{"product_id":"strymon-fairfax-class-a-output-stage-drive-pedal","title":"Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive Pedal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFairfax 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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 way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFairfax began as an engineering experiment, initially inspired by the original Garnet Amplifiers Herzog tube drive unit designed for Randy Bachman in 1965. Our analog guys decided to try and recreate all of the critical elements of a custom Champ-like tube amp circuit fully in the analog domain, but small enough to fit into a pedal enclosure (so it couldn’t use real tubes or an output transformer). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe final design features a cleverly miniaturized tube preamp, Class A power amp and an ingenious custom circuit that emulates the saturation characteristics of the output transformer (which is absolutely vital to get the sound right).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere’s even a variable Sag circuit that behaves just like a real tube amp does. At low Sag values the behavior is mild and only slightly compressed, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat max values the JFETs can go crazy and unbias — which gates the signal — leading to spitting and chortling sounds more commonly associated with fuzzes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn order for Fairfax to behave like a real amplifier it needed a massive amount of operating voltage, so a transformer-based power supply converts the 9VDC input voltage to 40V internally. This gives Fairfax the power that it needs for high headroom and amp-like feel, allowing for a wide range of tones. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt lower Gain settings Fairfax can be sweet, gently pushing the input to your amp with additional harmonic richness, a touch of saturation and a flat frequency response. At higher Gain levels the sound becomes fully saturated, and that large range of gain on tap allows Fairfax to be used in nearly any setup imaginable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Complete tube amp circuit fully recreated in 100% analog\u003cbr\u003e• Custom analog circuits recreate multiple tube stages and the critical output transformer\u003cbr\u003e• Input voltage converted to 40V internally via galvanically isolated power supply\u003cbr\u003e• Controls for Drive, Level and a variable Sag control\u003cbr\u003e• Bright switch allows fine-tuning of the high frequency response\u003cbr\u003e• Wide range of natural sounding and tube amp-like gain for maximum versatility\u003cbr\u003e• Sag circuit allows mild Sag effects at lower settings and spitting and gated sounds at max\u003cbr\u003e• Requires 9DVC at 500mA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- Circuit: Analog\u003cbr\u003e- Bypass: True bypass\u003cbr\u003e- Audio: Mono\u003cbr\u003e- Power Supply: 9VDC (typical 2.1mm center negative tip)\u003cbr\u003e- Current Draw: 500mA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RtudBdISwNc?si=DJ60lyE8YKhtJAKH\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strymon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51631007006951,"sku":"Z120-FRFX","price":285.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0263\/7968\/1844\/files\/ShopifyProductImageTemplate-2026-07-20T154209.128.jpg?v=1784576539","url":"https:\/\/www.sherwoodmusic.com\/products\/strymon-fairfax-class-a-output-stage-drive-pedal","provider":"Sherwood","version":"1.0","type":"link"}