
The Iconic Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi:
A Personal Journey With A Legendary Fuzz Box!
The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. Is there a more iconic pedal in the world? From t-shirts to keyrings, emoticons to posters, (and even doormats), this pedal has been around long enough that it can be found with it’s own pop-culture merchandise - it’s no longer just a guitar pedal; it’s a piece of music history! Identified by it’s over the top size, and revered for its distinctive, rich, and creamy distortion, the Big Muff has found its place on the pedalboards of countless guitarists across multiple genres. From rock legends to indie icons, the Big Muff Pi's versatile sound has shaped the sonic landscape of modern music. I’ll even wage a bet that it features on some of your favourite albums, whatever they might be. And in the exciting but sometimes daunting era of what pedals can do now, all buzzed up on technology and processing power, it’s reassuring to have a simplistic yet ultra powerful pedal from ye olde analog world, still out there, being a bad ass, doing it’s wonderful thing. In this blog, we'll explore the history, evolution, and impact of one of my favourite pedals ever, the Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi.
The Birth of a Legend
Let’s go way back. The story of the Big Muff Pi begins in New York City in 1969. Mike Matthews, a former employee of IBM and a passionate musician, founded Electro-Harmonix (EHX) with a mission to create innovative and affordable guitar effects pedals. In collaboration with Bob Myer, an electrical engineer, Matthews set out to design a pedal that would provide sustain and distortion unlike anything available at the time.
The following is a direct quote from Mike Matthews, Electro-Harmonix founder, and president:
"Back in 1969 I [Electro-Harmonix] was already selling the Muff Fuzz, which was a mild overdrive circuit in an LPB-1 box. I wanted to come out with a three knob distortion unit in a bigger box. I asked my buddy, Bell Labs designer, Bob Myer, to design a unit, one that would have a lot of sustain. When I got the prototype from Bob, I loved the long sustain. This was done by cascading the circuit into additional sections, each one clipped by twin diodes. However, when you clip, the tone can be a bit raspy. So, I spent a couple of days changing capacitors to roll off distortion in the highs, and eventually found that the best long sustaining tone that was a sweet violin-like sound was done by having three capacitors in different parts of the circuit rolling off the rasp. We plunged into production and I brought the very first units up to Henry, the boss at Manny's Music Store on 48th Street, NYC. About a week later, I stopped by Manny's to buy some cables, and Henry yelled out to me, 'Hey Mike, I sold one of those new Big Muffs to Jimi Hendrix’"
That pedal was the dawn of the Big Muff Pi, which hit the market in 1970. Quickly gaining a reputation for its unique sound, characterised by that smooth yet powerful sustain and a rich harmonic texture. It’s distinctive "fuzz" became a defining feature, appealing to guitarists seeking to push the boundaries of rock music - the irony this being that technically, it’s not even a fuzz pedal, its more a distortion pedal that's simply squeezed, compressed and saturated so hard that it crosses into fuzz territory!
Personal History
Just to give you some context, I first discovered the Big Muff Pi having seen it in blurry photos in the early 90’s as a kid. As green as I was to playing music, I probably had one or two cheap knock off distortion pedals in my possession, and could instantly see that the Big Muff Pi was in a league of it’s own - a gigantic tank of a scuffed up silver box with 3 big distinctive knobs for controls, looking slightly dumb, overly simple and yet somehow, marginally intimidating. It almost looked comical sat next to the small (regular sized) chorus pedal beside it, gaff-taped to the stage at the feet of Steve Turner, guitarist for Mudhoney. Knowing this was the key to that sound, and then later having seen it on a Mudhoney t-shirt worn by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, I became obsessed with getting in on this fuzzed up little (Big) secret. I was obsessed by it’s size, how cool it looked and what it might sound like on my coming of age little punky pop songs. Though it took a few years to find one, once I did, it was love at first play. Hearing it raw and exposed, and without the context of studio production, or even a band for that matter, was a total trip - no matter how low I set the volume, this pedal just felt loud and scary. The fuzz attack was harsh but thick, with dense amounts of saturation, and the sustain was longer than anything I had ever played with. I adored it. Instant grunge to a kid in 1994, at the height of grungemania. I had played many fuzz pedals before, but none gave me the thrill of the Big Muff Pi. This was it. This was THAT SOUND!
And I still have it, and still use it today, in fact, it’s the very pedal used to demo in this video! That’s 27 years of non stop fuzz action, from countless manky sweat dripping venues, all the way to snazzy fancy-pants studios, and now onto pedal videos on YouTube! ...and every possible questionable situation in between.
Evolution and Variants
So obviously, for a pedal spanning over 50 years old, it’s seen a lot of changes and evolutions. Musicians have different demands from their gear and personal tastes change. And even though the Big Muff “Pi” version is arguably the most popular, over the decades, EHX has made numerous Big Muff iterations, each with subtle variations that have expanded its sonic palette. Some notable versions include:
- The Triangle Knob Version (1969-1973): The original model, known for its triangle knob layout and a more mid-range focused sound.
- The Ram's Head Version (1973-1977): Distinguished by its "Ram's Head" logo, this version offered a smoother, more refined sound with a slightly scooped mid-range, becoming a favourite among many guitarists.
- The Op-Amp Version (Late 1970s): Also known as the "IC" version, this variant used operational amplifiers instead of transistors, providing a sharper and more aggressive tone. This version gained popularity in the 1990s, thanks to its use by bands like The Smashing Pumpkins.
- The Green Russian Version (1994-2000): Manufactured in Russia, this variant was known for its rugged build and a deep, bass-heavy sound. It has become a cult favourite for its unique tonal qualities.
- The Nano Big Muff (2013-present): A modern compact version, maintaining the classic Big Muff sound while being pedalboard-friendly in size.
Influence and Legacy
The Big Muff Pi's influence extends far beyond its distinctive sound. It has been a critical tool in shaping the tones of numerous guitarists, including David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, who used it to create the soaring leads and lush textures on albums like "The Wall" and "Animals." Probably most notorious, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana chose to use it on Lithium, to make the chorus even more anthem and sonically huge. Previous to this, and sounding way harsher in the mix, it became Mudhoney’s signature sound, even naming their debut (the legendary Superfuzz Big Muff) in its honour. J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. swears by it to handle the control of his excessive volume. Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins discovered a whole new guitar tone by layering it over and over, smoothing out the fuzz and making one big creamy wall of noise. The list of users goes on and on, all the way from Santana and right up to Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. And even still today, people are finding new ways to use it, transcending genres from rock to metal, grunge, shoegaze, and even electronic music. Its ability to provide everything from a subtle overdrive to a tank of fuzz makes it a versatile and indispensable tool for all musicians.
The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi is more than just an effects pedal; it's a cultural icon. Its rich history and the variety of sounds it can produce have cemented its place in the annals of music history. As music continues to evolve, the Big Muff will undoubtedly remain a beloved and essential part of the guitarist's toolkit. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring guitarist, the Big Muff Pi offers a gateway to exploring new sonic landscapes. I’ve been a bit of both, and it’s accompanied me, like an old friend, on the entire noisy journey.