Electro-Harmonix Releases a Big Muff That Was Shelved in the 1970s

In the late 1970s, Electro-Harmonix designer Bob Myers worked up a dual op-amp fuzz circuit that never saw production. Company founder Mike Matthews heard it, decided it veered too far from the familiar Big Muff voicing, and shelved it. The schematic sat unknown until Josh Scott of JHS Pedals unearthed a hand-drawn version while researching the book Made On Earth For Rising Stars: The Electro-Harmonix Story. Now that circuit gets a commercial release as the Big Muff Pi 2.

Housed in a compact Nano enclosure, the pedal adds a dual-action footswitch that works in standard latching mode or as a momentary burst of dirt. The sound is instantly identifiable as a Muff but trades the usual mid scoop for a fuller center and more low-end weight. The texture is gritty and heavy, voiced for riffs that need extended sustain rather than subtle cleanup—rolling back the volume knob won’t smooth things out here.

The Pi 2 is not a replacement for the op-amp Muff famously used by Billy Corgan; it has a different clipping arrangement and an extra gain stage. Its release reflects a broader shift in how players and builders approach fuzz. Where Matthews once heard a wrong turn, today’s market sees a useful, aggressive alternative.