Electro-Harmonix Unveils Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi

October 18, 2019 · 7 sources

Electro-Harmonix announced the Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi, a reissue of one of the most sought-after eras of its long-running fuzz pedal, dated 2019 on the maker’s product page¹. The pedal is an analog Fuzz / Distortion / Sustainer with three controls, an effect status LED and a 9V battery included, in an enclosure measuring 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1 inches¹.

The Ram’s Head name refers to the second generation of the Big Muff Pi. The first generation, known as the "triangle knob" version for its control layout, was produced from roughly 1969 through 1972/73, and after that the pedal was updated to the model players call Ram’s Head²³. The original circuit was designed by Bob Myer and Mike Matthews in 1969, and several versions and reissues have been released over the years⁴.

The controls follow the classic Big Muff layout:

• Volume: sets the output level
• Tone: provides a range of sounds from high treble to deep bass
• Sustain: adjusts the amount of sustain and distortion⁵

The circuit behind the Ram’s Head is the classic four-transistor Big Muff design, built from an input booster, a clipping stage, a passive tone control and an output booster, with silicon diodes providing symmetric clipping⁴. Electro-Harmonix describes the Big Muff Pi family as delivering "Singing sustain with attitude" and "Crushing distortion," and says it has been "Revered by contemporary guitarists and rock legends for its rich, creamy, violin-like sustain"⁵. Mike Matthews once described the Big Muff circuit as fuzz through robust filters².

The Ram’s Head reissue draws 2mA and runs on the included 9V battery¹. Its smaller enclosure sets it apart from the current standard Big Muff Pi, which measures 5.5 x 2.95 x 6.88 inches, draws 3mA, and lists at $101.60⁵.

The Ram’s Head circuit has since had a second official outing: in 2022 Electro-Harmonix released the J Mascis Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi, based on what the maker calls "the highly coveted 1973 Electro-Harmonix V2 Violet Ram’s Head Big Muff," in the same 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1 inch enclosure and also drawing 2mA⁶.

Guitar World’s reviewer, writing about the Big Muff Pi line, called it "the definitive fuzz pedal, blending iconic tone, simplicity, and reliability"⁷.