Foxx Tone Machine

Three knobs: Volume, Sustain and mellow bright tone control and and the famously mispelled "octive up" switch. Very nicely controllable through these knobs, offering a wide range of tones and options. The volume output is excellent, if you've owned a Danelectro French Toast clone, you know this is where the French Toast/Foxx clone fails. I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy a real Foxx Tone. WELL worth the money. There are alot of differences, but let me just say this. After extensive testing (and spending) I've just completed a side-by-side of the two pedals. The short and sweet version is that the French Toast is a nice clone that nails SOME of the original Foxx Tone sounds. What it lacks are the subtler fuzz sounds of the Foxx Tone which is able to approach the rich sounds of a Germanium Fuzz Face. Whereas, the French Toast is limited to only reproducing the "wilder" antics of the Foxx Tone.

The first reviewer (who's observations are spot on) mentioned the hum problem. That's the biggest problem that I've also found, but it also gets buried well enough as you play. At first, I loved the octave up switch for it's extreme chainsaw nastiness, but the more I play the original Foxx Tone, the more I appreciate it's quieter side, and I'm tending to work without it. But it is an EXCELLENT octave up and well worth the ride. Mainly, what this pedal offers over the French Toast is POWER. Excellent volume levels with all settings, which, as I said, is where the French Toast craps out. As you dial down the "DIST" knob on the French Toast, even with the Level setting at full, the French Toast just vanishes. Believe me, this does not happen with an original Foxx tone. With an original Foxx Tone Machine you get a very nice subdued fuzz that lets your guitars tone's come through. Beautiful little pedal!

Well, my Foxx Tone is probably 33 years old, sat in someone's garage before I rescued it (after the last player tore off the 9-Volt battery connector and abandoned it -- fool!) off of ebay. I replace the connector and cleaned the connections and pots and voila! Right back into action. Is that reliability. You bet it is.

I hope someday I get to shake Steve R's hand.

Let me say first here, I haven't heard the lastest Foxx Tone Reissue. I'm looking forward to writing a comparison of the original to the reissue next.

Overall, this pedal was well worth the time, effort and money. I absolutely adore it for its versatility and vintage tones. I was hugely surprised by this versatility, having first purchased a French Toast (and was aghast at the gain problem). Again, if you want to hear some of the craziness of the Foxx Tone (sizzling buzzsaws and great raunch), the French Toast is worth $30 bucks used to check out, but you're not getting a Foxx Tone Machine. Not by a long shot. I will say, I think honestly, the French toast reproduces 75% of the original Foxx sounds, but it craps out where the vintage components allow you to dial down the madness. An original Foxx Tone Machine offer lovely rich and refined possibilities as well.

Easy to see on the floor thanks to its'red fuzzy covering,but a challenge to find the right spot in the pedal chain for it,due to the in/out jacks being on the same side.The toggle that activates the incredible "Octive" effect would be more practical as a second top mounted footswitch,as most modern octavia pedals use.In fact,all controls and switches on top would have been ideal.Otherwise,easy to understand and controls are extremely responsive.

The fuzz setting amplifies 60 cycle hum from single coils,but the hum vanishes on the Octive setting.(BTW,it is spelled Octive on the box).Octavia sounds great with Strat neck pickup,and thanks to the variability of the Volume,Tone and Sustain knobs,any level of high and multiple octave can be achieved,from piercing single notes to heavily ring-modulated chords.The Fuzz setting is similar to FuzzFace,squishy,woofy,and bold;the sustain is nearly endless.Definate tonal coloration,not very good for overdrive...it is a FUZZ BOX.Again,the Tone and Sustain knobs afford you a wider range of fuzz tones than most fuzz effects offer.Very rich in harmonics,generally a "warmer" sound compared to the edgy,treble-happy sound of Maestro and Mosrite fuzzes.Sounds best with Strat and Fender open-back combo amp,good with Marshall too.Octive doesn't combine well with other effects;Fuzz does alright.

The feet are prone to drying up and falling off,and the circuit board construction is more delicate than most from this era.Footswitch, control knobs and jacks are strong.Always works as expected,none of the problems that germanium diode pedals can have.

Made by a company that folded in the '70's.Unknown whether or not the reissue manufacturer can service the originals.

This pedal is great for late sixties style psychedelic sounds;nails "Purple Haze" "Fire" "Little Miss Lover" "Machine Gun"...of course,its'potential for more contemporary or progressive styles is tremendous if you like massive distortion and sustain.Haven't heard the reissue,but none of the modern Octave/Fuzz combo pedals I've heard (Fulltone,Prescription Elec,Dunlop)come close to the intensity of the original Foxx Tone Machine, a rare,expensive pedal you might enjoy;I sure do!

Very easy to use!

I've played at least 60 different Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz pedals, from vintage to boutique. I play many different guitars through many effects into a Mesa Boogie Mark II B, all top shelf equipment. As far as fuzz pedals go, this is a real keeper. They were made in the mid 1970's, and the Foxx company was short lived. These Tone Machines are a Fuzz, with upper Octave. Much like an Octavia, but much cooler IMHO. The Fuzz has great sustain, and will cut right through a band at live volumes, no small task for most of the Fuzzes out there! The Octave is switchable via a toggle switch on the side. Almost as cool as an Ampeg Scrambler, but more user-friendly.

Well, it dosen't really look roadworthy, but mine was made circa 1974, and it still works perfect!

Long gone.

If you can find one, it will be expensive due to it's rarity, but well worth it. Foxx actually made a few in a fuzzy American flag pattern which are very rare. most were red, of purple fuzzy material, some were finished in plain black paint. The rarest ones were covered in a fuzzy orange, or blue material, as well as the flag pattern. If you find one, buy it, they will only go up in value!