Electro-Harmonix Sovtek Deluxe Big Muff Pi User Manual

Sovtek Deluxe Big Muff Pi
Congratulations! You have just purchased the passionate lovechild of our revered Green
Russian Big Muff Pi reissue and the Big-Muff-on-steroids Deluxe Big Muff Pi: the Sovtek
Deluxe Big Muff Pi! We know what you’re thinking – “Oh, no, they didn’t!” Oh, yes, we did!
It’s the beefy, woolly tone you love from the Green Russian Big Muff with all the bells and
whistles from the Deluxe Big Muff. Check it out.
Features Include:
 Big Muff Knob Layout – familiar Sustain, Tone and Volume controls
 MIDS EQ – fully parametric MIDS EQ includes variable frequency sweep, boost or
cut level control and switchable Q or bandwidth amount
 Footswitch for MIDS EQ – turn on the MIDS EQ circuit with the stomp of your
foot
 Gate – remove unwanted hiss and hum
 Blend – allows you to mix the dry signal with the distortion
 Wicker switch – opens up the high end for extra attack
 Expression Pedal Input – sweep the frequency of the MIDS EQ with your foot
 True Bypass
CONTROLS
VOLUME Knob – Works as a master volume control for the entire pedal
BLEND Knob – This mixes between the dry and distorted signals. Turn this knob fully
counterclockwise for 100% dry signal and fully clockwise for 100% wet signal. Setting the
BLEND knob to noon yields a 50/50 mix of dry/distorted signal.
TONE Knob – Provides a range of sounds from high treble to deep bass. As you turn the
TONE knob clockwise, treble increases and bass decreases.
SUSTAIN Knob – As in the original Big Muff Pi, adjusts the amount of sustain and
distortion
Wicker Switch – This feature is the same as the switch found on the Big Muff Pi with
Tone Wicker. With the switch up, the wicker is engaged and high frequency bandwidth is
opened up for a bright and clear top end and more pronounced attack. With the switch
down, the effect is disengaged and the Big Muff circuit is back to stock.
GATE Knob – Turning GATE clockwise raises the Gate threshold requiring greater input
amplitude to open the noise gate, allowing your notes to be heard and your instrument to
pass through. Turn the GATE knob down all the way, to fully counter-clockwise, to disable
the noise gate.
MIDS LEVEL Knob – When MIDS is engaged (LED near MIDS Footswitch is lit) the MIDS
LEVEL knob either boosts or cuts up to +/- 10dB, at the frequency set by the FREQ knob
located below it. Turn MIDS LEVEL clockwise from its center 12 o’clock position to boost
the center frequency. To cut, turn MIDS LEVEL counter-clockwise from the 12 o’clock
position. This knob has a notch near the 12 o’clock position to help identify the center of

Electro-Harmonix Sovtek Deluxe Big Muff Pi Specifications

General

Brand	Electro-Harmonix
Model	Sovtek Deluxe Big Muff Pi
Category	Music Mixer
Language	English

Summary

CONTROLS

VOLUME Knob

Master volume control for the entire pedal. Adjusts overall output level.

BLEND Knob

Mixes dry and distorted signals. Adjusts ratio from 100% dry to 100% wet.

TONE Knob

Shapes the tonal character, increasing treble and decreasing bass clockwise.

SUSTAIN Knob

Controls the amount of sustain and distortion, similar to the original Big Muff Pi.

Wicker Switch

Engages high-frequency bandwidth for brighter tone and attack; disengages for stock sound.

GATE Knob

Controls the noise gate threshold to remove hiss and hum. Turn fully counter-clockwise to disable.

MIDS LEVEL Knob

Adjusts the boost or cut level for the MIDS EQ section, up to +/- 10dB.

MIDS FREQ Knob

Sets the center frequency for the MIDS EQ, ranging from 310Hz to 5.0kHz.

MIDS Q Switch

Selects MIDS EQ bandwidth: LOW for broader EQ, HIGH for narrower, peakier EQ.

MIDS FOOTSWITCH / LED

Engages or bypasses the MIDS EQ section. White LED indicates active state.

BYPASS FOOTSWITCH / LED

Toggles between effect mode and true bypass. Red LED indicates active effect.

I/O AND POWER CONNECTIONS

INPUT

Connect your instrument here. Features switchable input buffer for tone shaping.

OUTPUT

Connect to your amplifier or next effect pedal. Has a fixed output impedance.

EXP Input

Connects an expression pedal or CV source to control MIDS frequency.

9V POWER

Power connection for a 9V battery or a center-negative 9VDC adapter.

OPERATION AND WARNINGS

CHANGING THE BATTERY

Instructions for replacing the 9-Volt battery by removing the bottom plate.

SHIELDING

Importance of proper shielding and grounding to avoid hum with high gain settings.

INTERNAL INPUT BUFFER SWITCH & TRIM POTS

Details on the internal buffer switch and three trim pots for MIDS EQ adjustments.

WARRANTY INFORMATION