The Foxpedal Vixen Dimensional Drive is a medium-gain overdrive pedal from Foxpedal, released on 3 May 2021 as a revival and considerable evolution of the earlier FoxPedal Foxtail Articulate Overdrive1. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as "a really versatile and dynamic - and richly harmonic overdrive"2.
Two clipping voices
The Vixen's central feature is a pair of clipping options: a Nanalog N3 Quantum Diode and a 1N4148 silicon diode2. These give the pedal two distinct voices, N3 mode and 1N4148 mode. In N3 mode, Karlsson found "a particularly appealing dense and deep harmonic character with a little less top-end too"2.
Foxpedal chose not to give the standard version a second footswitch for toggling between the modes. Karlsson reported that the maker "did not feel it worthwhile to have a second footswitch to toggle those two modes as they are quite distinct"2. A dual-footswitch version was offered anyway, at $239 against $199 for the single footswitch pedal at launch1.
Controls in use
Karlsson's review gives a picture of how the pedal is set on a working board: he operated the Gain mostly between 12 and 3 o'clock2, and set the Presence at around 2:302. That places the Vixen in medium-gain territory, where the pedal is described as very much a medium-gain pedal2.
Where it came from
The Vixen name has a longer history than the pedal itself. It dates back to a single custom Foxpedal built in March 2014, which was a clone of the Systech Harmonic Energizer, a filtered distortion pedal from the 1970s1. The current Dimensional Drive carries the moniker forward but is a different circuit, descended from the Foxtail Articulate Overdrive1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's verdict, from a reviewer who plays a Keeley-modded Boss Blues Driver2:
"It's not quite as harmonically rich as my Keeley-Modded Blues Driver - but replaces that pedal for this month at least"
He also praised the finish: "a really special paint-job of a vibrant shade of Royal Blues which is right on the cusp of Purple", appearing purple in certain lights2.
Pricing has moved since launch: the single footswitch Vixen was $199 in May 20211 and £199 as of 13 July 2026, with the dual-footswitch version at £2391. The pedal was sold direct from the Foxpedal Webstore2.
Videos
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Questions
What is the difference between the single and dual footswitch Vixen?
The two clipping modes, N3 and 1N4148, are toggled without a second footswitch on the standard Vixen. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson noted that Foxpedal did not feel it worthwhile to add a second footswitch to toggle between the two modes, as they are quite distinct. A dual-footswitch version was offered alongside the single footswitch version, priced higher: $239 against $199 when the pedal launched in May 2021, and £239 against £199 as of July 2026.
What is a Nanalog N3 Quantum Diode?
On the Vixen, the Nanalog N3 Quantum Diode is one of the two clipping options, alongside a standard 1N4148 silicon diode. The two diode types give the pedal its two clipping voices: the N3 mode is described by Guitar Pedal X as having a particularly appealing dense and deep harmonic character with a little less top-end. Switching between the two changes the compression, harmonic content and top-end of the drive.
How does the Vixen compare to a Keeley-modded Blues Driver?
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, who runs a Keeley-modded Boss Blues Driver on his board, found the Vixen not quite as harmonically rich as that pedal, but close, with its own distinct harmonic richness. He used it as a replacement for the modded Blues Driver on his board for the month of his review, which gives a sense of how the two sit side by side in real use.
Is the Vixen related to the Systech Harmonic Energi?
Only by name. The Vixen moniker dates back to a single custom Foxpedal made in March 2014, which was a clone of the Systech Harmonic Energizer, a filtered distortion pedal from the 1970s. The current Vixen Dimensional Drive is instead a revival and considerable evolution of Foxpedal's earlier Foxtail Articulate Overdrive, carrying the name forward rather than the circuit.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2021-05-03
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2021-05-25
