Cunningham Amps Octave Fuzz
Cunningham Amps is back on the channel — this time with Tim's latest release, an absolutely perfectly tuned NOS octave fuzz. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Cunningham Amps Octave Fuzz takes center stage — through the Benson Amps Monarch and Benson 2x12" cabinet with the Benson Tall Bird for reverb. The KingTone Vibe 1968 and Meris LVX join later in the demo.
Tim Cunningham has been building fuzz pedals in Auckland, New Zealand for years — each one hand-built, individually voiced, and signed with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The Octave Fuzz is Tim's hand-wired interpretation of the Foxx Tone Machine — the 1971 circuit that combined a Big Muff-adjacent fuzz with an upper octave generator, and that became one of the most sought-after octave fuzz circuits of the vintage era. The Foxx Tone Machine format descended from the Roger Mayer Octavia, the pedal responsible for the upper-octave lead tones on Hendrix's Purple Haze and Third Stone from the Sun. Tim's build uses a hybrid Germanium/Silicon circuit with four transistors and four diodes, voiced specifically for this build.
Two modes: Fuzz (standard, full-range analog fuzz without the octave) and Octave Fuzz (the upper octave summoned with full fuzz underneath). The octave effect is most pronounced at the bridge pickup on single notes in the upper register of the neck — the demo explores where and how to use it musically rather than just as a novelty.
Five controls give this Cunningham build significant tonal flexibility for an octave fuzz. Sustain dials the fuzz intensity. Volume sets output. Tone and Mids shape the overall frequency character of the fuzz — an EQ capability rarely found on octave circuits of this type. The Octave Hi-Cut switch is the unique addition: three positions, each applying a different level of treble attenuation to the octave signal, allowing the upper harmonic to be dialed to sit anywhere from piercing to mellowed into the fuzz body.
Beautifully built. Signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. Custom carry bag included. Handmade in New Zealand.
🎛️ Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
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🎛️ Cunningham Amps Octave Fuzz | NOS Ge/Si Hybrid | Foxx Tone Machine | 4 Transistors | Sustain / Volume / Tone / Mids | Octave Hi-Cut Switch
🎛️ Also: KingTone Vibe 1968 | Meris LVX
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Benson Tall Bird | Benson 2x12"
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 11
Still need the guitar and pickups for this one when you have them.
