Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2 With Tone Wicker - Dual Op-Amp Fuzz Pedal

The Long-Lost Op-Amp Big Muff Circuit, Revived And Expanded — Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2 With Tone Wicker

The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2 with Tone Wicker is an analogue fuzz pedal built around the dual op-amp circuit from the original 1970s Big Muff Pi 2 — a design that was produced only briefly and has since developed a dedicated following for its harder, more aggressive character compared to the transistor-based Big Muff Pi. The op-amp topology delivers the same singing sustain and high-gain capability the Big Muff name implies, but with a distinctly different voice: tighter compression, stronger mids, and a cutting edge that suits heavy rhythm playing, doom, and high-gain lead tones that need to sit forward in a mix rather than sit back in it.

The core controls — VOL, TONE, and SUSTAIN — operate as expected: volume sets output level, tone shapes the frequency balance of the fuzz, and sustain controls the gain and compression depth. Two additional switches significantly extend the pedal's range beyond the base circuit. The TONE switch removes the tone control from the signal path entirely, bypassing the tone stack for a full-spectrum, unfiltered fuzz that retains all frequencies from the circuit without any shaping. The WICKER switch is a three-position control — off, medium, and high — that progressively opens high-frequency filters in the circuit, adding clarity and presence to the top end, which is particularly effective when the tone knob is dialled back for darker settings. A soft footswitch with latching and momentary operation allows the pedal to be toggled on and off normally, or held for a momentary burst of fuzz while releasing returns to the dry signal.

The Op-Amp Big Muff Circuit

The distinction between a transistor Big Muff and an op-amp Big Muff is not a subtle one. The transistor versions clip asymmetrically through cascaded gain stages and produce smooth, harmonically rich fuzz with the sustained, cello-like quality that has defined the Big Muff sound for most players. The op-amp circuit clips more symmetrically, compresses harder, and produces a denser, more saturated fuzz with a more pronounced midrange character and a slightly buzzier, more aggressive edge. It is the circuit that defined the sound of certain strands of alternative rock and heavy indie during the 1990s, and its return in the Big Muff Pi 2 makes that specific character available again in a new pedal without the need to hunt for vintage units.

Tone Wicker Controls

The TONE bypass switch is the more dramatic of the two expansions. With the tone stack engaged, the TONE knob shapes the pedal's output from darker and more bass-heavy at lower settings to brighter and more treble-forward at higher settings, as on any standard Big Muff. With the TONE switch engaged, the entire tone control circuit is removed from the signal path, and the pedal outputs the full raw frequency content of the op-amp circuit. The result is a significantly larger, more uncompromising fuzz — often described as a wall-of-sound or doom fuzz character. The WICKER switch complements this by operating independently of the TONE knob, opening high-frequency filters incrementally at medium and high settings to add air and presence that would otherwise be reduced by the tone control. The two switches can be used in any combination with the three main controls, giving a wide range of fuzz voices from a single pedal.

Footswitch Operation

The soft footswitch supports both latching and momentary operation. A standard click engages and disengages the fuzz effect, as on any bypass pedal. Pressing and holding the footswitch activates the fuzz momentarily for as long as the switch is held, returning to the dry signal on release. This allows for momentary fuzz punctuation, dynamic drops in and out of the effect mid-phrase, and controlled gating of the sound in a way that standard latching-only footswitches don't permit.

KEY FEATURES: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2 With Tone Wicker - Dual Op-Amp Fuzz Pedal

• Dual Op-Amp Circuit: Revival of the original 1970s Big Muff Pi 2 topology.
• Distinct Op-Amp Character: Tighter, more compressed, mids-forward fuzz compared to the transistor Big Muff.
• VOL, TONE, SUSTAIN Controls: Full control over output level, frequency balance, and gain.
• TONE Bypass Switch: Removes tone stack for full-spectrum, unfiltered fuzz.
• 3-Position WICKER Switch: Two levels of high-frequency filter opening for added clarity and top-end.
• Latching/Momentary Footswitch: Normal toggle or press-and-hold for momentary fuzz bursts.
• Fully Analogue Circuit.
• 9V Battery Included.
• Mono In/Out.
  

EHX Big Muff Pi 2 with Tone Wicker - User Manual