Electro-Harmonix Revives a Lost Fuzz Chapter With EHX Big Muff Pi 2

Big Muff Pi 2, a long-lost dual op-amp fuzz circuit was designed by Bob Myer in the 1970s. Revived by Josh Scott and Daniel Danger, it delivers a raw, distinctive take on classic Big Muff tone.

Electro-Harmonix has officially unveiled the Big Muff Pi 2, a dual op-amp fuzz pedal resurrected from a forgotten late-1970s schematic designed by original Big Muff inventor Bob Myer. Unearthed decades later by EHX aficionados Josh Scott (JHS Pedals) and artist/archivist Daniel Danger, the circuit represents an alternate evolutionary path the Big Muff could have taken-but never did.

The story begins deep in Electro-Harmonix history. While digging through archival material at Bob Myer’s home, Scott and Danger discovered a hand-drawn schematic that had been passed over by EHX founder Mike Matthews in favor of what eventually became the Op-Amp Big Muff Pi. Rather than letting it remain a historical curiosity, Scott worked closely with Electro-Harmonix to faithfully recreate the circuit exactly as Myer designed it.

“Once discovered, [we] breadboarded the circuit exactly as Bob drew it, and immediately knew they had something worth making,” says JHS. “We found that Bob’s design is unique when compared to the now famous late ‘70s Op-Amp Big Muff designed by Michael Abrams. Different clipping arrangement, an extra gain stage and various other elements that made this lost version extremely special.”

The result is the Big Muff Pi 2, a dual op-amp fuzz that sits just left of the classic Big Muff sound. Compared to traditional versions, it offers slightly lower gain, rougher edges, and a more raw, unrefined feel, while still retaining the signature sustain and full-bodied tone that has defined the Big Muff legacy for over five decades. Where the original is known for ‘sweet violin-like sustain’, the Pi 2 leans harder and more aggressive, delivering a sharper edge, increased output, and what Electro-Harmonix describes as the “most pronounced low-end and midrange” of any Big Muff released to date.

Controls remain reassuringly familiar for longtime Muff users. Sustain dials in everything from gritty crunch to speaker-punishing saturation. The Tone control follows the classic Big Muff EQ curve, boosting treble while cutting bass as it’s turned up, moving from woolly low-end heft to searing high-end bite. Volume handles overall output, offering plenty of headroom.

It’s housed in Electro-Harmonix’s compact Nano chassis and features striking artwork by Daniel Danger, giving the Pi 2 a distinct identity within the Muff family. The pedal ships with a 9-volt battery, has a current draw of 15mA and supports standard power supplies.

The Big Muff Pi 2 follows the announcement of a limited-run Big Box edition released through JHS Pedals, which was capped at 5,700 units and priced at $249. The newly announced standard Nano version brings the same dual op-amp circuit to a wider audience at a significantly lower U.S. street price of $122.

For guitarists who have explored every Muff flavour—from Triangle and Ram’s Head to Russian variants—the Big Muff Pi 2 offers something genuinely new: a historically authentic circuit from the same era and designer, finally given a voice nearly 50 years later.