Home › Forums › Vintage EHX › Big Muff Versions!
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February 22, 2009 at 10:16 pm #93822electro-melxModerator
good stuff guys….awesome muff info…..I see Kit has a picture of that all black/white big muff I was on about in another thread.
February 22, 2009 at 10:46 pm #93823KitraeMemberThat black and white one is sweet. Would love to find one with those graphics.
Ned, I checked with Fran, the designer of the 3003-A circuit, and she did that one in 2000. So I guess the first production of the NY re-issues was 2000, since it could not have been earlier, and I know they were being sold in 2000. I think you had asked about the date in another thread. Fran did not do the next two revisions to the NY circuit, so those were probably done by John Pisani, who I believe is the lead designer at E-H now.
Regarding the boomy sound of the old Sovtek Muffs, I actually like that about them. The tone is so huge. They really sound good with a strat through a Fender twin. I use a Boss CS-2 compressor and a bit of boost from a BK Butler Tube Driver with them like David Gilmour, so that helps it cut through a band mix well. I am not a big fan of the Triangle Muff either, though I still own a unique sounding first edition and play it every now and then. I do love the Ram’s heads though. I have two really good ones at the moment.
From my experience playing vintage USA Muffs and quite a variety of the 90’s Sovtek Muffs, I have to say I think there is more variation in the tone of the USA Triangles, Ram’s heads, and Version 3s than the Sovtek Muffs. Most of the Sovteks have been more conistent in tone than the USA versions, if you can even use the word “consistent” with regards to a Muff
My two favs are the Ram’s head and the Civil War, but I have to say, I like them all, and all of their differences!
February 22, 2009 at 10:54 pm #93824electro-melxModeratorThere was one on ebay.co.uk about a year ago, I was bidding on it, but it went for a fair bit over what I could afford at the time. If it came up again, I’d try a bit harder to get it!!
February 23, 2009 at 12:52 am #93829Ned FlandersModeratorYeah I new fran done the 2000 revision. its true, John possibly done the two new ones but I really don’t know for sure. i don’t know who done the BMPTW either.
February 23, 2009 at 4:35 am #93835BrianGuitarParticipantI’m just wondering, what is your FAVORITE Big Muff Version?
I have likes 12 Big Muffs. I prefer the Triangle Big Muff, I think it has the sweetest sound ever. I have the Rams Heads, Version 3 and up both the ON/OFF and TONE/OFF Versions. I also have a really cool Big Muff Deluxe that is modified and really ROCKS!!! I got the Green Sovteck, and the new NYC Big Muff with the LED. I would trade them all except for my Triangle Big Muff, that is the best thing I’ve ever owned, heard or played. If something sounded better I would have bought it..lolI’ll have to take some pictures to post..
This site ROCKS!!!February 23, 2009 at 7:24 am #93844Ned FlandersModeratorBest vintage big muff=Version 6 from 81.
Best modern big muff= tone wicker muff.February 24, 2009 at 11:27 pm #93907BrianGuitarParticipantHere are a few of my Vintage Big Muffs..
February 25, 2009 at 5:02 pm #93938KitraeMemberQuote:I just read thru your site again, all looks good now!
I’ll upload them 3 schematics today and get them to you.Wow. There is quite a difference between the 3003-A component values and the 3003-B. Only a few minor changes from B to C.
Has anyone here played the NYC Muff with the version A circuit next to one with a B or C circuit side by side to see what changed in the tone? Many of the other folks I correspond with tell me they hate the sound of the current NYC Muff, but my version A sounds pretty good. Now I’m wondering if these changes altered the sound.
February 25, 2009 at 7:02 pm #93942imalwaysMemberTo be honest, I was really surprised by the Metal Muff.
My brother picked one up so I was playing with it for a while at christmas time.
I found the additional tone controls made a world of difference.
I feel like very minor modifications could make these into absolutely killer pedals.What are peoples thoughts regarding the MM?
February 25, 2009 at 7:14 pm #93943KitraeMemberQuote:To be honest, I was really surprised by the Metal Muff.
My brother picked one up so I was playing with it for a while at christmas time.
I found the additional tone controls made a world of difference.
I feel like very minor modifications could make these into absolutely killer pedals.What are peoples thoughts regarding the MM?
Well, despite having Muff in the name, the Metal Muff is not a Big Muff. It does not use the four stage transistor design like the Big Muffs.
February 25, 2009 at 7:28 pm #93944imalwaysMemberQuote:Quote:To be honest, I was really surprised by the Metal Muff.
My brother picked one up so I was playing with it for a while at christmas time.
I found the additional tone controls made a world of difference.
I feel like very minor modifications could make these into absolutely killer pedals.What are peoples thoughts regarding the MM?
Well, despite having Muff in the name, the Metal Muff is not a Big Muff. It does not use the four stage transistor design like the Big Muffs.
Very true.
However, I’ve never seen guts of one of these.I wonder how easy it would be to swap in better pots and change a few caps.
hmmmmmFebruary 25, 2009 at 10:52 pm #93958Ned FlandersModeratorThe pots EHX use are fine, there’s nothing at all wrong with them.
Most of the caps are SMD, a few are thru hole. Unless you have the schematic you will be swapping parts blindly and even if you have the schematic you need to know what to change anyways.
And considering it has a three band EQ swapping a couple of caps wont do anything turning a knob wont do anyways.February 26, 2009 at 3:36 pm #93984imalwaysMemberQuote:The pots EHX use are fine, there’s nothing at all wrong with them.Most of the caps are SMD, a few are thru hole. Unless you have the schematic you will be swapping parts blindly and even if you have the schematic you need to know what to change anyways.
And considering it has a three band EQ swapping a couple of caps wont do anything turning a knob wont do anyways.Good to know.
Whats the rating on the pots anyways?
These reason I was thinking a pot swap would benefit, was not so much for the EQ; but for the top boost.
I noticed that the colour of the sound changes alot from 12 o’clock to 5 o’clock.Nothing terrible, just made me think about potential mods.
February 26, 2009 at 10:22 pm #94008Ned FlandersModeratorQuote:Quote:I just read thru your site again, all looks good now!
I’ll upload them 3 schematics today and get them to you.Wow. There is quite a difference between the 3003-A component values and the 3003-B. Only a few minor changes from B to C.
Has anyone here played the NYC Muff with the version A circuit next to one with a B or C circuit side by side to see what changed in the tone? Many of the other folks I correspond with tell me they hate the sound of the current NYC Muff, but my version A sounds pretty good. Now I’m wondering if these changes altered the sound.
I think the wicker muff, in normal mode, is the same as the 3003C, I’m not 100% on this but just from looking at the guts of my BMPTW and comparing the C schematic they look similar.
If this is true then the C is the best sounding muff around IMO, much nicer than the A.
I’ll be buying another NYC soon cause I want to C for my collection.March 1, 2009 at 5:51 am #94080KitraeMemberQuote:I think the wicker muff, in normal mode, is the same as the 3003C, I’m not 100% on this but just from looking at the guts of my BMPTW and comparing the C schematic they look similar.
If this is true then the C is the best sounding muff around IMO, much nicer than the A.
I’ll be buying another NYC soon cause I want to C for my collection.Let us know how it compares.
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