Wren and Cuff Eye See '78

The Wren and Cuff Eye See '78 is a fuzz and distortion pedal that recreates the 1978 IC Big Muff, the version of the Electro-Harmonix circuit in which the usual transistors were scrapped in favor of operational amplifiers, otherwise known as op-amps, which are integrated circuits¹. Wren and Cuff calls it a largely untamed IC-based fuzz and distortion machine, and describes it as crunchier and more ballsy than a standard Muff¹. It first appeared in 2014 and is currently sold in a smaller-footprint enclosure, made in the USA with a lifetime warranty, at a list price of $199.99¹.

The pedal's distinguishing feature is a Tone Bypass switch, carried over from the 1978 original, where a switch was added to the back of the pedal. Engaging it removes the passive tone stack from the circuit for a volume boost and a significantly more raw and open sound, and it renders the tone control useless while it is on¹.

An op-amp Big Muff with a Tone Bypass

In 1978 the vintage Muff circuit design changed drastically: the transistors inside were replaced with operational amplifiers, which are integrated circuits². Kit Rae's history of the op-amp Big Muff notes that Electro-Harmonix marketed the later reissue of this circuit as "our faithful re-creation of the late '70s circuit," and that the op-amp design, sometimes called the IC or V4 Big Muff, differs from the traditional transistor-based Big Muff in using op-amps to achieve its sustaining distortion sound³. The op-amp versions were the Big Muff Pi V4 and the V5 tone bypass Big Muff Pi, both released in 1978⁴⁵.

The Eye See '78 is Wren and Cuff's take on that circuit. Pedal of the Day reviewed it as a Dual Op-Amp Distortion that takes a peek at a very particular piece of Big Muff history, the circuit as it existed around 1978, and found it produces "a monstrously woolly distortion sound" that is crunchier and more ballsy than a standard Muff⁶. Delicious Audio made a similar comparison, noting that while most vintage Muffs are a little sweeter sounding, the Eye See '78 is crunchier and more ballsy⁷.

Premier Guitar's reviewer found the character aggressive rather than sweet:

The Tone Bypass switch

The Tone Bypass switch is the feature that sets the op-amp Muffs apart from the rest of the family. In 1978 a switch was added to the back of the original, and the Eye See '78 includes this switch as well¹. Essentially, it removes the passive tone stack from the circuit for a volume boost and a significantly more raw and open sound, at the cost of making the tone control useless while engaged¹.

Kit Rae's history describes the same behavior on the Electro-Harmonix op-amp reissue: the Tone Bypass switch completely bypassed the tone stage of the circuit, making for a brighter and harsher sound but missing the trademark mid scoop³. Pedal of the Day's reviewer considered the trade worthwhile, writing that "you won't miss it, the sound this switch provides is just too cool"⁶.

Power and connections

The Eye See '78 runs on a 9V DC adapter with a negative tip, the standard center-negative arrangement used by most guitar pedals, or on a 9V battery through a 2.1mm connector¹. Current draw is 5mA¹, low enough that a battery lasts a long time and the pedal places almost no strain on a pedalboard power supply. Bypass is true hard-wire bypass, so the circuit is out of the signal path when the pedal is off¹.

History and versions

The Eye See '78 dates to 2014, when Wren and Cuff crafted what it calls the definitive version of the non-transistorized fuzzbox¹. The original came in a bigger, near Muff-sized enclosure, which has been slimmed down for the current version⁶. Wren and Cuff notes that some demo videos show the first full-size version, and although the two are cosmetically different, the circuit is exactly the same¹.

The big-box OG version is an authentic replication of the V4 circuit, built with 100% through-hole components on a vintage style circuit board and specially selected ICs for authenticity². Its enclosure is heavy duty folded steel, with a lacquer clear-coated top, old school hand silk screened graphics and polished bakelite style knobs². One early batch detail worth knowing: a note on the OG page applies only to serial numbers 39-001 through 39-120, and following batches were changed to avoid confusion².

In 2023 Wren and Cuff also announced the Eye See '70, a big box version of the Eye See '78 that replicates the 1978 op-amp V4 Muff circuit with a V5 tone bypass switch, and includes a secret internal adjustment to fine tune the tone beyond the stock V4 circuit⁷. Premier Guitar's review covered the big-box Eye See '78, which the reviewer attributed to "Big Muff wizard/scientist Matt Holl"⁸.

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