But they never called the Metal Muff a Metal Big Muff.

I don’t really get the Metal Muff.  IMO if you get the right model Big Muff, it’s METAL in the first place.  But then my favorite metal bands are KARP and Black Sabbath.

Anyways, the Germanium Muff DOES have 4 transistors, and I think the tone stack is probably a Big Muff Tone stack.  So maybe that’s enough to call it a Big Muff?

i agree. everything thats called a big muff so far IS a big muff. everything else is either just “_____ muff” or something completely different. i dont think i make any sense

julian - 08 August 2010 10:26 PM

Anyways, the Germanium Muff DOES have 4 transistors, and I think the tone stack is probably a Big Muff Tone stack.  So maybe that’s enough to call it a Big Muff?

It is actually not a BMP tone stack, nor does there appear to be much similarity in the circuits, or the sound for that matter. I think the designer, Bob Myer (also the original BMP the designer), just went for a big Germanium sounding fuzz pedal, and with the added orverdrive section EHX probably thought it qualified as being in the Big Muff family, but its a GERMANIUM Big Muff - a new class of Big Muff. Or at least that’s how I took it. It could have been strictly a marketing decision to use the name, but I tend to think more care went into the decision to do it.

ooh i see. i have yet to see the circuit/ hear one in person :cry: so im going strictly off of speculation haha

Kitrae - 08 August 2010 11:20 PM

julian - 08 August 2010 10:26 PM

Anyways, the Germanium Muff DOES have 4 transistors, and I think the tone stack is probably a Big Muff Tone stack.  So maybe that’s enough to call it a Big Muff?

It is actually not a BMP tone stack, nor does there appear to be much similarity in the circuits, or the sound for that matter. I think the designer, Bob Myer (also the original BMP the designer), just went for a big Germanium sounding fuzz pedal, and with the added orverdrive section EHX probably thought it qualified as being in the Big Muff family, but its a GERMANIUM Big Muff - a new class of Big Muff. Or at least that’s how I took it. It could have been strictly a marketing decision to use the name, but I tend to think more care went into the decision to do it.

thanks for the info kitrae!

No matter how you want to look at it, these are all kick a$$ pedals. The Germanium is totally organic and it has total variability. The ability to stack 4 NKT 275 germanium chips is pretty amazing.

The 44 Magnum not only has a nice power but when the drive is pushed to clip, the sound is really musical.

The NEO Clone sounds spot on to the original Small Clone.

The Freeze just gives smooth sonic options that allow you more freedom and creativity. You can continuously capture new transitions that take on their own life.

Rick Stevenson (EHX Staff) - 09 August 2010 11:15 AM

No matter how you want to look at it, these are all kick a$$ pedals. The Germanium is totally organic and it has total variability. The ability to stack 4 NKT 275 germanium chips is pretty amazing.

The 44 Magnum not only has a nice power but when the drive is pushed to clip, the sound is really musical.

The NEO Clone sounds spot on to the original Small Clone.

The Freeze just gives smooth sonic options that allow you more freedom and creativity. You can continuously capture new transitions that take on their own life.

spot on

So I got my germanium muff today while I was in my first day of studio time with my band.

I will try and find some way to find a spot for it in my chain during this recording session.

All my equipment is at the studio and I can’t try it out until then.

I’m hoping I can use it, because my Germanium OD pedal is way too noisey for studio work, but man my little big muff has stepped up. The fuzz tone is incredible… Its like I haven’t heard it before.

I’m hoping to squeeze in some of the new germanium muff in this session.

Trae3ab - 09 August 2010 11:18 PM

So I got my germanium muff today while I was in my first day of studio time with my band.

I will try and find some way to find a spot for it in my chain during this recording session.

All my equipment is at the studio and I can’t try it out until then.

I’m hoping I can use it, because my Germanium OD pedal is way too noisey for studio work, but man my little big muff has stepped up. The fuzz tone is incredible… Its like I haven’t heard it before.

 

I’m hoping to squeeze in some of the new germanium muff in this session.

nice! do let us know how it works out!
:rawk:
germaium od + big muff sounds so nice.

Trae3ab - 09 August 2010 11:18 PM

So I got my germanium muff today while I was in my first day of studio time with my band.

I will try and find some way to find a spot for it in my chain during this recording session.

All my equipment is at the studio and I can’t try it out until then.

I’m hoping I can use it, because my Germanium OD pedal is way too noisey for studio work, but man my little big muff has stepped up. The fuzz tone is incredible… Its like I haven’t heard it before.

 

I’m hoping to squeeze in some of the new germanium muff in this session.

The Germanium4 is very flexible. The possibilities are much more than the normal OD setup. Just the fact that you stack the OD with the Distortion using 4 germanium chips is huge. It is just a matter of interacting the controls. The Bias etc…everything makes a difference.

Also the Overdrive and distortion and really different. Learning each individually really gives many recording and performance ideas.

friedjesseradio - 20 May 2010 07:52 PM

HOLY CRAP MAN! those dates are definitely calendar-worthy. although i cant be in nashville then, i will definitely be watching this forum for your picture posts. and i better see those pictures!

HOLY Crap MAN????? Hilarious

Rick Stevenson (EHX Staff) - 10 August 2010 11:36 AM

The Germanium4 is very flexible. The possibilities are much more than the normal OD setup. Just the fact that you stack the OD with the Distortion using 4 germanium chips is huge. It is just a matter of interacting the controls. The Bias etc…everything makes a difference.

Also the Overdrive and distortion and really different. Learning each individually really gives many recording and performance ideas.

Yes, you really need to invest a few hours in playing with the G4BM to hear the full potential, and I suggest trying each side out individually to find the best settings, then mess around with combining them together in different settings. Setting everything to 12:00 and playing with it for 5 minutes in a music store won’t really tell you much.

Looking at just the overdrive it, it is pretty good compared to some of my other overdrive pedals like the modded Boss BD-2 and Tube Driver. It does not get really heavy, but no need for that in this pedal when you have the distortion side going along with it. For my rig I have found the tone needs to be completely on the bass side for the OD I like. Another thing I have found - this overdrive is a great booster for a NYC Big Muff or Little Big Muff, either before or after it in the signal chain. Dial the BMP sustain about 30% or so, tone around 45% and drive it with the G4BM overdrive side - gain on full, bias at 70%, tone on 0. You can kick in the G4BM distortion side too for some added dirt, but it takes some messing with the controls on that side to get a good sound with the BMP.

I am still messing with the distortion side of the G4BM to find the tone I like best. Lots of good Fuzz Face type tones to be had here by changing the bias and volts knob, but it really sounds best in conjunction with the OD side. All alone the distortion is great for some vintage fuzz tones, but not quite screaming over the top like a vintage Fuzz Face. That’s where the OD comes in and takes it into that territory.

I am getting some killer tones through my Reeves Custom 50 with this pedal.

dunno if y’all saw this yet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVtwsGf67sk

Here is another good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByzOAJsrPCY&NR=1

I just ordered a Germanium4 Big Muff, can’t wait to hear what this baby can do!