New Strymon: Fairfax

[AutomationBias]

In case anybody was wondering - "The inspiration comes from the Herzog tube drive, created in the 1970s by Garnet Amplifiers for Randy Bachman, who was then performing with Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The Canadian group was Bachman’s followup to the Guess Who and recorded popular hits like “Let It Ride,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and “Takin’ Care of Business.”

https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/p...mon-launches-series-a-line-with-fairfax-pedal

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

It just sounds like your amp speaker is knackered to me

Kinda like what a cranked champ sounds like? So design goal achieved…

 

[Jarick]

It's interesting that Strymon has gone from big programmable digital pedals, down to smaller dual stomp digital pedals, down to single function digital pedals, and now down to simple analog. Kind of the opposite of what I expected.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

It's interesting that Strymon has gone from big programmable digital pedals, down to smaller dual stomp digital pedals, down to single function digital pedals, and now down to simple analog. Kind of the opposite of what I expected.

I dunno, an analog optical compressor was part of their first releases. Timeline/bigsky/mobius became what they were known for, but there were always the smaller pedals (blue sky, ola, brigadier, el cap, etc.) along side those.

 

[laxu]

It's interesting that Strymon has gone from big programmable digital pedals, down to smaller dual stomp digital pedals, down to single function digital pedals, and now down to simple analog. Kind of the opposite of what I expected.

The Strymon Compadre is somewhere in between - analog circuit with digital control. I wish they made more pedals like that.

 

[Whizzinby]

It's interesting that Strymon has gone from big programmable digital pedals, down to smaller dual stomp digital pedals, down to single function digital pedals, and now down to simple analog. Kind of the opposite of what I expected.

Yeah, I would have assumed a rack or H90 like multi would have been on tap long before some of the stuff they’ve been focused on the last few years.

I wish they would show a little more ambition.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Yeah, I would have assumed a rack or H90 like multi would have been on tap long before some of the stuff they’ve been focused on the last few years.

I wish they would show a little more ambition.

Honestly, I don't see either of those ever happening from Strymon. Both from "designing that kind of product doesn't really interest us" perspective and "designing that kind of product isn't going to make us more wealthy" perspective.

 

[Aleksi]

Honestly, I don't see either of those ever happening from Strymon. Both from "designing that kind of product doesn't really interest us" perspective and "designing that kind of product isn't going to make us more wealthy" perspective.

I mean they do some weird stuff. I can't imagine that they're getting rich off their eurorack modules (expensive but very small market compared to pedals). I keep up with eurorack stuff and haven't really seen anything about their latest module after launch. Seems more of a passion project for Celi.

I'm hoping for a Timeline MX next year, Big Sky MX came out almost two years ago.

 

[Jarick]

Maybe there's more money in standalone pedals that you don't have to update than all in one pedals like a Helix.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I mean they do some weird stuff. I can't imagine that they're getting rich off their eurorack modules (expensive but very small market compared to pedals). I keep up with eurorack stuff and haven't really seen anything about their latest module after launch. Seems more of a passion project for Celi.

I'm hoping for a Timeline MX next year, Big Sky MX came out almost two years ago.

Exactly my point -- nothing about the stuff they've done suggests they would ever have any interest in "hey, what if we make one pedal/rack unit that combines a lot of the stuff we've already done, where the design challenge is not sound design, but UI."

 

[Whizzinby]

Honestly, I don't see either of those ever happening from Strymon. Both from "designing that kind of product doesn't really interest us" perspective and "designing that kind of product isn't going to make us more wealthy" perspective.

I don’t disagree. They obviously aren’t on the current path because they think it’s bad business or not relevant to their internal interests creatively.

But, personally, I wish they would be more ambitious. If we wake up three years from now and they are still creating mini pedals of oils can delays and univibes I’d be disappointed. These dudes have created some absolute classics, but they seem some way off that initial heat check they were on, where everything they released was compelling.

 

[dk_ace]

Just what the world needed, another company making overdrive pedals…

I’m usually in the “let’s root for the companies making new stuff” category, but this one makes me go against my own grain. If I want another overdrive, strymon is likely the very last place I’m gonna look unless they did some interesting midi enabled analog thing that is a more affordable competitor to the chase bliss thing.

A single function simple overdrive box?

D

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I don’t disagree. They obviously aren’t on the current path because they think it’s bad business or not relevant to their internal interests creatively.

But, personally, I wish they would be more ambitious. If we wake up three years from now and they are still creating mini pedals of oils can delays and univibes I’d be disappointed. These dudes have created some absolute classics, but they seem some way off that initial heat check they were on, where everything they released was compelling.

I like the new size -- the older el-cap sized pedals always felt a little big for what they did. I love the oil can pedal and it's a preeeeeeetty unique offering in the pedal world. Hell, I don't even know of a plugin that does that effect? The Nightsky isn't my bag, but it's a cool interesting pedal.

While their early run had some gems, they also had a standalone chorus pedal, a standalone flanger pedal, and other preeeeeetty pedestrian bread-and-butter stuff.

 

[Whizzinby]

I like the new size -- the older el-cap sized pedals always felt a little big for what they did. I love the oil can pedal and it's a preeeeeeetty unique offering in the pedal world. Hell, I don't even know of a plugin that does that effect? The Nightsky isn't my bag, but it's a cool interesting pedal.

While their early run had some gems, they also had a standalone chorus pedal, a standalone flanger pedal, and other preeeeeetty pedestrian bread-and-butter stuff.

Yeah the Nightsky was their last big swing, but that was five years ago. Though in fairness I suppose the revised Big Sky counts for something too.

I’m sure the Olivera sounds great, Strymon tend to not miss, but all of these releases are just getting more niche and less of a comprehensive take on whatever the effect is. Which has its strengths and weaknesses for sure.

The good news is they seem to be tripping your trigger. Personally I’m finding myself less and less excited every time they release something, but I still have such appreciation for them that I remain cautiously optimistic they’ll drop something awesome.

 

[HotRats]

That's an intereresting move by Strymon and I'll say that there are some cool sounds in this pedal.
I like it.

Now I'm curious about what comes next.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Yeah the Nightsky was their last big swing, but that was five years ago. Though in fairness I suppose the revised Big Sky counts for something too.

I’m sure the Olivera sounds great, Strymon tend to not miss, but all of these releases are just getting more niche and less of a comprehensive take on whatever the effect is. Which has its strengths and weaknesses for sure.

The good news is they seem to be tripping your trigger. Personally I’m finding myself less and less excited every time they release something, but I still have such appreciation for them that I remain cautiously optimistic they’ll drop something awesome.

I hear ya. What I like about Strymon is the near complete lack of gimmick. Whatever they do with this analog series, I doubt we'll ever see a slightly different take on a Big Muff with a winding story about how its a secret lost circuit that's finally seeing the light of day

 

[la szum]

So the Fairfax is kind of like a Hudson Broadcast or Benson Preamp??

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

So the Fairfax is kind of like a Hudson Broadcast or Benson Preamp??

Kind of, but seems to me to have a lot more range of sag (which I'm guessing has something to do with internal charge pumping up to 40V?). The Hudson seems to go from "boost" to "square-wave levels of compression" without a loooooooot grey area in between where this seems to really have a wider range/more versatility. To my ear. From a YouTube demo.

 

[the swede]

I think it’s cool they’re doing an ”all analog” series and as they say themselves, let the analog team have full outlet for their ideas. Imho the analog part of Strymon has always been top notch quality but always under the vail of the digital design strength.
Well done Strymon I say.

And I like sag.
I do get abou the same type of sounds with my Carcosa at low gain settings.

 

[Dave Lewis]

A friend is going to order one.
I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve heard it.