Monstrous sounds from a Muff with a buzzy op-amp twist.
Big, big, Big Muff tones with a buzzy, midrange blast. Massive-sounding, full-frequency tone bypass mode. Beautiful construction.
Op-amp sizzle could put off fans of creamier Sovtek and Ram’s Head sounds.
$324
Wren and Cuff Eye See ’78
wrenandcuff.com
It was only a matter of time before Big Muff wizard/scientist Matt Holl built a big-box version of his Eye See '78 V4/V5-style op-amp Big Muff. It is worth the wait. I’m not sure I even knew how much I loved this circuit. A good friend had one that he blasted through a Twin Reverb (yikes!) and it sounded memorably amazing. But I always stayed within my own Big Muff safe lane—sticking with familiar Sovtek tones and chasing canonical, definitive Ram’s Head sounds. The Eye See ’78 is most certainly different than those circuits. It’s aggressive, with a buzzy mid-forward voice that tops out with an acerbic, searing, almost giant Tone Bender-like character when you crank up the treble. It’s not a subtle pedal, and it is definitely most satisfying when it’s setting an amp on fire and exploding with jet roar and gritty harmonics.
Though the Eye See ’78 circuit is essentially based on Holl’s V4 specimen (V4s are the rarest and most coveted), it offers a tone bypass switch that is a feature of V5 versions. Though I loved the white-hot extremes of the fuzz fetched at the toppiest tone-dial settings, the full-frequency—and freaking loud—push from the tone bypass setting should probably be measured in seismic terms. Like all Wren & Cuff pedals, it’s a high-quality, beautiful piece. And though not inexpensive, its nearly $325 price will probably be more than covered by the fuzz pedals you ditch in the Eye See ’78’s wake.
Great pedal giveaways keep coming during week #5 of Pedalmania! You could win gear from Carvin Audio, EHX, Gamechanger Audio, Hotone Audio, PRS, and Wren and Cuff!
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X1 All Tube Preamp Pedal with 12AX7 Tubes
The design criteria for the X1 was to deliver the sounds of the classic Carvin X-100B amplifier in a compact package with added connectivity. The result is a full tube preamp in a pedal format, able to fit in a carry-on or backpack. The X1 incorporates tube technology with simple, yet flexible modern features to interface with many types of gear.
STRING9 String Ensemble
The polyphonic STRING9 String Ensemble transforms a guitar into nine different string ensembles and string synthesizers while requiring zero modifications, special pickups, or MIDI implementation. It relies on the same technology powering all EHX 9 Series pedals. In a 9 Series first, the STRING9 includes the signature EHX Freeze effect on 3 of the presets to sample and hold notes and chords with infinite sustain.
Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal Optical Spring Reverb Pedal
The LIGHT Pedal is an optical spring reverb that combines all the best features of a classic spring reverb with an innovative infrared optical sensor system and a unique effects section. Create countless new types of reverb textures that have never been possible before.
Ampero Press 25kΩ Edition
Ampero Press 25kΩ Edition is a compact, passive volume/expression 2-in-1 pedal designed not only for controlling Ampero II Stomp* but also for other musical devices (with external EXP pedal jacks requiring 25kΩ EXP resistance) or being used as a passive volume pedal. It has a solid aluminum alloy casing, delivering a smooth and comfortable user experience.
PRS Horsemeat Transparent Overdrive Pedal
The PRS Horsemeat transparent overdrive is a from-scratch circuit designed to enhance guitar tone without coloring it. Using germanium diodes, Horsemeat will give throatiness without sounding nasal or too high-pitched and harmonic richness by boosting both low- and high-end frequencies, all while providing more available headroom. Depending on the setting, the PRS Horsemeat can be used as a clean boost, straight overdrive, or even enhance an amplifier’s distortion by slightly pushing the front end of the amp’s preamp section.
PRS pedals were created to be high-end pieces of audio gear.
Designed by PRS Guitars in Stevensville, MD, USA. Made in the USA.
The Good One
The “Triangle Knob” era Big Muffs have been known to have up to 18 different circuits within the same enclosure-style during the inconsistent early years at EH in NYC. Some of these circuits sounded glorious, some, not so great.
Having done many vintage restorations over the years, Matt was not sure what to expect when this wounded pedal landed DOA on his bench for a restoration.
Once the much needed repairs were complete, and after the first strum of a chord blasting through the pedal, all in the shop immediately knew that this particular triangle muffer was indeed, one of the GOOD ONE’s.
Like the original unit, The Good One uses ceramic disc capacitors, odd component values, and the much loved mojo producing vintage style carbon composition resistors. Add to that our premium-line heavy duty folded steel enclosure, top tier building quality, and you’ve got a pedal destined to be a future classic.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Coheed and Cambria's debut album, Claudio Sanchez and camp launch Anna, a signature pedal to mark the occasion.
Coheed and Cambria vocalist / guitarist Claudio Sanchez has announced details of his brand new signature Anna guitar pedal from Wren & Cuff with pre-orders available today. To celebrate the 20th anniversary Coheed and Cambria’s beloved debut album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade, Claudio and camp had the idea to make a pedal to mark the occasion. They decided on a pedal dedicated to one of Sanchez’s favorite and most trusted combinations when in the studio and on the stage, his 80’s Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive feeding his ’78 “op-amp” Big Muff. A Swiss Army knife of fuzz and drive is the end result.
Earlier this summer Coheed and Cambria released their widely celebrated new album and the latest chapter of “The Amory Wars” saga with Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind. The 13-song collection landed at #1 on Billboard’s “Top Hard Rock Albums” chart marking the band’s fourth #1 on the tally. Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind is available on all streaming platforms with vinyl and cassette variants, along with a deeply immersive Deluxe Box Set available in the Coheed and Cambria’s official store.
Claudio Sanchez Anna pedal proto testing
Photo by Alexandra Gavillet
Priced at $349.99. For more information, please visit wrenandcuff.com.