Tym Fuzz Munchkin - Has anyone figured out the components?

[KaosCill8r]

Fuzz Dogs Pedal Parts in the UK has a Big Muff pi kit build. In the built doc there is a version called V3 79#2 J Mascis that lists the component values if that helps any.

[Gracehoper]

After looking into the matter it seems that people in the know (Kit Rae, Matt from SUF) more than hint that Mascis' Ram's Head doesn't sound like other Ram's Heads because... it essentially isn't a Ram's Head. Not what most people understand by Ram's Head anyway. Instead the circuit seems to be very, very similar to that of the V3 and V6 (those two are essentially the same).

However, the circuit in J's Big Muff is actually rather common, using the exact same component values as the standard V6 Big Muff from 1978-1984. EHX had become somewhat consistent with component value selection by this time, and seemed to be staying with a certain sound for the Muff. The same values were also used in a late model version 2 circuit variant, and the rare "tone bypass" version 3, made circa 1976.

I found an 80s Black and Red to be the same as the Ram's Head J. Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. uses. I think this is a very rare moment in Electro-Harmonix history where there was some sort of consistency in making the muffs.

So if you want Masics tone on the cheap you can look for a clone of the V3 or V6 (as mentioned earlier SUF's The Pi is cool though going out of production). Or an original V6, they aren't all that expensive.

And then you just have to go get a pre-CBS Jazzmaster, a 60s Marshall Super Bass amp and a 70s Marshall cabinet. Yup, Mascis tone on the cheap.

[Uncle Grandfather]

And then you just have to go get a pre-CBS Jazzmaster, a 60s Marshall Super Bass amp and a 70s Marshall cabinet. Yup, Mascis tone on the cheap.

J records with telecaster and p90 equipped gibsons with a fender Princeton amp.

[Gracehoper]

And then you just have to go get a pre-CBS Jazzmaster, a 60s Marshall Super Bass amp and a 70s Marshall cabinet. Yup, Mascis tone on the cheap.

J records with telecaster and p90 equipped gibsons with a fender Princeton amp.

Yeah, I know. At least on the later albums. So we can add a late 50s tele, a Les Paul Junior and a bunch of smaller Fender amps to the list of "Mascis tone on the cheap"...


But my point still stands. V3 or V6 Big Muffs would be a good bet if you like the sound of Mascis' Big Muff.


EDIT: Oh yeah, an Op Amp Big Muff (a Deluxe if you wanna get really specific about it) for the BM sound of the first two Dinosaur albums.

[D.o.S.]

And you have to make sure to record it in a closet full of pillows at exactly 11:15 in the morning with just the right amount of sunlight peaking through an otherwise cloudy day.

[imJonWain]

while wearing all purple robes

[Chankgeez]

... and smokin' somethin' w/ purple hairs in it.

[Holy Schnikes]

There was a Fuzz Munchkin on eBay recently for like $1100 and Tym was like "Don't buy that or if u do I'll make u one for that price and donate everything over retail to a children's music charity" or something along those lines. Good guy.

[Kitrae]

Instead the circuit seems to be very, very similar to that of the V3 and V6 (those two are essentially the same

Not any V3, just the tone bypass version, which was exactly the same circuit as the V6, only on the larger V2/V3 sized pcb. Those TB V3's are very hard to find though. The V6 is easy to find. They are on ebay all the time for $200-250.

J is very, very protective about that circuit, so don't lump all the blame on Tym.

I don't think he cares that people know what it is, he was just trying to find a good replica that sounded the same to take on the road. As I recall, after I mentioned Matt and SUF to him in 2011, he immediately sent his original to Matt to make a clone. I don't think the TYM retail version had even started shipping yet, so he was still on the hunt for a more accurate sounding clone. Had I known what the circuit was at the time, I would have just told him to try out some V6 Muffs. From what I understand, he was happy with the one Matt made him though.

[Boxbie]

Hi Kitrae!

[Justinm1789]

Kitrae, I LUFF your website. BIG LUFF for your website. I like to browse it while I'm eating apple PI(e), or some PI(e) VARIANT.


..kill me.

[Justinm1789]

I immediately regretted that post, but it's staying there for posterity.

[Chankgeez]

Well, it cracked me up & you got Kit Rae to post in your thread. That's always a good thing.

[The Mad Titan]

I had one.
It's riveted closed like all tym's stuff. You can't get it open without drilling out the rivets and then yeah, you'd have to re-rivet it.
Knowing the rarity and resale value etc I doubt anybodies gonna be doing that any time soon.
Also Tim is a really stand up guy and I don't think anybody wants to disrespect what he's doing by tracing his stuff what with what he does for the local scene and Australian musicians.
Doesn't look like you'll have much luck

WTF? The weren't even his mods to the original Muff, he was just lucky enough to repair it and get a peek. I don't know who this tym is, but fuck him and hiz rivitz.

[crochambeau]

Some enclosure types are simpler to assemble with rivets than other hardware. I find them annoying too, but it's not a fucking chastity belt.

It would be one thing if he's sanding/repainting parts to steer people wrong, but choice of rivets in the assembly stage could be harmless (and save him time).