The R Weaver FX Face Of Spades Axis Edition is a handbuilt fuzz pedal from R Weaver FX, a small builder whose pedals are made to order. It is a Fuzz Face-type circuit, but not a straight copy: R Weaver FX built it on the Axis Fuzz circuit created for Jimi Hendrix, which the maker says produces more output and sustain than the traditional Fuzz Face type1.
The maker describes the sound as "a very rich sounding fuzz with plenty of bottom end for killer single note lines but can also be used on chords and riffs"1. Like most Fuzz Face-style circuits, it responds to the guitar's volume control, and R Weaver FX says it "cleans up very nicely with the guitar's volume control and retains its range of tone"1.
The Face Of Spades Axis Edition is listed as sold out on the maker's site as of 26 October 2026, at a price of £152.00 GBP1. The other pedals in the Face Of Spades line are also sold out23.
A Fuzz Face-type circuit based on the Axis Fuzz
The Axis Fuzz is a circuit created for Jimi Hendrix, and R Weaver FX describes it as legendary. The Face Of Spades Axis Edition is a fuzz based directly on that circuit rather than on a stock Fuzz Face, which the maker says gives it more output and sustain than the traditional Fuzz Face type1.
The circuit uses handpicked NPN and PNP silicon transistors, chosen by the builder for gain, low noise and performance1. Silicon transistors are the more temperature-stable alternative to the germanium parts in the earliest Fuzz Face units, and they are what keep a handbuilt pedal like this consistent from gig to gig.
The Face Of Spades line includes two other pedals from the same maker3:
| Pedal | Circuit basis | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Face Of Spades Axis Edition | Axis Fuzz circuit created for Jimi Hendrix1 | Sold out1 |
| Silicon Face of Spades Fuzz | Square Face Fuzz built by Cesar Diaz2 | Sold out2 |
| Face Of Spades Octave Edition | Octave fuzz circuit created by Roger Mayer for Jimi Hendrix3 | Sold out3 |
The Silicon Face Of Spades is a two-transistor fuzz based on the Square Face Fuzz built by Cesar Diaz, with the maker crediting Diaz's tweaks for a consistent fuzz tone and superb volume-knob cleanup2. The Octave Edition is an octave fuzz using matched silicon diodes for a prominent octave response, which the maker says also stacks well with fuzz or overdrive3.
The controls
The control layout is minimal, in keeping with the Fuzz Face tradition: two knobs and a footswitch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOLUME | Sets overall output level1 |
| DRIVE | Controls the amount of fuzz or distortion of the circuit1 |
| BYPASS FOOTSWITCH | Uses true bypass to bypass the fuzz effect1 |
That is the whole interface: the pedal's controls are the VOLUME knob, which sets overall output level, and the DRIVE knob, which controls the amount of fuzz or distortion of the circuit. The character of the circuit comes from the Axis Fuzz circuit created for Jimi Hendrix and handpicked NPN and PNP silicon transistors chosen for gain, low noise and performance, and the pedal cleans up very nicely with the guitar's volume control1.
Power and practical details
The pedal takes a standard 9V 2.1mm center negative DC power jack, and the maker is explicit that it should be run from a 9V isolated power supply only1. It also accepts a 9V battery, with a Carbon-Zinc type recommended1.
The maker's instruction to use an isolated 9V supply only rules out daisy-chaining this pedal from a shared, non-isolated power output1.
Each pedal is made to order and backed by a 1-year, non-transferrable warranty against operational defects, the same warranty R Weaver FX applies across the Face Of Spades line123.
Questions
Is the Face Of Spades Axis Edition true bypass?
Yes. R Weaver FX specifies True Bypass switching, with a bypass footswitch that uses true bypass to take the fuzz effect out of the signal path when disengaged.
What power does the Face Of Spades Axis Edition need?
It runs on a standard 9V 2.1mm center negative DC power jack, and the maker says to use a 9V isolated power supply only. It also takes a 9V battery, with a Carbon-Zinc type recommended.
Does the Face Of Spades Axis Edition clean up with the guitar's volume knob?
Yes. R Weaver FX says it cleans up very nicely with the guitar's volume control and retains its range of tone as you roll the volume back.
What warranty comes with the Face Of Spades Axis Edition?
It is backed by a 1-year, non-transferrable warranty against operational defects, the same warranty R Weaver FX applies across its Face Of Spades line.
What is the Axis Fuzz?
The Axis Fuzz is a fuzz circuit created for Jimi Hendrix. R Weaver FX describes it as legendary, and built the Face Of Spades Axis Edition directly on that circuit, producing more output and sustain than the traditional Fuzz Face type.
Sources (3)
- Face Of Spades Axis Edition, R Weaver FX Handbuilt Pedals
- Silicon Face of Spades Fuzz, R Weaver FX Handbuilt Pedals
- Face Of Spades Octave Edition, R Weaver FX Handbuilt Pedals
