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Big Muff Mods
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:48 am
by DallasLemonade
Hey everyone, im new to the forum so please cut me a little slack. Anyway, im thinking of modding my NYC reissue muff. any suggestions? preferably easy DIY mods, but i'd be willing to send it to someone to do it.
thanks.

Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:05 pm
by Scruffie
Heres a schematic for a mid scoop mod
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... t.gif.htmlGeneral Distortion Mods that you can apply to the Big Muff
http://www.diystompboxes.com/cnews/mods.htmlChanging the clipping diodes to Germaniums like 1N34A's might smooth it out...
Also look up the Creamy Dreamer Mod
To be honest the Big Muff is usually best left alone, if it ain't broke don't fix it... but more if it sounds good leave it alone.
If your in the U.K I can mod it for you if you don't want to carry them out yourself.
What do you want the mods to accomplish? do you just want lots of switchable options or too change the tone in a specific way?
Hope this is of use,
Scruffie.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:47 pm
by dragline
I agree with Scruffie, the stock NYC Big Muff tone is fine, and it just is what it is. If you want to shape the tone you are better off blending other pedals into it, a lot of people rate putting a ProCo Rat before it, or a - meh - Tubescreamer. Personally I ram one of Devi's Vintage Fuzz Masters into it's rear end and it suddenly becomes HUUUUUGGGGGEEEEE
I could just shit myself with joy, it's so good.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 2:34 pm
by ohsojayadeva
while the stock tone is good (For what it is) if you want to play live i always recommend a tone stack mod to even out the midrange. this prevents you from getting lost when things get going.
also, i hear changing the second set of diodes to germanium can create some really cool overtones in the sustain.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:54 pm
by Scruffie
Speaking of tone stock mods, a mod to switch the tone stack off (assuming your model has the tone stack, haven't checked) like the early models is a good idea for a mod if you don't have it then you can add it easily but make sure it's switchable
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... alNumber=1 heres the big muffs tone stack
Also you could add a clipping mod like this to it (or put a pot after the clipping to adjust the amount of clipping)
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main. ... alNumber=2
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:09 pm
by DallasLemonade
I'm mostly just looking to add more gain(if possible), bypass the tone circuit, and maybe have a switch for the midrange.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:24 pm
by Scruffie
In my posts you can work out which parts of the circuit are for the mid and tone and then add a switch to cut them, for more gain try using higher gain transistors (using a 3PDT you can toggle between 2 transistors)
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:40 pm
by ohsojayadeva
if more gain is what you want, look up the creamy dreamer mod - it involves bypassing 3 (i think, maybe 4) resistors for a ridiculous boost of gain, volume, and all the lovely noise that goes along with that.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:11 pm
by DallasLemonade
i've searched that a few times and still haven't gotten a direct link to schematics or anything. mostly just people talking about it...
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:59 pm
by ohsojayadeva
have you checked the BYOC forums? i remember it being well documented there.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:27 pm
by Scruffie
Check
www.freestompboxes.org too, I'l grab you the schematic though if you don't get it when I get back from ma festival on monday...
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:02 pm
by DallasLemonade
i'll try that and get back to you.
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:21 am
by Roseweave
I never thought about it much before, but it'd be cool if I could get way moe gain out of my little big muff. Would this be hard to do?
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:01 am
by loop
I love the tone bypass so much on my old muffs I put it in my clones.. I definitely recommend that mod. I'm thinking about doubling up the diodes in one of them, anyone tried that on muff?
Re: Big Muff Mods
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:41 pm
by DallasLemonade
inthe BYOC forums all i found was people putting the mod on the Large Beaver pedal. would these schematics work if i just leave out the rotary switch?