Stomp Under Foot: Violet Ram's Head Review

[BrettMS]

I'll breakdown my experience into two parts:

1) Customer Service - Great. I e-mailed Matt about the availability of a VRH pedal before Christmas and he built one and shipped it in the next couple of days. When I plugged it in, the pedal sounded heavenly but a low howling noise was emanating from it.

I contacted Matt about the problem and he requested for the pedal to be returned. After replacing the input cap and the transistors, he re-shipped it immediately. I received it today and everything is cool.

During this entire process (which lasted over two weeks), Matt maintained an open communication line and was more than helpful.


2) Pedal - I've played guitar for close to twenty years but only recently has the pedal craze overcome me. Initially, I didn't take to fuzz but it has grown on me considerably in the last few months.

The muff sound attracted me because I really dig the Gilmour and early Smashing Pumpkins sounds to name a couple. I settled on the VRH model as a medium for my tastes. Through TGP, I discovered Stomp Under Foot and was impressed by the look and sound of the muff clones.

Color me very impressed. For starters, the pedal is quiet. Even with the gain maxed out, the feedback is barely noticeable. Secondly, the fuzz is smooth and bassy yet still musical and not muddy. I played a few open chords and they maintained their clarity well. Lastly, the sustain is unreal -- strum a power chord and listen while it fills the room.

Overall, I'm stoked about my first pedal of 2010.

[DrGonzo]

I ordered one of these and it should show up tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to try it out. Great to see that you are happy with yours. Matt is a pleasure to deal with.

PS: What side of the pedal is the 9v jack on? I'm trying to prepare my pedalboard and was curious.

[Cue Dog]

Cool - I've been trying to decide between this and the Blackout Effectors Musket v2. Like the OP I want a pedal that would get Siamese Dream "wall of fuzz" sounds, as well as being able to cop a convincing Wall-era Gilmour tone. Do you feel that you can get both sounds from the VRH? Anybody with experience with both pedals care to weigh in?

[If But When]

I also own this pedal. It's fantastic and Matt is great to deal with. It is an incredibly musical fuzz pedal.

[fuzz_factor]

I recently got a Violet Ram's Head in trade here in the Emporium. I was very pleasantly surprised at how cool it is. After listening to Matt's sound clips a bunch, I'm really GASing for a Civil War clone. That, an SFT and maybe another Rat and I'm done buying pedals for a while!

[MotorCityMatamp]

i bought a civil war muff, not knowing what to expect and i was immediately blown away. so the following week i bought a Son Of A Bee, i love this pedal also, it's everything i wanted my BB1/jr(i've owned both)to sound like. matt is great to deal with. great fuzz pedals and very reasonable prices.

[mattpas]

Thanks for the review and the kind words.
I'm glad everyone likes their pedals.
By the way DrGonzo, the DC jack is on the right.

[foll]

I own the VRH and yes you can get those tones right out of the box. The key is to understand how the pedal reacts with your amp.

I've never played a Musket but I've played four SUF pedals (VRH, Screaming Panda, Triangle, GRN), and all of them sound massive but retain the clarity perfectly from the lowest to the highest gain.

Originally Posted by Cue Dog

Cool - I've been trying to decide between this and the Blackout Effectors Musket v2. Like the OP I want a pedal that would get Siamese Dream "wall of fuzz" sounds, as well as being able to cop a convincing Wall-era Gilmour tone. Do you feel that you can get both sounds from the VRH? Anybody with experience with both pedals care to weigh in?

[DrGonzo]

Originally Posted by mattpas

By the way DrGonzo, the DC jack is on the right.

Thank you Sir! Can't wait to get it today!

[fuzz_factor]

I was fooling around with my SUF VRH last night and realized that the Tone control on the pedal is voiced really well. Even the extreme setting low and high are musical. I imagine that the SUF clones match what people talk about when they find a really good old Muff.

[ungarn]

VRH is a killer...gotta say...quiet, musical, muffy!!!

[wundergussy]

I love my Op-Amp Fuzz (full review pending) and am now GASsing for a Hellephant.

[guitarslinger21]

sorry for the old thread bump, but the VRH is absolutely amazing. I've been playing it in a band setting for about 3 weeks. It's not as hairy and woofy as the CWM, but it is SOOOO musical, and it cuts incredibly well without sounding harsh. so sweet.

[wundergussy]

I just got one myself. That makes THREE SUF pedals for me and I couldn't be happier. Best dirt pedals on the planet. VRH is beautifully musical.

[todd richman]

I am debating between the VRH and a Skreddy Lunar Module for a revamped pedalboard that is gonna be a little on the prog-influenced side. Any thoughts on both?