David Gilmour got his first Big Muff, a Ram’s Head model, around 1975 or early 1976, depending on which source you read, and it was used extensively on the recording of Animals. The Big Muff is still one of his main distortion or fuzz pedals to this day. Fuzz or Big Muff? Russian Big Muffs - Clipping cap values were almost always .047uF, which is why they sound so smooth and bassy/boomy. The exact circuit also appeared around 1976 in the V2 Big Muff enclosure, without the power filtering, tone bypass switching, and with different transistors. It was used in guitarist J Mascis' (Dinosaur jr) favorite Ram's Head Big Muff. The exact V3 tone bypass schematic later became the standard BMP circuit in the V6 Big Muff Pi, so the Mascis Muff is essentailly a V6. That may be why J likes that particular V2 so much. None of his other V1 and V2 BMP's have this circuit. The Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff reissue from 2019 was reverse engineered from a 45 year old Ram's Head with this exact circuit, but many of the actual component values measured very differently from the printed values in the scheamtic below. Those values were likely out of spec to begin with, or drifted out of spec over time. For the price, It's a great pedal with a very subtle relationship between the knobs to craft the sound you really want

Triangle was the punchiest and most powerful on clean channel. Big box muff was almost exactly the same. Ram's head and Russian too but they were much better on dirt channel for my FAT MASSIVE tone needs. VERSION 3 BIG MUFF PI - Approximately 10 circuit variants exist, each made in extended manufacturing runs. V1 "STANDARD" TRIANGLE BIG MUFF PI - Circa 1971. This is the most common variant of the V1 circuit, although it is rarely cloned. I estimate that 60-70% of all vintage triangle Big Muffs used this exact circuit. Electros were dropped in favor of ceramics and a few film caps, but the primary change for this variant was the larger 33k resistors at R5 and R8 in the tone section, for a slight reduction in the mid range frequency scoop. If one version could be said to have that "triangle" sound, this would have to be it. The same circuit was also used in the Guild Foxey Lady OEM version. The Skreddy Pedals Mayonnaise was cloned from a variant similar to this, but with but with larger resistors at R11 and R13. V1 "PERF BOARD" TRIANGLE BIG MUFF PI - This is where it all started. An early perf board version from late 1969-early 1970 of the original Bob Myers/Mike Matthews circuit design, with some point-to-point wiring. This was from the very early days of Electro-Harmonix, when the company consisted of just a few employees. The core circuit layout was established right from the start, but I have seen three slightly different circuit variants of this perf board version, with changes listed in the schematic below. The unusually large 39k collector resistors at R13 and R11 were unique to this variant. The combination of those large value resistors and the other component values made this version have a very massive, high gain sound. Even with the sustain dialed to zero, there was still plenty of drive coming through the circuit. It had more low end and gain than the later variants, but some tended to sound a bit muddy and bassy. These component values would change and be refined as the circuit was revised for later production.V2 "WHITE CAN" RAMS HEAD BIG MUFF PI - I believe this was the sixth in the sequence of circuit variants for the V2. It is also the second most common version of the V2 circuit made by Electro-Harmonix, after the '73 violet. Around 1974 EHX started using these large, barrel shaped, white axial poly film caps, which is the easiest way to identify this version. The 220pF filter cap in the first stage at C10 was unique to this version, as was the small .0068µF filter cap in the tone section. Those were nearly always .01µF. The input cap at C1 increased to 10µF and remained this value on many later V2 variants, allowing more bass into the circuit. For this version, C13 and the C2 output cap were also changed to 10µF for more bass going out of the circuit. The filter caps at C12 and C11 are 680pF, a value only found on this version, and the largest value EHX ever used. The 220pF cap in the first stage was used to sort of balance out the 680pF caps in the clipping stages, in an effort to keep the sound from being too different from the previous versions. The same circuit was also used in the Guild Foxey Lady version. V6 BIG MUFF PI with TONE BYPASS - The common "V6" Big Muff circuit, circa 1979. The V3 tone bypass version had become standardized by this time so EHX reworked the old 3003 pcb layout into a smaller size, including the tone bypass (C14, R28, switch) and power fitering components (R27, C15), all on one board. The same pcb was also used in the LIttle Big Muff. Although there was the occasional part substituted for one of a similar value, this was the standard schematic used until Electro-Harmonix closed its doors and shut down in 1984. Other than the transistors used and power filterig components, the component values are identical to the rare V3 tone bypass version shown above.

This entry into the JHS Legends of Fuzz series is a replica of one of Josh Scott’s own vintage Red Army Overdrives from the early 90s. Despite being called an overdrive, this was the first Muff Mike Matthews made in Russia. Like all of the fuzzes in the lineup, the crimson has a special “JHS Mode” button which in this case activates a mid frequency boost. The circuit is identical to a PNP triangle circuit from 1972, almost identical to the PNP circuit shown above. The only change made was the high pass cap in the tone section at C9. Typically .004µF, it was changed to 330pF in the Sustainar. This had the effect of retaining treble when the tone pot was turned to the bass side, making the bass range more useful. When fully in the bass position the overall volume level is significantly higher than other tone settings as well. I don't own an original Ram's Head Big Muff, though I've had the pleasure of playing a few. I do have a few very nice Ram's Head clones, however: an original bubble-font Sovtek Big Muff, several Sovtek clones, and a few triangle Muff clones. My favorites among these were used as reference for this review of the new Ram's Head.V2 RAMS HEAD BIG MUFF PI - Another typical V2 circuit from around 1976, probably the 16th variant. Very similar to the 75#1 schematic above, but this was a PNP version with 2N5087 transistors. Numerous clones were based on this version, including the BYOC Large Beaver. The C1 input cap was almost always sometimes a 10µF polarized electro on this variant.

triangle = OG, super loud. I liked it the best on clean channel as it was super powerful sounding, fizzy fuzzy but still very punchy I haven't recorded anything or played with a band with this pedal yet, but my only slight concern is that this pedal might not have enough mid frequencies. (This was a common issue with Big Muffs). But if this problem exists, you can still easily fix it with an EQ. A peek at the circuit reveals few overt clues about how the new Ram's Head differs from other mass-produced, four-transistor Big Muffs, or how it might achieve any special Ram's Headiness. There's four prominent but generic BC547 transistors arrayed on a through-hole printed circuit board. And if it weren't for the handsome reproduction of original Ram's Head graphics on the circuit board and enclosure, you'd have little reason to suspect it was special. On clean channel they all sound very similar. Op amp has its own character which is super cool and I already miss it (both on dirt and clean channel)... It's definitely a leads beast, you'll get some screaming leads out of there - for long sustained violin-like bend (for your inner Gilmour wanabe) or crazy roaring stuff (think J mascis)

Tech Specs

David might have gotten his first Big Muff in 1974 but it was not employed until the recording of Animals in 1976. Personally I think 1974 is a bit too early and a theory could be that he got the pedal(s) in 1975 during the US-leg of the Dark Side of the Moon tour or possibly later. In early 1976, David and Phil, comissioned a custom pedal board from Pete Cornish, that would feature both new items and some that had been in David’s setup since the late 60s. Electro Harmonix Big Muff – Ram’s Head