The October Audio Junk Lantern is an octave-up fuzz with a ring modulator, hand-made in Richmond, Virginia by two friends1. It is not a traditional fuzz: the maker describes it as producing classic ringer-type octave-up tones, with extra frequency boost modes layered on top of that base1. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in June 2022, calls it "a dirty octave up with fuzz overtones" inspired by quirky analog octave and ring modulation devices2.
What it does to your sound
The base sound is a classic ringer-type octave up, the kind of snarling upper-octave fuzz associated with old ring-modulated and rectifier circuits. Both sources agree it sits well in a chain: Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio writes that it "pairs well behind a fuzz or drive," naming the Robotic Celebrity Head as an excellent choice1, and Pedal of the Day repeats the same pairing advice2. That makes it a color to stack after your existing fuzz or overdrive rather than a replacement for them.
Pedal of the Day's verdict: "Easy to dial in while full-ranged and inspiring, this little gem will make you rethink how you approach your next songwriting session overall2."
"Easy to dial in while full-ranged and inspiring, this little gem will make you rethink how you approach your next songwriting session…"
Controls
The Junk Lantern keeps its face simple: a Volume knob and the ON&ON toggle, which Delicious Audio calls the switch that "opens up this pedal's sonic palette"1.
| Control | Position | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | any | Output level; start all the way up for unity gain in center mode2 |
| ON&ON toggle | Down | High-frequency gain stage: cutting, aggressive tones that clean up with the guitar volume for metallic, slightly dissonant sounds12 |
| ON&ON toggle | Center | Base mode and the most pronounced octave effect2 |
| ON&ON toggle | Up | Full frequency gain stage: "blown speaker chords and searing single note passages"12 |
How the octave works
Under the hood, the Junk Lantern uses full wave rectification and a modernized matched diode array to produce vintage octave-up tones2. In plain terms, rectification is the classic trick behind octave-up fuzzes: the circuit flips the negative half of your guitar's waveform, doubling the fundamental frequency and generating that upper-octave buzz. The matched diode array is the modernized part, keeping the rectifying elements consistent so the octave effect stays pronounced.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Matt Foy
Questions
What does the toggle switch do on the Junk Lantern?
The three-position ON&ON toggle is the pedal's main voice switch. The center position is the base mode with the most pronounced octave effect. The up position kicks in a full frequency gain stage, which Pedal of the Day describes as producing blown speaker chords and searing single note passages. The down position is a high-frequency gain stage that creates cutting, aggressive tones and cleans up with the guitar volume for metallic, slightly dissonant sounds.
Does the Junk Lantern work with other fuzz or drive pedals?
Both published sources say yes. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio writes that the base sound is a classic ringer-type octave up that pairs well behind a fuzz or drive, naming October Audio's Robotic Celebrity Head as an excellent choice. Pedal of the Day's review repeats that the base sound pairs well behind a fuzz or drive, so it can sit later in a chain as an octave-up color rather than a standalone fuzz.
How many controls does the Junk Lantern have?
Two: a Volume knob and the three-position ON&ON toggle. Pedal of the Day sums it up as "One knob. One switch. Pure tonal exploration." The review also suggests starting with the volume all the way up for unity gain in the center toggle position.
What is full wave rectification in an octave fuzz?
Full wave rectification is the circuit method that folds the negative half of the guitar's waveform up on top of the positive half, doubling the frequency and producing the octave-up effect. The Junk Lantern uses full wave rectification with a modernized matched diode array to produce vintage octave-up tones, according to Pedal of the Day's review.
Sources (2)
- October Audio Junk Lantern Octave Fuzz + Ring Modulator, Delicious Audio, 2022-06-21
- October Audio Junk Lantern Dirty Octave Up Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2022-06-28
