The Big Muff may be a classic distortion design, but it is often too much of a good thing. The cascaded gain stages with the dual diode clipping will remove most of the dynamic range from the sound. This article is about trimming down the basic design to give back some of the dynamics, enhance transparency and make the pedal a more useful and versatile distortion/overdrive.
When I was designing the pcb for the Multi-Fuzz, which uses mosfet, germanium and silicon transistors, it occurred to me that I could build a simplified Big Muff on the same pcb, if I made a few additions to it. Since this has always been a project that I wanted to try, I made those changes and the mini-muff version was born.
It turned out to be a great project with some nice low gain overdrive sounds. It is perfect for adding just a bit of crunch to fatten up a guitar tone. The full schematic is available online for you to build on perfboard or stripboard, but you can order the Mini-Muff pcb to make construction easier.
Get the full schematic and parts list for this transistor overdrive.
Here is the prototype of the mini-muff pedal that I installed in an pedalbox that I recycled from an old project, which is why it has the Cheesetone decal on it.
I usually power this pedal with my standard AC power supply sent through a V-Doubler converter which provides a stable positive ground 9v supply needed for this circuit. (see image below)
I have also powered it with my rechargeable battery pack through the V-Doubler, and that works just as well.
Could this pcb also be used to build the FET Muff being one of your older projects?
The FET Muff has an audio mp3 on the AMZ main site which i dig verrrry much.
I love this site!!!!Keep up the inspiration!!!
If there’s no mp3 it didn’t happen!
Q: Could this pcb also be used to build the FET Muff?
A: The Fet Muff has 4 gain stages and there are only 3 available on this pcb.
-Jack
Jack,
What do you use to do your graphics on your pedals?
The graphics are clear decals. I print in reverse with a laser printer then transfer to the painted pedal. When thoroughly dry, I spray over the whole pedal with a clearcoat.
-Jack
Jack,
I should have asked. What kind of software do you use for your graphics on your pedals?
I’m using Paint Shop Pro, only because I have used it for years and am comfortable with it. I have an old version of Photoshop but don’t use it for graphics.
Hi Jack,
You can add a sustain stage?
You have a sustain schematic?
The sustain it could do with 2 stage boost muff?
It’s interesting a sustain without distortion…,next project?
Should not 47uF (c14 or c16 depending on version) be reversed, so that the negative side goes to -9v?
Joe, you are correct. C14 should have the negative side to the power supply input. Thanks for pointing it out!
I have corrected all of the schematics.
Best regards, Jack
OK, then I’m not completley lost
Think I will try this one out. Thanks for great site!
Best regards, J
Hey I recently did this pedal but when I plug it in my guitar signal goes through but only clean and it has this buzzing sound to it, I press the switch and the fuzz won’t engage, what did I do wrong?
One could just build a “standard” BMP with a bypass on one of the stages, no? Then you get both OD and classic BMP in one pedal.