Foxx Tone Machine

The Foxx Tone Machine. Octave up fuzz. Very similar the Fender Blender, but with a switchable octave effect instead of a switchable tone circuit.

I find the Foxx story, and the Tone Machine story, very interesting. All the more so because there isn't much to read about! The most info I have found is in "Stompbox" by Art Thompson, which contains a rare interview with Foxx founder Steve Ridinger.

Steve Ridinger allegedly started selling his "Liverpool Fuzz Tone" at age 15, was selling the "Foxx" brand 3 or 4 years later, then reappeared years later with the resurrected Danelectro brand. His Snark brand of clip on tuners seem to be doing fantastically well.

Regarding the Tone Machine, he claimed a high school friend named Rob (no last name given) designed it.

Similarities to other designs

The Tone Machine may have been inspired by the Fender Blender (1968). Instead of the tone switch (which is also seen on the Superfuzz of '67/'68), the Tone Machine has an octave on/off switch. This novel idea established the Tone Machine as it's own type of fuzz. In my mind, the Tone Machine is an improved take on the Blender design.

There are many copies of this design, including the CBS/Arbiter/Gary Hurst "Doubler" in the '70s, Fulltone's "Ultimate Octave" in the boutique world, and even Ridinger himself "re-released" his own product as the Danelectro "French Toast."