The Fulltone Ultimate Octave is an octave fuzz pedal: a fuzz circuit with an upper octave layered on top, and each part switched on its own footswitch. GuitarPlayer's history of the octave fuzz family counts it among the designs that "add a foot-switchable octave," meaning you can play straight fuzz, then stamp the second switch to jump the sound up an octave mid-phrase1. It sits in the wider family covered on the Octave & Pitch Pedals and Fuzz Pedals pages.
In November 2025, Fulltone reissued the Ultimate Octave Upper Octave Fuzz in a smaller Compact Edition, described by Guitar Pedal X as "a much shrunk down and modernised pedalboard-friendly" version of an older, larger format, built in a compact custom enclosure with full-size through-hole components2.
Controls and footswitches
The pedal carries four controls and two footswitches, and the two switches work independently, so fuzz and octave can be combined or used on their own2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Fuzz | Fuzz amount |
| Tone | Tonal balance |
| EQ Voice: Bright / Fat | Switches between the two fuzz voicings |
| On/Off footswitch | Engages and bypasses the pedal |
| Octave-Up footswitch | Switches the octave on and off independently2 |
Guitar Pedal X describes the two voicings this way: Fat mode gives a "Warm, classic vocal-like fuzz with punchy mids," while Bright mode is a mid scoop with Bass and Treble boost2. In practice, the switch changes the character of the fuzz itself, not just an EQ trim, so it is worth setting the voice before dialing in Fuzz and Tone.
Power and setup
The Ultimate Octave runs on an optional 9 to 18V DC power supply with a 2.1mm center-negative plug and a current draw of around 35 mA; the supply is not included2. At that draw it is within reach of most pedalboard power supplies, and the 9 to 18V range leaves headroom for players who run higher voltage.
There is no internal battery option mentioned for the Compact Edition: the pedal is powered by an external DC supply, which is not included in the box2.
The Compact Edition and the earlier format
The Ultimate Octave existed before in a larger format, and the 2025 reissue shrinks it into a compact, board-friendly enclosure while keeping full-size through-hole components2. Guitar Pedal X reported at the time that international dealers "should receive it imminently"2. The pedal remains listed on Fulltone USA's own product page3.
Videos
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Fulltone USA
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Questions
Is the Fulltone Ultimate Octave true bypass?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X's report on the 2025 Compact Edition lists True Bypass switching, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal straight through when it is switched off. That matters on a pedalboard where long cable runs and multiple buffered pedals can otherwise dull the clean tone.
What power supply does the Fulltone Ultimate Octave need?
The Ultimate Octave is powered by an optional 9 to 18V DC power supply with a 2.1mm center-negative connector and a current draw of around 35 mA. The supply is not included, so you will need your own adapter or a pedalboard power supply with a spare outlet.
What is the difference between Fat and Bright mode?
The EQ Voice switch selects between two fuzz voicings. Fat mode gives a warm, classic vocal-like fuzz with punchy mids. Bright mode scoops the mids while boosting bass and treble, a sharper, more scooped character. Switching between the two changes the pedal's whole tonal balance.
Is the Fulltone Ultimate Octave made in the USA?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X describes the Compact Edition as hand-made in the USA, and the pedal is sold through Fulltone USA, the maker's own product page. Fulltone builds the pedal in its compact custom enclosure with full-size through-hole components.
How much does the Compact Edition cost?
As of November 2025, the Ultimate Octave Fuzz lists at $290 in the United States, with a UK price of £289 as reported by Guitar Pedal X. International dealers were expected to receive stock imminently at the time of the reissue announcement.
Sources (3)
- The Foxx Tone Machine Was the Fuzz of Choice for Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons, and Adrian Belew, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-11-15
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-11-13
- Ultimate Octave, Fulltone USA