The Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff is an Electro-Harmonix fuzz pedal, currently around $95.16. Close alternatives include the Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi and the JHS x Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark I and the Synergy SL2 Module.

Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff

Electro-Harmonix · pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff reissues the early-1970s Ram's Head Muff, known for a creamy, articulate fuzz with exceptional sustain, rich harmonics, and a distinct mid scoop suited to soaring leads and thick wall-of-sound rhythm. It is growlier in the midrange than Russian-style and triangle Muffs, with smoother, more sonorous sustained notes, splitting the difference between a triangle's silicon fizz and a Russian Muff's smooth contours. It has less low end than many Big Muffs, making it tighter, more controlled, and more articulate, with the mid scoop present but balanced enough to preserve string definition. Famous for screaming leads and long, violin-like sustained bends in the David Gilmour vein, it sits between classic fuzz and distortion. With Volume, Tone, and Sustain it suits psychedelic, classic rock, shoegaze, and lead-focused players.

What stands out

  • “The community values the Ram's Head as a creamy yet articulate Big Muff with a growlier midrange and tighter, more controlled low end than Russian or triangle Muffs, giving it strong string definition alongside the classic mid scoop”

    — from the community notes

  • “Famous for screaming leads and long, violin-like sustained bends in the David Gilmour vein, it sits between classic fuzz and distortion”

    — from the listing

  • “The Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff reissues the early-1970s Ram's Head Muff, known for a creamy, articulate fuzz with exceptional sustain, rich harmonics, and a distinct mid scoop suited to soaring leads and thick wall-of-sound rhythm”

    — from the listing

  • “A refined reissue of the early-seventies Ram's Head that balances creamy fuzz with unusual articulation, thanks to a growlier midrange and a tighter, more controlled low end than most Big Muffs”

    — from the reviews

  • “It sits between classic fuzz and distortion with rich harmonics”

    — from the reviews

Trade-offs

  • “and a focus that favors leads and controlled rhythm over the most massive wall-of-fuzz tones”

    — from the reviews

  • muff
  • fuzz
  • mid
  • scoop
  • creamy
  • distortion
  • rhythm
  • midrange
$95.16View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 23, 2026

Genres the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff is commonly used in

  • Classic Rock
  • Shoegaze
  • Grunge
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Stoner Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Psychedelic Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff

Mesa Boogie Mark I

Mesa Boogie

25% match
$1468.12via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Mesa Boogie Mark I takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module

Synergy

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal

Ceriatone 2202H

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Ceriatone 2202H stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII NEO 50W 2x12 Combo

Orange

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII NEO 50W 2x12 Combo after Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt for more high gain on top

Blackstar Unity

Blackstar

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Feed a scooped signal into Blackstar Unity and it comes out closer to mid-forward

ENGL Special Edition E670

Engl

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

ENGL Special Edition E670 takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Ceriatone HRM 50

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Ceriatone HRM 50 takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff

JHS Smiley

JHS Pedals

27% match

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)

JHS Smiley layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal

Suhr Rufus Reloaded

Suhr

27% match
$200via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Suhr Rufus Reloaded pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second

Heavy Metal Fx

20% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

Wampler Cory Wong

Wampler

16% match
$266.49via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff's own fuzzy character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1

Walrus Audio

12% match
$269via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Keep Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1 after Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay

Electro-Harmonix

11% match
$104.76via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Keep Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff's fuzzy voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay goes after Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Dunlop AT95 Akira Takasaki Cry Baby Fuzz Wah

Dunlop

tonal match
$148.78via Reverb

Dunlop AT95 Akira Takasaki Cry Baby Fuzz Wah stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here

Cornerstone CST-Ant

Cornerstone

tonal match
$220.22via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Feed a scooped signal into Cornerstone CST-Ant and it comes out closer to mid-forward

Cheaper alternatives

Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff

Electro-Harmonix

69% similarity
$76.22via Reverb

“a tighter low end that some players find less massive than a Green Russian or op-amp Muff”

Sonicake Fazy Sandwich Fuzz

Sonicake

63% similarity
$49.99via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, fuzz, classic rock

Tone City Matcha Cream

Tone City

63% similarity
$52.77via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, volume, fuzz

Mooer MFZ2 Triangle Buff

Mooer

62% similarity
$49.42via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, middle, fuzz

Sonicake Fazy Cream Vintage Fuzz

Sonicake

60% similarity
$39.98via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, fuzz, distortion

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Electro-Harmonix

96% similarity
$75.05via Reverb

similar tone character

Boutique & premium upgrades

Wren and Cuff Tri-Pie '70

Wren And Cuff

71% similarity
$196.91via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, sustain, volume

Wren and Cuff Foot Caprid "Ram's Head" Fuzz

Wren And Cuff

67% similarity
$199.99via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, sustain, rich

Browne Amplification T4 Fuzz

Browne Amplification

66% similarity
$179via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, definition, sustain

Wren and Cuff Fade Font '94

Wren And Cuff

65% similarity
$324.99via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, middle, fuzz

Wren and Cuff Box of War OG

Wren And Cuff

65% similarity
$297.57via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, sustain, volume

Caroline Guitar Company Shigeharu

Caroline Guitar Company

63% similarity
$219via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, definition, sustain

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi

Electro-Harmonix

74% similarity
$92.08via Reverb

Shared character: big muff, definition, articulation

JHS x Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2

JHS Pedals

65% similarity

Shared character: big muff, sustain, middle

JHS Pedals JHS Muffuletta

JHS Pedals

59% similarity

Shared character: big muff, sustain, volume

Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Fuzz

Walrus Audio

59% similarity

Shared character: band, thickness, fuzz

Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz

Black Arts Toneworks

96% similarity
$119via Reverb

similar tone character

EarthQuaker Devices Gary V1 Fuzz

EarthQuaker Devices

95% similarity

similar tone character

See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff?+

The closest matches in character are the Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi, the JHS x Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2, the JHS Pedals JHS Muffuletta. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff, Sonicake Fazy Sandwich Fuzz, Tone City Matcha Cream. Boutique upgrades: Wren and Cuff Tri-Pie '70, Wren and Cuff Foot Caprid "Ram's Head" Fuzz, Browne Amplification T4 Fuzz.

What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark I, Synergy SL2 Module, Ceriatone 2202H — Mesa Boogie Mark I takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward.

How much does the Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff cost?+

Around $95.16 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).

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