Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi V9 EC3003-A (Frantone) Fuzz Distortion/Sustainer Pedal

This is the classic Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi Distortion/Sustainer fuzz pedal. It's the standard that others are judged upon. It's the thick fuzz distortion that's been used by anyone who has ever plugged a guitar into an amplifier.

This is one of the early V9 NYC Big Muff reissues, designed by Fran Blanche of Frantone. It is circuit revision EC3003-A, which is the first revision that had true bypass switching. This revision was made between 2000-2007. In 2007, EHX changed some of Fran’s specified components and values, and the Big Muff hasn’t been the same since.

Here's a rundown of the controls:

• SUSTAIN: This sets the gain level of the Big Muff. Turn it counter-clockwise to use the pedal as a tone-shaping overdrive. Turn it clockwise to add gobs of thicc distortion and square-wave fuzz.
• TONE: This is the EQ knob of the pedal. Turn it clockwise to add treble and to trim bass. Turn it counter-clockwise to increase bass and decrease treble.
• VOLUME: This is the output level of the Big Muff. Once the other knobs are set where you like, you can set the VOLUME to unity gain with your dry signal. Or you can crank the VOLUME to get a huge level boost, or to push your tube amp into natural overdrive. It gets loud!

This Big Muff is in good cosmetic condition. The electronics work perfectly. The pots, jacks and stomp switch are all clean and quiet. You can power this with a 9-volt battery or with a 9-volt power supply with a 3.5mm positive-tip phone plug.