The Red Witch Factotum is a bass pedal that puts two effects in one box: a 100% analog suboctave and a 100% analog bass overdrive. Each effect can be used independently or simultaneously, and each has its own true bypass stomp switch, so you can treat it as two pedals that happen to share an enclosure1. Red Witch says the pedal retains clarity and transparency in the low-end bass frequencies, the frequencies it describes as lost when using traditional octave-down approaches1.
Red Witch's product page listed the Factotum as Sold Out as of 26 October 2026, at a list price of 190 USD1.
Two bass effects in one pedal
The Factotum's idea is simple: a suboctave and a bass overdrive, each fully analog, in one chrome package1. Because the two effects have separate footswitches and separate mix controls, you can run the suboctave alone, the overdrive alone, or both stacked, dialing in as little or as much of each effect as you want1.
Premier Guitar's reviewer, writing in August 2021, described the combined sound in strong terms: "With octave mix, drive mix, tone, and drive all raised to 3 o'clock, the result is mighty, monstrous, even. Yet you can still distinguish the punchy suboctave and overdrive frequencies"2. The reviewer also found the pedal held up at high settings, calling the result "mighty, monstrous, even" with both effects' frequencies still distinguishable2.
On the overdrive side used on its own, the same reviewer found it "punchy and vibrant, with a sound somewhat reminiscent of the MXR Bass Overdrive," and judged that "the overdrive sound alone is strong enough to warrant its own pedal," suiting rock, metal, and alternative riffs2. With the tone and drive knobs cranked, the reviewer found the overdrive heavy and deep, with none of the thinness or deterioration that can plague some similar pedals2.
The controls and switches
The Factotum keeps its control layout compact. The maker's page highlights two mix controls, one for each effect, that let you dial in as little or as much of the suboctave and overdrive as you like1. Premier Guitar's review fills in what the overdrive side's knobs do2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Octave mix | Blends in as much or as little suboctave as you want1 |
| Drive mix | Blends in as much or as little overdrive as you want1 |
| D tone | Determines the high/low balance2 |
| Drive | Sets the distortion amount2 |
| D volume | Master output control2 |
Two footswitches sit below those knobs, one for each effect: individual footswitches activate the suboctave and the overdrive, and each is a true bypass stomp switch12. The mix, tone, volume, and drive knobs are inactive when the overdrive is bypassed2.
The pedal's enclosure is chrome-plated, which the reviewer found simple to use2. Red Witch calls it "two separate bass effects in one glorious chrome package"1.
Size, power, and price
Red Witch lists the Factotum at 118mm x 38mm x 94mm and 385 grams, a narrow footprint that suits tight pedalboards1. Current draw is 42mA1. The list price was 190 USD on the maker's product page, which also showed the pedal as Sold Out as of 26 October 20261.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's 2021 review summed the pedal up this way: "The all-analog Red Witch Factotum is fun pedal with a tremendous range of sounds"2. The reviewer's pros list read: "Two excellent effects. No low-end loss. Lots of control. Sturdy. Easy to use."2. For players comparing dedicated octave and drive units, the Factotum's pitch is that combination in one box, and it sits alongside Red Witch's other drive-oriented pedals such as the Red Witch XENIA Overdrive Engine and the Red Witch Epiphanous Overdrive. For more on the effect types involved, see Overdrive Pedals and Octave & Pitch Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Red Witch Factotum true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch gives the Factotum a true bypass stomp switch for each of its two effects, so the suboctave and the overdrive each have their own footswitch. That means you can switch either effect in or out on its own, and the pedal sits out of the signal path for whichever effect is bypassed.
Can you use the suboctave and the overdrive at the same time?
Yes. Red Witch designed the Factotum so each effect can be used independently or simultaneously, with a separate true bypass stomp switch for each. The two mix controls let you dial in as little or as much of each effect, so running both together is a core part of how the pedal is meant to be used.
How much current does the Factotum draw?
Red Witch lists the Factotum's current draw at 42mA. That is worth knowing when you plan a pedalboard power supply, since it is more than many compact analog pedals take and may rule out sharing a low-current output on a daisy-chain supply.
Is the Factotum analog or digital?
The Factotum is fully analog. Red Witch describes both the suboctave and the overdrive side as 100% analog, and Premier Guitar's reviewer likewise called it an all-analog pedal with a tremendous range of sounds.
What size is the Red Witch Factotum?
Red Witch lists the Factotum at 118mm x 38mm x 94mm and a weight of 385 grams. It is a narrow, long pedal in a chrome enclosure, which is worth bearing in mind when spacing pedals on a board.
Sources (2)
- Factotum Suboctave Bass Overdrive, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch Factotum Suboctave Bass Drive Review, Premier Guitar, 2015-02-02
