best option for DIY Russian Big Muff ?

[slowpogo]

I've been eyeing the EH Big Muff reissues for a long time (and recently the JHS Crimson). I think I'll build one instead.

There are a ton of Big Muff clone boards out there, can anyone recommend one specifically for the Green Russian variant?

[Kevin Mitchell]

I think any standard clone board will do. Most of the variances are in part values and transistor choices. You can easily compare schematics to varify.

Check this out;
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part3.html

I quickly took a look at the tonepad layout and it should work the same. However I didn't verify transistor pinouts so that's on you.
http://www.tonepad.com/getFile.asp?id=95

-KM

[patrick398]

If your not opposed to the vero route I'm sure there's tons of muff layouts over at tagboardfx. Good choice on the green Russian, I had some pcbs made recently for one and love it

[slowpogo]

I think any standard clone board will do. Most of the variances are in part values and transistor choices. You can easily compare schematics to varify.

Check this out;
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part3.html

I quickly took a look at the tonepad layout and it should work the same. However I didn't verify transistor pinouts so that's on you.
http://www.tonepad.com/getFile.asp?id=95

-KM

Thanks! They've got the Red Army Overdrive there which I believe is what the JHS Crimson is.

Transistors varying as much as they do, aren't voltages and hFE values an important thing to note if you really want to be authentic? I'm not seeing those things mentioned by any sites so far.

[MaxPower]

Be sure to implement, or at least try, pinkjimi's mod fix: lower gain transistors, around 100-300 hfe iirc.  Big improvement imo.

Ah, if you want authenticity nevermind.

[patrick398]

I think any standard clone board will do. Most of the variances are in part values and transistor choices. You can easily compare schematics to varify.

Check this out;
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part3.html

I quickly took a look at the tonepad layout and it should work the same. However I didn't verify transistor pinouts so that's on you.
http://www.tonepad.com/getFile.asp?id=95

-KM

Thanks! They've got the Red Army Overdrive there which I believe is what the JHS Crimson is.

Transistors varying as much as they do, aren't voltages and hFE values an important thing to note if you really want to be authentic? I'm not seeing those things mentioned by any sites so far.

It uses silicone transistors, the specs for a given part are tighter, you don't have to do the same gain and leakage measurements you might for germanium transistors. I think tolerances of other parts can have more of an impact tonally. Not so much resistors these days as they're mostly 1% but tolerance of caps could make a small difference. Honestly though I wouldn't worry about it too much. I went for 2n5088s and though it sounded great so didn't try any others

[soggybag]

I've been eyeing the EH Big Muff reissues for a long time (and recently the JHS Crimson). I think I'll build one instead.

There are a ton of Big Muff clone boards out there, can anyone recommend one specifically for the Green Russian variant?

Definitely get a PCB unless you're really into to doing it all from scratch. A board will cost less than $10 bucks, and it will save time, reduce errors, and make a more solid reliable build, well worth the investment.

Mad Bean pedals has some boards. Look at the Rabbit Hole, Mud Bunny, and Pig Butt. I built the first two, several times, the docs are good.

https://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/index.html

PedalPCB has a few Big Muffs. I haven't built their BMP but I have built some of their other boards. Pretty good the docs are okay.

https://www.pedalpcb.com/?product_cat=&s=Muff&post_type=product

Aion electronics built a few boards, not BMP, great docs.

https://aionelectronics.com/diy-pcb-projects/

Fuzz Fog has a few variations of the BMP. I've built a couple of these, my builds had some oscillation and noise issues, not sure if it was me or the board layout or something else. That said I like options.

https://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/

[slowpogo]

I ended up getting the Rabbit Hole board from madbean...I've done a few of their builds before and the Rabbit Hole is a straight-up Big Muff board, amenable to different BOMs.

I'm doing a Red Army Overdrive build, and I'm building it with easily found semis, 2N5089 and 1N914...but socketed   I also ordered the real Russian parts - KT3102E and KD521V -from diy-tubes.com. Those'll probably take 6 weeks to get here from Russia but it will be interesting to A/B the close subs vs. the real thing.

[soggybag]

I built 6 of these one each of what is shown in the build docs. It was a little silly but it gives an idea of what various versions sound like. They all sound like a big muff. Most sound more similar than different, a couple standout from the rest.

I have some pictures here.

https://super-freq.tumblr.com/post/620593411568910336/big-muff-army-six-mini-big-muffs-each-a-different