedal, after. The mids cut through a full band mix, with the Silicon easiest, and the Germanium clip is great, but it needs a push of boost for solos. I really dig it with a Strat, because it also has pretty good volume knob cleanup, in the Silicon or no clipping settings. I’ve thought about getting the Priestess, with it’s different options, plus that mid control. And my last Black Arts plug, is The Black Forest really kicks ass, especially stacked with the Pharaoh. I’ve had many of the EHX Muffs, and some of these others, like the Keeley Op Amp, but they end up only having one tone that I use, while I could play a pretty diverse setlist, with just a Pharaoh.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Oh man, I'm always pining after a Black Forest (pun intended) if only because the name just sounds so ominous and creepy and I love the real place! 😅 The Pharaoh is King!

[@pattepato4592]

Passing 1k soon! I will love to see this grow!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks dude! Here's to it!

[@CleverAU]

I’ve got the hizumitas coming soon and this video made me really happy with my choice

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yeah man, it's brutally badass!

[@Catywampus.Kerfuffle]

Even if I didn't have a soft spot for that signature fuzz tone, I'd have to click this video for the title alone.

[@chrisjohnson9300]

The ehx deluxe civil war is pretty great too! Btw great vids 🤘

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yes! That'll go on my list. Probably my next purchase!

[@chrisjohnson9300]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox can’t wait!!

[@solventman8307]

Hey, great video as always! I was thinking - maybe a video about how the pickup, it's hotness, output effect the fuzz pedal?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

That's a great idea, man. I nearly included it in the "Buff your Big Muff" video but found it was a large nut to crack! But certainly including other fuzz types it'll make a good video. Thanks!

[@gazeunderthesunmusic]

good video dude, for me I'm All for the EHX Op Amp reissue, however if you want the best of both worlds I would go a Muffaletta by JHS

[@conorfowler]

This was awesome, I hadn't heard the Keeley before but I love how it sounds. Looking forward to the next parts!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks man! Won't be long. Keep a look out!

[@weasel_face]

Of the 50+ Big Muffs I have owned, originals + clones, the only useable one in a band is the Black Arts.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

As the Pharaoh has never been kicked off my board since I got it, I have to agree! P.S. Your body count is enviable! 🤣

[@jimtroeltsch5998]

The Pharaoh is Supreme. Long Live The Pharaoh.

[@badguacamole3709]

I've owned about 12. Iron Fist v3 and the OpAmp for different reasons.

[@beardyrecordbox4069]

Yesssss mate, love this. As a bass player who has recently started playing guitar this is totally scratching an itch for me. I have trouble getting the sounds I want out of my bass big muff pi with my guitar (although that might be cos I broke the tone knob off at the end of a particularly gnarly gig many years ago!) I've been coveting the op-amp reissue but tbf, all the reissues sound sick and I'm starting to get that "gotta catch 'em all" feeling now... RIP my wallet!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks! Haha! I remember that feeling and that itch felt good to scratch! I was stuck between getting all of them or a Muffuletta, but there's just something more fun about some individual EHX boxes.

[@moustachio334]

I hate the Muff tone stack. It sounds awesome if the bass player is using a bi amp rig with one distorted by the Muff. The Rat is underrated for these heavy genres. Ideally I'd want my bassist using the Muff and me with a Rat and TS or an EQ to boost the mids. I'm anticipating the video and hoping one of these use a tone stack bypass or an actual EQ. I know Maxon made a Muff with a parametric EQ. That pedal is hard to find.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Really! Gunna go on the hunt for that...

[@mangybones]

I own the Op-Amp and man it has a shit ton of treble in the tone! 😅 It can really sound like shit if it’s dialed in certain ways, but with some fiddling around I’ve gotten some amazing sounding tones out of it. I went for that one because I wanted the option to have some assaulting frequencies, and boy does it deliver! 😂 On a side note: I’m loving the Moon. What a grimy, nasty sounding fuzz. Gonna look into that one more. And of course, the Hizumitas is just awesome. My cousin (bass player for this band) has one. Gonna have to borrow that one. Great video! Looking forward to the next one.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks dude! Yeah, it seems all versions that use an Op-Amp are particularly gnarly and thick. I think the Op-Amp reissue is the most flexible of that size from EHX. With the tone below noon, it's still got all the classic goodness in there.

[@jasonsullivan4584]

Deluxe big muff

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

For the win!

[@charliestubbs6151]

WICKER

[@alexymorozov]

Great video thanx !!!

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thank you!

[@chapmanfx8104]

love the channel and your content. I have the triangle what other muff would you add next I'm leaning towards the deluxe or the big pi. interested in what you thinks would be a good choice to get next

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks man! I'd personally go for a Deluxe any day and if you really want something to contrast the Triangle, a Deluxe Sovtek would be a whole new flavour!

[@gamezharks]

Honestly the Moon sounds like it'd be great for bass synthfuzz sounds.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Synths, yeah. It already sounds like a synth in itself!

[@joshuasellers4473]

This was a great video but was kind of sad seeing the big muff that I own be on ur shelf instead of on the board haha Other comments have said that this doesn’t feel like a small channel video and I agree really good quality I’ll be sticking around

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Haha! Me too, man. For all intent and purpose though, the core of the Deluxe is the same, so I had to sacrifice. But thanks! I really appreciate this feedback. Makes it all worthwhile!

[@michaelgreer4790]

I've seen a lot of people mod the big box muff with a three way switch. Something you've come across? Anyhoo, great work. Loved the video mate.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I'm not sure about the 3 way switch - what does it relate to? One mod i've tried myself is a capacitor on the sustain pot which helps it retain top end as you lower it making a very cool fat drive (Hoof like) on the lower settings. There's a LOT you can do with this circuit!

[@michaelgreer4790]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox Occvult Pedals did a video on YT putting in a 3 way. Mod your Big Muff Pi. It was an on/off/on switch that boosted mids. Just thought it was interesting. I'm sure the Deluxe has way more options, but I don't have one. I do however have a Pi sat around gathering dust. Just thought you'd be the guy to ask. Keep up the good work, mate. Loving the content.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

That sounds sweet. Something like what the Op-Amp and Keeley do. I'd give it a try! And thanks, I will do!

[@AspiringSpaceWizard]

Lets go ! Doctor !

[@dinglegonzo]

Im sitting here watching wondering why the volume on my Muff sounds miserable. Lo and behold you start telling your invader pickup story, and now I realize it's my invader pickups, too funny. The invaders do sound great pushing a Black Russian Muff.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

For all the confusion they cause, they do sound great in how they oish things to the max!

[@silviolutti1522]

The problem is that the muffs, regardless of the model or brand, are all beautiful when you are at home or in another place and play alone. We all feel a bit like the David Gilmours of the situation. But when you go to play live and you're with your band they become a real nightmare: you can't hear yourself and you don't come out in a band's mix. The big muffs have too much bass and too scooped mids. I tried almost all of them and they ALL had the same problem. Also the beautiful Vick Audio 73 ram head which has midrange boost control. The only way to solve the problem is to put an overdrive before the big muff, but at that point the sound changes radically and a lot of noise is added. Or you have to use Marshall head and cabinet but maybe that's not even enough. (I also tried the big muff on a hiwatt amplifier but the problem remained. It is practically impossible to use the big muff on fenders). Do you like Gilmour and have a Fender tube amplifier that you don't want to give up? Maybe (definitely) you'd be better off with a Rat or an Ocd or a boss bd-2waza Craft.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

This is why I stick with Pharaoh. No way that thing gets lost.

[@angryroostercreations5194]

Did you do the forearm cut on that Tele yourself? I don't understand why fender won't make standard configuration Teles with the comfort contours. Whenever they do make a "modern" tele, it almost always gets humbuckers :(. Have you ever tried a way huge swollen pickle jumbo? It has a lot of options when you take the internal trim pots into account.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I didn't do it personally but asked a friend to do it as soon as I got it. I'm with you, Teles benefit so much from standard contours! I've tried out a pickle years ago, but it's otherwise on the list for "part 2" !

[@dangitdan9938]

I'm a fan of the Russian green. I had the earthquaker pedals but meh, I could get the same tone for less. The op amp is Dookie but it's all subjective isn't it? I really want to check out the Walrus eons pedal. Fuzz is life! 🤘😁🤘

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yeah, Op-Amp can seem wild but it's actually really flexible and below noon on the tone, it gets much more friendly. But yeah, the Eons is on my list, too. Crazy amount of sounds in that little guy!

[@aaronsg71]

Just wondering why you didn’t include the regular big box NYC Big Muff?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Albeit mine is a 00's "Frantone", it's very, very similar to the deluxe in core sound and I wanted the shootout to be about options rather than the bare bones standard. It's still great, though!

[@JH-vo9ut]

13:32 13:41

[@onlydeku6093]

im trying to get a pedal that would get me a hard driving sound for deftones songs so i could cover which of the big muffs would be good for deftones songs song example (be quiet and drive)

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

None, mate! Muff are far from Deftone tones. If you don't want to/can't get distortion from your amp, I'd suggest a traditional distortion like a Rat, BD-2, HM-2 or something more boutique like a Friedman BE-OD.

[@geordiedog1749]

Green.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

This guy DOOMS

[@geordiedog1749]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox So, getting the best Doom tones is an art form. Mistake I make is getting a “really great doom tone” and then realising that it sounds great as a thunderous ringing single chord but run it into a riff and you get mud. Similar issues with single string/note and chords too. The band I’m in plays doomy stuff and I play bass. The issues with doom bass are essentially the issues with all bass dirt only magnified. The main problem is fuzzing out the low end. This is compounded by folk who do bass demo vids for dirt pedals and then play a power chord an octave up and go “wow! That sounds great!” while those of us what actually use bass distortion are slapping our foreheads furiously. This is even more egregious when it’s a guitar dirt pedal and they suggest it works(sounds great on bass. The simple sonic fact is that what sounds great on its own often doesn’t sound at all in the mix of a band. As a bassist I’ve always liked three piece set up as it goes some way to lessening this effect - but by no means all the way. Recently, I’ve found that I’m using less distortion on bass and leaving it to the growling sounds of my TB and 4003. I need to embrace the maxim of less is more!

[@CorbCorbin]

@@geordiedog1749 I agree about the trio being great. One can go back to Cream, Redding years Hendrix some Who, and Blue Cheer, to hear some Fuzz on the bass live. They weren’t using Muffs yet, but it was the start of Fuzzy bass. In a trio, even playing Doom stuff, it’s great when I can let the bassist fill in for places I’m not playing chords. And, as you mention, we don’t get muddy, when playing riffs.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

@@geordiedog1749 This sums up why we love the green, right? It's low end it practically clean while it gnarls up the mids and highs. The Keeley Moon really swamped that low end making it quite disappointing on bass. But overall, I find the key to a good fuzz relationship between guitars and bass is to make sure those guitars are keeping in their spectrum. Get the low end off them and focus the mid range. We all want a massiveDoom sound but like you say, as a riff comes in and is faster than slow ringing chords, there's suddenly just no room! It goes right into recording as well. I still recording Doom guitars minimally if they're going into a full mix. Probably just one mic and high-pass filter it and I find it sounds even more aggressive and direct than stacking laods of mics around the cab.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@CorbCorbin I was just thinking of a few of those bands just now by coincidence. I had a random thought about when was the first ‘chug’ as in chuggy riff? I’m going with Young Man Blues by the Who on Live at Leeds.

[@kibs1142]

9:39 11:05 11:15

[@Fernando-ry5qt]

Aaaaw yes, not even 30 sec into the vid and you already earned my like

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Haha! Awesome man! Thank you!

[@Fernando-ry5qt]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox Which is your favorite Muff from the bunch? Considering the Hoof a separate thing, as you said.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Ooof, it's a hard one. I'm really loving the Moon at the moment, but it's my newest one and nothing gets the Pharaoh off my main board. So I've gotta say, the Pharaoh is still king.

[@Fernando-ry5qt]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox I've been loving my Delux Big Muff but it is FCKING HUGE and I can't fit it into my board without kicking the Carcosa and a delay or two.... Really versatile but pedalboard real state issues are real

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yeah, it's a chunky boy. Depending on how you use it, you might be able to swap it for something that has your sound baked in but that mids switch is a winner!

[@kingpishful]

You haven't tweaked the tone stack knob on the Hoof, thats why there is no bass. You have it on flat

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Dude, don't be thinkin' I've never moved that knob in over a year of having it 🤣 It's get more scoop or less top end, not more bass.

[@MrSleskus]

I’m torn between the Pharaoh and the Priestess. Which would you choose?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Damn, that is a tough one . . . I'd probably have to say the Priestess as it has a lot more tones on tap. Although the Pharoah can do a lot, it's one of those pedals that retains its own character, however you set it. If it's perfect for you, then it's perfect, but given your uncertainty, the Priestess will cover more ground and it can get very very close to what the Pharoah does.

[@MrSleskus]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox brilliant thanks!

[@MrSleskus]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox thanks for your response. How about the Pharoah Supreme? Would you choose that over the Priestess?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I haven't got experience with that one, unfortunately. But it's an expanded Pharoah, as opposed to its own beast like the Priestess is.

[@matthewlagrange3000]

"Board"? or "Bored"? Is that the British spelling?

[@CarllosepetET]

Great video!! But I don't like that you're not wearing shoes...please put on some shoes

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thank you! I'd advise you avoid my Satisfaction Fuzz video... It's a little warm for shoes in the UK right now, but I'll see what I can do. I normally leave my shoes at the door (it's polite, if nothing else) and swap for slippers but they're furry slippers so perhaps I'll have to dig out a pair of docs