The JAM Pedals Custom Octaurus LTD Edition is a limited edition, point-to-point octave-up fuzz: a pedal that piles an upper octave on top of a saturated fuzz voice. JAM Pedals describes it as "inspired by the sound of the legendary octave-up circuits of the '60s and '70s, but not necessarily voiced after any one" of them1. It is a hand-wired pedal, and a distinctive one to look at, wrapped in green suede "reminiscent of the Foxx Tone Machine"1.
Circuit and construction
The Custom Octaurus is built point-to-point and hand-wired, a construction method where components are connected directly by wire rather than on a printed circuit board. JAM leans into that with the enclosure: the bottom plate is also wrapped in suede and "features a zip that lets you peek into the pedal's hand-wired guts"1.
The gain stage runs on early 1960s NOS (new old stock, meaning unused vintage stock) silicon transistors made by Transitron or General Instrument or both, similar to the 2N335/3361.
Voicing and controls
The pedal's design goal, per JAM Pedals, is to "retain the original body and the added octave across all pickup positions and fretboard placement," so the octave effect does not fall apart depending on where you play1. Two toggle switches shape the voice:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Symmetrical/Asymmetrical clipping toggle | Delivers two options with slightly different tightness and definition1 |
| Scooped-mids toggle | Offers a more hollow tone that works well with tight riffs, delivering a more pronounced octave effect1 |
Availability and later editions
The Custom Octaurus LTD Edition was hosted in a green suede enclosure reminiscent of the Foxx Tone Machine, with the bottom plate also wrapped in suede and a zip to view the internals2. You can read more about the current versions on the JAM Pedals "Achenbach" Octaurus and JAM Pedals "Achenbach" Octaurus NOS pages, or browse other octave and pitch effects in Octave & Pitch Pedals and the wider Fuzz Pedals category.
The Custom Octaurus LTD Edition is a limited run and has sold out. The circuit returned in Standard and NOS editions, so players looking for the Octaurus voice now have current-production options2.
Videos
JAM pedals
JAM pedals
Shawn Tubbs
Questions
What does the JAM Pedals Octaurus do?
The Octaurus is an octave-up fuzz, inspired by the sound of the legendary octave-up circuits of the 1960s and 1970s. It adds an upper octave to the fuzzed-out signal and is designed to keep that octave intact across all pickup positions and fretboard placement, so the effect stays consistent wherever you play on the neck.
What transistors are in the Custom Octaurus LTD Edition?
The Custom Octaurus LTD Edition features early 1960s NOS (new old stock) silicon transistors, made by Transitron or General Instrument or both, similar to the 2N335/336. These vintage-spec parts are part of what makes the limited edition run distinctive.
Is the JAM Octaurus hand-wired?
Yes. The Custom Octaurus LTD Edition is a point-to-point, hand-wired fuzz. The bottom plate even features a zip that lets you peek into the pedal's hand-wired internals.
What does the symmetrical/asymmetrical clipping toggle do on the Octaurus?
The Symmetrical/Asymmetrical clipping toggle delivers two clipping options with slightly different tightness and definition, letting you tailor how the fuzz compresses and articulates. A separate Scooped-mids toggle offers a more hollow tone that works well with tight riffs and delivers a more pronounced octave effect.
Is the Custom Octaurus a copy of a particular vintage octave fuzz?
No. JAM Pedals describes it as inspired by the sound of the legendary octave-up circuits of the '60s and '70s, but not necessarily voiced after any one of them. Its green suede enclosure is reminiscent of the Foxx Tone Machine, but the circuit is its own design.
Sources (2)
- JAM Pedals Custom Octaurus LTD Edition, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-12
- “Built from the same sacred stash of NOS silicon transistors and germanium diodes, giving it the soul, musicradar.com, 2025-04-22
