The Wren and Cuff Eye See '78 OG is a big box fuzz and distortion pedal that replicates the 1978 op-amp Big Muff V4 circuit, with the V5 tone bypass switch added. Wren and Cuff describes it as "a largely-untamed IC-based fuzz and distortion machine," built in a heavy duty folded steel enclosure with hand silk screened graphics and polished bakelite style knobs, and made in Los Angeles1.
The OG is a limited big box version of the company's Eye See '78 Dual Op-Amp Distortion, which Wren and Cuff first released in 2014 as its take on the non-transistorized Muff1. The maker's page lists the OG as sold out, and the run was limited to serial numbers 39-001 through 39-120, with later batches changed to avoid confusion1.
The op-amp Big Muff V4 circuit
In 1978, the Big Muff circuit design changed drastically: the transistors inside were scrapped in favor of operational amplifiers, integrated circuits that replaced the discrete transistor stages of the earlier versions1. Kit Rae's history of the op-amp Big Muff identifies the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi V4 and the V5 tone bypass Big Muff Pi, both from 1978, as the op-amp versions2. Wren and Cuff says the big box Eye See '78 OG is "an authentic replication of the V4 circuit"1, and Delicious Audio, reporting on the big box release, described it as "an authentic replication of the V4 circuit with the added bonus of the V5 tone bypass switch"3.
The V5 tone bypass itself has a documented history. Kit Rae notes a tone bypass mod, a capacitor and two resistors mounted on the trace side of the PCB, common to three of the four circuit boards used for the V4/V5 Big Muffs4. When Electro-Harmonix later reissued the op-amp Big Muff Pi, it included a Tone Bypass switch just like the V5, which completely bypassed the tone stage of the circuit for a brighter and harsher sound, at the cost of the trademark mid scoop4.
Controls and the tone bypass switch
The Eye See '78 OG carries the standard Big Muff control set, volume, tone and sustain, plus the V5 tone bypass switch. Wren and Cuff explains what the switch does15:
"the tone bypass switch removes the passive tone stack from the circuit, resulting in a mid-bump, volume boost, and a significantly more raw and open sound"1
With the switch engaged, the tone control is rendered useless, since the tone stage it adjusts is no longer in the signal path1. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the standard Eye See '78, notes that the switch was added to the back of the original Big Muff in 1978 and that the Eye See '78 includes it as well6.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level |
| Tone | Shapes the passive tone stack, active only when tone bypass is off1 |
| Sustain | Sets the amount of fuzz and sustain |
| Tone Bypass switch | Removes the passive tone stack for a mid-bump, volume boost and a more raw, open sound; renders the tone control useless1 |
Power, size and build
The OG runs on a 9V DC center negative adapter or a 9V battery, drawing 8mA1. That is low enough current that battery power is a practical option. The enclosure is heavy duty folded steel, with the top lacquer clear-coated for corrosion resistance, old school hand silk screened graphics and polished bakelite style knobs1. At 6.8" x 5.5" x 2.2-1.1" and 2.3 lbs, it is a genuinely large pedal, close in footprint to the vintage big box Muffs it replicates1.
OG versus the current Eye See '78
The current Eye See '78 is the smaller footprint version of the same circuit. Wren and Cuff notes that the first full size version and the smaller version are cosmetically different but the circuit is exactly the same5. Pedal of the Day likewise describes the original Eye See '78 as having a bigger, near Muff-sized enclosure that was slimmed down for the current version6.
| Eye See '78 OG | Eye See '78 | |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Big box, folded steel1 | Smaller footprint5 |
| Dimensions | 6.8" x 5.5" x 2.2-1.1"1 | 4.8" x 2.6" x 1.6"5 |
| Current draw | 8mA1 | 5mA5 |
| Power | 9V DC neg tip adapter or 9V battery1 | 9V battery or 2.1mm adapter5 |
| Bypass | True hard-wire bypass1 | True hard-wire bypass1 |
| Circuit | Op-amp Big Muff V4 with V5 tone bypass1 | Same circuit, smaller box5 |
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the big box Eye See '78, crediting "Big Muff wizard/scientist Matt Holl" with building the big-box version of his V4/V5-style op-amp Big Muff7. The reviewer's overall verdict was positive:
"It is worth the wait. I'm not sure I even knew how much I loved this circuit."7
On character, Delicious Audio writes that while most vintage Muffs are a little sweeter sounding, the Eye See '78 is crunchier and more ballsy3. Pedal of the Day's reviewer reached a similar conclusion, finding the Eye See '78 "certainly crunchier and more ballsy than a standard Muff"6.
A note on names
Wren and Cuff states plainly that it is neither endorsed nor affiliated with Electro-Harmonix, and that product names are used for reference only1. The Eye See '78 OG is an independent recreation of a vintage circuit, not an Electro-Harmonix product.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Eye See '78 OG take a battery?
Yes. Wren and Cuff lists its power as a 9V DC center negative adapter or a 9V battery, so it runs either way. Current draw is 8mA, which is low enough that a battery is a realistic option for players who do not want a power supply on the board.
Is the Eye See '78 OG true bypass?
Yes. Wren and Cuff specifies true hard-wire bypass for the Eye See '78 OG, the same bypass type listed for the standard Eye See '78. When the pedal is off, the signal passes without buffering.
What does the tone bypass switch do?
It removes the passive tone stack from the circuit entirely. Wren and Cuff says this gives a mid-bump, a volume boost, and a significantly more raw and open sound. With the switch engaged, the tone control does nothing, so the knob is effectively out of the circuit.
What is the difference between the OG and the current Eye See '78?
The OG is the big box version, at 6.8 by 5.5 inches, while the current Eye See '78 uses a smaller footprint enclosure at 4.8 by 2.6 inches. The OG also draws 8mA against 5mA for the smaller version. The circuit both pedals are built on is the same op-amp Big Muff design.
Is Wren and Cuff affiliated with Electro-Harmonix?
No. Wren and Cuff states plainly that it is neither endorsed nor affiliated with Electro-Harmonix, and that product names such as Big Muff are used for reference only. The Eye See '78 OG is an independent recreation of a vintage circuit.
Is the Eye See '78 OG still available?
The maker's product page lists the Eye See '78 OG as sold out. The OG run was limited to serial numbers 39-001 through 39-120, and later batches were changed to avoid confusion. The standard smaller Eye See '78 remains the current version.
Sources (7)
- Eye See '78 OG, Wren and Cuff
- A Fuzz and Muff pedal Timeline, Kit Rae (kitrae.net), 2014-07
- New Pedal: Wren And Cuff Eye See '70 Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2023-09-05
- The Big Muff History of All Versions Part 1, Kit Rae (kitrae.net), 2024-02
- Eye See '78, Wren and Cuff
- Wren and Cuff Eye See '78 Dual Op-Amp Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2023-01-18
- Wren and Cuff See Eye ’78 Review, Premier Guitar, 2024-03-23
