Another Stomp Under Foot VRH - Violet Ram's Head Review

[Kit Rae]

I played the Stomp Under Foot VRH yesterday. There is already a review her at TGP but I thought I would throw my two cents. This is the SUF clone of the "violet" spec V2 Ram's Head Big Muff from around 1975. I don't know if there ever was a real production version with these specs or not - all evidence I have found points against it, so it was likely just a tracing of one particular V2 circuit - but nevertheless it is a popular schematic for Muff DIYers. It makes for a V2 with more clarity and a bit less bottom end than a typical V2.

I compared it to two vintage V2 Muffs, two V1 Muffs, and a BYOC Beaver V2 clone. I set my favorite V2 to my favorite tone setting - tone at 10:30 (o'clock) and sustain at 3:00, then matched the tone and sustain of the other pedals so they sounded as close to that as possible.

The VRH holds its own pretty well. I thought it would sound closer to a V1 than a V2 with the violet's cap values, but it's more in the V2 territory. It is voiced a bit different than a typical V2, as the violet version should. Less bassy bottom end, but still a nice thick V2 sound and lots of clarity. It holds it's own against my V2s. Compared to a Beaver, it is also less bassy. I don't know if I would call the VRH a better pedal than the Beaver since the tones are different, but it definitely hits a sweet sound I can't get with the Beaver. The Beaver also does tones you can't get with the VRH simply due to the fact that it has an added two position mids selector.

The VRH had very usable sounds across the spectrum of the tone pot sweep. Even the full on treble end sounded pretty good. The cleanup at low guitar volumes and crunch at max sustain is like a typical V2 Muff. No crazy screaming sustain with this one, just the normal amount for a V2 Muff. Noise level was about the same as a V2 and the Beaver. Muffs can be noisy when you stack them with other pedals. Sounds great playing leads and nice vintage Muff character. Rhythm and chords sounded super clean, more clean than my vintage Muffs. I play a lot of Floyd and this is perfect for that. It was right at home with my Boss CS2 compressor, CE2 chorus, and TC Nova delay. It sounded good playing some drier Pumpkins stuff too. Not the op-amp sounding crunched fuzz of Siamese dream, but more like the Pumkins live tones.

It did not beat any of my vintage Muffs for tone, but it holds it's ground, and rivals my BYOC. If you have never owned a vintage Muff though, this is amongst the best clones I have played. The enclosure and circuit board work look top notch. 2N5089 transistors, true bypass, 9v or standard AC jack. You can't beat Matt's $129 price either. He has been very easy to deal with so far on both purchases I have made from him. Only took about two days to get the pedal.

If I get some time this weekend I'll record a few clips. (EDIT-added a few below). All played with a strat into a Fender Twin.
Here's the tone sweep - playing some chords, and a bit of Cherub Rock.
http://www.kitrae.net/music/VRH_DEMO_2.mp3

Some solo noodling, trying some subtle harmonics. Towards the end I boost the VRH with an SUF Halo Bender. The Halo is sort of an overdrive.
http://www.kitrae.net/music/VRH_DEMO_3.mp3

A bit Comfy Numb 2nd solo. Strat into Fender twin, with slight compression from a Boss CS-2 and a Boss Ce-2 chorus mixed in about 50% with Barge VBjr.
http://www.kitrae.net/music/COMFYNUM...E2_Nova470.mp3

[73171]

Great review! Thanks!


I'm going to try a SUF Muff...not sure which one yet.........

[fuzz_factor]

Thanks for the review. I have one of these and it sounds great. I was kind of wondering how it compared to other muffs. I too noticed a greater clarity, compared to muffs I've owned in the recent past (Ronsound Hairpie Classic and Little Big Muff).

If you have a moment, Kit, would you compare the VRH to the SUF Civil War? I'm looking to get another muff in addition to my SUF VRH and can't really decide between a Triangle (Dice Works?), SUF Civil War, or some manner of Green muff clone.

I want a heavier muff with more sustain, maybe a little more bottom, but with good mid-range (although a mid-swtich isn't necessary). And possibly something that works well on bass and guitar, although I wouldn't mind buying a muff specifically for bass too.

[mattpas]

Kit,
Thanks for the review. Glad you like the pedal.

[mattpas]

Originally Posted by fuzz_factor

would you compare the VRH to the SUF Civil War? I'm looking to get another muff in addition to my SUF VRH and can't really decide between a Triangle (Dice Works?), SUF Civil War, or some manner of Green muff clone.

I want a heavier muff with more sustain, maybe a little more bottom, but with good mid-range (although a mid-swtich isn't necessary). And possibly something that works well on bass and guitar, although I wouldn't mind buying a muff specifically for bass too.

As in heavier do you mean more gain or a heavier tone?
The CWM has more low end than the VRH but I would say the CWM has a bit more sustain. The triangle also has a good amount of low end and sustain. I have had some owners tell me they use the CWM for bass and it works really well.

[If But When]

When placed after an overdrive, this pedal also cuts through the mix very well. Played a gig last night that was a party for a new studio opening, so there were no monitors. I was playing out of a nearly dimed Marshall jcm 2000 and I hit my VRH after my OCD (low power and gain below 9) and I was soaring over the mix. Live was the last test for me and this pedal...I am now comfortable in saying it is one of the best fuzzes I have ever played and the only one I own.

[fuzz_factor]

Originally Posted by mattpas

As in heavier do you mean more gain or a heavier tone?
The CWM has more low end than the VRH but I would say the CWM has a bit more sustain. The triangle also has a good amount of low end and sustain. I have had some owners tell me they use the CWM for bass and it works really well.

Thanks Matt. That's exactly what I wanted to know. One thing I really like about the VRH is that it's very clear and not bassy, unlike other Muff's that I've owned in the past. Getting it was just a happy accident of seeing one in the Emporium and offering up a trade, but I'm glad I have it.

By 'heavier' I do mean a bit more bass and a bit more sustain. I recently started playing bass and would like another muff that works well for bass and guitar. Of all your clips, I like the clip for the CWM the best, by far, so that is probably going to be one of my pedal purchases in the near future!

[mattpas]

Originally Posted by fuzz_factor

I recently started playing bass and would like another muff that works well for bass and guitar. Of all your clips, I like the clip for the CWM the best, by far, so that is probably going to be one of my pedal purchases in the near future!

Another one good for bass is the Green Russian.

[Kit Rae]

I don't play a lot of bass, but the CWM works pretty good with my bass. The green Russian and CW are similar, but my CW Muffs works a bit smoother with bass than some of my greens. I assume the CWM would as well.

[Bazaboy33]

Hey Kit Rae!!! If you had to choose between a BE Musket V2 & the SUF Violet Ram's Head for versatility & range (Sabbath - Animals Era-Floyd - Early SP), which would you go for??? Sound clips through computer monitors only give so much. I am leaning towards the Musket, however the clips that I've heard seem to lack some growl & low end, but that could be do to many factors...The few clips of the VRH that I've heard have sounded great. Can the Musket cop those tones as well? Thanks & apologies for the tangent...

[duanesworld]

Hey bazaboy, I don't know about the musket, but I picked up a suf tri and it is awesome. Just harmonic fuzz bliss. really warm, loads of headroom,its great when you only have the volume up 1/4th and its plenty loud, the tone knob allows be to dial in the right amount of bite, and it has fat thick sustain for days, the best od/driv/fuzz I have bought in years.

[SUPROficial]

I am waiting on a Stomp Under Foot "Green Russian Muff", can't wait to try it out at full stage volume!

[Kit Rae]

QUOTE=Bazaboy33;7639558]Hey Kit Rae!!! If you had to choose between a BE Musket V2 & the SUF Violet Ram's Head for versatility & range (Sabbath - Animals Era-Floyd - Early SP), which would you go for??? Sound clips through computer monitors only give so much. I am leaning towards the Musket, however the clips that I've heard seem to lack some growl & low end, but that could be do to many factors...The few clips of the VRH that I've heard have sounded great. Can the Musket cop those tones as well? Thanks & apologies for the tangent...[/QUOTE]

They are too very different sounding Muffs. The VRH is vintage USA sounding and the Musket is the darker Sovtek tone. The Musket is the more versatile simply because it has more controls, but it can't hit the exact VRH tones and vise versa. Animals era Floyd is vintage USA Muff tone and Colorsound Power Boost. The VRH is closer to that. Neither does early SP dead on, so either or there. The Musket is probably the closest to Sabbath.

[fuzz_factor]

I now have an SUF Violet Ram's Head, Civil War and a v2 Musket. Here are some random thoughts on the three.

So far, the Musket is my least favorite of the three, but that might just be because it has too many knobs for me! Here's how they break down:

VRH has a lot of clarity and cutting power. It's a little brighter and sounds good that way. Stacked into a DLS and you have even more midrange goodness. I like the gain and tone around 12:30-1:00. To me, this is a good Gilmour-ish lead type of pedal (even though I'm not Gilmour obsessed. I like Pink Floyd, but not more than any other classic rock band). I've never owned a Muff with this much clarity and I like it.

The Civil War sounds great with the gain cranked. It's darker and woolier than the VRH. The tone control is very versatile. At around 11:00, you get the darker, gloomier sound and at 1:00 a nice cutting brightness. This pedal also sound great stacked into a DLS. The Civil War is a great riffing pedal. Closer to my heart as I grew up in the early 90s punk rock, 'grunge' era. Of course, it also does the Gilmour thing, but really, I'm hard pressed to hear the tonal nuances between, say, Dark Side of the Moon and Pulse.

To sum, both of the SUF muffs are great if you do want the Gilmour thing, or if you dig Muff's for the total sonic mayhem factor! I should note that I used to have a Little Big Muff, and while it's a warmer and gainer Muff, the CWM is far superior. Double the price maybe, but well worth it.

As to the Musket, well I guess I haven't quite figured it out yet. Don't get me wrong: it sounds great, but the the two SUF pedals are basically just plug-and-play, put the knobs at noon and they sound great. I'll admit that I haven't spent much time with the Musket on guitar. I put it on my bass 'board and, frankly, I don't really dig the Muff sound on bass. At least not through my headphone practice rig. If I only had the Musket and no SUF Muff, I'd probably be happy with it, but I'm liking the SUF stuff better.

My Muff gas is pretty much cured as the VRH and CWM run the gamut of the tones I like. The hard part will be deciding which one stays on my board. I've already booted my compresor to make way for the CWM! I'd still like to try a Muff Diver (or maybe Matt's triangle clone) just to see what it's they are all about. Maybe if a good deal pops up in the Emporium...

Oh yeah, there is one thing I dislike about the SUF stuff: The tone knob is too close to the footswitch, at least for someone clumsy like me. Matt, if you ever redesign your pedals, I'd consider swapping the location of the tone knob and LED.

[Bazaboy33]

Thanks gentlemen. The more I listen to the Musket clips, the more I feel that it is not "the fuzz" for me. I think that I will end up going with the VRH, but I find myself going back and forth between it and the RHM. The VRH seems more articulate and the RHM seems to have a bit more growl to it. Has anyone tried both of them? Matt has recommended the VRH and that was my first choice as well, but still...