The JHS 73 Rams Head is a distortion/fuzz pedal from JHS Pedals that replicates the 1973 Rams Head version of the Big Muff, one of the most sought-after fuzz circuits ever made. JHS says the pedal "gets its name from the old EHX logo that was on the Big Muffs from this era," and the company built its replica with the same transistor type as the original unit in its own collection1. It sits in the same family of Big Muff-inspired designs as the JHS PackRat, which gathers several Big Muff eras into one pedal.
What it does to your sound
JHS describes the Rams Head character as having "a bit less gain and a pronounced mid scoop" than other Big Muff voicings1. That mid scoop, a dip in the middle frequencies, is what gives the Rams Head its thick, hollowed-out fuzz tone that lets chords sit under a band without crowding it. The company positions it as a pedal with uses well beyond one style: "If you love distortion and/or fuzz, you will find many uses for this extremely classic sound"1. For more on where this circuit sits, see Distortion Pedals and Fuzz Pedals.
The original: the 1973 Rams Head Big Muff
The Rams Head Big Muff was manufactured from 1973 to 19772. The versions that appeared in 1973 carried red, blue, purple or black graphics, with the ram's head logo in the bottom-right corner of the enclosure3. Collectors and builders track the Rams Head era across several versions: the "Black" version (V4), the "Orange" Big Muff (V13), and the beginning of the "47" series (V14)4.
The original was built in Manhattan, New York, by Electro-Harmonix1. Electro-Harmonix has since returned to the design itself: Kit Rae, writing on kitrae.net, noted that "Electro-Harmonix reissued a very good 1973 version of the pedal in 2019 that works perfectly for those tones"5, and the press covered that reissue as a "faithful reproduction of the highly coveted 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff"6. Rae's assessment of the reissued Ram's Head tone applies to the breed generally: "It's thick and dirty sounding and accurately captures the signature tone of many of those early to mid 1970s Ram's Head"7.
Who used it
JHS points to one player above all others: "Its most famous user was David Gilmour who religiously used it with Pink Floyd and on his solo recordings"1. Gilmour's use of Big Muffs from this era is a large part of why the Rams Head remains in demand, and why builders keep returning to the circuit.
Limited releases and where it was sold
The JHS 73 Rams Head was never a standard catalog pedal. JHS describes it as "a limited run pedal originally released in October 2013 and now re-released in March 2014"1. Distribution was narrow by design:
- Sold exclusively through Chicago Music Exchange1
- Released only in small batch quantities1
- Two runs in total: October 2013 and March 20141
Because both runs were small and exclusive to one dealer, the JHS 73 Rams Head does not appear in ordinary retail channels. Players looking for the Rams Head sound today will more likely encounter the Electro-Harmonix reissue of the 1973 circuit5 or other Big Muff-based designs such as the JHS The Violet.
Videos
Chicago Music Exchange
Reverb
Curtis Kent
Questions
What is the JHS 73 Rams Head based on?
It is a replica of the 1973 Rams Head version of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, the distortion/fuzz circuit produced from 1973 to 1977. JHS built the pedal around 5088 transistors, the same type it says the original 1973 Rams Head unit in its own collection uses, and voiced it with a bit less gain and a pronounced mid scoop compared with other Big Muff versions.
Why is it called the Rams Head?
The name comes from the old Electro-Harmonix logo that appeared on Big Muffs from that era, which featured a ram's head. The Rams Head Big Muffs that appeared in 1973 carried red, blue, purple or black graphics with the ram's head in the bottom-right corner of the enclosure.
What transistors does the JHS 73 Rams Head use?
JHS says the pedal uses 5088 transistors, the same as the original 1973 Rams Head Big Muff that JHS owns. Transistor choice is central to a Big Muff replica because the silicon transistors in each production era shape the gain and character of the circuit.
Was the JHS 73 Rams Head a limited edition?
Yes. JHS describes it as a limited run pedal, originally released in October 2013 and re-released in March 2014. The pedals were sold exclusively through Chicago Music Exchange and released only in small batch quantities.
Where was the JHS 73 Rams Head made?
The original 1973 Rams Head Big Muff that the pedal replicates was built in Manhattan, New York, by Electro-Harmonix. The JHS replica is made by JHS Pedals.
Sources (7)
- 73 RAMS HEAD, JHS Pedals
- The history of the big muff over time, anasounds.com, 2022-06-08
- Introducing the Electro-Harmonix J Mascis Ram's Head Big Muff Pi, MusicRadar, 2022-08-16
- 1973 Ram's Head, Stomp Under Foot, 2026-07-18
- David Gilmour Tone Building, Kit Rae (kitrae.net), 2019
- Best guitar effect pedals 2019: Our Top 6 by Strymon, ThorpyFX, EHX, Boss, Origin, Wampler, gearnews.com, 2019-12-27
- The Big Muff History of All Versions Part 1, Kit Rae (kitrae.net), 2024-04
