The Coppersound Foxcatcher is an overdrive pedal from Coppersound Pedals built around the Marshall Bluesbreaker circuit. The original V1 was a 2-in-1 pedal: a Bluesbreaker-inspired overdrive on one side and a clean boost on the other, each with its own footswitch1. The V2, released in December 2025, keeps the Bluesbreaker lineage but drops the boost and replaces it with a three-mode gain switch and a three-way low-end Shape switch23.
Coppersound describes the V1 as providing "a responsive, amp-like feel, offering dynamic control over your tone for a wide range of musical styles"1, and says the V2 ranges from "a subtle, glass-like boost or a rich, harmonic-laden drive"2. Both versions are currently listed as sold out on the maker's site12.
A Bluesbreaker-style overdrive
The Bluesbreaker, an overdrive booster made by Marshall and inspired by the amp of the same name, is one of the most copied overdrive circuits in pedals56. Guitar World calls it "an iconic overdrive inspired by Marshall's amp of the same name"6. The Foxcatcher sits squarely in that family: Coppersound says the V1 was "inspired by the Bluesbreaker overdrive"1 and the V2 is "rooted in the celebrated Bluesbreaker circuit"2.
JHS Pedals' write-up of 2-in-1 pedals puts the V1 in plain terms: "It has a Bluesbreaker-style overdrive, kind of like my Morning Glory, and then you have a boost on the other side"41. What separates the Foxcatcher from a straight clone is the tone section. Coppersound lists "key modifications, such as a new tone section and a Nature knob that acts as a presence control" on the V11, and the V2 goes further with switchable gain modes and bass shaping2.
The controls
The two versions are controlled quite differently.
| Control | V1 | V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Yes | Yes |
| Tone | Yes | Yes, expanded sweep with high-pass filtering2 |
| Drive | Yes | Yes |
| Nature / Character | Yes, presence control1 | No |
| Boost | Yes, separate knob7 | No |
| Order switch | Yes, Drive First / Boost First7 | No |
| Gain switch | No | Yes, Low / Medium / High3 |
| Shape switch | No | Yes, three-way bass control2 |
| Footswitches | Drive and Boost, separate7 | Smart-Bypass, latching and momentary2 |
On the V1, the Nature knob "acts as a presence control, enhancing clarity and harmonics"1. Premier Guitar's reviewer called the tone control "rangeful" and "sensitive"8. The V2's Tone knob has an expanded sweep, "combined with select high-pass filtering," which Coppersound says lets you dial in your sound with precision2.
The V2's gain switch is its headline feature. Delicious Audio describes it as "a three-mode gain switch" selecting Low, Medium or High gain modes3:
- Low Gain Mode: Coppersound says it "delivers the beloved, touch-sensitive tonal character of the original Bluesbreaker circuit, adding warmth, clarity, and subtle breakup"2. Delicious Audio calls it "classic, touch-sensitive breakup"3.
- Medium Gain Mode: "a richer, more saturated drive" Coppersound says is ideal for classic rock rhythms and singing leads2.
- High Gain Mode: "more gain than ever heard on Foxcatcher," which Coppersound says maintains articulate distortion and note definition2.
The Shape switch is a three-way toggle that "directly manages the low-end response"3, giving you "direct control over the bass content in your overdriven signal," so you can tighten the low end or let it bloom2.
Power and connections
The V2 takes 9V DC through a 2.1 x 5.5mm center negative barrel connector, with a current draw of 50mA at 9V2. Input impedance is 2.2M and output impedance is 100K2. Premier Guitar's review of the original Foxcatcher also listed an 18V option among its pros8.
The V2 has a fail-safe bypass: "If the Foxcatcher V2 ever loses power, it automatically reverts to bypass, ensuring your clean signal continues to your amp"2. The 50mA draw at 9V and the center negative polarity both come from CopperSound's own specifications2.
The switching is what Coppersound calls Smart-Bypass: relay-based true bypass "designed for the professional musician," with both latching and momentary operation2.
V1, V2 and the Compact Edition
The Foxcatcher has appeared in three forms:
| Version | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| V1 | 2-in-1 overdrive and clean boost pedal1 | $169.001 |
| V2 | Overdrive pedal with three Gain Modes and three Shape Modes, Smart-Bypass relay-based True Bypass2 | $249.002 |
The V2 Compact Edition sits alongside these as a smaller-format version; its reviewer found the compact format more pedalboard-friendly, while remaining unsure whether the new topology bettered the old one7.
The Compact Edition shrank the pedal into a smaller format. Its reviewer preferred compact formats but was undecided on the circuit change: "I of course much prefer compact formats - but the jury's still out on whether the new topology is better than the old!"7. The full V2 carries three distinct Gain Modes, from the touch-sensitive character of the original Bluesbreaker circuit in Low Gain Mode to richer saturation in Medium and more gain in High, plus three Shape Modes for low-end sculpting and the Smart-Bypass relay-based True Bypass switching23.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson preferred the smaller box but stayed neutral on the circuit change: "I of course much prefer compact formats, but the jury's still out on whether the new topology is better than the old!"7
What reviewers said
The original Foxcatcher won a Premier Guitar Premier Gear award in 2017, with a "5 picks" rating in the Tones category3. Premier Guitar's pros and cons list read: "Pros: Beautiful, bright mid-gain tones. Flexible tone controls. 18V option. Can be quite transparent. Cons: None."8 The review put the street price at $1998.
On the boost side, the reviewer wrote: "The boost is excellent, imparting warmth and extra oomph with an absolute minimum of extra dirt."8 Reviewer Charles Saufley summed up his use case: "Foxcatcher works for me because I like extracting AC30-style tones from my Fender amps. Few pedals manage this trick like the Foxcatcher."3
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Questions
Can the Foxcatcher run at 18V?
Yes. The V2 is rated for 9 to 18V operation2, and Premier Guitar's review of the original also listed an 18V option8. Coppersound gives the current draw as 50mA at 9V and 60mA at 18V2.
What happens if it loses power?
The V2 automatically reverts to bypass, so the clean signal continues to the amp2.
Does the V2 have a boost?
No. The boost was a V1 feature with its own footswitch17; the V2 and the Compact Edition are overdrives only27.
What happens to the Foxcatcher if it loses power?
The V2 has a fail-safe bypass. If the pedal loses power it automatically reverts to bypass, so your clean signal continues to reach the amplifier. The switching itself is relay-based true bypass, which Coppersound calls Smart-Bypass, with both latching and momentary operation.
Does the Foxcatcher V2 have a boost?
No. The V1 was a 2-in-1 pedal with a separate clean boost and its own footswitch. The V2 drops the boost and is an overdrive only, with gain and low-end shaping handled by switches instead. The V2 Compact Edition also has no boost control.
What does the Nature knob on the Foxcatcher do?
On the V1, the Nature knob acts as a presence control, enhancing clarity and harmonics. It was part of a new tone section Coppersound added relative to the Bluesbreaker circuit it is based on. The V2 replaces it with an expanded-sweep Tone knob and select high-pass filtering.
What does the Shape switch do on the Foxcatcher V2?
The Shape switch is a three-way toggle that directly manages the low-end response, giving control over the bass content in the overdriven signal so you can tighten the low end or let it bloom. Delicious Audio describes it as a new three-way switch for the low-end response.
Sources (8)
- Foxcatcher V1 Overdrive & Boost, CopperSound Pedals
- Transparent Overdrive Pedal, CopperSound Pedals
- Updated Pedal: Coppersound Foxcatcher V2 Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2025-12-05
- MUST HAVE 2-IN-1 PEDALS, JHS Pedals
- Bluesbreaker by Marshall, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- “A new and unique take on the classic Bluesbreaker tone”: Origin Effects' Halcyon Blue recreates John Mayer's favorite Marshall drive pedal, Guitar World, 2024-08-28
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-10-13
- Quick Hit: Coppersound Foxcatcher Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-10-17
