KarDiaN
Vitamin C "Pumpkin Orange Ver."
A collaboration model marking the 20th anniversary of chuya-online. Built on Vitamin C, it is tuned with reference to an early Big Muff V4 Op-Amp, the so-called op-amp Muff, owned by Kitada. The device layout of Vitamin C was deliberately left unchanged, extracting only the aggressive upper midrange of the op-amp Muff. Clipping uses the same 1N4148 found in that pedal, and after shifting the tonal centre upward, Tropical Fish capacitors keep the result from becoming top-heavy.
A chuya-online 20th-anniversary collaboration referencing the early op-amp Muff
A collaboration model built by KarDiaN for the 20th anniversary of chuya-online. It takes Vitamin C as its base and references the V4 Op-Amp period, the odd one out in the Big Muff lineage.
The op-amp Muff as an outlier
A standard Big Muff builds its roar from four transistors, whereas the op-amp Muff amplifies through an IC, setting it apart within the lineage. Here the device layout of Vitamin C was deliberately left as it was, extracting only the essence of the op-amp Muff sound. The result holds the aggressive upper midrange of that pedal alongside the linear behaviour of transistors.
Referencing the early type
There are several versions of the op-amp Muff, and the reference here was the early type. One way to identify it is the top switch, marked OFF-ON rather than TONE-BYPASS. Compared with the later type it sits higher while carrying a swell of low midrange, and reproducing that was the focus.
Tonal centre and components
To reproduce the reference, the low band was shifted substantially upward, moving the tonal centre toward the top end. Left there the result would be top-heavy, so Tropical Fish capacitors, known for a gentle tone, were used to hold it back. The clipping diode is the 1N4148 actually fitted to the op-amp Muff.
A sponged finish
A metallic base coat is overlaid with sponged paintwork as a distressing treatment. It produces a depth that plain black cannot, suggesting the silver associated with the Big Muff series. The printing uses orange, the corporate colour of chuya-online.
- Collaboration marking chuya-online's 20th anniversary
- References an early Big Muff V4 Op-Amp
- Keeps the Vitamin C device layout while reproducing the upper midrange
- 1N4148 clipping diode as used in the op-amp Muff
- Tropical Fish capacitors balancing the raised tonal centre
- Metallic base coat with sponged distressing
Specifications
| Manufacturer | KarDiaNOpens in a new tab |
|---|---|
| Product | Vitamin C "Pumpkin Orange Ver."Opens in a new tab |
| Type | Compact pedal |
| Functions | Fuzz |
| Release year | 2022 |
| Current draw | 3mA |
| Dimensions | W72 × H55 × D121 mm |
| Bypass | True bypass |
| Status | Discontinued |
Last updated:
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