Hello:
If I had to choose anything between Sovtek and USA Big Muff… I’d say: both!.
I mean:
About Russian Muffs: My favorite is the Sovtek “Military Green” Big Muff despite I consider it has more distortion character than fuzz so it sounds more clear and defined even with palm muting, I have one of these and it’s an essential piece of my guitar sound… of course, played through a Sovtek MiG amp it’s really outstanding.
But also I have a good feeling to Black Russian Muffs. I use a late-version of the Black Russian, but for bass guitar (I don’t like it too much with guitar), which is really killer!
About NYC/USA RI’s:
I own early 2000’s (“pointer-knobs with Carling-type switch) and later ones (“round-knobs and hex-nut type switch). I’ve used extensively for almost ten years and despite they sound similar, I’ve noticed that early RI’s have a slightly wider range of tone control comparing to later RI’s.
I’ve heard that using Big Muff it’s difficult to “cut through the band’s mix” due its mid-scooped sound curve, but there’s nothing you can’t solve if you overwhelm your band sometimes to make them clear that Big Muff rules! (laughs).
It takes some time to get the settings as tone and volume controls interact with each other while you add more or less sustain… but there are lots of possibilities.
... And how amazing is to place two Big Muff in series (even more laughs)?
Keep on Big Muffin’
Regards.
Nacho
