The Vox Trike Fuzz is an analog octave fuzz pedal from Vox's Tone Garage range, built around specially selected diodes that Vox says give it vintage character. Where most octave fuzzes add a single octave, the Trike covers one octave up and two octaves down, and its three-way octave setting lets you dial in +1, or -1 and -2, or all upward and downward octaves at once1. It is all analog circuitry, as Guitar Interactive Magazine noted when the Tone Garage line was announced in 20132.
Vox's product page states that the Trike Fuzz is no longer in production and carries the page as a legacy product1. An owner's manual for the VOX Tone Garage pedals, dated 04/27/2015, remains available in the product downloads1.
Controls and octave modes
The Trike Fuzz's octave engine is the heart of the pedal. Vox explains that the downward octave circuits run in series and are then combined in parallel with the upward octave at the end, which is how the pedal produces its stacked octave voices1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Lowest octave volume | Blends in as much of the lowest octave as you desire4 |
| Tone control for +1 octave | Shapes the upper octave voice1 |
| Volume control for -2 octave | Sets the level of the two-octaves-down voice1 |
| Octave setting | Three types: +1, or -1 and -2, or all upward and downward octaves1 |
The three octave setting types are the pedal's main voicing switch. Vox describes the full setting, with all upward and downward octaves engaged, as a way to obtain a thick vintage-style sound1. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found that all three octaves together provide a complex sound to beef up leads and riffs, with plenty of variation on offer4.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review treats the Trike Fuzz as a versatile octave fuzz that can get quite extreme. Curwen's verdict was blunt about the lower octaves: the lower-octaves-only setting can be quite glitchy, and chords turn to white noise, which he summed up as noiseniks only need apply. His overall advice was to try it out first4.
"A versatile octave fuzz that can get quite extreme - try it out first!"
On the positive side, he noted a wide variety of nice and nasty tones and good build quality, while flagging that players should definitely try before they buy4.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 680kΩ1 |
| Output impedance | 2.2kΩ1 |
| Connections | INPUT jack (guitar input), OUTPUT jack (line output)1 |
| Power | DC 9V (AC adapter, option) or 6 x AA batteries1 |
| Current consumption | 14mA1 |
| Battery life | Approximately 280 hours1 |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 87 x 132 x 63 mm / 3.43 x 5.20 x 2.48 inch1 |
| Weight | 420 g / 14.81 oz (not including battery)1 |
Vox includes six AA alkaline batteries with the pedal, described as for verifying operation, so a new unit can be powered up without an adapter1.
Where it sat in the Vox range
The Trike Fuzz was announced in July 2013 as one of two analog stomp effects in the Tone Garage series, alongside the Double Deca analog delay, with a US street price of $13923. Players looking at Vox's current fuzz output will find the company has since returned to vintage-inspired designs, such as the VOX VFZ-1 and the Vox VFZ-1 MK 1.5, though neither is an octave fuzz. For more on the wider category, see the pages on Fuzz Pedals and Octave & Pitch Pedals, or the Vox Tone Bender for Vox's classic fuzz lineage.
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Questions
Is the Vox Trike Fuzz still in production?
No. Vox's own product page states plainly that the Trike Fuzz is no longer in production and lists it as a legacy product. It was part of the Tone Garage range of pedals, which also included the Double Deca analog delay. Used units and remaining stock are the only ways to find one now.
Does the Vox Trike Fuzz run on a battery?
Yes. It runs on six AA batteries, and Vox ships six AA alkaline batteries with the pedal for verifying operation. A DC 9V AC adapter is also supported as an option, so players can choose battery power or an adapter.
How long does a battery last in the Vox Trike Fuzz?
Vox rates the battery life at approximately 280 hours. That figure comes from the maker's product page, which also lists the pedal's current consumption at 14mA.
Is the Vox Trike Fuzz analog?
Yes. Guitar Interactive Magazine described the Trike Fuzz and the Double Deca delay as the two analog stomp effects in the Tone Garage series, noting that both offer a unique tonal signature from Tone Garage's all analog circuitry.
What octaves does the Vox Trike Fuzz cover?
It covers one octave up and two octaves down, three additional octave sounds alongside the dry fuzz voice. A three-way octave setting lets you choose +1, or -1 and -2, or all upward and downward octaves at once.
Sources (4)
- Trike Fuzz, Vox Amps, 2019-04-09
- Vox Announce Three Tube Stomp Effects & Two Analog Stomp Effects Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-07-17
- Vox Announces Tone Garage Line of Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2013-07-11
- Vox Tone Garage Trike Fuzz review, MusicRadar, 2013-11-14
