The Big Muff is considered to be not only one of the best batch of fuzz boxes ever built, but one of the best all-around pedal collections ever as well. Though the differing versions are too vast for this single review, today’s pedal takes a page from this fantastic collection of incredible fuzz boxes, and stands right up there with them. Specifically focusing on the Ram’s Head Big Muff version, Stomp Under Foot has created their own take on this fuzz made popular by David Gilmour and J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. Let’s get to checkin’ out the Ram’s Head Fuzz, shall we?
First off, the enclosure: it’s nice and neat and small and tidy, and while some folks might like a larger pedal like the original Muffs, I love how this fits easily onto any pedalboard, is nice and light and features modern wiring and power, all of which make for an easy pedal to setup and use. Simple graphics, simple control section, simple but powerful pedal – win win. The 3 easy-to-use controls knobs are Volume (with plenty on tap here), Sustain (amount of fuzz injected into your signal path) and Tone (beautifully deep low-end, and warm highs that don’t pierce or stomp on your sound), and you can basically sit down, plug this puppy in and go.
Now for the sound of the Ram’s Head. Great tones to be had at all and any settings, with sustain for days and that thick, classic fuzz sound that fuzz enthusiasts are always searching for. Chords sound rich and go on for ever, while lead runs soar and brilliantly embrace your guitar and amp to the fullest. Right when you kick it on, the Ram’s Head comes alive with a wall of fuzzy fury, only tamed by muting the strings a little, or just diving right into playing. The low-end, like I said before, is just awesome, conjuring up stoner rock in an instant, getting into Sabbath territory with ease and adding gain and tone to your sound without becoming overbearing at all.
Having heard many Big Muffs over the years, this Ram’s Head was an excellent surprise, and I thought it accurately captured the sounds of those old machines really well, and having the modern innards and smaller enclosure was just the icing on the fuzzy cake. Thanks so much to Matt over at Stomp Under Foot for sending this little beauty over for us to play with, it was really a blast reviewing it and making the video below (make sure you watch it, now)! If you haven’t seen their lineup of pedals, head on over to their website now, and see what else they’ve got waiting for you today!
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
