PROJECT NAME

CORVUS
BASED ON BUILD DIFFICULTY
EHX Big Muff Pi (1978 Op-Amp) Easy
EFFECT TYPE DOCUMENT VERSION
Fuzz / Distortion 1.0.1 (2021-04-20)
PROJECT SUMMARY
The 1978 redesign of the classic Big Muff Pi, using op-amps instead of transistors. Famously used by
Billy Corgan on the Smashing Pumpkins album Siamese Dream.

Actual size is 2.3” x 1.86” (main board) and 1.78” x 0.87” (bypass board).

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Project Overview 7 Drill Template
2 Introduction & Usage 8 Enclosure Layout
3-4 Parts List 9 Wiring Diagram
5 Build Notes 10 Licensing
6 Schematic 10 Document Revisions

INTRODUCTION
The Corvus Fuzz is a clone of the 1977-1980 “op-amp” EHX Big Muff Pi, a redesign of the classic Big
Muff circuit using op-amps instead of transistor gain stages. It was designed by Howard Davis, a brilliant
EHX engineer who also invented the Memory Man delay and Electric Mistress flanger as well as the
Deluxe Big Muff Pi.

He was tasked in the redesign with getting a similar sound to the Big Muff, but the circuit itself bears no
resemblance to the earlier 4-transistor circuit apart from the tone control. Therefore, while it was the
only commercially-available version of the Big Muff for several years, today it’s seen as a fully separate
circuit. (In 2017, EHX reissued this version of the Big Muff, formally adopting its formerly unofficial
name, the “Op-Amp Big Muff Pi”.)

The Corvus is based on the 1978 revision of the Big Muff, which added a “Tone Bypass” switch. As
inferred by the name, this switch fully bypasses the tone stack for a more raw and grinding sound.

The Corvus is a direct adaptation of the 1978 circuit except for the inclusion of an optional modification
to the gain control, originally conceived by Analogguru. This converts the op-amp configuration into a
variable gain stage, whereas the stock unit uses a fixed gain configuration followed by a volume control.
With this modification, the op-amp isn’t amplifying the signal any more than it needs to. However, the
original version can also be built if you prefer (see build notes for details).

USAGE
The Corvus has the following controls:

• Sustain controls the amount of gain that is fed into the clipping stage.

• Tone pans between a low emphasis and high emphasis, with an overall scooped tone in the middle.

• Tone Bypass (toggle switch) bypasses the tone stack entirely, increasing the output level and giving
it a more aggressive bite.

• Volume is the overall output level.

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 2

PARTS LIST
This parts list is also available in a spreadsheet format which can be imported directly into Mouser for
easy parts ordering. Mouser doesn’t carry all the parts (most notably potentiometers) so the second tab
lists all the non-Mouser parts as well as sources for each.

View parts list spreadsheet →

PART VALUE TYPE NOTES

R1 56k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R2 330k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R3 10k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R4 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R5 560k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R6 62k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R7 47R Metal film resistor, 1/4W Modification; omit for stock version. See build notes.

R8 OMIT 47R in stock version. See build notes.

R9 8k2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R10 470k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R11 5k6 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R12 1k2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R13 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R14 47k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R15 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R16 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R17 220k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R18 820k Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R19 1M Metal film resistor, 1/4W

R20 47R Metal film resistor, 1/4W

RPD 2M2 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

LEDR 4k7 Metal film resistor, 1/4W

C1 150n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C2 10n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C3 4n7 Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C4 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm

C5 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm Modification; jumper for stock version. See build notes.

C6 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm

C7 330pF MLCC capacitor, NP0/C0G

C8 1uF Film capacitor, 7.2 x 3.5mm

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 3

PARTS LIST, CONT.
PART VALUE TYPE NOTES
C9 100n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm See build notes.

C10 120n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm See build notes.

C11 150n Film capacitor, 7.2 x 2.5mm

C12 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm

C13 10uF Electrolytic capacitor, 5mm Reference voltage filter capacitor.

C14 100uF Electrolytic capacitor, 6.3mm Reference voltage filter capacitor.

C15 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R Power supply filter capacitor.

D1 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41

D2 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35

D3 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35

D4 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35

D5 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35

D6 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35

D7 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35

IC1 RC4558P Operational amplifier, DIP8

IC1-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8

IC2 LM741 Operational amplifier, DIP8

IC2-S DIP-8 socket IC socket, DIP-8

SUST. 10kB 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

TONE 10kB 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

VOL. 100kA 16mm right-angle PCB mount pot

T. BYP. SPDT toggle Toggle switch, SPDT on-on

IN 1/4" stereo 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 112BX or equivalent.

OUT 1/4" mono 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 111X or equivalent.

DC 2.1mm DC jack, 2.1mm panel mount Mouser 163-4302-E or equivalent.

FSW 3PDT Stomp switch, 3PDT

ENC 125B Enclosure, die-cast aluminum Can also use a Hammond 1590N1.

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 4

BUILD NOTES

Gain stage modification

The original 1978 Big Muff used a gain setup similar to the original Big Muff: a fixed gain stage with a
volume control after it that attenuate the level before the clipping stage.

Since it uses an op-amp rather than a transistor, it’s better to make the gain itself variable as opposed
to running it full-up and then cutting back the level afterward. So, the Corvus includes a modification
suggested by Analogguru that accomplishes this. C4 is added as a DC blocking capacitor, and the Sustain
control is wired back to the inverting input of the op-amp to control the gain directly.

The stock version of the Corvus uses this modified gain stage, so if you build it according to the parts
list, it will have this improvement. However, if you’d like to build the stock version, you’ll want to do the
following:

• C5: jumper
• R7: omit (leave empty)
• R8: 47R

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 5

SCHEMATIC

+9V VA

D1 R20

1N5817 47R C14

C15
220k VB VC

820k
R16

R18
100n 100uF

GND GND C12 C13

220k
R17

R19

1M
10uF 10uF

GND GND GND GND

150n
C11
4n7
C3

R13
VA
47k

10uF
VC
R5 IC2

C5
VA
VB LM741

100n
560k

7
1
3 5

C9
3
IC1A

1uF
6

SUSTAIN

C6
IC1B R9
8

RC4558P

10kB
3 2
150n

R3 R4 RC4558P TONE_BYP
1 5 3

2
C1

R1 8k2

3
2 7 2

4
8
IN 10k 47k

TONE
C2 C8

10kB
6 1

1
56k
4

3
10n GND 1uF
RPD

2M2

VOLUME
C7

100kA
1
62k

R11
R6

GND OUT
330pF

2
R2 GND R7 5k6
C10

100k
1

R15
R10

R12

R14

47k
1k2
GND 330k C4 47R
120n
470k
OMIT
R8

10uF
D2 D3 D4
GND GND
GND GND GND
GND
GND D7 D6 D5

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 6

DRILL TEMPLATE
Cut out this drill template, fold the edges and tape it to the enclosure. Before drilling, it’s recommended
to first use a center punch for each of the holes to help guide the drill bit.

Ensure that this template is printed at 100% or “Actual Size”. You can double-check this by measuring
the scale on the printed page.

Top jack layout assumes the use of closed-frame jacks like the Switchcraft 111X. If you’d rather use
open-frame jacks, please refer to the Open-Frame Jack Drill Template for the top side.

LED hole drill size assumes the use of a 5mm LED bezel, available from several parts suppliers. Adjust
size accordingly if using something different, such as a 3mm bezel, a plastic bezel, or just a plain LED.

INCH 125B

0.385”

0 1 0.625” 0.625”

ø3/8” ø3/8”
CM ø1/2”
OUT DC IN

0 1 2

VOLUME SUSTAIN

x: -0.65, y: +1.71 x: 0.65, y: +1.71

ø9/32” ø9/32”

TONE
BYPASS TONE

x: -0.85, y: +0.66 x: 0, y: +0.66

ø1/4” ø9/32”

CENTER (0,0)

LED FOOTSWITCH

x: -0.775, y: -1.20 x: 0, y: -1.20

ø5/16” ø15/32”

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 7

ENCLOSURE LAYOUT
Enclosure is shown without jacks. See next page for jack layout and wiring.

125B

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 8

WIRING DIAGRAM

IN GND +V N.C. N.C. OUT

PCB GND +V +V JACK GND JACK GND GND PCB

IN IN OUT OUT

125B

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 9

LICENSE & USAGE
No direct support is offered for these projects beyond the provided documentation. It’s assumed
that you have at least some experience building pedals before starting one of these. Replacements and
refunds cannot be offered unless it can be shown that the circuit or documentation are in error.

All of these circuits have been tested in good faith in their base configurations. However, not all the
modifications or variations have necessarily been tested. These are offered only as suggestions based
on the experience and opinions of others.

Projects may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless specifically noted. No
attribution is necessary, though a link back is always greatly appreciated. The only usage restrictions
are that (1) you cannot resell the PCB as part of a kit without prior arrangement, and (2) you cannot
“goop” the circuit, scratch off the screenprint, or otherwise obfuscate the circuit to disguise its source.
(In other words: you don’t have to go out of your way to advertise the fact that you use these PCBs, but
please don’t go out of your way to hide it. The guitar effects industry needs more transparency, not less!)

DOCUMENT REVISIONS
1.0.1 (2021-04-20)
Corrected control labels on drill template.

1.0.0 (2020-11-16)
Initial release.

CORVUS DISTORTION / SUSTAINER 10