Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi Distortion Pedal
Specifically voiced for bass, this go-to distortion pedal delivers classic fuzz without losing any low end. Wet and dry outputs give you extra flexibility.
$98.00
- No Credit Check4 x$24.50
Overall User Ratings (based on 11 ratings)
Submitted October 14, 2010 by Jon
"Leave it to EHX to create an amazing Big Muff for bassists."
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Written by one of our gear experts!
I own effects pedals that I'm not always sure what to do with, and some pedals whose application is somewhat limited. This is not one of those pedals. It's versatile, it sounds great, and I got it for a great price. I would recommend this to Big Muff fans, bassists looking to get their first fuzz pedal, and anybody frustrated with losing presence at shows or practice whenever their fuzz/distortion is on.
Sound
You may try this pedal out in a store or at a friend's, and it may strike you as a little less woolly than other Big Muff pedals. However, where it really shines is in group performance. My usual frustration as a fuzz-lovin' bassist is that so many of my favorite-sounding pedals just aren't present once other people start playing. This is a notorious issue with Big Muffs especially. However, thanks to the bass-friendly voicing and the awesome Dry blend setting, this fits in great with my five-piece rock band. I've also used it in the studio a couple times, and its tight control has made it my fuzz/distortion stompbox of choice over a vintage Rat. Electro-Harmonix outdid themselves with this one.
Features
The big attraction is the three separate EQ settings - Bass Boost, Normal, and Dry. Normal is what you might be most familiar with - standard Big Muff tone, voiced especially for bass guitar. It's nice, but I have to say the real attractions here are the other two settings. Dry blends the muff with an unaffected bass tone, and does a great job of keeping the signal present even in wild playing conditions. Bass Boost does pretty much what it says - I recommend turning the tone knob toward the treble side if you're going to use it, but it's a great choice for especially freaked-out tones. The EQ settings make it a great multi-purpose fuzz, whether you're looking for something a little rough around the edges or something wilder. Beyond that, it's got a dry out signal, which I don't have enough pedals to justify the use of, but if you prefer to do your signal blending the old Chris Squire way (sending a dry signal to one amp and a distorted signal to another), it's nice to have.
Ease of Use
Any effects pedal is going to have a learning curve. However, the Bass Big Muff is pretty startlingly easy to grab a good tone from. With three viable EQ options and the bass voicing, you'll probably find a workable sound in seconds rather than minutes.
Quality
It's got the classic EHX build - the die-cast chassis that feels like it could survive things I couldn't. I'll freely admit to abusing my pedals a little bit. I've got a compressor pedal with the -5dB switch missing, and an 80's distortion pedal that has started offering a disconcerting hum. This is one of my newest pedals, so maybe things will change, but right now it's performing admirably without even a scuff from a couple months getting thrown into a van and onto a stage.
Value
Unquestionably one of the best values I've ever got from a pedal. There are more versatile and more powerful Big Muff clones out there, but they can run you $200 and up. At under $100, this is a CRAZY deal, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Bass Big Muff to fellow bassists as an introductory fuzz pedal.
Manufacturer Support
I've never dealt with EHX's support team, so I can't speak to this. I have spoken to a couple people there on other occasions, though, and they seem like pretty awesome folks. It seems like Mike Matthews and company tend to focus as much on how gear helps the creative process as what sort of sonic options their pedals give, and I really appreciate that outlook. I'm not a native gearhead, so that attitude really appeals to me.
The Wow Factor
If I didn't have this pedal, I'd still be pining over it. The kelly green paint job looks awesome. It's not as iconic as the old Big Muff Pi, but with how well this pedal performs, I could see that changing over time. When I was looking into getting a fuzz pedal, I was considering this one as well as a couple of others (most notably the ZVex Woolly Mammoth.) The deciding factor for me was seeing that John Paul Jones has been using one of these with Them Crooked Vultures. Hearing that tone on record was enough to sell me on this pedal.
Musical Background:
Overactive Musician
Musical Style:
Rock, Other
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Submitted July 30, 2017 by Sotero Rivera in New Milford, CT
"Awesome Big Muff pedal....."
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Been using this pedal for a couple of years now. Would not trade it for any other fuzz pedal. I love the heavy earthy, dirty sound that I can get from it. It retains a great presence in the mix. Highly recommended.
Sound
The sound quality of this pedal is very high. Very good for recording and live performance.
Features
Very sturdy housing that can take a beating. Good quality knobs.
Ease of Use
The pedal is very easy to use and get a great sound out of.
Quality
I have never had any problems with this pedal and it gets used a lot.
Value
For the price you pay you get a lot of pedal. Lots of Big Muff tone shaping.
Manufacturer Support
I have never had to get manufacturer support.
The Wow Factor
Very aggressive yet clear sound.
Musical Background:
25 years aying music. Play bass and Classical guitar.
Musical Style:
Rock, Metal and Classical.
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Submitted August 27, 2012 by Jason Hall in Aliquippa, PA
"Great bass muff sound in a smaller box"
I purchased my bass big muff about a month ago. This was my first muff and I was excited to get it after seeing countless demos and reviews about the pedal. After having some time to play with it, I'm happy overall.
First the good points... the BBM is much smaller than the reissue muffs and has the same basic sound. There's a dry out available which can be used for a tuner or to split your signal for blending. The BBM sounds great and just has "that" sound, whether it be Cliff Burton soloing to early Muse, this box has it. Mid scooped with tons of gain.
Now for the complaints... I originally purchased this pedal excited to try out the "dry" and "boost" modes. The bass boost mode appears to roll off a lot of the highs and just seemed too boomy to be very useful. The dry mode has a serious issue with levels... when you engage the switch the volume control turns into a blend knob but the more you crank it it starts raising the volume as well. If I put the volume knob around 12 or 1 o clock... the volume levels aren't bad but the fuzz sounds very fizzy and unpleasant to my ears. I have heard their are mods for this but I plan on investing in a blend pedal and using the normal sound of the pedal mixed with my unaffected signal that way.
At the end of the day, the BBM is a great value in a smaller sized muff for bass. There are clones made by boutique manufacturers that might sound a wee bit better at 2-3x the cost... that just isn't worth it to me right now. I wish the switch settings were more usable however I'm sure someone will find a use for them.
Musical Background:
playing for 20 years, in several projects
Musical Style:
Metal, Hardrock, Rock, Alternative, some funk
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Submitted July 7, 2012 by David G in Alamogordo, NM
"Awesome Low End!"
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This one is By far the best Bass Fuzz pedal ive ever used! Unlike most others, this one dosnt loose the bottom end! In fact, with the boost switch, it really boosts the Bottom! Outstanding!
Musical Background:
15 yrs Playing Bass
Musical Style:
Rock, Hard Rock
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Submitted October 6, 2011 by a customer from gmail.com
"affordable, practical, easy, big monster sound"
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nice nice
Sound
With the bass big muff i can get that fat buzz like cranking the gain on your bass head. The fact that you can choose the "volume" "tone" and "sustain" allows you to get the right sound you're looking for. I keep it in the dry position to be able to blend my original signal with the effect, that way i keep my clean bass tone mixed with the fuzzyness of the effect. I like it dark, so i keep my tone knob at 10 o clock. The knobs are pretty sensible (sensitive?) so until you reach the sound you like you have to move them just a tiny bit at the time. It wont cut my low end, and mixed with the POG i can get that Jamiroquaish distortion sound that kick @ss. Great sound for the price... you can wait to get a russian big muf for 350 bucks (really hard to find those) used, or a brand new bass big muff for 80... hmmmm i love it even more :)
Features
the three knobs and the tone selector gives you the chance to find your own buzz overdrive sound, you just need to spend a few hours with it. Again, really tiny changes on the knobs change a lot the sound, so you gotta work them with precision.
Ease of Use
Easy, dummy proof. A few hours with it and live you just make few adjustments to fit with the band's sound and you're done.
Quality
THese new EHX pedals are not all metal like the old ones, but still it seems to be some sort of refurbished metal material, the knobs are simple plastic... i had them for 3 or 4 weeks and so far so good.
Value
for 80 bucks it's the best out there i believe
The Wow Factor
do you care about how a pedal "loos like" or how it improves your sound? I use it more for tone... when i have it on, it's all the way tru the song. Makes the tone biffier, fatter, bigger.
Musical Background:
active musician
Musical Style:
Rock/heavy/punk/power
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Submitted January 27, 2014 by WildBill G in Ft. Collins, CO
"Small greeen box, Big Rock sound."
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The pedal has exceeded my expectations for a bass fuzz box.
Musical Background:
Guitae, Bass, Sing. Was in coma had to learn over again.
Musical Style:
Classic Rock
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