Function f(x) Cannon

The Function f(x) Cannon is a dual fuzz pedal: two fully independent classic fuzz circuits in one box, built as what the maker calls "a 2-in-1 mashup of a pair of classic fuzz circuits: the Tycobrahe Octavia and the AstroTone Fuzz / Sam Ash Fuzzbox"¹. One side gives you the octave up character of the Octavia, the other the fuzz of the AstroTone, and the two can be run separately or stacked together for what Function f(x) describes as "a really gnarly fuzz with delightful octave up overtones"¹.

The pedal was conceived by, created for, and named after Chicago-area bluesman Toronzo Cannon, and Function f(x) says it created the pedal in partnership with him¹². The company also points to it as its more vintage-like octave fuzz option among its signature pedals³.

Two classic fuzz circuits in one pedal

The Cannon's two sides come from two vintage designs. The Octavia side is based on the Tycobrahe Octavia, the circuit known for its octave up overtones, and it carries an octave defeat switch, called the Octave Lift Switch in the manual, which removes the octave up effect entirely if you want straight fuzz instead¹⁶. The AstroTone side is based on the AstroTone Fuzz, also known as the Sam Ash Fuzzbox¹⁶.

Because the circuits are fully independent, each has its own controls and its own place in the signal path, and the pedal gives you three ways to combine them: one at a time, the other at a time, or both stacked¹⁶. Stacking both is where the pedal earns its name, with the manual describing Cannon Mode as "high-gain stacking fun"⁶.

The controls

Each side has its own Volume and Fuzz controls¹. The manual breaks down what each knob and switch does:

The Octave Lift Switch is the one control that changes the character of a circuit rather than its level or gain. With the octave up engaged, the Octavia side produces the harmonic overtone the original circuit is known for; with it lifted, that overtone is gone and the side works as a fuzz on its own¹⁶.

Three switching modes

The Cannon uses the same bypass switching setup as Function f(x)'s Third Rail overdrive, which allows for On/On, Flip Flop, and Momentary bypassing modes¹. The manual names the three modes and gives each an LED color: Indy Mode (Blue), Flip-Flop Mode (Green), and Cannon Mode (Red)⁶.

Indy Mode is the most flexible for live use, since you can bring each fuzz in and out on its own footswitch. Flip-Flop Mode suits switching between two preset fuzz sounds quickly, at the cost of not being able to run both at once. Cannon Mode commits to the stacked sound and adds a momentary cut, so you can drop both fuzzes out only while you hold the right switch⁶.

To change modes, hold down both footswitches for a few seconds until the LEDs blink, then scroll through the three modes with the left footswitch and select the one you want with the right footswitch⁶.

One thing to know about the LEDs: the Bypass Mode LED indicator is always lit, even if the pedal is fully bypassed⁶. It shows which switching mode is active, not whether the effect is engaged.

Power

The Cannon runs on a 9V DC center negative power supply with a 2.1mm barrel plug, which the manual spells out explicitly⁶. Function f(x) describes the pedal's 9V DC operation as industry standard⁴, and RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the current draw as 35mA⁵. That draw is modest, so the pedal fits comfortably on a typical isolated power supply alongside other 9V pedals.

Origins: Octavia, AstroTone and Toronzo Cannon

The pedal's name and concept come from Toronzo Cannon, a Chicago-area bluesman. Function f(x) states that the pedal "was conceived by, created for, and named after Chicago-area bluesman Toronzo Cannon"¹, and the company's artist page for him adds that it created the pedal in partnership with him².

The circuits themselves reach back further. The Tycobrahe Octavia is the octave fuzz design the Octavia side follows, and the AstroTone Fuzz, also sold as the Sam Ash Fuzzbox, is the basis of the other side¹⁶. RockBoard's PedalPedia independently lists the same two circuits as the Cannon's foundations and classifies the pedal's effect types as fuzz, overdrive and booster⁵.

Function f(x) also positions the Cannon within its own lineup: on the page for its Gate Crasher pedal, the company points players who want "a more vintage-like octave fuzz" to the Cannon as its signature pedal for that job³.

Warranty and repairs

Function f(x) warrants its pedals against defective parts and workmanship for 1 year from the date of purchase⁶. Repairs are available after the warranty period as well, possibly with a fee for parts and labor, and the manual notes that a full PCB replacement may take 4 to 6 weeks if critical parts are out of stock and need to be ordered, with no upfront costs⁶.

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