Big Muff Enthusiests... (NYC content)

[StevenJM]

I bought a big muff last night off of a guy on the local Craigslist for $35.

I thought it looked older so I figured it'd be worth the $35 even if I was wrong. When I got home and opened it up, i did some research, and found that its the 1st issue EC3003 (no letter afterwards). It has the older pointer knobs. So I was able to determine that it was made for only a few months in 2000 before they changed the circuit board to the EC3003A.

Im wondering if I have anything of value here, or is it just a cool, kind of rare $35 pedal?

[devnulljp]

Is it EH3003? Does it have transistors or opamps?
Either way, it's worth way more than $35. Good score.
If it has transistors, it's a transitional v3 -- a ram's head muff in the red/black box --- worth somewhere between $300 and $500.
If it has op amps, it's a v4 or v5 (depending on whether it has Tone Bypass or not) and was worth about $90 until Billy Corgan said he used one on Siamese Dream. I haven't seen one sell for less than $300 since then.
Well done. You are now required to buy at least a dozen other vintage Big Muffs

Post pics...

v3 looks like this (and you'll notice the knob positions are all over the place, because of the angles the pots are soldered to the board) -- this is a later one with 1977 pot codes. Earlier ones tend to have a darker board. I like those a lot -- especially the PNP version with 2n5087 transistors (rare).

[StevenJM]

It's an EC3003 which apparently was only made for a few months in 2000. I'll take some pics tonight and have you guys look at it.

Oh, and it uses transistors.

[devnulljp]

Ah, sorry I read that wrong. OK, not vintage then, just off-the-wall EHX.
Trannies are likely BC550s or 2N5088s with 1N4148 diodes. Those were designed by Fran
AFAIK, they're pretty close in spec to the v6 -- the Mudhoney muff.
Bet it sounds good, and def worth $35

Loads of info here: http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_hi ... ml#reissue

[StevenJM]

Yea that's where I got all my info from...

I wasnt sure if because it was the first 2000 "reissue" model with the old knobs if it was worth anything. I saw someone selling the same one with an asking price of $225 on eBay, but I wasn't sure if that guy is nuts or if maybe its worth that...

But I'm guessing that guy is just nuts haha.

$35 is fine with me, then I won't feel dumb putting Velcro on the bottom and throwing it on my pedalboard.

[devnulljp]

^I've seen that one -- that guy is on crack.

[Officer Bukowski]

Hey Dev - quick slightly off topic question..

Do you have any tips for cleaning one of the small Alpha slider switches used on old EHX pedals? The switch on my Memory Man isn't working too well.

[snipelfritz]

You don't happen to live in Milwaukee do you? Cause there was a muff for $35 or something like that up the other day.

[devnulljp]

Hey Dev - quick slightly off topic question..

Do you have any tips for cleaning one of the small Alpha slider switches used on old EHX pedals? The switch on my Memory Man isn't working too well.

Do it carefully. I've revived a bunch of old EHX this way...prise the tabs open, lift out the plastic block, clean and re-tension the metal clips and put it back together. I've only ruined one switch that way. You can always just replace it though if you don't mind the vintage original thing. They even carry those switches at my local ratshack for about a buck.

[StevenJM]

You don't happen to live in Milwaukee do you? Cause there was a muff for $35 or something like that up the other day.

Yep, I'm in Milwaukee. That was the one I bought.

[Officer Bukowski]

Hey Dev - quick slightly off topic question..

Do you have any tips for cleaning one of the small Alpha slider switches used on old EHX pedals? The switch on my Memory Man isn't working too well.

Do it carefully. I've revived a bunch of old EHX this way...prise the tabs open, lift out the plastic block, clean and re-tension the metal clips and put it back together. I've only ruined one switch that way. You can always just replace it though if you don't mind the vintage original thing. They even carry those switches at my local ratshack for about a buck.

Thanks Dev! I knew you were the right guy to ask!

[edkoppel]

Of the reissues, that is the one to have.
The "Frantone" Muff is what its known as to a lot of people. They actually sound pretty sweet.

[Chankgeez]

Of the reissues, that is the one to have.
The "Frantone" Muff is what its known as to a lot of people. They actually sound pretty sweet.

Yeah, totally off topic, but I like Fran's designs.

I've got a The Sweet and a Cream Puff and they both sound pretty awesome.

[StevenJM]

Cool... Thanks for all the info on this. I use a black Russian muff on my board now but wanted to try the NYC model and thought maybe I got lucky.

Maybe these early "frantone" EC3003 models will jump in value someday. But until then, it's going on my board.