Electro-Harmonix Op Amp Big Muff: Classic Crunch Reimagined
With original late-70s Op-Amp Big Muffs fetching sky-high prices, Mike Matthews brings the power to the people with a reissue of this classic pedal at an affordable price. The EHX Op-Amp Big Muff Pi, also known as the IC or V4 Big Muff, faithfully recreates the original circuitry while adding practical enhancements like a compact die-cast chassis and true bypass switching.
The Op-Amp Big Muff gained fame thanks to Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, who used it on the iconic 1993 album Siamese Dream. Corgan himself praised the reissue, saying, “The magic’s still in the box, I can still get what I’m looking for!” This pedal relies on op-amps rather than transistors and features three gain stages instead of four, producing a distinctive sound.
Described by Big Muff collector and historian Kit Rae as offering “a huge, crushing Big Muff sound with more crunch,” this pedal is perfect for grungy, wall-of-sound distortion, heavy rhythm playing, and powerful leads. Add the EHX Op-Amp Big Muff to your rig and unleash the legendary crunch that has shaped countless rock anthems.