Foxx Tonemachine

wdinc01 · #1 06-11-2008, 01:02 PM

I tried out a Tonemachine at my local Guitar Center today. I actually think it sounded pretty good. That is, until I hit the octave switch. Then all bottom end as I knew it disappeared. I dunno, maybe thats what octave fuzzes do on bass.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had any experience with these pedals? Particularly, the reissues actually made by Foxx, although if there's some clones you've built and had good experience with, I'd like to hear about it.

I also wonder if there's some kind of mod out there to put a DC jack in it, instead of having to unscrew the bottom to get to the battery. I figure I could always get a 9V adapter for the One Spot and use that, but then I'd have to drill a hole in the bottom of the pedal.

bigchiefbc · #2 06-11-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdinc01

I tried out a Tonemachine at my local Guitar Center today. I actually think it sounded pretty good. That is, until I hit the octave switch. Then all bottom end as I knew it disappeared. I dunno, maybe thats what octave fuzzes do on bass.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had any experience with these pedals? Particularly, the reissues actually made by Foxx, although if there's some clones you've built and had good experience with, I'd like to hear about it.

I also wonder if there's some kind of mod out there to put a DC jack in it, instead of having to unscrew the bottom to get to the battery. I figure I could always get a 9V adapter for the One Spot and use that, but then I'd have to drill a hole in the bottom of the pedal.

The Danelectro French Toast is a clone of the Tone Machine. I agree that it sounds like bees knees, except for the low end loss. I've always done a clean blend to keep the low end, and then it sounds awesome

wdinc01 · #3 06-11-2008, 01:29 PM

Yeah I did a search on here and someone mentioned that the French Toast is a clone of it. Do you know if the case of the Dano is die cast or plastic?

bigchiefbc · #4 06-11-2008, 01:31 PM

It is plastic. And the switch stinks. But I still love it, warts and all

wdinc01 · #5 06-11-2008, 03:06 PM

Does anyone know of any schematics or clone kits floating around the internet? I figure it might be cheaper to build my own (and hopefully with a blend knob), although the purple enclosure of the one I tried is pretty awesome...

fuNKmaster83 · #6 06-11-2008, 03:17 PM

i have a freanch toast... it ripes apart... its great on bass!!!

wdinc01 · #7 06-12-2008, 05:50 PM

Well I bought it. And I gotta say, it sounds pretty cool. I just wish I could get more bass through it. I should probably change the input cap.

JanusZarate · #8 06-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdinc01

I dunno, maybe thats what octave fuzzes do on bass.

I know nothing about the Foxx Tonemachine (and not much about Foxx reissues in general), but not all octave fuzzes kill your low end.

Cases in point: the Maestro Brassmaster, one of the more unusual octave fuzz pedals out there. It's a monster and a classic on bass. The Malekko B:Assmaster is a modern clone of the Brassmaster. Another good one is the Prescription Electronics Depth Charge, which IIRC is a variation on the Brassmaster.

Wounded Paw · #9 06-12-2008, 10:25 PM

The brassmaster basically has the equivalent of a clean blend in it's circuitry which would be why it keeps the low end well. In the original the Bass Volume Control is a clean signal from the preamp section and the Brass Volume Control is from the octave up and filter sections and they both go into the output amp section.

wdinc01 · #10 06-12-2008, 10:26 PM

Oh I didn't realize the B:assmaster was an octave fuzz. I dunno, I think they sound good, but the price kinda turns me off. I should go check out some sound samples to refresh my memory.

I'm sure a blend pedal would help, but I'd rather figure out how to do fix it internally so I don't have to carry around another pedal.

fuNKmaster83 · #11 06-13-2008, 01:11 AM

danelectro frenach toast doesn't loose that much of a bottom end but the higher order harmonics are pretty strong and some one might think there is a loss of bottom... to fix the problem if there is any juts put the toast trough a blender or a mixer pedal of some sort to mix in your clean...

dannybuoy · #12 06-13-2008, 04:07 AM

The French Toast sounds good with the octave switch off and has good low end if you set the tone control right - too high and it drops the lows, set it too low and it turns to mush. With the octave up engaged your low end disappears completely - but it's good for making weird noises with when playing high up the neck, especially when playing more than one note at a time!