Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive Pedal

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Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Overdrive Pedal

Miniature Marvel

Unlike many units we associate with gain and overdrive, Fairfax isn’t really a distortion pedal. Instead, it’s a complete miniature amplifier in 100% analog form, based upon a little-known device from the 60’s that powered a number of classic rock anthems. 

The sound and feel is extremely tube-like, with added harmonics and saturation coming from a clever circuit that emulates the critical behavior of a tube amp’s output transformer. It’s a drive pedal that feels completely natural to play, retains the natural sound of your guitar, and glues notes together in a truly organic wa

The Story

Fairfax was inspired by the original Garnet Amplifiers Herzog unit designed for Randy Bachman in 1965. Bachman wanted the sustain of a cello for his electric guitar, so he started running the speaker output of a small combo amplifier into the input of another larger amplifier while chasing that sound.

Unfortunately that scenario has a tendency to blow up the combo amplifier (sometimes in dramatic fashion!), so Bachman enlisted Gar Gilles to design a device that would behave in a similar way but not actually catch fire. Gar’s design ended up being a small tube amp based around a 12ax7 and 6v6 tube, with a built-in speaker load so that it wouldn’t blow up. The result is the classic sustaining lead sound from songs like “American Woman” by The GuessWho. 

Works The Way You Need It To

Because it’s based upon a tube amp design, Fairfax plays well with all different types of amplifiers and amp modelers. The creamy sustain brings something new to both clean and naturally dirty amplifiers. 

We’ve even included an internal jumper that determines the power up state, so if you plan on using Fairfax with a pedal loop switcher you can choose to have it turn on automatically when powered up. This saves you the step of turning the pedal on manually every time, which is a lifesaver on a dark stage or with a complex setup.

Series A

The designs you’ll be seeing in ‘Series A’ are intended to offer something different from traditional Strymon offerings, with minimal use of MIDI, USB, presets or any other type of external modern enhancements. These will be pedals that are unabashedly analog, which means it could get really interesting! Keep an eye out for more ‘Series A’ pedals as we go forward.

Features:

• Complete tube amp circuit fully recreated in 100% analog
• Custom analog circuits recreate multiple tube stages and the critical output transformer
• Input voltage converted to 40V internally via galvanically isolated power supply
• Controls for Drive, Level and a variable Sag control
• Bright switch allows fine-tuning of the high frequency response
• Wide range of natural sounding and tube amp-like gain for maximum versatility 
• Sag circuit allows mild Sag effects at lower settings and spitting and gated sounds at max
• Requires 9DVC at 500mA
• Circuit - analog
• Bypass - true bypass
• Audio - mono
• Power Supply - 9VDC (typical 2.1mm center negative tip)
• Current Draw - 500mA