Home › Forums › Vintage EHX › Deluxe Big Muff Pi Distorter/Compressor
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March 22, 2009 at 3:17 pm #77945case211Participant
Hi everyone, I have recently found a Deluxe Big Muff Pi, circa 1978-81. I have been playing around with it and love what it does to my guitars sound, but I have run into a bit of a problem. I am trying to use the pedal as a ‘clean boost’ so I found that I can use the blend out jack with no fuzz volume and some compressor to get this type of boost, but now I have noticed that in order to get the right sound I am looking for, I really can’t use a lot of compressor. When I use the Fuzz at a low volume it manages to change my sound quite a bit. If anyone can help that would be awesome.
March 22, 2009 at 3:29 pm #94782The EH ManModeratorShort answer: if all you want is a clean boost, use something else.
March 22, 2009 at 6:21 pm #94786case211Participantthat sucks, oh well. Might you be able to tell me what the threshold knob does?
March 22, 2009 at 8:02 pm #94787Fender&EHX4everModeratorQuote:that sucks, oh well. Might you be able to tell me what the threshold knob does?http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Compression/
I love my Dlx BMP. I don’t use it nearly enough, but once I get more studio space, I plan to break it out more often.
March 22, 2009 at 9:31 pm #94791case211Participantthanks for the help on the compressor stuff, I know now how to use it more efficiently!
March 25, 2009 at 6:09 pm #94886danieldangerParticipantif youre into it, this thing can turn your guitar into an all out MONSTER.
the complete and utter definition of the ehx WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM sound.
love it love it love it.
March 25, 2009 at 7:09 pm #94898case211Participantfor my personal sound I use the fuzz up all the way with some slight dirt on my amp, love the sound
June 22, 2009 at 8:11 am #98223Stoner WizardParticipantHello:
I have the two versions of the EH Delux Big Muff: The first “Blend On/Off” switch version and the late “Parallel/Series” switch.
The first one is all original and sounds really killer… makes wolves howl (LOL!) and I’m very happy with it.
But the second version (“Parallel/Series”) despite it’s okay too, has a problem:
The issue is that both the fuzz and compressor output volume when pushed at max levels barely reach the unity gain. I think the pedal has gain enough to go over unity gain.
I bought it with a true-bypass mod, the AC cord was removed, and it has an additional switch (and LED) to engage/disengage the compressor apart from the distortion. Now it runs with a typical 9-volt Boss PSA adaptor.
* The “Power On/Off” switch is not active (Due the “mod”, I suppose).
* When i have distortion and compressor engaged, the two LED’s don’t shine with the same intensity (the red LED is for the distortion an original and the green LED was added for the compressor). 9 volts are not enough for the pedal?. Does it need more?. Also, there’s a huge difference in output volume depending you’re in “Parallel” or “Series” – the former sounds a bit (barely) over unity gain and the latter doesn’t reach unity gain (close but not equal).
* Could be a malfunctioning component?.
* Could be a non-proper wiring?
* Which current EH adaptor could I use to run this pedal properly?.
Any ideas and suggestions will be welcome.
NOTE: I didn’t made any mod, I already bought the pedal as I’ve described. The previous owner didn’t mod the pedal too (he received it already modded too).
Thank you everybody.
Nacho
June 22, 2009 at 3:03 pm #98230Fender&EHX4everModeratorQuote:But the second version (“Parallel/Series”) despite it’s okay too, has a problem:The issue is that both the fuzz and compressor output volume when pushed at max levels barely reach the unity gain. I think the pedal has gain enough to go over unity gain.
MIne has this problem too. I was wondering if it was a bad component; but now that you say you have the same problem, I’m guessing that this is just standard with the parallel/series-switch version.
June 23, 2009 at 3:15 am #98266tee moneyMember…which is unfortunate, because it sounds awesome.
Did you get the power chord fixed on that other one yet?
June 23, 2009 at 1:25 pm #98279Fender&EHX4everModeratorQuote:…which is unfortunate, because it sounds awesome.Did you get the power chord fixed on that other one yet?
I did :thumb:
It took me a whole night, though. Those strain-relief grommets are ridiculously difficult to remove and install.
June 26, 2009 at 7:18 am #98430Stoner WizardParticipantHello again:
Last night, I was tweaking with the “Parallel/Series” EH Deluxe Big Muff.
I managed to get an engaged effect signal slighty over unity gain, but after trying different set-ups, I this was the most effective:
* Mode: Parallel.
* Fuzz Volume: MAX.
* Comp Volume: MAX.
* Threshold: 8 o’clock.
* Tone: Somewhere between 6-8 o’clock.
* Sustain: Any value between 6 o’clock and MAX. It depends how much feedback and compression you want to add to fuzz. I’ve found more balance at lower values to get more dynamics.CAVEAT: These settings are tested only with my unit, which was heavily modded (not by myself – now I damn the guy who did). In fact, as I have independent switches to engage the fuzz and compressor, that’s another factor to consider. I always have both engaged to get the more output as I can.
Additionally, I think that being run only with 9 volts may not be enough for this “gizmo” and has not much “room”. I’m considering to go back to internal AC-transformer with pronged cord (fitted to European voltage and prong types, of course). If I decide, I’ll head it to my tech and I’ll tell the results once it’s finished.But the sound still remains intact.
I tried my original “Blend On/Off” EH Deluxe Big Muff and the difference is “like day vs. night”. This original has lots of gain and clearly (noticeable boost) goes over unity gain. It “woofs” like a “LSD-driven wolf” and the compressor makes fuzz “punch harder”.
Regards and thank you for your opinions.
Nacho
June 26, 2009 at 10:02 pm #98464WatsonWoodMemberGood, interesting reading. Great input, for which thanks to everyone. In my case, I set up the distortion to about a third of the way, the tone control about two thirds, the sustain two-thirds, the compressor volume one third, and the sensitivity knob at the bottom to a quarter (this is with a Les Paul), then I change the volume, crunch, tone and compression with the volume, tone and PU controls on the guitar and the dynamics of my playing. The pedal responds incredibly well.
I also use the compressor out sometimes as a stand-alone compressor unit, with high volume and low sensitivity to cut in to the music with a clean, near jazzy solo sound to stand out when bass, drums and other guitar effects have risen to ungodly volumes. The DBM compressor always comes through clear as a bell…..not to mention finger-picking overtones. Magnificent pedal. :thumb:July 10, 2009 at 3:38 pm #99174Stoner WizardParticipantHello again:
Last night I was at rehearsal space with my two Deluxe Big Muff versions (Blend On/Off vs. Paralle/Series).
As I commented on previous posts, the “Parallel/Series” which was modded, for some reason, can’t match the sound and performance of the original “Blend On/Off” version.
Well, after making A/B for some hours and comparing… the differences between them were like night vs. day.
Now, I’m convinced that there’s something “wrong” with the modded one.
As my tech commented to me, the unit splits the incoming voltage into positive and negative. We took readings of the original “Blend On/Off” version and the results were about +18 volts and -18 volts respectively. While the modded Big Muff runs only with 9 volts… so the first thing clear to me is that standard 9 volts are not enough to run this beast and we have to “re-build” the symmetrical voltage split device.
But we’ll have to keep the modded switching system, so there is a switch for distortion/fuzz and another for compressor, each one with their independent status LED. As the chassis has been drilled, we can’t leave a single switch unless I wanted to keep an empty hole (which I don’t want).
Additionally, we’ll check any wiring or component, and replacing the stomp switches for new ones. Also, fixing the power on/off switch.
I wish we could achieve a symmetrical + 20 volts/-20 volts (or closest to this – considering the +18/-18 volts of the original one), if so, I could use a 40 volt/100 mA power supply that would provide enough room to make it sound as it should.
Why a 40 volt?. Well… the EH Frequency Analyzer runs with this kind of voltage and it could serve for the purpose. If this could be possible, we’ll change also the socket to a positive barrel connection so the EH power supply would be compatible.
I hope we’re on the way to resurrect the sleeping beast!
I’ll give more fresh news within next days.
Regards.
Nacho
September 9, 2009 at 1:04 am #101303Stoner WizardParticipantHi again everybody!
After summer holidays, we (my tech and me – as a support only) have come back again to end with the mess!
As I comment on previous threads, my EH Deluxe Big Muff “Parallel/Series” sounds OK, but with a noticeable lack of output volume (barely reaches unity gain in parallel, can’t reach it in series).
I’ve identified my version (looking at the # carved at th board) as EH-3054.
I couldn’t find the schematics or circuit diagram for this. But I managed to get the EH-3053, which seems to be quite similar. Our work is to restore the pedal as close as original (reverting all the mods which were done to it), but I only have this info.
Does anybody have a picture of EH-3054 circuit board and components?, or at least, a link to any website?.
If finally I can’t get it, we’ll proceed to follow the EH-3053 schematics.
Thanks in advance!
Nacho
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