Can't find a use for it.

I can't find any other use for it exept a noice-machine. The fuzz lacks the sustain that I'm used to and the monophonic sub-synth is way too glitchy for my taste. I guess a noice-machine can be great for some msicians but not for me. It has the annoying thing all MXR pedals have. That is that even if the output knob is at max level the signal is quieter than if the pedal is in bypass.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Fun, but not very useable

When I started building a new pedalboard a few years back, I thought I’d be able to use this as a fuzz, and only kick in the octaves when I wanted something extra glitchy. I quickly found out it doesn’t work that way. To me the fuzz sounds like a pretty basic ‘70s distortion, and while the octaves are fun with their bad tracking, I’ve never found a way to incorporate it into a song.

None of that is to say this is a bad pedal. The distortion still sound pretty good even though it’s not the traditional messy fuzz sound I was hoping for. And the glitchy note tracking is extremely fun to play with even if it’s Rainbow Machine-like in the specificity of its practical uses. They come cheap so there’s no reason not to grab one if you’re interested, but don’t expect it to be your main fuzz.

From Gear Setup

nothing else like it

I had a script logo first. That now belongs to someone famous from my hometown. I recently picked up a block logo because Iw as missing that 2 octaves down Velcro fuzz.... these are fun effects. I ehar MXRs slash pedal ahs an improved blue box built in that also does octave up, sort of a blue box meets foxx tone machine? but the blue box is so cheap that I went for just the octave down. this is a real sleeper of an octave effect that more people should try.

Great big dirty pedal

What is there to say that hasn't already been said about the MXR Blue Box? -2 octave fuzz pedal with thick fuzzy tones that comes with bad tracking and volume suck. But if you place a compressor before the Blue Box to balance your dynamics, the volume issue disappears and the tracking somewhat improves. The thing that I will say is that I've learned from using it for the past 10 years, is that the bad tracking is part of it's charm and one must lean into it in order to get the most out of it. For me this pedal has become a center piece of my sound. I use this pedal for sludgy riffs and thick noise rock leads when paired with my HM-2 or Life Pedal. I also use it bass synth and drones as well. Since the octave is analog, playing chords or low notes causes a warm glitch in the tracking that can be used for rhythmic elements, but only if your balancing your dynamics with a compressor (it doesn't have to be expensive). If you're a fan of classic fuz tones that can go into really dirty, heavy and noisey guitar tones then you should give this is the pedal a try.

The MXR Blue Box is trippy \m/ (-_-) \m/

You can get some really weird noises out of this little pedal. I like the fuzz I can get out of it. I noticed a long time ago DimeBag Darrell had this on his pedalboard. Kind of know where he got his fuzz from. It could have been a blue Arbiter Fuzz Face too.

Versatile fuzz pedal for synth-like guitar tones

I love mixing this pedal's creamy gated fuzz and sub octave (-2 octaves) with either amp distortion, an overdrive pedal, and/or a wah pedal for some thick, angry, and ballsy synth-like guitar tones. On its own it's simple and though it leaves much to be desired, i'd rather have something simple than something pointlessly complex, especially for such a niche effect.

Octave down fuzz pedal

I have a DIY (replica) version of this unit. I have modified it so I can choose 1 octave or 2 octaves down with a toggle switch. The fuzz is very close to a Marshall stacks OD. A very unique sounding effect.

Splatty, octave-y, fuzzy

This pedal is simple but has a wonderfully glitchy and scratchy fuzz tone that can go from wild and unpredicatble to being tame and just a touch of sub on top of normal tone. Minus one star for just a hair of volume loss when in use.

For Deep Experiments

Good for stacking with distortions if you are brave, and produces a range of very usable synthy & unpredictable tones. It's affordable, handsome, and plays a unique role in distortion alchemy.

Blue box

I recommend installing the mod available for this. Other than "fool in the rain" solo it hasn't made a permanent home in my pedal board. ????