Replacement for my Little Big Muff

ttl100 · May 4th, 2008, 10:19 PM

I have the Little Big Muff which I don't like and I am thinking of replacing it with the MXR Distortion + or GT-OD. I find the Big Muff too boomy and bassy when I play open string chords.

What I need is a good distortion pedal which has good sustain, great harmonics and not boomy and bassy. I use Telecaster, Strat and Les Paul.

Please advise. Thanks!

Wardpike · May 4th, 2008, 10:32 PM

Electro-Harmonix have some great alternatives. There's this brit amp simulator type with two 12ax7s in it. Consider that one.

What kind of applications do you use distortion for? The type of material you're doing will greatly influence any advice you receive here.

brgrds

markinlondon · May 4th, 2008, 10:39 PM

RAT!!! (no apology for shouting).

ttl100 · May 4th, 2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wardpike

Electro-Harmonix have some great alternatives. There's this brit amp simulator type with two 12ax7s in it. Consider that one.

What kind of applications do you use distortion for? The type of material you're doing will greatly influence any advice you receive here.

brgrds

I'm afraid I can't afford tube pedals as I have budget of $80 only. I play during Sunday service in Church but my musical taste is wide and long. I already have a tube driver but now looking for a good distortion pedal which can suite many application.

Thanks.

Beerts · May 4th, 2008, 11:45 PM

save a little extra and get a Visual Sound "Jekyll & Hyde" pedal . it has distortion on one side and overdrive on the other, can be used seperately or together, and I'm lovin' mine!

simonc · May 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM

I Use both a little big muff & also a mxr distortion +.It really depends on other factors, but the mxr has MUCH lower distortion charachteristics that the muff, & I use mine as more of an overdrive (which is bloody fantastic!).
I'd second checking out a RAT.Or maybe a zvex box of metal....speaking of which has anyone tried one of these out? (not to derail the thread).

jimbach · May 5th, 2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markinlondon

RAT!!! (no apology for shouting).

Yeah, no kidding. When we added a second guitarist I replaced the Big Muff on my board with my Rat. It's less wooly, a little more focused, and plays better with others.

Axis29 · May 5th, 2008, 11:36 AM

A bit more money - OCD (Picked this up a few weeks ago and it's staying!)
Same as the tube driver type stuff - Bad Monkey, Sparkle Drive (I've got a TS, but am waiting to try the BM that's going around)
Fuzz? - VL SuperFuzz, Dallas Arbeiter, Assorted Dunlop (I've got a Fulltone 70 on it's way... should be here today!!!!)
Metal? - Boss Metal Zone (I use dot own one of these, I may try to get it back, it was crunchy over the top metal)

I've got a bud who's gonna bring his Big Muff by for me to try... I'm interested, though I have never been excited about the demos I've seen online.

RomanS · May 5th, 2008, 12:20 PM

Rat or Marshall Guv'nor would be my choices!

surfoverb · May 5th, 2008, 12:53 PM

Check out BYOC pedals...For $100, and assuming you can solder, you get a boutique quality pedal. I have the MKII clone and it's great! They offer big muff clones (different versions), ratt clones, fuzz face etc;

FMA · May 5th, 2008, 02:12 PM

'nother vote for a RAT. Very versatile.

hwestman · May 5th, 2008, 05:21 PM

RAT is great! GT-OD too. Both give nice thick focused od.

Another IMHO overlooked box for fuzzy but focused overdrive is the Tech21 Comptortion...

TeleBrew · May 6th, 2008, 01:34 AM

I had a GT-OD and wasn't impressed. I still say the Voodoo Lab Superfuzz does many different things very well. It'll cost more than $80, though.

Telegazer · May 6th, 2008, 10:55 AM

One more thumb up for the RAT, it will bridge the gap between distortion and fuzz quite nicely.

winny pooh · May 9th, 2008, 06:01 AM

Haven't yet tried a rat but the humble Boss ds-1 is worthy of consideration for hot yet crisp rhythm stuff.

Scott S · May 10th, 2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axis29

Metal? - Boss Metal Zone (I use dot own one of these, I may try to get it back, it was crunchy over the top metal)

I'll second the Metal Zone -- there are some very usable low-gain tones to be had, as well.

Big Muffs are fun, but they are what they are. Not quite as flexible IMO.

- Scott

Guitar_Ninja · May 10th, 2008, 06:36 PM

Do you want another fuzz pedal, or a distortion pedal? Because if you like the LBM but just find it a little too dark and boomy you might want to check out the NYC Big Muff RI. The LBM is the darkest of the Muffs (

), so if you want just a bit more treble then that might be an option.

For more of a distortion pedal I'd actually recommend the Dano FAB Distortion pedal. It has a ton of gain on tap, does distortion to fuzz, and is dirt cheap (<$15). The circuit is based off of the old Maxon D&S pedal. It can at least give you an idea of where you want to go.

May 4th, 2008, 10:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
ttl100 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Malaysia Age: 32 Posts: 63	Replacement for my Little Big Muff I have the Little Big Muff which I don't like and I am thinking of replacing it with the MXR Distortion + or GT-OD. I find the Big Muff too boomy and bassy when I play open string chords. What I need is a good distortion pedal which has good sustain, great harmonics and not boomy and bassy. I use Telecaster, Strat and Les Paul. Please advise. Thanks!

May 4th, 2008, 10:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
markinlondon Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wellington, NZ Age: 48 Posts: 426	RAT!!! (no apology for shouting). __________________ Helping to invent english country dance guitar since 1981.

May 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
simonc Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Perth Western Australia Age: 29 Posts: 1,546 4 Photos	I Use both a little big muff & also a mxr distortion +.It really depends on other factors, but the mxr has MUCH lower distortion charachteristics that the muff, & I use mine as more of an overdrive (which is bloody fantastic!). I'd second checking out a RAT.Or maybe a zvex box of metal....speaking of which has anyone tried one of these out? (not to derail the thread). __________________ Never, EVER, stop in the middle of a hoe-down" -Homer Simpson

May 5th, 2008, 11:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Axis29 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 40 Posts: 1,065 1 Photos	A bit more money - OCD (Picked this up a few weeks ago and it's staying!) Same as the tube driver type stuff - Bad Monkey, Sparkle Drive (I've got a TS, but am waiting to try the BM that's going around) Fuzz? - VL SuperFuzz, Dallas Arbeiter, Assorted Dunlop (I've got a Fulltone 70 on it's way... should be here today!!!!) Metal? - Boss Metal Zone (I use dot own one of these, I may try to get it back, it was crunchy over the top metal) I've got a bud who's gonna bring his Big Muff by for me to try... I'm interested, though I have never been excited about the demos I've seen online. __________________ John F. TDPRI # 1764

May 5th, 2008, 12:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,876 14 Photos	Rat or Marshall Guv'nor would be my choices! __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212

May 4th, 2008, 10:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wardpike Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Age: 43 Posts: 652	Electro-Harmonix have some great alternatives. There's this brit amp simulator type with two 12ax7s in it. Consider that one. What kind of applications do you use distortion for? The type of material you're doing will greatly influence any advice you receive here. brgrds

May 4th, 2008, 11:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Beerts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Freeport Illinois Age: 48 Posts: 110	save a little extra and get a Visual Sound "Jekyll & Hyde" pedal . it has distortion on one side and overdrive on the other, can be used seperately or together, and I'm lovin' mine!

May 5th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	Check out BYOC pedals...For $100, and assuming you can solder, you get a boutique quality pedal. I have the MKII clone and it's great! They offer big muff clones (different versions), ratt clones, fuzz face etc; __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

May 5th, 2008, 02:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,129	'nother vote for a RAT. Very versatile.

May 5th, 2008, 05:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
hwestman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 368	RAT is great! GT-OD too. Both give nice thick focused od. Another IMHO overlooked box for fuzzy but focused overdrive is the Tech21 Comptortion...

May 6th, 2008, 01:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
TeleBrew Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kittredge, Colorado Age: 36 Posts: 878	I had a GT-OD and wasn't impressed. I still say the Voodoo Lab Superfuzz does many different things very well. It'll cost more than $80, though. __________________ "Where do you fit in pthtttpt magazine?" - Pete Townshend

May 6th, 2008, 10:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
Telegazer Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: Republic of Korea Posts: 106 9 Photos	One more thumb up for the RAT, it will bridge the gap between distortion and fuzz quite nicely.

May 9th, 2008, 06:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
winny pooh Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South London Posts: 1,612 7 Photos	Haven't yet tried a rat but the humble Boss ds-1 is worthy of consideration for hot yet crisp rhythm stuff. __________________ my afro ambient side project: http://www.myspace.com/theswyambusessions

May 10th, 2008, 06:36 PM	#17 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,492 6 Photos	Do you want another fuzz pedal, or a distortion pedal? Because if you like the LBM but just find it a little too dark and boomy you might want to check out the NYC Big Muff RI. The LBM is the darkest of the Muffs (), so if you want just a bit more treble then that might be an option. For more of a distortion pedal I'd actually recommend the Dano FAB Distortion pedal. It has a ton of gain on tap, does distortion to fuzz, and is dirt cheap (<$15). The circuit is based off of the old Maxon D&S pedal. It can at least give you an idea of where you want to go. __________________