The Wren and Cuff OG Caprid is a full-size fuzz pedal based on the mid-1970s Ram's Head Big Muff. Wren and Cuff describes it as a reissue of the company's original Caprid, which first appeared in 2012, and says the circuit draws on the best of four different Ram's Head circuits rolled into one pedal1. In the maker's words, the result is a fuzz that is "dripping with sustain and rich in upper harmonic goodness"1.
The Ram's Head Big Muff is one of the most reproduced vintage fuzz circuits among boutique builders. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson noted that the Ram's Head Muff circuit has served as the base for other modern fuzzes as well, including the core of the Walrus Audio Eons Fuzz2. The Caprid stands out for staying with a full-size enclosure and vintage-style parts rather than a compact format.
What it does to your sound
The Caprid is a Big Muff-style fuzz, which means long, singing sustain and a thick, compressed wall of distortion rather than the raspy decay of a vintage germanium fuzz. Wren and Cuff calls it a "girthy distortion monster" built from the best of four different Ram's Head circuits1. The maker's description of the sound, "dripping with sustain and rich in upper harmonic goodness," points at the harmonic content players associate with the mid-70s Ram's Head voicing1.
"Dripping with sustain and rich in upper harmonic goodness this is the muff you have been looking for if you crave"
Circuit, parts and enclosure
The OG Caprid is built on the original "3003" style circuit board, the layout used in the vintage Ram's Head units it recreates1. Two parts choices stand out for players who care about vintage accuracy:
- Mullard "tropical fish" capacitor clipping sections, the colorful vintage-style capacitors used in the clipping stages1
- All carbon composition 1/2 watt "brown-tone" resistors throughout the circuit1
The enclosure is an extra heavy duty full sized folded steel box that Wren and Cuff describes as "built to take a beating," a recreation of the size and feel of the original units1. The pedal measures 6.8 by 5.5 by 2.2 to 1.1 inches and weighs 2.19 lbs, so it takes up real board space compared with mini-format Big Muff clones1.
Power and connections
The OG Caprid runs on a 9V DC negative tip adapter with a 2.1mm plug, or on an internal 9V battery, and draws only 8mA1. That low current draw means it is easy on a power supply and can share a daisy chain with other standard pedals. True hard-wire bypass keeps the clean signal intact when the pedal is switched off1.
Versions and availability
The Caprid line has several versions worth knowing apart:
| Version | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|
| OG Caprid | Reissue of the original 2012 full-size Caprid, four Ram's Head circuits combined | Current, $324.9913 |
| Blue-Violet Caprid OG | Special edition reproducing the "violet-era" Ram's Head, released before the original version | B-stock listing sold out34 |
| Original Caprid OG V1 | Full-size reproduction of the mid-70s Ram's Head | Not taking orders at this time5 |
The Blue-Violet Caprid OG is a variant of the Caprid OG that reproduces the famed "violet-era" Ram's Head rather than blending the four circuits. Wren and Cuff describes its sound as "Saturated and even," and it shares the same 3003 style PCB, folded steel enclosure, 2.19 lb weight, dimensions, 8mA draw, and true hard-wired bypass as the OG4. Its B-stock listing is sold out4, as is the B-stock listing for the standard Caprid OG6.
B-stock Caprid OG units were sold at a discount with minor hairline scratches on the face, sides, backplate, or blemished knobs; those listings are now sold out6.
Players looking for the same circuit in a smaller footprint can also look at the Wren and Cuff Caprid Small Foot and the Blue Violet Caprid Small Foot, while the Caprid Blue-Violet Special covers the violet-era voicing in another format.
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Questions
Is the Wren and Cuff OG Caprid true bypass?
Yes. Wren and Cuff specifies true hard-wire bypass for the OG Caprid, so your clean signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off. The Blue-Violet Caprid OG variant lists the same true hard-wired bypass.
What Big Muff does the Caprid come from?
The OG Caprid is based on the mid-1970s Ram's Head Big Muff. Wren and Cuff says it combined the best of four different Ram's Head circuits into one pedal, built on the original 3003 style circuit board.
Where is the Caprid made?
The OG Caprid is made in the USA. Wren and Cuff describes the Blue-Violet variant as 100% hand wired in Los Angeles, and the same hand-wired construction carries across the Caprid line.
How big and heavy is the OG Caprid?
It is a full-size pedal, measuring 6.8 by 5.5 by 2.2 to 1.1 inches and weighing 2.19 lbs. The enclosure is extra heavy duty folded steel, built to take a beating, so plan for real pedalboard space.
Is the Caprid OG still available?
The OG Caprid is a reissue of the original Caprid, which first appeared in 2012, and it is a current product listed at $324.99. B-stock sale listings have sold out, and the earlier Original Caprid OG V1 is not taking orders at this time.
Sources (6)
- OG Caprid, Wren and Cuff
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-09-28
- Blue-Violet Caprid OG, Wren and Cuff
- Blue-Violet Caprid OG B-Stock Summer Sale, Wren and Cuff
- Dealer OG Caprid V1 info, Wren and Cuff
- Caprid OG B-Stock Summer Sale, Wren and Cuff
