The Zander Circuitry Foxxton Woods is an octave fuzz pedal: a fuzz circuit and an upper octave generator in one box, with a footswitch for each. Zander Circuitry calls it "The upper octave fuzz generator" and describes the pairing plainly: "Fuzz and octave. It's a match made in heaven."1 The circuit is the maker's take on a 1970s design: "It's our take on a very special felt-covered octave fuzz from the 1970s," the product page says.1 Premier Guitar's launch coverage put the same lineage another way, calling the pedal "inspired by the insane octave fuzz boxes of the 70s."2
Controls and switching
The Foxxton Woods carries two footswitches. The Fuzz footswitch activates the fuzz effect, and the Octave footswitch activates the octave fuzz effect, so you can run the fuzz alone or stack the octave on top of it.1
On current versions, Zander Circuitry added direct access from bypass: "In an upgrade from the previous versions of the Foxxton Woods, you can also reach either the fuzz (without the octave) or the octave fuzz directly from bypass." Earlier versions lacked that route, so a used or older unit may behave differently.1
The knobs are simple:
The signature feature is the diode rotary switch, which selects one of eight different clipping types.1 Four of the eight positions are described by the maker:
| Rotary position | Zander Circuitry's description |
|---|---|
| Germanium | "Smooth, sweet, and classically 'amp-like'."1 |
| Silicon | "Louder, brighter, and a little bit brittle."1 |
| LED | "Louder again, with less saturation and more punch."1 |
| Asymmetrical germanium | "A more aggressive version of germanium."1 |
Momentary switching is no longer included as standard. Zander Circuitry says its pedals no longer ship with the option for momentary switching, after surveying customers; it is available on request by email after purchasing.1
Power, size and price
The pedal runs on a 9V DC center-negative supply and draws 126 mA.1 The enclosure measures 67 mm wide by 122 mm long by 60 mm high.1 The product page lists it at £149.00 GBP.1 That matches the launch price: Premier Guitar reported in August 2018 that "Both the Foxxton Woods and the Surplus retail for £149 (GBP)."2
What it sounds like
Zander Circuitry's own description leans into the rough character: "This pedal is rough around the edges in all the right ways, playing jump rope with the line between sweet, singing leads and scorching, searing riffs."1 As with any maker's description, that is the maker speaking, not an independent reviewer's verdict.
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Questions
What is the Zander Circuitry Foxxton Woods based on?
Zander Circuitry describes the Foxxton Woods as its take on a very special felt-covered octave fuzz from the 1970s. Premier Guitar's 2018 press release put the same idea another way, calling it inspired by the insane octave fuzz boxes of the 70s. It is an upper octave fuzz generator, pairing a fuzz circuit with an octave-up effect.
Can I go straight to the fuzz from bypass?
Yes, on current versions. Zander Circuitry lists this as an upgrade from previous versions of the Foxxton Woods: you can reach either the fuzz on its own, without the octave, or the full octave fuzz directly from bypass. Earlier versions lacked that direct access.
Does the Foxxton Woods have momentary switching?
Not as standard any more. Zander Circuitry says its pedals no longer ship with the option for momentary switching as standard, after surveying customers. If you want momentary switching on a Foxxton Woods, the maker says it is available on request by email after purchasing.
What power supply does the Foxxton Woods need?
The Foxxton Woods needs a 9V DC center-negative supply and draws 126 mA, according to Zander Circuitry's product page. That current draw is worth keeping in mind when sharing a daisy-chained supply with other pedals.
How big is the Foxxton Woods pedal?
Zander Circuitry lists the enclosure at 67 mm wide, 122 mm long and 60 mm high, so it sits in the compact standard stompbox range rather than the oversized enclosure many octave fuzzes use.
How much does the Foxxton Woods cost?
Zander Circuitry's product page lists the Foxxton Woods at £149.00 GBP. When the pedal launched in August 2018, Premier Guitar reported that both the Foxxton Woods and the Surplus overdrive retailed for £149 (GBP), so the listed price has held at the same figure.
Sources (2)
- Foxxton Woods, Zander Circuitry, 2024-01-01
- Zander Circuitry Launches Foxxton Woods Fuzz Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2018-08-14
