The JAM Pedals "Achenbach" Octaurus is a vintage-voiced octave fuzz pedal, part of JAM Pedals' line of hand-painted artwork pedals created with The Simpsons artist John Achenbach. JAM Pedals describes it as "a vintage-voiced octave fuzz built for raw riffs, harmonically rich leads and touch-responsive sonic impact"1. An octave fuzz, sometimes called an octafuzz, layers a note one octave below or above your playing under a fuzz texture, a sound associated with late-1960s lead guitar.
The pedal exists in two forms: the standard "Achenbach" Octaurus covered here, and the JAM Pedals "Achenbach" Octaurus NOS, which is built from a scarce batch of early-1960s NOS silicon transistors. Both share the same control set and the same enclosure size21.
The controls and switches
The Octaurus keeps its control surface to three knobs and two switches, which makes the pedal quick to dial in while still offering two distinct character choices1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume |
| Tone | Shapes the frequency balance |
| Gain | Controls fuzz intensity |
| Voicing switch | Selects Scooped or Full-range frequency voice |
| Clipping switch | Selects symmetrical or asymmetrical clipping |
All three knobs and both switches are described the same way by JAM Pedals for the standard and NOS editions12.
The voicing switch is the bigger of the two character choices. In Scooped mode the response tightens and the octave effect is emphasized, which points the pedal toward riff playing where you want the octave to cut through. Full-range mode retains more harmonic body, giving lead lines a broader, richer character1. In the maker's words:
"A scooped/full-range voicing switch moves from tight riffing and a pronounced octave to rich, expansive lead tones."2
The clipping switch changes how the fuzz circuit distorts the waveform. Symmetrical clipping clips both halves of the wave evenly, while asymmetrical clipping treats them differently, and JAM Pedals says the choice lets you "fine-tune tightness, dynamics and saturation"2. For the standard edition the maker describes it as changing "the pedal's feel, definition and saturation profile"1. There is no single right setting: it is a feel adjustment, and players comparing octave fuzzes may find it useful to think of it as two fuzz voices in one box.
The artwork
Every "Achenbach" Octaurus is a limited artwork pedal, and each one is painted by hand. JAM Pedals states plainly that "every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece" and that the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown1. If you order one, expect a unique painting rather than a repeat of what appears on the product page.
The standard versions also come in named custom artwork options, all with the same sound1:
- "Dead in the Water"
- "Hairy"
- "Jelly Belly"
- "Bullushka"
- "Marbling"
- "Steampunk"
- "White Night"1
Buying and returns
JAM Pedals lists the regular price as £294.001. For UK orders the pedal ships DDP, with 20% UK VAT and all duties included, so there are no extra charges on delivery1. The maker also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a refund "no questions asked" if you are not satisfied within 30 days of receiving the product1.
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Questions
Is the JAM Pedals Octaurus true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the "Achenbach" Octaurus as true bypass, so with the pedal disengaged the signal passes through without buffering. It runs on a 9V battery or 9V DC center-negative power, drawing 5 mA.
What does the voicing switch do on the Octaurus?
The voicing switch selects between two frequency voices. Scooped mode tightens the response and emphasizes the octave effect, which suits riffing. Full-range mode keeps more harmonic body in the signal, which JAM Pedals positions for lead work with a broader, harmonically rich character.
What is different about the Octaurus NOS edition?
The NOS edition takes the same Octaurus platform but is built from a rare batch of early-1960s NOS silicon transistors, the same batch used in its limited predecessor. It carries the same controls and switches, including the voicing and clipping selectors, and is also a one-of-a-kind hand-painted artwork pedal.
How big is the Octaurus pedal?
The Octaurus measures 7.5 x 12 x 5.6 cm, or 2.9 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches, including the jacks and controls. It weighs 265 g, about 0.6 lb, which is compact enough for most pedalboards.
Is every Achenbach Octaurus painted differently?
Yes. JAM Pedals states that every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, so the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown. The standard versions also come in named artwork variants such as "Hairy", "Jelly Belly" and "Steampunk", all with the same sound.
Sources (2)
- “Achenbach” Octaurus, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- “Achenbach” Octaurus NOS, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
