Electro Harmonix Op Amp Big Muff Pedal

The Big Muff is an iconic pedal. Many versions of this classic stompbox have been created since its introduction in the 70s, and Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins is arguably the most-renowned user of the Electro Harmonix Big Muff. Pioneering the huge, engulfing "wall of fuzz" sound that defined the groundbreaking Siamese Dream album in the mid-90s, Corgan relied on a particular iteration of the circuit to attain that massive sound - the V4.

Known as the Op-Amp Big Muff, rare originals of this pedal have sold on the second-hand market for hundreds of pounds. And whilst tone-chasers have worked extremely hard to replicate his legendary sound, Electro Harmonix have listened to fans and given us a pedal that delivers Corgan's tone in a compact stompbox at an affordable price!

Collaboratively designed with the man himself, the Op Amp Big Muff has all the hi-gain, saturated goodness that fans have tried to emulate for almost 25 years. With the 3 classic controls you'd expect to find on most Big Muffs (Sustain, Tone and Volume), you can carefully craft your optimal fuzz sound. Rolling in more top-end cut the higher you turn it up, you can also bring in some sub-octave warmth when you set it lower.

So today is your chance to turn your quiet rig into one that can send you into the stratosphere like a spaceboy in a rocket. With this pedal, rock like a cherub!

Here's what Electro Harmonix say about the Op Amp Big Muff Pedal:

With original late-70s Op-Amp Big Muffs selling for exorbitant prices, Mike Matthews decided to take the power to the people and reissue the classic pedal at a price that players could afford! The circuitry of the new Op-Amp Big Muff —sometimes also referred to as the IC or V4 Big Muff— has been faithfully re-created while several practical enhancements have been added including a compact, die-cast chassis and true bypass switching.

“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!’” - Mike Matthews

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.”

Specifications

• A faithful reissue of the original classic circa 1978
• Iconic sound and vibe that’s coveted by guitarists
• Controls for Tone, Sustain and Volume, plus a Tone Bypass switch.
• True bypass switching for maximum signal integrity in bypass mode
• Rugged, compact, die-cast package… pedalboard friendly
• Ships with a 9Volt battery, also accepts an optional EHX9.6DC-200 AC Adapter