The Electro-Harmonix Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi recreates one of the most sought-after chapters in Big Muff history: the legendary 1973 V2 Violet Ram’s Head.

It delivers the thick saturation and long sustain you'd expect from a Big Muff, but with the articulate string separation and definition that helped make the V2 circuit particularly desirable. EHX has recreated that vintage-inspired character in a compact Nano-sized enclosure with practical modern additions including true bypass and an effect-status LED.

For players who love Big Muff fuzz but want something more historically specific than the standard NYC version, the Ram’s Head is one of the standout choices in the current EHX range.

Why Choose the Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi? Authentic V2 Violet Ram’s Head Character

The key distinction is the circuit EHX chose to recreate.

The modern Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi is based specifically on the highly coveted 1973 Violet Ram’s Head V2, rather than being a standard Big Muff rehoused with vintage graphics.

Its appeal centres around:

• Thick analogue fuzz
• Exceptional sustain
• Strong string separation
• Smooth lead tones
• Defined chord work
• Vintage-inspired V2 Muff character
• Simple Volume, Tone and Sustain controls

That combination makes it particularly attractive to players who want big Muff saturation without sacrificing as much note definition.

Articulate Fuzz with Huge Sustain

Big Muffs are famous for sustain, but EHX specifically identifies articulate string separation as one of the defining qualities of the V2 Ram’s Head sound.

That makes this version particularly effective for both chords and lead playing.

Single-note lines can become smooth and sustaining, while chords retain useful definition underneath the saturation.

It's a great fit for classic rock, psychedelic, alternative, progressive, indie and effects-heavy guitar.

Three Classic Controls Volume

Sets the overall output level.

Use it to balance the pedal against your bypassed signal or increase it when you want your fuzz sound to push forward.

Tone

The Tone control takes you from deep bass through to brighter, treble-focused fuzz.

As you turn it clockwise, treble increases while bass decreases.

Sustain

Controls the amount of sustain and distortion.

Lower settings keep the sound more restrained, while turning Sustain clockwise takes you further into the thick, compressed and heavily saturated character associated with the Big Muff family.

Ram’s Head vs Standard Big Muff Pi

The standard Big Muff Pi is the obvious choice when you want the straightforward modern NYC Big Muff experience.

The Ram’s Head is better suited to somebody specifically looking for a vintage-inspired V2 voice.

Choose the Ram’s Head for: articulation, string separation, singing sustain and vintage V2 character.

Choose the standard Big Muff Pi for: the familiar modern full-size NYC Big Muff sound.

Neither is inherently better – they're different flavours of the same legendary fuzz family.

Ram’s Head vs Green Russian Big Muff

The Green Russian is the better choice when your priority is the distinctive low-frequency character associated with the Russian Big Muff family.

The Ram’s Head is better suited to players prioritising definition and articulate sustain.

For heavy low-end riffing, the Green Russian is an obvious alternative.

For expressive lead work, detailed chords and vintage-inspired V2 Muff tones, we'd lean towards the Ram’s Head.

Ram’s Head vs Op-Amp Big Muff

The Op-Amp Big Muff is based around the later op-amp architecture and delivers a more aggressive flavour of Muff that's particularly at home with grunge and wall-of-sound rhythm guitar.

The Ram’s Head retains the transistor-based vintage V2 concept and is the stronger choice when you're specifically looking for early-'70s-inspired Muff character.

Where Does the Ram’s Head Work Best?

The Ram’s Head is a strong choice for:

• Classic rock
• Psychedelic rock
• Alternative
• Progressive rock
• Indie
• Shoegaze
• Stoner rock
• Sustained lead guitar
• Effects-heavy rhythm sounds

It's especially appealing if you've tried conventional Big Muffs but want greater note separation within heavily saturated sounds.

Pedalboard Placement

A useful starting point is:

Guitar → Overdrive → Ram’s Head Big Muff → Modulation → Delay → Reverb → Amplifier

Running delay and reverb afterwards keeps your ambient effects relatively clear.

For more experimental and shoegaze-style textures, try putting reverb or delay before the Ram’s Head. The Muff will then compress and saturate the ambience along with the original guitar signal.

Compact Version of a Vintage Classic

One major practical advantage over a vintage Big Muff is size.

EHX has fitted its V2-inspired circuit into a 4.5 × 2.75 × 2.1-inch Nano-sized enclosure, giving you the vintage-style graphics and sound without requiring the pedalboard space associated with older large-format Muffs.

You also get an LED and true-bypass switching – useful modern conveniences added to the vintage-inspired design.

Power Requirements

The Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi can be powered by a 9V battery or compatible external DC adapter.

Current draw is approximately 2mA. EHX specifies its optional 9.6VDC-200mA supply and also confirms compatibility with appropriate Boss/Ibanez-style supplies capable of delivering at least 30mA.

What’s Included?

✔ Electro-Harmonix Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi
✔ 9V Battery
✘ External Power Adapter Not Included

EHX confirms the 9V battery is supplied while the external adapter is optional.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

The Electro-Harmonix Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi is one of the most appealing Muff variants for guitarists who want huge sustain without giving up as much definition.

Best suited for: Classic rock, psychedelic, alternative, progressive and players looking for smooth sustained lead sounds.

Main benefit: Vintage V2-inspired Big Muff character in a compact, modern and affordable pedal.

Standout feature: String separation. EHX specifically highlights articulate separation alongside exceptional sustain as a defining quality of the V2 design.

Customers usually upgrade from: Standard fuzz or distortion pedals when they want a more distinctive vintage-style Muff voice.

Most commonly paired with: Overdrive, phaser, chorus, delay and reverb.

Our tip: Start with Sustain around halfway and dial the Tone control around your guitar and amplifier before adding more saturation. The Ram’s Head's articulation is one of its biggest strengths, so there's no need to automatically run Sustain at maximum.

Showroom feedback: If you already know you like Big Muffs but want to explore the different historical circuit flavours, the Ram’s Head is a particularly strong choice. Its combination of saturation, sustain and definition gives it a noticeably different appeal from some of the heavier, more aggressive Muff variants.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom is backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team with experience across guitars, effects, amplification and complete pedalboard setups.

Whether you're choosing your first Big Muff, comparing the Ram’s Head against Green Russian and Op-Amp versions or building a complete fuzz setup, our team can offer friendly, knowledgeable advice.