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gestaltito wrote:Good luck on that mod!
I just opened mine yesterday and freaked out!! it doesn't look like the picture above, it's just those futuristic-micro-components, think I'll leave mine as it is .

That's the main problem with all the new stuff. Tone Wicker's the same way -- all SMC -- so you can't mod it or repair it. Big turn off.

Modding SMD is no different in principal to modding anything else. It just requires different tools like a good magnifying glass and tweezers. I modified my LBM with regular thru hole components, its not a problem.

Spiteface wrote:Actually, I have another question to add to this, I was gonna start a thread anyway.

I own an NYC Big Muff, and a Little Big Muff, bought new when they first came out in 2006/2007 (I think)

Mine, has the knobs in the wrong order, like this:



Compared to:



As I understand it, the earlier die-cast LBMs had the reverse order as seen in the top pic, like mine. Then eventually this was rectified into the "correct" order as seen on the NYC model.

Does anyone know of any actual differences in sound between the early ones and the later ones? I'm asking because I also saw this:

Version 10 "LITTLE" BIG MUFF (circa 2006) - Sonically the Little Big Muff sounds very similar to the NYC reissue V9, but a bit brighter and a bit less bottom end to the sound. A great Muff tone. Some people say this sounds like the Ram's Head Muff, but not like any Ram's Head Muff I have ever played, and I have played a bunch.

taken from This summary. Mine defnitely sounds different to my NYC, firmly in the Muff family, but not like the NYC, and mine seems louder than the NYC. I actually have a BYOC Large Beaver Kit I intend to build to Ram's Head spec, but this might change that decision.

Now the general consensus of this thread is interesting because my muff experience is contradictory... My Little Big Muff (XO) appears to be one of the first ones with the reverse knob order, pointed out by Spiteface. It is easily the bassiest muff i have ever played (Sovtek green, Russian black, V3/4/5 BMP, NYC Reissue, Bass Big Muff). I recall many reviews by guitar and bass players ('07 & '08 reviews, harmony-central) stating the LBM had massive lows and would function well with bass. Yet there were one or two in there saying the lows were anemic..? My LBM also has crazy gain; I never turn sustain past 9 o'clock.

We know they changed the knob order, so I am inclined to wonder how many versions of the LBM are out there and how drastic the tone changes are? It appears the lengthy history of Big Muff Pi varations continues!

The first version's enclosure wasnt grounded, that and the knobs were around the wrong way were the only differences.
To ground the enclosure on the S/T/V ones just loosen the nut on the stomp switch, wrap a piece of wire around it (inside the enclosure) tighten it again then solder the other end of this wire to either jacks ground.
V2 of the LBM, the V/T/S ones, solved this problem.

Go out and grab any two big muffs of the exact same model made in the exact same year, both will sound different.

The reason the LBM sounds bassy, which it is but most people confuse boominess for bass, is because of the 100nF caps in the 2 clipping sections. Swap them for 1uF and it will still be bassy but it wont be boomy. The sovtek muffs, and some triangles and ramsheads (it varies as EHX had no consistency back then), have this problem also, they use .047uF caps (or .05uF in vintage muffs) in these two positions, a value far far to low for this.

queer wrote:The reason the LBM sounds bassy, which it is but most people confuse boominess for bass, is because of the 100nF caps in the 2 clipping sections. Swap them for 1uF and it will still be bassy but it wont be boomy.

But.. The LBM has no bass at all....

my LBM (original version) sounds like a bee in a box. which is great for that bee in a box sound. no bass what so ever.
did i mention it sound great for that bee in a box tone?

el

Blurillaz wrote:

queer wrote:The reason the LBM sounds bassy, which it is but most people confuse boominess for bass, is because of the 100nF caps in the 2 clipping sections. Swap them for 1uF and it will still be bassy but it wont be boomy.

But.. The LBM has no bass at all....

The RI is what particular one I'm talking about, it has plenty of bass....and boom!


And as far as the original IC and transistor LBM's goes I can show you how to adjust the tone (its pre set to buzz) so you have the "virtual tone knob" set to what ever you like from 0 to 10. You can adjust it so its like its on 12 o'clock or what ever you want. I can also show you how to set the sustain from 0-10, just ask if you need help.

You can also solder in trim pots so you can make the adjustments whenever, I can help you with that too if needed.

queer wrote:

Blurillaz wrote:

queer wrote:The reason the LBM sounds bassy, which it is but most people confuse boominess for bass, is because of the 100nF caps in the 2 clipping sections. Swap them for 1uF and it will still be bassy but it wont be boomy.

But.. The LBM has no bass at all....

The RI is what particular one I'm talking about, it has plenty of bass....and boom!

Yeah, the one in an XO enclosure.