Because it was cheaper and there was no US factory back then.

For about 15 years or so. They stopped last year because of ROHS laws (they’re not lead-free).

The older Sovteks have more russian components, including transistors. The last issue of the Sovtek wasn’t that much different from the US reissue.

That’s going to depend entirely on you. People can only tell you which one THEY think is better. Your mileage may vary.

I’ll chime in since I have done a lot of research on the Sovtek EXH pedals. The earliest I have found they were available in the US was 1991, with the Red Army Overdrive. The same pedal was rebranded Electro-Harmonix Big Muff about a year later, when Matthews was able to buy back the Electro-Harmonix name, lost in bankruptcy years before.

The real reason they were discontinued, according to Mr. Matthews, was the cost to manufacture pedals in St. Petersburg kept going up as the quality kept going down. That’s why the enclosure kept getting thinner and smaller over the years. The foot switch factory also went under, so switches had to be imported into Russia to keep making the pedals. The cost to make them in Russia eventually outweighed the demand, so Mike dropped them from the line. The Bass Big Muff replaced the Russian Muff.

I have the full history of the Russian Muffs, or as much info as I have been able to uncover, here.

http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_history2.html#GrayGold