The Electro-Harmonix English Muff'n is a tube-driven overdrive and preamp pedal, built around a dual vacuum tube preamp rather than transistors or chips. Electro-Harmonix describes it as taking its roots from legendary British guitar amps and recreating their tone, and the name is a nod to the company's own Big Muff, the classic overdrive pedal of the 1970s12. It was reviewed in 2005 at a list price of $2982, and Electro-Harmonix now marks it as discontinued as of 20211.
The English Muff'n ships with a 12-volt AC power supply, which sets it apart from most pedals. Plan its place on a board around the supplied adapter rather than assuming a standard pedal supply will work.
The controls: Volume, Gain and three-band EQ
The pedal keeps its face simple: Volume and Gain, plus a three-band EQ with Low, Mid and High knobs24. Vintage Guitar's 2005 review lists the controls as "Volume, Gain, and High, Mid, and Low tone," alongside true-bypass footswitches, status LEDs and a heavy-duty steel chassis2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets drive: MusicRadar says it dials in "anything from a warm, bluesy breakup, to a balls-out metallic roar"3 |
| Volume | Sets output level2 |
| Low | Three-band EQ, low shelf3 |
| Mid | Three-band EQ, midrange3 |
| High | Three-band EQ, treble32 |
On the sound, MusicRadar's verdict was that "This is a great throwback to some classic Brit rock tones"3. Premier Guitar, placing the pedal in context, counted the English Muff'n among the tube preamp pedals that "popped up in the decades that followed" earlier designs like the Mesa/Boogie V-Twin4.
Tubes and power: swapping tubes, the AC supply
The English Muff'n ships with a 12-volt AC power supply in that handy plywood box2. It uses tubes that can be swapped to change the character: substituting an Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 gives more gain and distortion, while an Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 gives less31.
The English Muff'n is driven by two 12AX7-family valves32, shipped as two Electro-Harmonix 6072A/12AY7 preamp tubes protected by an anodized shield2. Because the tubes are part of the circuit, the tone can be reshaped by swapping them:
- Stock: two E-H 6072A/12AY7 preamp tubes2
- More gain: substitute an Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 for more gain and distortion1
- Less gain: substitute an Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 for less gain and distortion1
Power comes from a 12-volt AC supply, which the pedal shipped with in its plywood box32. That AC requirement is the main practical difference from Electro-Harmonix's current overdrive line, such as the Hot Tubes Nano or Spruce Goose, which run from ordinary pedalboard power. For players exploring overdrive pedals with real tubes inside, the English Muff'n remains the reference point for how far a tube swap can change a pedal's character.
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Questions
Is the English Muff'n related to the Big Muff?
The name is a nod to it. MusicRadar notes that the English Muff'n name is a reference to the Big Muff, Electro-Harmonix's classic overdrive pedal of the 1970s. The two circuits are different, though: the English Muff'n is a tube-driven overdrive and preamp aimed at British amp tones, while the Big Muff is a fuzz. Electro-Harmonix still lists the Big Muff family, such as the Triangle Big Muff Pi, alongside its current overdrives.
Can you change the tubes in the English Muff'n?
Yes. The pedal ships with two Electro-Harmonix 6072A/12AY7 preamp tubes, and the maker says you can substitute an Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 for more gain and distortion, or a 12AU7 for less gain and distortion. The tubes sit behind an anodized shield, so swapping them means opening the pedal rather than pulling them through the chassis.
What power supply does the EHX English Muff'n need?
It ships with a 12-volt AC power supply, as Vintage Guitar noted in its 2005 review. That is unusual next to standard 9-volt DC pedal supplies, so it will not share a normal daisy-chain or battery setup. Use the supplied adapter or a supply that matches its AC requirement.
Is the English Muff'n discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix marks the English Muff'n as discontinued on its product page as of 2021. It was reviewed when new in 2005 at a list price of $298, and it now turns up on the used market rather than in current retail lines.
Is the English Muff'n true bypass?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix specifies true bypass using a mechanical relay, and Vintage Guitar's 2005 review also lists true-bypass footswitches among its features, along with a heavy-duty steel chassis and status LEDs.
Sources (4)
- English Muff'n, Electro-Harmonix
- Electro-Harmonix Pog and English Muff’n pedals, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2007-09-05
- Electro-Harmonix English Muff'n review, MusicRadar, 2007-12-11
- Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Drive Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-12-23
