The Bixonic Expandora 2000R is a distortion and fuzz pedal from the Japanese maker Bixonic, introduced at the January NAMM show. It combines the best of the two previous Expandora versions, with the mode DIP switches moved to the outside of the enclosure, a sturdier bypass switch, and a DIP switch to toggle between the old circuit and a newer version with more bass1. Bixonic introduced the original Expandora distortion/fuzz pedal in 19952.
The controls and modes
The 2000R's defining feature is its pair of external DIP switches, D1 and D2. Each switch has a Lo and Hi position, and the four combinations of the two select the pedal's four modes: Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz3. A third switch, labeled Instrument, selects Bass or Guitar input mode3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| D1 switch | Lo/Hi mode selection, one half of the four-mode pairing3 |
| D2 switch | Lo/Hi mode selection, the other half of the pairing3 |
| Instrument switch | Selects Bass or Guitar input mode3 |
| Input Gain | Adjusts distortion gain2 |
With both D1 and D2 switches up, the pedal reaches what Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson calls the most textured setting: "The D1 + D2 switches both up deliver that most textured 'Forbidden Mode' with a really rich Harmonic Fuzz / Fuzzstortion"3. Vintage Guitar's reviewer described the same territory from the other direction: "Then we entered what Expandora users call the 'forbidden zone,' with D2 in the high position. This made for a fat, over-the-edge fuzz"2.
Guitar Pedal X describes the Expandora as the archetype of the Fuzzy-Drive, or fuzzstortion, genre of pedals, and counts it alongside clones in that family3. For players tracing that lineage, the pedal sits between the distortion and fuzz camps rather than squarely in either.
Using it with bass and guitar
The Instrument switch's Bass/Guitar selection is the 2000R's answer to the question of what happens to low end in a full-range distortion circuit. Vintage Guitar's reviewer found that with the Instrument switch set to B and the gain low, the pedal gave "a very transparent, slightly overdriven blues sound that was really natural," with no loss of low-end or note separation2.
Build and power
The enclosure is part of the pedal's identity. Vintage Guitar's reviewer noted: "The Expandora's well-built metal casing resembles a tuna can, giving it a cool, unique look"2. The 2000R version also improved on its predecessors with a sturdier bypass switch and externally accessible DIP switches1.
Power comes from a 9-volt battery or a recommended 9-volt power supply. The battery sits behind a plate removed with a Phillips screw2.
What reviewers said
Vintage Guitar's review summed the pedal up this way: "The Bixonic Expandora 2000R does a fantastic job of giving you any distortion tone, from fat, slightly overdriven blues to natural distortion to over-the-edge fuzz," calling it money well spent overall2. Guitar Pedal X's buying guide names Billy Gibbons as the pedal's most prominent player, calling him "the perfect ambassador for this genre overall is of course Billy Gibbons favourite Bixonic Expandora"3.
Videos
Mister SEHAT Himself
Josh Chamblee
Questions
What is the Forbidden Mode on the Bixonic Expandora?
Forbidden Mode is what players call the setting with both D1 and D2 switches up. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson describes it as delivering a really rich harmonic fuzz, or fuzzstortion, texture. Vintage Guitar's reviewer reached a similar place with D2 in the high position, calling it the forbidden zone and describing a fat, over-the-edge fuzz.
Can the Expandora be used with bass?
Yes. The Instrument switch selects Bass or Guitar input mode, and the D1 and D2 switches each have Lo/Hi positions. Vintage Guitar's reviewer found that with the Instrument switch set to B and the gain low, the pedal produced a very transparent, slightly overdriven blues sound with no loss of low-end or note separation.
Does the Expandora run on a battery?
Yes. Vintage Guitar's review notes the unit can be powered by a battery or a recommended 9-volt power supply. The battery is a 9-volt accessed through a plate removed with a Phillips screw.
How much does a used Expandora cost?
The pedal cost $200 when new, according to Guitar Pedal X. As a discontinued unit, Guitar Pedal X reported prices of up to $450 equivalent on Reverb.com for a pristine edition.
Sources (3)
- DragonbeardJR.pdf, madbeanpedals.com, 2024-04-25
- Bixonic Expandora 2000R, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2010-01-21
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2021-08-23
