The best solution for most aspiring Big Muff owners is probably to seek out one of the
many excellent clones put out by smaller manufacturers. Many of these pedals are capable
of nailing the best available examples of the vintage Muff sound with shocking accuracy,
they are built to very high standards with tough, consistent modern components, and the
price usually lies in the sweet spot between the cheaper EHX models and the lusted-after
vintage versions. Players that want the authentic vintage Muff tones without the cost and
responsibility that comes with acquiring a museum piece should focus their efforts here. If
this sounds like you, allow me the privilege of pointing you in the direction of a few of my
own favorite vintage Big Muff-based dirt boxes to begin your journey into Mufflandia.
ThorpyFx Muffroom Cloud
“Crank up the bass all
the way, and it doesn’t
get muddy, it just gets
more massive.”
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TONE TALK //
Sure, saying its name will make you sound
as if you’ve developed some sort of speech
impediment, but take comfort in the fact
that the ThorpyFx Muffroom Cloud is likely
the best Big Muff you will ever play. Based
on a particularly spectacular example of a
vintage PNP Triangle Muff from the late
‘60s/early ‘70s, the Muffroom Cloud boasts
almost-invincible build quality, an elegant
enclosure, and a stubborn refusal to sound
anything less than glorious. In all seriousness,
you cannot make this pedal sound even
slightly unsavory. Its equalization circuitry
is key, and involves an active tone stack
with Treble and Bass controls, which offer
some overlap in frequencies to shape mids
as well. Even at the most extreme settings,
these controls still sound sweet and musical.
Crank up the bass all the way, and it doesn’t
get muddy, it just gets more massive. Turn
up the treble and prepare to be rewarded
with clarity and bite without a trace of
harshness. The ThorpyFx Muffroom Cloud
really is that great, and worth every bit of
the 290 or so American dollars you will pay
for the privilege of owning it.
The Best Big Muf f Clones in Today’s Marketplace