Electro-Harmonix

Notes: Electro-Harmonix has reissued their late-1970's era Op-Amp Big Muff Pi. Sometimes also referred to as the IC or V4 Big Muff, the original circuitry has been faithfully re-created while several practical enhancements have been added including a compact, die-cast chassis and true bypass switching.

According to Electro-Harmonix founder, Mike Matthews, "The Op-Amp Big Muff was popularized by the brilliant Billy Corgan who first used it on the Smashing Pumpkins' epic 1993 album Siamese Dream. After he was videotaped playing and talking about the reissue, Billy stated: "The magic's still in the box, I can still get what I'm looking for!"

The pedal relies on op-amps rather than transistors and three gain stages rather than four, to create its signature sound. It's a sound that's been described by noted Big Muff collector and historian, Kit Rae, as: "a huge, crushing Big Muff sound with more crunch...great for grungy, wall-of-sound distortion, heavy rhythm playing and heavy leads."

The Op-Amp Big Muff Pi features standard controls: Sustain, Tone and Volume, plus a Tone switch for bypassing the tone circuit. It comes equipped with a 9V battery or can be powered by an optional 9-volt AC adapter.

Notes: The EHX Flatiron Fuzz is a classic op-amp powered fuzz/distortion. With its late '70s style circuit and symmetrical hard clipping, it's EHX's take on the RAT2 pedal.

The Flatiron Fuzz is extremely versatile. At lower drive settings it remains fairly clean and adds a pleasing mild distortion. As the drive is turned up it transports you to a world of arena rock and produces spectacular, thick, meaty tones.

The stellar sound of the Flatiron Fuzz is a result of its classic, late '70s style circuitry and the fact that it delivers symmetrical hard clipping. As a point of reference, you might refer to the old Rat pedal, but you'll prefer the Flatiron.

The Flatiron Fuzz features three controls: Volume, Drive and Filter. Volume sets the output level while Drive adjusts the amount of sustain and distortion. The unique Filter control is actually a low pass filter with a movable cut-off frequency. This is especially cool because it lets you dial in just the right amount of high-end... from dark to raunchy.

Electro-Harmonix trivia: The Flatiron Fuzz is named after the historic Flatiron Building in New York City. It's an iconic landmark located just down the block from EHX headquarters in the 1970s and it's the building pictured on the pedal.

Specifications:

Circuit: Analogue
Bypass: True Bypass
Audio: Mono
Power Supply: 9V battery included (optional 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter not included)
Dimensions (in): 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1
Current Draw: 5mA
Year Released: 2018

Notes: With its take on the cult-classic, chainsaw distortion pedal, the EHX Hell Melter takes distortion to its extremes. The Hell Melter features expanded controls and tonal capabilities, allowing the already in-your-face sound of the pedal to broaden by switching to more open clipping options and boosting the internal voltage for increased headroom, less compression, and more attack.

Originally designed as the ultimate in high-gain tone, this world-famous distortion circuit is known for the death metal sounds of Sweden's Entombed and the shoegaze wash of My Bloody Valentine. It's even found a home in the rig of David Gilmour!

The EHX Hell Melter's expanded control set includes Gain and Level controls, and a powerful active EQ featuring with parametric mids for improved versatility. The Dry level control allows for blending your input signal for improved low-end when used with a bass or even blending in other distorted tones.

Boost Footswitch engages an input gain boost and volume boost which is internally adjustable. The Normal/Burn switch toggles between the classic chainsaw sound and the more open clipping option.

Classic Heavy Metal circuit with expanded controls
Increased overall output volume
Active EQ controls expansion with parametric MIDS control
Noise gate and dry level control
NORMAL and BURN modes
Footswitchable boost section
Independent distortion and level knobs
9V power supply included

Specifications

Circuit: Analogue
Bypass: Buffered Bypass
Audio: Mono
Power Supply: 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter included
Dimensions (in): 4.75 x 4 x 2.25
Current Draw: 140mA
Year Released: 2023

Notes: The J Mascis Ram's Head Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal pays homage to the sonic centre of the alt-rock legend's iconic tone of equal parts thickness and clarity in a special edition white and violet finish.

"That's my sound. The Muff is always on," J says. "All distorted sounds begin with the Muff. That's what I grew up playing so it's kind of amazing to have my own signature one."

Based on the highly coveted 1973 Electro-Harmonix V2 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff, J's signature Big Muff produces the indulgent fuzz and exceptional sustain used as his sonic centre for decades.

The fuzz is sonically more articulate than other Big Muffs with excellent string separation and dynamics, which make it one of the most versatile Big Muffs. The pedal's response feels smooth and aggressive making your leads scream and chords thunder.

Feel the fuzz of a guitar giant: the J Mascis Ram's Head Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal from Electro-Harmonix.

Authentic V2 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff in a nano-sized chassis
Special-edition artist graphics
True bypass
9V battery included

Specifications

Circuit: Analogue
Bypass: True Bypass
Audio: Mono
Power Supply: 9V battery included (optional 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter not included)
Dimensions (in): 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1
Current Draw: 2mA
Year Released: 2022

Notes: The most compact Bass Big Muff Pi ever is packed with the ginormous Bass Big Muff sound!

The huge Bass Big Muff sound now in a nano-sized package. Voicing inspired by the tank green Russian Big Muff with the classic Big Muff Pi layout of Sustain, Tone and Volume controls.

Controls for Volume, Tone and Sustain let you sculpt your distortion and drive, while the Dry switch mixes your dry bass with the EHX Nano Bass Big Muff's distortion.

Tailor your drive/distortion sound with Sustain, Tone and Volume knobs
Features a Dry switch that mixes your dry bass, at unity level, with the Nano Bass Big Muff's distortion
True bypass for maximum signal path integrity
Road worthy die-cast chassis
9V battery included

Specifications:
Circuit: Analogue
Bypass: True Bypass
Audio: Mono
Power Supply: 9V battery included (optional 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter not included)
Dimensions (in): 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1
Current Draw: 4mA
Year Released: 2014

Notes: Built for the player who demands nothing less than hard-hitting distortion and an intense, aggressive sound!

The EHX Nano Metal Muff was built for the player who demands nothing less than hard-hitting distortion and an intense, aggressive sound. It's a combination of weaponized distortion and an extremely powerful EQ section that provides all the flexibility and tone-shaping needed to dial in an array of ultra-heavy sounds.

The Nano Metal Muff's newly designed noise gate is a superb addition to this high-gain pedal and eliminates unwanted hum when you stop playing. It features a noise floor threshold control (GATE) and its own LED to indicate when the gate is engaged.

A compact footprint and intelligent, straight forward controls complete the picture.

Voiced for the heavy metal player
Compact, pedalboard friendly footprint
Extensive EQ control: Bass +/- 14dB of cut or boost, Mid +/- 15dB and Treble +/- 10dB
VOL (volume) sets the pedal's output volume level
DIST adjusts input gain and distortion
Noise gate eliminates unwanted noise and includes an LED to indicate when the output signal is muted
9V battery included

Specifications:
Circuit: Analog
Bypass: Buffered Bypass
Audio: Mono
Power Supply: 9V battery included (optional 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter not included)
Dimensions (in): 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1
Current Draw: 24 mA
Year Released: 2021

Notes: Bridging the worlds of overdrive, distortion, and fuzz in a sub-compact pico chassis!

The EHX Pico Triboro Bridge is a tri-mode drive box with a wide range of tonal possibilities. Featuring Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz modes, it bridges any gap in your gain. With a powerful EQ, input contouring, and a pico-sized footprint, the Triboro Bridge can be your tonal keystone or a welcome change from the routine drive.

Starting with Overdrive mode, the gain spectrum ranges from low to mid with an open voicing that can be used as a light always on drive or a solo boost. Engage the Triboro's Distortion mode for additional gain-staging for a tone from crunchy rhythms to fully saturated leads. Transform the pedal into something completely different with the Fuzz mode's over-the-top gain, Gate and Low Pass Filter.

The Triboro Bridge controls features Volume and Gain knobs to control the overall output and saturation of the tone. In Overdrive and Distortion modes, the Treble and Bass knobs act as a Baxandall EQ for simple yet effective tone shaping. In Fuzz mode the Treble knob is now the gate more, controlling the Fuzz's noise gate threshold, and the Bass knob controls a Low Pass Filter for extreme tonal variations. Additionally, the Triboro Bridge features an Input Contouring EQ which can be applied to your tone at the input, for a more modern, sculpted tone in all modes.

Specifications

Circuit: Digital
Bypass: Buffered Bypass
Audio: Mono
Power Supply: 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter included
Dimensions (in): 3.65 x 2.0 x 2.0
Current Draw: 100mA
Year Released: 2023