Gain and EQ character
The Winter is designed to be a low to medium gain overdrive, producing approximately 44 dB at max gain. That places it in push-and-breakup territory rather than full distortion, and it sits alongside other overdrive pedals built around a mid hump rather than a flat response.1
One detail worth knowing before you set it: the Gain control does more than add drive1.
"Increasing the Gain will not only increase overdrive, but also increase the mid-range"
So as you turn the Gain up, the pedal gets both more saturated and more mid-forward. Players who want to keep the mids in check at higher gain settings will need to work the other controls against it.1
The Darkness control
The Winter's most distinctive control is the Darkness knob, which shapes how the pedal sits in a mix. Pedal of the Day found that with the Darkness knob turned to approximately 10 o'clock, the Winter produces a glassy sound that helps you stand out in the mix.1
Where it came from: the Seasonal Drive Series
The Winter is the second pedal in the Seasonal Drive Series from Fox River Devices, following the Autumn. At the time of the Winter's review in January 2023, further pedals in the series had been announced as coming in the near future.12
What guitars suit it
Pedal of the Day's verdict on pairing:
"Winter pairs well with lower output pickups, hollow body guitars and vintage gear"
That recommendation lines up with the pedal's design: a mid-focused germanium overdrive at low to medium gain has the most room to make itself heard through pickups that are not already hot and compressed.1
Videos
Fox River Devices
Pedal of the Day
Matt Dunn
Questions
How much gain does the Fox River Devices Winter have?
The Winter is designed as a low to medium gain overdrive. Pedal of the Day measured its output at approximately 44 dB at max gain, which puts it in the range where it can go from a light push to a fairly saturated drive, though it is not a high gain distortion. Turning up the Gain also raises the mid-range, so the character shifts as well as the amount of drive.
What kind of diodes does the Winter overdrive use?
The Winter uses germanium diodes for its clipping. Pedal of the Day described them as providing the vintage vibes and icy crunch in the circuit. Germanium clipping is generally associated with a softer, more vintage-flavored breakup than silicon, and here it is paired with a mid-focused EQ centered around 1 kHz to 1.2 kHz.
Which pickups and guitars suit the Fox River Winter?
According to Pedal of the Day's review, the Winter pairs well with lower output pickups, hollow body guitars and vintage gear. That fits its low to medium gain design and mid-focused EQ: guitars that are not already hot and compressed leave room for the pedal's germanium clipping and mid hump to come through.
What is the Seasonal Drive Series?
The Seasonal Drive Series is a set of four overdrive pedals from Fox River Devices, each named for a season. The Winter is the second of the four, following the Autumn Drive, which launched the series through a Kickstarter campaign in November 2022. Spring was announced as coming in the near future at the time of the Winter's review.
What does the Darkness knob do on the Winter?
The Darkness knob shapes the pedal's treble character. Pedal of the Day noted that with the Darkness knob turned to approximately 10 o'clock, the Winter produces a glassy sound that helps you stand out in the mix. Turning it further darkens the tone, giving players a way to match the pedal to bright or dark amps and guitars.
Sources (2)
- Fox River Devices Winter (Seasonal Drive Series), Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2023-01-25
- Fox River Devices Autumn (Seasonal Drive Series), Pedal of the Day, 2022-11-23
