MXR M103 Blue Box Octave Fuzz Pedal

The MXR Blue Box is a classic, wonderfully unruly fuzz pedal that pairs raw fuzz distortion with a two-octave-down synth-like tone. Originally released in the 1970s, it's since become a favorite of noise rock, experimental, and psychedelic players looking for something well outside the usual overdrive/distortion box.

• Output knob — sets the overall intensity of the fuzz signal
• Blend knob — mixes in the two-octave-down tone, from a subtle low-end thickening at low settings to gritty, glitchy digital-style artifacts as you push it toward maximum
• Simple, rugged MXR housing built for the road
• Runs on a 9V battery or an external supply such as the Dunlop ECB003 adapter or an MXR Brick series power supply

Dial it back for classic rock octave-fuzz tones, or push the Blend control toward max for chaotic, 8-bit-style textures — the Blue Box rewards experimentation.