The Bixonic Axentrix A1 is a digital gain pedal covering distortion and fuzz territory, built as a reworking of the Expandora, the Japanese boutique distortion pedal that made the Bixonic name. It offers four gain modes, Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz, a three-band EQ alongside its Tone control, three presets, and an Accent knob that carries over the Expandora's unusual dynamic range expansion effect in digital form1. It was released in 2023 as part of the relaunch of the Bixonic brand, revived by Kikusui Electronics12.
Where it came from
The Axentrix A1 arrived in 2023, when Kikusui Electronics revived the Bixonic brand. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described the result as "a fantastic new evolved hybrid take on the Expandora"2. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio put the lineage plainly: "the Axentrix can be seen as a digital evolution of that circuit, with an added 3- Preset system"1. The Expandora format has since been picked up by other builders too, such as Decibelics' The Reverend, an analog adaptation of the circuit3.
Controls and modes
The pedal's front panel is four knobs: Level, Gain, Tone, and Accent1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output level1 |
| Gain | Amount of gain; tapping it changes the mode1 |
| Tone | Standard tone control, backed by a 3-band EQ1 |
| Accent | Right for Expander effect, left for Compressor effect1 |
Tapping the Gain knob steps through the four modes, Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz, and the color of the knobs' lights changes to show which mode is active1. For a player, that means one pedal covers the ground of a drive collection, from edge-of-breakup to full fuzz, without touching a mode switch.
The Accent knob is the feature that sets the Axentrix apart from other drives. Turned to the right, it produces an Expander effect, a digitized version of the expansion circuit found in the analog original. Turned to the left, it produces a Compressor effect, something the original Expandora did not have, which lengthens decay and sustain when used with distortion1. De Gregorio wrote that it "carries on the unique dynamic range expansion effects of the legendary BIXONIC Expandora to produce a plethora of great-feeling tone tricks"1.
Presets and bypass
The Axentrix A1 stores three presets, labeled M1, M2, and M3, with a dedicated Save Preset button2. That is a departure from the original Expandora, which had no preset memory and relied on its dip switches for flexibility.
Bypass is switchable between True Bypass and a "rich and clear Buffered Bypass," and the buffered bypass sound can itself be adjusted with EQ and the Accent control1. The input is an Instrument Select Input with a Guitar or Bass setting, so the pedal is set up to take either instrument from the start1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, reviewing the pedal in December 2023, was enthusiastic: "it really does sound amazing - and all those extra parameters take you into new territories"2. He named the Fuzz voicing a favorite among the pedal's modes2. Karlsson had earlier written of the Expandora format that he knew "of few pedals more potent across the gain range than the original Expandora format"3.
Videos
Guitar World
AndyDemos
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Questions
Is the Bixonic Axentrix A1 analog or digital?
It is a digital pedal. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as a digital gain pedal and, since it reworks the analog Expandora circuit, called it a digital evolution of that circuit. It adds a three-preset system and a digitized version of the Expandora's dynamic range expansion effect, which the original handled with analog circuitry.
What modes does the Axentrix A1 have?
Four gain modes: Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz. You reach them by tapping the Gain knob, and the color of the knobs' lights changes to show which mode is active. A three-band EQ sits alongside the usual Tone control for shaping each mode.
How do you change modes on the Axentrix A1?
Tap the Gain knob. Each tap steps to the next of the four modes, Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz, and the knobs' lights change color according to the mode you are in.
What does the Accent knob do on the Axentrix A1?
Turned right, it gives an Expander effect, a digitized version of the Expandora's expansion circuit. Turned left, it gives a Compressor effect, a feature the original Expandora did not have, which lengthens decay and sustain when used with distortion.
Does the Axentrix A1 have true bypass?
It is switchable between True Bypass and a rich and clear Buffered Bypass, and the buffered bypass sound can be adjusted with EQ and the Accent control.
Can the Axentrix A1 be used with bass?
Yes. Its input is an Instrument Select Input with a Guitar or Bass setting, so the pedal is set up to accept either instrument.
How many presets does the Axentrix A1 store?
Three, labeled M1, M2, and M3, with a dedicated Save Preset button for storing settings to them.
Sources (3)
- Bixonic Axentrix A1 Distortion/Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2023-08-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-18
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-10-02
