Moth Electric P. Isabella Fuzz (Ram’s Head) review – is this the ultimate Muff-type fuzz pedal?
$189.99/£189, mothelectric.com / northernstomps.com
Have you ever met a sheep? They’re strange little fellas, but one thing they absolutely do not look like is the face on the front of a mid-70s Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. Apparently that logo was never actually supposed to be a ram’s head, but the nickname stuck so here we are – and here is the latest American boutique fuzz box to take inspiration from its thick, creamy, endlessly sustaining tones.
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Up-and-coming pedal brands don’t get much upper or cominger than Moth Electric, based in the Pacific Northwest. There are six pedals in its current range, and two of them carry the P. Isabella name – the other is based on the wonderfully evil green Big Muff made in Russia in the 90s. All are newly available in the UK via Northern Stompboxes.
Image: Richard Purvis
What is it?
It’s all very well being able to design and build exquisite hand-soldered guitar pedals, but how do you expect to get by in life if you can’t manage basic arithmetic? Everyone knows a Muff-type fuzz has three knobs – this one’s got five! There’s even an added toggle switch for flipping between ‘classic’ and ‘modern’ modes, taking this pedal far beyond the realm of straight-up clones.
And what are those extra knobs? Joining the standard trio of volume, tone and fuzz are a mids control – a familiar mod for avoiding the Big Muff curse of vanishing in a band mix – and, less predictably, one for clean blend. All of this is presented in a large and quite beauteous enclosure with top-mounted jack sockets… and a picture of a moth that does actually look like a moth.
Image: Richard Purvis
Sounds
For some of us – including David Gilmour, who famously used one for the solos on Comfortably Numb – the sound of the 1973 Big Muff v2 circuit is about as good as distorted guitar tones get. Certainly you’ll never separate me from my Stomp Under Foot Ram’s Head… but there’s no denying that Moth’s effort comes pretty close to matching it. The sound is huge, naturally, but what’s just as important is the impeccable balance of roaring rage and tonal discipline. There’s no flab in the bottom end and no scratchiness in the top – just pure all-round fuzzy goodness.
And of course, the P. Isabella also has those extra controls to take it to places no ordinary Muff can reach. The mids knob has a wide and well-judged sweep, from exaggerated scoopage to something much more forthright than the norm yet no less smooth; and while mixing in some clean signal with a sound this saturated is never going to be a good idea, the blend knob can be surprisingly useful when you have another dirt pedal on the go. Sometimes, it turns out, the only thing better than combining a Rat with a Muff is combining a Rat with two-thirds of a Muff.
The output level takes a big jump when you switch to modern mode, and most of that seems to be happening in the midrange: it’s a more solid kind of voice that reminds me a little of the EHX Big Muff 2, and it’s also less compressed than classic mode. Maybe that makes it a smidge less likeable, but it’s definitely a worthwhile addition to this unit’s armoury.
Image: Richard Purvis
Should I buy one?
This really boils down to a simple choice between simplicity and flexibility. For Big Muff purists, the P. Isabella’s added controls will be nothing more than a distraction – and there are already plenty of options for getting those core tones from a compact enclosure with three knobs.
If, on the other hand, you wish you could enjoy the best of this celebrated circuit in a more tweakable package, a red and white Moth should probably be winging its way onto your pedalboard at the earliest opportunity.
Image: Richard Purvis
Alternatives
If you’re happy to stick to the three-knob formula, your high-class contenders include the Stomp Under Foot Ram’s Head ($199.99/£189) and Wren And Cuff Caprid Small Foot ($199/£177). For a Muff that’s actually allowed to call itself a Muff, check out the Electro-Harmonix Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi ($114/£99), also available in J Mascis signature livery for a few dollars more.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
