Electro Harmonix Nano Big Muff – A True Classic In Smaller Chassis

Controls:
Features:
Performance:
Value:

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The pedal market these days is saturated with a lot of products, and a solid potion of them is actually quite alright, great even. But very few have the iconic status and can boast shaping an entire generation of iconic musicians. Well, that just happens to the case with the Big Muff stompbox from Electro Harmonix.

The pedal came in a variety of editions over the years, and right now we'd like you to focus on the Nano incarnation, a top-level modern distortion pedal with rich tradition. Let's do this!

Features

Tucked away in a compact metal package with that iconic white, black and red color finish, the Big Muff offers pretty basic controls and one major factor – uniqueness. The sound packed in this little beast is what strong distortion crafted with style is all about. Add the fact that the fella was used by such icons as David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and late great Frank Zappa, and you get a bonifide legendary pedal, right up there with Ibanez Tube Screamer and the rest of the gang.

Apart from that, we're looking at a true bypass pedal powered via included 9V battery or through an optional adapter, a single Input, one Output, status LED indicator, light weight of 12 ounces, and a total size of 2.8 x 3.5 x 5.8 inches.

Control

Apart from the on/off switch, we're looking at three control knobs – Volume, Sustain, and Tone. Here's what they do:

Volume – Also known as Level knob, this control adjusts the level of distortion that gets infused into the audio output. The more you increase it, the more effect and less clean sound of your guitar will be included in the final mix. It's an essential part of any effect stompbox, really.

Sustain – Use this control to adjust the level of sustain present in the sonic mix. Essentially, the more you dial in, the more sustain you'll get and the longer those distortion notes will become.

Tone – This one determines the color of the effect, ranging from high treble to low-end bass. The more you increase it, the more treble and high frequencies you get.

Performance

Obviously, this is where the pedal really shines – the tone! Packed with creamy sustain, a natural vibe, yet plenty of saturation and tube-like vibe, this pedal scored the golden ratio of its tonal components and brought a tone that's instantly recognizable on one hand, yet susceptible to changes and alteration to the point where you can still craft a unique tone. The best thing is to just take a listen.

Apart from that, the stompbox is fairly easy to use, there's only three knobs in the game and each of them is quite responsive and sensitive. Test it out, you'll know if this is the groove you want almost instantly.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a legendary pedal that adapted well through the years and still provides a top-notch punch even through its latest editions. No-one can call this a bad pedal, but it's not for everyone either, so test it out and if it fits right, don't hesitate to treat yourself as early as today!

For more info about the Electro Harmonix Nano, click here.
For more Distortion Pedals Currently On The Market, click here.