The Stomp Under Foot Ultra 47 Ram's Head is a limited edition fuzz pedal built on a rare 1973-1974 Ram's Head version of the Big Muff circuit. Stomp Under Foot's Matthew Pasquerella describes it as very similar in character to the 2247, but with large-value capacitors used throughout the entire circuit, producing what he calls "a surprisingly massive sound that never becomes muddy."1
The Ram's Head circuit and the Big Muff lineage
The Ram's Head is one of the many versions of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff fuzz that players and builders have cataloged over the years, and Stomp Under Foot has built its reputation on recreating specific vintage versions of that circuit. The Ultra 47 takes its starting point from a rare 1973-1974 Ram's Head circuit. Pasquerella writes that after discovering it, he "kept the character of the original, made a few tweaks and added a mids control for more flexibility," building a small run in the Vintage Mini format. His verdict on the result: "It remains one of the most impressive Big Muff circuits I have ever played."1
The added mids control is the main departure from the stock vintage voicing. Stomp Under Foot explains how to use it1:
"For the original Ultra 47 classic mid-scooped sound, use the 47 symbol on the mids control as your starting point."1
Up from the 47 mark adds mids; down from it deepens the scoop.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mids | The 47 symbol is the starting point for the classic mid-scooped sound; up from 47 adds mids, down gives a deeper scoop1 |
Power and switching
The Ultra 47 runs on a 9V battery or a 2.1mm 9V adapter only, and it switches with true bypass.1
The maker specifies a 2.1mm 9V adapter only, so check your supply's plug size and polarity before powering it from a pedalboard brick.
Related Stomp Under Foot fuzzes
Stomp Under Foot builds a wide range of Big Muff-based and original fuzzes, including the Ram's Head, Violet Menace Ram's Head, Green Russian, Civil War, Op-Amp Fuzz and Sonic Generator, among many others1.
Questions
Is the Stomp Under Foot Ultra 47 true bypass?
Yes. Stomp Under Foot lists the Ultra 47 Ram's Head as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the fuzz circuit loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where fuzzes sit early in the chain, since a non-true-bypass circuit can dull the signal going to the rest of your pedals.
Does the Ultra 47 run on a battery?
Yes. Stomp Under Foot specifies a 9V battery or a 2.1mm 9V adapter only. Use a center-negative supply rated for the pedal and avoid daisy-chaining it with pedals that expect different power, since the maker calls out the 2.1mm 9V adapter as the only adapter option.
What size is the Ultra 47 Ram's Head?
The Ultra 47 is built in Stomp Under Foot's Vintage Mini format, a smaller enclosure than a full-size pedal. That makes it easier to fit alongside other pedals on a crowded board while keeping the hand-built approach the maker uses.
What does the 47 mark on the mids control mean?
Stomp Under Foot says the 47 symbol on the mids control is the starting point for the original Ultra 47 classic mid-scooped sound. Turning up from 47 adds mids, and turning down from it gives a deeper scoop, so the control lets you dial in either the stock voicing or something fuller or more scooped.
Is the Ultra 47 Ram's Head a limited edition?
Yes. Stomp Under Foot marks the Ultra 47 Ram's Head as a limited edition. The maker describes it as a small run built after discovering the rare 1973-1974 circuit it is based on, so availability depends on when the builder produces runs.
Where is the Ultra 47 Ram's Head made?
Stomp Under Foot lists the Ultra 47 Ram's Head as handmade in the U.S.A. The maker builds its pedals by hand, and the Ultra 47 is described as a small run in the Vintage Mini format.
Sources (1)
- ULTRA 47 RAM'S HEAD MUFF, Stomp Under Foot
