Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker

Pretty easy to get a good sound out of it. I browsed the manual to learn about the two extra switches labeled Tone and Wicker.
If you don't goof with those, you get the sound of a good (twice I had some 2nd hand lemons)Big Muff PI US.
Flipping the Wicker switch removes the dirt from the high frequencies, still keeping the roar on the mids and bass.
The Tone ON/OFF shortcuts the Tone circuit and let all the harmonics fly through.
Volume, Tone and Sustain, you know what they do.

Wonderful sound, fuzzy, creamy, hard, rich like a good BM.
Although the Wicker is interesting, the real deal is with the Tone circuit cut. When Tone is off, the effect becomes huge, sort of triple the power and the guitar pickups start shining like never before. I guess you need good speakers and a good amp. My JCM2000 on the clean channel with 4 Celestion HP can handle the fury very well.
It is insane in that position, and magnificent. Absolutely the best setting ever on a Big Muff. I use it with Sustain at 9 o'clock, Volume at 10 o'clock, mostly with Strats and also Gibsons.
Gets a 10. Thanks EHX.

AS there are no gate (EHX sound gates always end up failing after a while) and no poorly designed switch, it should be reliable. No backup necessary.

Never dealt with EHX

For me, this is the ultimate Muff. Go for this one. I hate the Double Muff and the PI(US) that I got once. The Russian model was a little better, but also not a keeper. This one is.
Territory is hard-rock, grunge, ala Smashing Pumpkins, although it does not replace the Graphic Fuzz, which has more tonal possibilities - softer and bluesier indeed.
It's a bit pricey, a bit limited in spectrum (not for Blues) so this is a 9.

Three knobs: Volume, Tone, and Sustain
Two switches: Tone and Wicker

pretty simple unless you dont know what they do.

Using an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with Fender Head and Marshall Cab.
When the volume is up its real hissy (i dont know why you would want fuzz distorion at low volumes anyway)
The fuzz with tone sounds great and the sustain is wonderful, i hardly use the tone bypass switch though.

Real sturdy. wouldnt see it breaking.

The pedal itself is very good looking and they layout is great. i personally love the fuzz tone especially with higher notes and lead parts. if they could get rid of the hiss it would pretty much be flawless.