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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: davidallancole on November 15, 2014, 11:57:57 AM

Title: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: davidallancole on November 15, 2014, 11:57:57 AM
Hello All,

I started making a Big Muff pedal way back in February and for what ever reason, it sat there until yesterday. I finished building up the circuit and put it into the enclosure last night. I based it off a Ram's Head muff for no other reason then I wanted to. I have never personally played a Big Muff before, but I am quite enjoying it.

I have posted some pictures of my shoddy work below as well as some audio tracks. I was only able to record using the phrasing system built into my Fender GDEC but I was very impressed with how it worked out. My clean amp settings are a small amount of reverb run into a clean BF Fender. Other then that it is the Big Muff straight in.

Clean Track - https://www.dropbox.com/s/cs82qo6i92s1ftr/Clean.wav?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/cs82qo6i92s1ftr/Clean.wav?dl=0)
Rhythm Track - https://www.dropbox.com/s/fa66r1nsphb5e1i/Rhythm.wav?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/fa66r1nsphb5e1i/Rhythm.wav?dl=0)
Lead Track - https://www.dropbox.com/s/to1lwg4buxc6mwj/Lead.wav?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/to1lwg4buxc6mwj/Lead.wav?dl=0)
Sludge Track - https://www.dropbox.com/s/dg1u6qgy667l28h/Sludge.wav?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/dg1u6qgy667l28h/Sludge.wav?dl=0)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7493/15796515932_9dc59af554_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/q4TgQY)1 (https://flic.kr/p/q4TgQY) by davidallancole (https://www.flickr.com/people/27323896@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7508/15771274786_9b2f9c3c8a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/q2DUwN)2 (https://flic.kr/p/q2DUwN) by davidallancole (https://www.flickr.com/people/27323896@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7510/15609539468_a30e9afd02_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pMmYfQ)3 (https://flic.kr/p/pMmYfQ) by davidallancole (https://www.flickr.com/people/27323896@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7462/15609122629_7ccf0410b8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pMjQkX)4 (https://flic.kr/p/pMjQkX) by davidallancole (https://www.flickr.com/people/27323896@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: kingswayguitar on November 15, 2014, 03:28:14 PM
me likes!!
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: petey twofinger on November 15, 2014, 03:48:55 PM
peavy knobs !

i have a rams head here with a mid switch , flat , stock and boost , i really think that should be implemented on all bmp's .

nice work man .
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: Philippe on November 15, 2014, 04:10:27 PM
I built a 'triangle' version BMP awhile back & really dig the warm sustain it offers. though I consider the effect sort of a 'one trick pony', I'm curious how the triangle differs from the ram's head. both are highly regarded as later versions have their advocates & detractors... usually based on the perceived harshness of certain treble tonalities. I imagine the choice of guitar & its pickups (as well as the amplifier) enter into the equation.
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: Mac Walker on November 15, 2014, 04:48:14 PM
You other stompers can't deny!

Sorry......carry on.
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: davidallancole on November 15, 2014, 05:01:03 PM
Quote from: Philippe on November 15, 2014, 04:10:27 PM
I built a 'triangle' version BMP awhile back & really dig the warm sustain it offers. though I consider the effect sort of a 'one trick pony', I'm curious how the triangle differs from the ram's head. both are highly regarded as later versions have their advocates & detractors... usually based on the perceived harshness of certain treble tonalities. I imagine the choice of guitar & its pickups (as well as the amplifier) enter into the equation.

I wouldn't consider this a one trick pony.  There is a lot of different tones depending on where the Tone & Sustain knobs are.  You can make it buzzy & trebbly or fat & woolly.  I can't speak to the differences in tone between the different versions as this is the only Big Muff I have played but they generally have transistor differences as well as cap/resistor differences but utilize the same circuit.

Kit Rae has an awesome muff history page here for anyone who hasn't seen it:  http://www.kitrae.net/music/music_big_muff.html (http://www.kitrae.net/music/music_big_muff.html)
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: Freppo on November 15, 2014, 06:04:42 PM
Nice! Great work.

Maybe alittle off topic, but a few of my first builds had knobs from a Peavey VT Classic (2x12 combo) :)
The amp was found in a dumpster, fully working.. I put in better speakers and changed the tolex and knobs.
The originals speakers was crap, but now it sounds very good (for clean sound). Folks in the studio always asks about it.

It's the one at the bottom left
(http://parasitstudio.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/4/9/2449159/2612644_orig.gif)

/ Freppo
Title: Re: I like Big Muff and I can not lie!
Post by: davidallancole on November 15, 2014, 09:14:17 PM
My buddy got an old 212 VT Classic and ripped the head out so he could turn the cab into an extension cab.  He then gave me that amp chassis as I built and fix stuff a lot.  The knobs seemed to work perfectly for this without having to buy new ones.  I think the jacks inside also came from the same amp.  They used all Switchcraft jacks in this particular amp.