JAM Pedals unleashes another glorious Custom Shop Suede-wrapped Turret-style Circuit - the Octaurus Octave Fuzz

Following in the footsteps of its Limited Custom Shop Editions - Fuzz Phrase, Rattler and Rooster, JAM Pedals releases a really cool 4-transistor turret-style octave fuzz - wrapped in a fine olive drab suede - in a similar style to the Fuzz Phrase and Rooster.

The Octaurus is not based on any specific octave fuzz circuit - but takes its inspiration from the accumulative experience of the very best vintage octafuzzes. It houses a quartet of early 60’s NOS Silicon Transistors - Transitron / General Instrument varieties similar to 2N335/336 types. These are all seemingly those killer metal can editions - which in the reference photo consist of 2 different varieties / sizes of those.

JAM Pedals are very much the ’masters of flavour’ and with 4 transistors onboard you’re going to get a very richly textured fuzz for sure.

It’s interesting how we’ve had 3 killer Octave Fuzzes released in fairly short succession - starting with the Reeves Electro Twin Sound, then last week’s Stone Deaf FX Rise & Shine - and now this fantastic looking & sounding Octaurus - a lot of wallets are going to be very empty come Christmas.

In fact the early available batch of 30 sold out immediately upon the pre-release announcement. in fact the follow-up batch of 30 was all gone moments later too! There will be 50 going into dealers when you see this post - but some of those will already be spoken for surely - and JAM pedals have already announced that there will be a 3rd batch - details of which are to be confirmed.

As with all the custom shop editions - this is a fairly pricey affair - $419 / €409 / £299 - plus taxes and shipping! So not for everyone’s pocket. The turret arrangement is not quite as elegant as the Rattler - or the recent Farmer Factory Fresh Fuzz - while it’s overall look and styling is still very appealing - and yes I definitely want one!

I’ve already switched into Christmas mode though - so no pedal acquisitions until the new year for me - another waiting game for sure - but since these are Silicon Transistors - they should generally be more available than NOS Germanium types - whose stock is dwindling fast.

Controls : Voicing : Scooped / Full, Tone, Clipping : Aysmmetrical / Symmetrical, Level, Gain.

The pedal has very simply and intuitive controls - including a couple of extras - in the guise of the 2-way Voicing and Clipping switches - so you get plenty of versatility and variability here too.

Still a pricey proposition for sure - but so worth it for those who care deeply about this level and quality of craft!

SONIC FEATURES

• A clear apparent octave across all pickup positions
• Retain your notes’ "body" all the way across your guitar’s register
• When you clean it up using your guitar’s volume knob, get just the right amount of the ring-mod type effect while still being able to play most double stops and have the fundamental intervals pop out
• Overdrive-like definition of open power-chords without compromising tightness or girth
• Full range voicing option for a singing fuzz quality
• Scooped-mids option for more industrial fuzz feel, suitable for tight riffing and an even more pronounced octave effect
• Symmetrical clipping option for tightness and definition
• Asymmetrical clipping option for looser, more dynamic feel

KEY FEATURES

• NOS early 60s silicon transistors
• Turret point-to-point construction for uncompromised signal integrity
• Tropical fish capacitor
• Level, Tone, Gain knobs
• Symmetrical or asymmetrical clipping options
• Full range or mid-scooped voicing options
• Optional 9V battery operation
• MAP / RRP - $419 / €409 / £299 (ex VAT)

I would normally now say available for order on the JAM Pedals Webstore - but alas as already reported - they’re all sold out already - apart from the handful that are going to dealers. A lot of those will also be spoken for - so for most of us it will be something of a waiting game - while I believe these are overall less limited than say the Fuzz Phrase or Rooster - whose specified rare parts are all sold out!

A lot of people will get sticker shock on this one - Andertons have it listed at £399!

A really cool take on an octave fuzz - every which way - and since its JAM Pedals - you already know its going to sound great - even before you listen to the demos!