MXR Poly Blue Octave Pedal Reviews
Octaves? Check. Modulation? Check. Fuzz? Check. MXR has a long history when it comes to octave pedals, but the Poly Blue Octave really takes it up a notch. This potent pedal comes loaded with four knobs dedicated to mixing in its quartet of octave functions: one up, two up, one down, two down. The default setting is designed for a polyphonic mode, meaning that whole chords will sound just as supple as individual notes. If you’re looking for an old-school octave sound, mono mode provides a gritty analog warmth — a sound that Sweetwater guitarists find perfect for pairing with the built-in fuzz. As if that weren’t enough, MXR loaded the Poly Blue Octave with a modulation knob that has two distinct tones depending on whether you’re using poly or mono mode. If you’re looking for an amazingly versatile multi-effect octave pedal in a small, rugged form factor, then look no further than MXR’s Poly Blue Octave.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Versatility
Control of 5 octaves, fuzz, phaser or Leslie modulation. There's a LOT under the hood here. I want a second one for my board.
Outstanding tracking & features for guitar & steel guitar
I bought and tested four octave pedals (and then returned three of them) - the Poly Blue, EHX microsynth, Bit Commander, and...something else (it was a few months ago). The Poly Blue was by far the best in every way. The tracking is exceptional in both poly and mono modes (and you get both!), you get two octaves on both sides, and if you're managing a small board, you get a phaser or tremolo (depending on your mode). I was especially impressed with how well it tracks a pedal steel - none of the other pedals tracked nearly as well.
I was reading some of the other reviews and I think there's some legitimacy to them. Like the fuzz isn't amazing...but this is an octave pedal, not a fuzz pedal, so you'll have to figure out your own signal chain. I disagree with any complaints about the tracking...I've found it phenomenal and maybe others' issues are due to setup.
Poly Blue Persuasion
Great pedal. Very versatile. Get that classic Octavia fuzz tone, glitchy Blu Box sound, or over-the-top multi octave insanity. Top it off with some modulation and voila! The fuzz, by itself, is top notch, imo. The octave possibilities are practically infinite.
Great effect pedal
One of my favorite new effect pedals. What's so good is that the effects can be used individually or in any combo and all are quality on their own. Blue box fuzz. Phase 90. And four voiced octave that be used individually also that tracks very well. Overall thumbs up.
Cool Pedal
it's tons of fun to play with, almost a touch too multifaceted to be "practical," but it works great as a studio or inspiration tool.
Not all it's cracked up to be, but it does some
After watching a quite a few videos and only a few reviews I took a chance and picked up this pedal. My first octave pedal so I didn't know what to expect. Out of the box I thought this sucks and doesn't track well as others indicated. Once I got used to it I found that it actually does but the settings need to be a certain way. I play worship guitar so I wanted something subtle. This thing isn't subtle but if you turn the volume of the Octave + and - down below 1/4 it's really great. Add Mod and it becomes an organ any higher than that.
Mod is great by itself, like a vibrato or rotary. I don't care for the Fuzz that much especially on Poly mode but when stacked without fuzz with my new Hoof it rocks. On Mono Fuzz is wild and crazy, fun but not that useful for me.
Poly tracks great and chords are full and clear. Mono sounds rich with lows but the E strings freaks it out and it can't hold an open note with out searching for what to track.
All and all I am happy with the purchase. I am playing it live on a set at church this weekend for the 1st time. We'll see.
An interesting versatile addition…
Got this about a week ago, its a versatile pedal it's not subtle but it is kinda unique in its own way kind of a POG, Phaser, Organ pedal, fuzz and a Blue box rolled in one. On some things it tracks well but other stuff usually the organ sound it lacks in tracking notes. If you are into experimenting with not so subtle stuff then this is for you. I got a few audio samples on my YouTube channel listed…
There's fun to be had.
This pedal can do A LOT of different sounds. I think it's probably optimal for someone that likes to tweak settings or go for some really unique sounds when recording. It doesn't track nearly as well as the Micro POG that I own. If thickening up your sound or adding some subtle octaves is what you want, I'd go for a POG. If you want to go for some wild sounds with more features, then this may be the right pedal for you.
Clipping with Active Pickups
Loved this pedal when I got it for my 4 string electric with active pickups, then took it out on the road and began having issues with clipping on lower notes in the dry channel (no sub). Loved the fuzz, but it's a bit unweildy with upgraded pickups. There's a bit of latency for the sub channels and the mono channel flattens the tone quite a bit. A great pedal for passive bass and extended technical tones, but I couldn't justify keeping it on the board.
Bunch of mud
Poly mode turns to mud. Mono was ok. Owned it for a month, then it just crapped out. Nothing but static. Big disappointment. Skip it.
Disappointed
I've had this pedal for a while and I'm very disappointed. The fuzz is basically useless as it is. Even the ability to set the level by holding the button doesn't really change anything. If that feature, along with the dry control, operated more like the volume and fuzz knobs on the Sub Machine, I think better tones would be available. The regular octave tones without the fuzz are fine. I was really hoping for something more, but I'm just left with another pedal in going to trade in.
Just a mess
This pedal tracks very poorly in either poly or mono mode and I could not find a pleasing or usable setting at all
I love weird and strange effects but this just sounds like muddy computer chips and not in a good way. It is just sloppy sounding with no definition or dynamics with single notes and totally falls apart with chords. It boarders on sounding defective, I actually hoped it was defective but a buddy bought one and felt the same way about theirs. Its going back. Bummer, I was excited on this one as it tried to have some really cool features.
