Op-Amp Big Muff Pi

Product Information

Blue Signal: It is the output of the first Clipping Stage, the previous signal is amplified 25 dBs and the amplitude is clipped to ±0.6V. After two consecutive clipping stages, the shape is more square or hard. triangle = OG, super loud. I liked it the best on clean channel as it was super powerful sounding, fizzy fuzzy but still very punchy 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. The band only had one Big Muff in the beginning that guitarists Jamies Iha and Billy shared. They also used a vintage green Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress. At the time of Siamese Dream recordings, they owned 2 different Big Muffs, the V4 version, and what appears to be a tone bypass V5 version, or possibly a tone bypass V3. There were numerous other fuzz pedals used and not much song-by-song documentation, but Billy and Butch have revealed details in various articles and interviews over the years. Here is what Billy had to say about the power and difficulty of using two Big Muffs in the band from his blog.

A simplified analysis method must be used to calculate the voltage gain of the amplifier, otherwise, it turns into an arithmetic nightmare. It consists of 3 steps: The BMP distortion is very narrow bandwidth limited, attenuating harmonics at 40dB/dec outside the pass-band, and taking into consideration the Input Booster similar response which adds another two poles, all frequencies below 90Hz, and over 1.2KHz are attenuated 60dB/dec. With a C 10of 470pF and depending on the internal BJT capacitance, low pass filter cut-off frequency is around 1.2KHz. This operation occurs just before the distortion stage; clipping a low-passed signal usually sounds better, smoother and less harsh.

Success

Your Pumpkin Pi. In December 2017 Electro-Harmonix continued with their line of Big Muff reissues (following the Green Russian) and released the Op-Amp Big Muff. It was marketed as "our faithful re-creation of the late ‘70s circuit. The circuitry of the Op-Amp Big Muff – sometimes also referred to as the IC or V4 Big Muff – differs from the traditional transistor-based Big Muff circuit in that it uses operational amplifiers (op-amps) to achieve its signature sustaining distortion sound. With widely-sweeping tone controls and a character all its own, the Op-Amp Big Muff."

Shown above - Billy Corgan's V4 Big Muff shown with his exact settings used for the Smashing Pumpkin's Arising tour in 1999 If you’re looking for a pedal that does some super gnarly and aggressive tones A la Queens of the Stone Age, look no further than the Way Huge Conquistador.Here's our list of Top Essential Grunge Guitar Gear, what the legends of the genre played & the best grunge guitars & pedals. Other Electro-Harmonix effects that were direct ancestors to the Big Muff were their Axis Fuzzand the Foxey Lady, which Mike Matthews manufactured for another brand, Guild. 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. However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers. As the names of both pedals suggest, Jimi Hendrix's sound was a major inspiration for those pedals, and for their successor: the Big Muff! According to Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews, Hendrix actually had a Big Muff and was impressed enough to useit on some sessions.