The JAM Pedals "Relic" Red Muck is a fuzz-distortion pedal with custom hand-painted artwork, part of JAM Pedals' limited artwork series1. Under the paint it is the Red Muck circuit: JAM Pedals describes it as a massive, musical fuzz-distortion inspired by the '71 Triangle and later Red Army/Civil War Muff circuits, spanning lyrical sustain, varied compression and huge stoner-fuzz walls while retaining a smoother, more authoritative voice than a straight Muff copy1.
The circuit combines those early Triangle and later Red Army/Civil War influences, covering singing sustain and dense saturation, and adds two things a stock Muff does not have: a footswitchable Boost section in front of the fuzz, and a toggle that switches between symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping1.
A one-of-a-kind artwork pedal
Every limited artwork pedal from JAM Pedals is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the Relic Red Muck is no exception: the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown1. The sound and the controls are the same as the standard Red Muck; only the paint varies from unit to unit.
The same circuit is available in other custom artwork versions with the same sound and different artwork, including the "Feline" Red Muck mk.2, the "Lunar Muck" Red Muck mk.2, the "White Mountaintops" Red Muck mk.2, the "Achenbach" Red Muck and the "Noufaro" Red Muck mk.21.
Among the players JAM Pedals quotes on the Red Muck is Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth1:
"The Red Muck immediately joined my pedal board. It is a great new favorite!"
Controls and footswitches
The Red Muck keeps the control set players expect from a Muff-style pedal, with three knobs doing the core work1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets output level |
| Tone | Shapes the frequency balance |
| Gain | Controls saturation |
There are two footswitches. The right footswitch engages the main fuzz effect. The left footswitch engages a separately tuned Boost section placed before the fuzz1.
The Boost section is the pedal's main departure from a standard Muff layout. JAM Pedals describes it as hitting the front of the fuzz for even thicker saturation, or working as a second high-gain stage when the main Gain control is set lower. An internal trimmer sets the Boost's level, so its strength is set once inside the enclosure rather than from a knob on top1.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping
A toggle switch selects between two clipping modes1:
- Symmetrical clipping: matches the Red Muck mk.1, for the response of the earlier version of the pedal.
- Asymmetrical clipping: a different response and harmonic texture, giving the pedal a second voice without any internal modification.
For a player comparing fuzz pedals, this is the practical difference between the Red Muck and a fixed-voicing Muff clone: one toggle moves the pedal between two clipping characters, and the Boost footswitch adds a third dimension of gain staging on top1.
Power, bypass and practical details
The Relic Red Muck runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug and draws 60 mA1. It is true bypass, so with both footswitches off the signal passes through the pedal without the circuit in the path1.
At 60 mA the Red Muck draws more current than many analog fuzz and distortion pedals. A low-current daisy chain output may not be adequate, so plan on a supply output that can deliver it.
JAM Pedals offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a refund no questions asked if the product is returned within 30 days of receipt1. For UK orders the pedal ships DDP, with 20% UK VAT and all duties included and no extra charges on delivery, and shipping is free1.
The bass version
Bass players get their own take on the same idea. The Red Muck Bass is a bass fuzz/distortion pedal whose circuit draws on the same '71 Triangle and later Red Army/Civil War designs, adding a smoother response, stronger mids and fat low end for bass2. Its controls match the guitar version: Level sets output, Tone shapes the response and Gain controls fuzz intensity2.
The bass version follows the same footswitch arrangement: the right footswitch engages the main effect, and the left engages a high-gain stage for instant additional saturation2. It is also true bypass2, and it comes in one-of-a-kind custom artwork versions of its own, including the "Achenbach" Red Muck Bass and "Brown" Red Muck Bass, with the same sound and different artwork2.
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Questions
Is the Relic Red Muck a one-of-a-kind pedal?
Yes. JAM Pedals describes every limited artwork pedal as a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the Relic Red Muck carries custom hand-painted artwork. The pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown on the product page, while the circuit and controls are the same as the standard Red Muck.
What is the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping on the Red Muck?
A toggle on the pedal selects between two clipping modes. Symmetrical clipping matches the response of the Red Muck mk.1. Asymmetrical clipping gives a different response and harmonic texture, letting you choose between the earlier pedal's character and an alternative voice without opening the enclosure.
What does the Boost footswitch do on the Red Muck?
The left footswitch engages a separately tuned Boost section placed before the fuzz. It hits the front of the fuzz for thicker saturation, or works as a second high-gain stage when the main Gain control is set lower. An internal trimmer sets the Boost's level.
Is the Red Muck true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the Relic Red Muck as true bypass, so with both footswitches disengaged the signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. The bass version of the Red Muck is also true bypass.
Is there a bass version of the Red Muck?
Yes. The Red Muck Bass is a bass fuzz/distortion pedal that brings the same Triangle and Red Army/Civil War Muff-inspired weight to bass, with a smoother response, stronger mids and fat low end. It is also available in one-of-a-kind custom artwork versions such as the Achenbach and Brown Red Muck Bass.
What power does the Red Muck need?
It runs on 9V DC with a centre-negative plug and draws 60 mA. That current draw is high enough that a typical battery or a low-current daisy chain output may not suit it, so a dedicated 9V supply is the practical choice.
Sources (2)
- “Relic” Red Muck, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Relic” Red Muck Bass, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
