Electro-Harmonix Green Big Muff

MARCH 2018 TOTAL GUITAR
With EHX finally reissuing its now classic Green Russian variant
of the Big Muff, we test drive a few alternatives to the original...
105
A
lthough this purports to be the same
circuit that the EHX reissue is based on,
when settings are compared side-by-
side it’s noticeably less scooped in the mids
and tighter overall in the bass frequencies,
arriving at a sound that’s closer to modern
adaptations of the original circuit that bring
the mids forward. With the mids more
present, it’s more like a distortion at times
than the classic Big Muff fuzz tone, but the
sounds are in the ball park, with additional
low and high pass fi lters useful for altering the
tonal scope of the pedal. Not for the purists,
but for big, focussed riffi ng it’s hard to beat.
B
ased on the so-called ‘tall font’ version
of the Russian Big Muff , the Way Huge
Russian Pickle has probably the most
pronounced bass response of the four
reviewed pedals on this page, off ering thick
bass and a punishing amount of fuzz and
volume on tap. With the tone rolled up there
are brighter sounds on off er, but it’s a little bit
of a balancing act to fi nd the sweet spot
between treble sizzle and bass thump. Stoner
rockers will no doubt delight in the syrupy,
legato sustain, but grunge fans might fi nd it a
bit on the looser side, especially when in
dropped tunings.
COG Effects
Tarkin Fuzz
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Way Huge
Russian Pickle
NEED MORE CRUNCH?
BYPASS All true bypass
POWER REQUIREMENTS
EQD, EHX, COG: 9V centre-
negative power supply;
Way Huge: 9V centre-negative
power supply or battery
CONTACT
Audio Distribution Group
[phone]
audiodistributiongroup.com
Electro-Harmonix
[phone]
ehx.com
Cog Effects
cogeffects.co.uk
Westside Distribution
0844 326 2000
westsidedistribution.com
AT A GLANCE
£130
£177
PEDAL ROUND-UP
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
PEDAL ROUND-UP
BEST BUY
AWARD
TGR303.gear_pedals.indd 105 1/31/18 4:43 PM