The Wren and Cuff Anna Compact is a compact overdrive and fuzz pedal made by Wren and Cuff with Claudio Sanchez, released as a V2 Claudio Sanchez signature pedal. It came about a couple of years after the original Anna, when all parties agreed it might be cool to do a smaller version. Wren and Cuff describe it as primarily an overdrive pedal with an added fuzz circuit: a dual pedal consisting of two independent effects, a pure overdrive based on a Boss SD-1 circuit, and a Big Muff side based on Claudio's late 70's op-amp Big Muff1.
How the two circuits work together
The fuzz stage sits after the drive. Wren and Cuff are explicit about the routing1:
"The fuzz circuit cannot be used independently. It is either in series with the drive, or bypassed."
In practice that means you can run the overdrive alone, or overdrive into fuzz, but never fuzz alone. The two sides of the pedal break down like this1:
| Side | Circuit | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Overdrive | Boss SD-1 circuit | A pure overdrive, the pedal's primary voice1 |
| Fuzz | Late 70's op-amp Big Muff | Runs in series after the drive, or is bypassed1 |
The fuzz side is a two-control Muff circuit with a bypass switch that was added to the design, along with mini-knobs for the fuzz and shifted drive controls1.
If you want a standalone op-amp Muff-style fuzz instead, Wren and Cuff's wider fuzz range covers that ground, including the Eye See '78 and the Tall Font Russian, among many others on the fuzz pedal type page.
The SD-1 overdrive side
The Boss SD-1 the overdrive is based on is a long-standing design. BOSS describe the SD-1 SUPER OverDrive as "Expanding on the OD-1 design with enhanced voicing and a tone control"2, and JHS Pedals note that "The SD-1 is a good sounding overdrive that is designed in the shadow of the mighty Ibanez Tubescreamer"3. The Anna Compact takes that circuit as its drive foundation and adds the Muff stage behind it.
The Anna Compact is sold only through reverb.com, according to Wren and Cuff, rather than through the usual dealer network1.
Power and practical details
The pedal needs a 9VDC supply rated at 100mA minimum, with a 2.1mm barrel connector and negative tip, the common effects pedal type1. Current draw is approximately 8mA1, which is light enough that it poses no problem on a shared daisy-chain supply.
Videos
WrenAndCuff
THE PEDAL COUPLE
Quinton Caringella
Questions
Can you use the fuzz on the Anna Compact without the overdrive?
No. Wren and Cuff state that the fuzz circuit cannot be used independently: it is either in series with the drive circuit, or bypassed entirely. So the fuzz always runs after the overdrive when engaged, and the only standalone option is the overdrive on its own with the fuzz bypassed.
Is the Wren and Cuff Anna Compact true bypass?
Yes. Wren and Cuff list true-bypass operation on the Anna Compact product page, so the pedal passes your signal untouched when switched off.
What power supply does the Anna Compact need?
The Anna Compact runs on a 9VDC power supply rated at 100mA minimum, with a 2.1mm barrel connector and negative tip, the common effects pedal type. Current draw is approximately 8mA, so it sits lightly on a shared supply.
Where can you buy the Anna Compact?
Wren and Cuff state that the Anna Compact is only available through reverb.com, where it is listed as a Wren and Cuff x Claudio Sanchez release.
What is the Anna Compact's overdrive circuit based on?
The overdrive side is based on the Boss SD-1 circuit. Wren and Cuff describe the pedal as a dual unit with a pure overdrive based on a Boss SD-1 circuit, paired with a fuzz side based on Claudio Sanchez's late 70s op-amp Big Muff.
Sources (3)
- Anna Compact, Wren and Cuff
- BOSS - PX-1 | Plugout FX, BOSS (boss.info)
- BOSS SD-1 TRANS AM MOD, JHS Pedals
