Like I mentioned above , this pedal is quite a bit smaller than its counterparts , coming it at around the size of a Mooer pedal ( a Hammond 1590A for you pedal nerds out there ). The pots and footswitch are soldered directly to the PCB , which both saves space and makes it easier by cutting out the wiring that can sometimes be complicated for beginners . On the front we have the standard Volume , Tone , and Sustain pots , which work like any other Big Muff . The tone sweep on this one is a bit sweeter than I ’ ve heard before , with a good useable range . Most Big Muff tone controls are either too dark , boomy , or honky . BYOC ’ s intimate knowledge of the Muff circuit has allowed them to make a Tone control that doesn ’ t suck ( both literally and figuratively ) your tone away . It leaves just enough space for the all-important crispy top end to shine through .
Where this mini Muff differs from the rest is in its feel and response . Unlike many other Muffs , this one
“ glues ” itself to your signal ; molding and melding itself to your touch . It honestly feels more like a bright , Muff style overdrive than a traditional wall-of-sound that Big Muffs tend to be . Since I was expecting a wall-of-sound Big Muff , this bothered me a bit initially . My go-to Big Muff licks didn ’ t work as well , and didn ’ t have the weight and heft I was used to . I found myself going towards faster interludes and blues licks rather than the massive riffs and deep soloing that Muffs usually command . In addition to the different feel , this Big Muff was also dead silent ; you could hear a pin drop with the Sustain cranked all the way . This is very unusual even for the most boutique of Big Muffs , so I donned my monocle and started to do a bit of tonal investigating . After playing an open note , even with the Sustain cranked all the way , the strong note would fizzle out after two or three seconds . My guess is that there is some sort of noise gate or noise suppression circuit in this pedal , which ( in my opinion ) is ultimately detrimental to Muffs . Yes , the famous “ Big Muff hiss ” is killed , but the singing and endless sustain that they are known for is clamped down and cut off . To me , that ’ s just the tradeoff of a good Muff , and I ’ m willing to put up with the noise for the classic Muff tone ; it ’ s just the nature of the beast . All in all , this is a good Muff that may interest you if you ’ re looking for something a little different than your standard crushing wall of sound .
Crispy high end , sculpted mids , and big bottom . Lots of great crunch , reactive to your pick attack , and dead silent .
Noise suppression kills sustain , and overdrive response may not win the hearts of Muff purists .
Like I mentioned above , this pedal is quite a bit smaller than its counterparts , coming it at around the size of a Mooer pedal ( a Hammond 1590A for you pedal nerds out there ). The pots and footswitch are soldered directly to the PCB , which both saves space and makes it easier by cutting out the wiring that can sometimes be complicated for beginners . On the front we have the standard Volume , Tone , and Sustain pots , which work like any other Big Muff . The tone sweep on this one is a bit sweeter than I ’ ve heard before , with a good useable range . Most Big Muff tone controls are either too dark , boomy , or honky . BYOC ’ s intimate knowledge of the Muff circuit has allowed them to make a Tone control that doesn ’ t suck ( both literally and figuratively ) your tone away . It leaves just enough space for the all-important crispy top end to shine through .
Where this mini Muff differs from the rest is in its feel and response . Unlike many other Muffs , this one
“ glues ” itself to your signal ; molding and melding itself to your touch . It honestly feels more like a bright , Muff style overdrive than a traditional wall-of-sound that Big Muffs tend to be . Since I was expecting a wall-of-sound Big Muff , this bothered me a bit initially . My go-to Big Muff licks didn ’ t work as well , and didn ’ t have the weight and heft I was used to . I found myself going towards faster interludes and blues licks rather than the massive riffs and deep soloing that Muffs usually command . In addition to the different feel , this Big Muff was also dead silent ; you could hear a pin drop with the Sustain cranked all the way . This is very unusual even for the most boutique of Big Muffs , so I donned my monocle and started to do a bit of tonal investigating . After playing an open note , even with the Sustain cranked all the way , the strong note would fizzle out after two or three seconds . My guess is that there is some sort of noise gate or noise suppression circuit in this pedal , which ( in my opinion ) is ultimately detrimental to Muffs . Yes , the famous “ Big Muff hiss ” is killed , but the singing and endless sustain that they are known for is clamped down and cut off . To me , that ’ s just the tradeoff of a good Muff , and I ’ m willing to put up with the noise for the classic Muff tone ; it ’ s just the nature of the beast . All in all , this is a good Muff that may interest you if you ’ re looking for something a little different than your standard crushing wall of sound .
WHAT WE LIKE
Crispy high end , sculpted mids , and big bottom . Lots of great crunch , reactive to your pick attack , and dead silent .
CONCERNS
Noise suppression kills sustain , and overdrive response may not win the hearts of Muff purists .