The Legendary Roar: A History of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Discover the legendary history of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi, from its original "Triangle" fuzz to the versatile modern versions.
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Electro-Harmonix
Mike Matthews founded Electro-Harmonix in New York City in 1968, building cheap, rugged effects pedals at a moment when almost nobody else was doing it. The Big Muff fuzz and Small Stone phaser, both from the early 1970s, ended up on records by Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour and are still in EHX's catalogue today, alongside newer designs and reissues. The company went bankrupt in 1984; Matthews rebuilt it through vacuum-tube manufacturing in Russia before bringing pedal production back to New York in 2000. EHX pedals turn up constantly in our fuzz and phaser roundups, and we've traced the Big Muff's own history in detail. Here's everything we've covered.
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Founded1968
Based inNew York City, USA
FounderMike Matthews
Parent companyNew Sensor Corporation
Articles here51
Makes
- Effects pedals
- Vacuum tubes
- Amplifiers
Known for
- Big Muff
- Small Stone
- Memory Man
- Electric Mistress
- POG
- Holy Grail
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Electro-Harmonix FAQ4 questions
What is the Big Muff known for?
It is one of the defining fuzz pedals, with a thick, saturated sustain that suits both wall of sound rhythm playing and long singing lead lines. It has been made in many versions since 1969, and the differences between them are a genuine rabbit hole, which is why it has its own article here.
What is the difference between fuzz, distortion and overdrive?
Overdrive pushes an amp towards the edge of breakup and keeps most of your dynamics. Distortion is harder and more consistent, with the gain generated in the pedal. Fuzz is the most extreme and least polite of the three, squaring off the signal into something that can sound almost broken, and the Big Muff sits firmly in that camp.
Does Electro-Harmonix still make products in the USA?
Electro-Harmonix is based in New York City and operates under the New Sensor Corporation, which also has a substantial vacuum tube business. Manufacturing location varies by product line.
Which Electro-Harmonix pedal should I start with?
For most players the Big Muff or the Small Stone phaser, depending on whether you want dirt or modulation. Both are inexpensive, iconic enough that everything else gets compared to them, and hard to make sound bad.