Dazatronyx's Darren creates the ultimate Multi-Muff pedal with his killer comprehensive breadboarding style Big Fuzz Console

Each of the 4 Muff Gain Stages is headed by a 6-way Transistor Selector, which has these default options :

• 2N2222A [Socket]
• BC337-25
• BC547B
• BC547C
• 2N5088
• 2N5089

"For each of the 4 transistors, there are 6 device selection options. There are internal screw-terminal sockets to experiment with finding your own NPN transistors to install and test. Units are sent out with metal-can (TO-18 package) 2N2222A installed in the sockets. Using that, you could even try installing a germanium-silicon hybrid combination. Particularly with germanium in Q2 and Q3."

Each Gain Stage is accompanies by a combination of 6 x 3-way Capacitor and Resistor Options - where you can experiment with different combinations of component values.

For Stage 1 these are :

[C = Capacitor] [R = Resistor]

Collector 1 R13 : 10K / 33K / 15K

Emitter 1 R22 : 100Ω / 820Ω / 390Ω

HPF 1 C1 : 220n / 100n, 1μ

Miller 1 C10 : 500p / 470p / 560p

Bias 1 R9 : 330K / 470K / 390K

Impedance 1 R2 : 27K / 39K / 33K

To start with I will just be trialling and erroring different combinations, before latterly consulting Kit Rae's Big Muff Page to explore key version component values. There's not substitute for good ears though - I do most of my dialling in by ear - as there are parts value variances in components as well as knob tapers etc!

"Miller capacitors (C10, C12, C11) smooth out high frequencies and reduce the harshness of the fuzz character. A lower value of 470p leaves more clarity and brightness, where 560p is warmer and smoother. 500p was often used, and may be the Goldilocks in the middle. Generally when building fuzzes, are larger value may be selected when more gain is used, to remove some shrillness."

People should be famiiiar with 'Sustain' being the Big Muff Gain Level control - which also impacts the tail / sustain of the output - and hence that moniker!

We also have a Bright Sweep Mod and Input Buffer in this selection :

Bright Sweep [mod] : 470p / Off / 1000p

Buffer In : On/Off

The Bright Sweep Mod would seem to be a 3-way Bright Switch - with 2 value options or Off!

Transistor Selector :

• 2N2222A [Socket]
• BC337-25
• BC547B
• BC547C
• 2N5088
• 2N5089

Each Gain Stage is accompanies by a combination of 6 x 3-way Capacitor and Resistor Options - where you can experiment with different combinations of component values.

For Stage 2 these are :

[C = Capacitor] [R = Resistor]

Collector 2 R18 : 10K / 15K / 12K

Emitter 2 R21 : 100Ω / 820Ω / 390Ω

HPF 2 C4 : 100n / 47m, 1μ

Miller 2 C12 : 500p / 470p / 560p

Bias 2 R17 : 330K / 470K / 390K

Impedance 2 R19 : 7K5 / 10K / 8K2

"The Clip switches are an interesting place to start. These control how much bass is clipped by the clipping diodes. 47n clips the low-end frequencies less than 100n, resulting in more bass volume and body clarity left over. 100n gives a flatter tonal compression. Setting Clip 1 to "no clip" and Clip 2 to 100n will perform like the 1973 Colorsound Supa Tone Bender.

Clip 1 is first in the signal, and help defines the boominess of the fuzz. Clip 2 later in the signal has more influence on the final tonal volumes. The Soviet versions famously stood out partly because they used 47n for both clipping positions, allowing for the most bass clarity and body.

There are no other diode options, as most circuit versions can be recommended to be built with 1N914/1N4148 small signal silicon diodes. The line had to be drawn somewhere."

Clip 1 C6 : 47n / No Cll / 100n

Clip 2 C7 : 100n / 47n / 1μ

Transistor Selector :

• 2N2222A [Socket]
• BC337-25
• BC547B
• BC547C
• 2N5088
• 2N5089

Each Gain Stage is accompanies by a combination of 6 x 3-way Capacitor and Resistor Options - where you can experiment with different combinations of component values.

For Stage 3 these are :

[C = Capacitor] [R = Resistor]

Collector 3 R11 : 10K / 15K / 12K

Emitter 3 R10 : 100Ω / 820Ω / 390Ω

HPF 3 C5 : 100n / 47m, 1μ

Miller 3 C11 : 500p / 470p / 560p

Bias 3 R15 : 330K / 470K / 390K

Impedance 3 R12 : 7K5 / 10K / 8K2

Tone Controls

"The low-high style tone control on a muff circuit can be famously love-hate, and was a large contributing factor to the tonal variations between the many models. All of the tone control options are sectioned together, between Stage 3 and Stage 4."

"With the TS HPF (Tone stack high pass filter) capacitor C9, starting with 10n will give a flatter tone control. As you rotate left to lower value capacitors, you really start to hear the signature muff-flavoured mid scoop get more pronounced."

"The Scoop control (R5) reduces the depth of the tone control scoop. Since the scoop is usually mids-heavy, it works to flatten that mid scoop back out. Most classic models used a lower value here such as 22K, and increasing this is more of a mod. Balance this with TS HPF (C9)."

"10n was a common value for the TS LPF (Tone stack low pass filter) capacitor C8."

"Lower values were common for TS LPF (Tone stack low pass filter) resistor R8."

TS HPF C9 : 3n3 > 3n9 > 4n > 4n7 > 6n8 >10n

Scoop R5 : 10K > 22K . 27K > 33K > 39K > 60K

TS LPF R8 : 10K > 22K > 27K > 33K > 39K > 60K

TONE [classic Big Muff Tone Stack]

HPF 4 C13 : 100n / 47n / 1μ

VOLUME

TS LPF C8 : 6n8 / 4n7  10n

Transistor Selector :

• 2N2222A [Socket]
• BC337-25
• BC547B
• BC547C
• 2N5088
• 2N5089

Each Gain Stage is accompanies by a combination of 6 x 3-way Capacitor and Resistor Options - where you can experiment with different combinations of component values.

For Stage 4 these are :

[C = Capacitor] [R = Resistor]

Collector 4 R6 : 10K / 15K / 12K

Emitter 4 R4 : 2K2 / 3K3 / 2K7

HPF 6 C2 : 220n / 100n / 470n

HPF 5 C3 : 47n / 100n

Bias 4 R7 : 330K / 470K / 390K

Buffer Out : On/Off