MWFX 8 Bit: 1

The MWFX 8 Bit, 1 is a guitar effect pedal that converts the guitar signal into a square wave using an analog, transistor based circuit¹. MWFX describes it as responding to the guitar in a similar way to a standard fuzz effect, but with a synthesized tone that falls in pitch as the signal trails out¹. In other words, you play it like a fuzz, but instead of clipping the waveform into harmonics, the circuit replaces it with a square wave whose pitch drops as the note decays.

The 8 Bit, 1 is one of a series of re-releases of the original 8 Bit pedal, which MWFX dates to 2007/8¹. Each of these re-releases is individually handpainted and finished in oak wood¹. It carries a list price of £175.00².

What it does to your sound

The 8 Bit does not add distortion in the way an overdrive or distortion pedal does. It converts the incoming signal to a square wave, a waveform with only two levels, which gives the synthesized, buzzy character the pedal is named after. MWFX says it responds to guitar in a similar way to a standard fuzz effect, but with a synthesized tone that falls in pitch as the signal trails out¹. That pitch fall is the pedal's signature behavior: as a note decays, the square wave tracks downward, so sustained notes bend away from the pitch you played.

Because the conversion is done by an analog, transistor based circuit rather than a digital processor⁴, the effect is generated entirely in hardware. The maker refers to the 8 Bit as "our square egg"⁵.

Controls and setup

The 8 Bit, 1 keeps its external controls to a minimum. Everything else lives inside the enclosure¹⁵.

The interior sensitivity setting is the one to adjust if the pedal triggers too easily or not at all for your pickups and playing style⁵. The two trimmers set sample length and sample volume⁶.

Guitar and bass use

MWFX states that the 8 Bit suits guitar and bass⁴. The same claim appears across the whole re-release series⁴, so bass players looking for a square wave effect can use it as well. For bass, the pitch fall on decaying notes applies the same way it does on guitar, since the circuit tracks the incoming signal rather than being tuned to a specific instrument range.

Where it came from

The original 8 Bit pedal dates from 2007/8⁴. MWFX later re-released the design as a series of individually handpainted units finished in oak wood, each numbered as its own product page: the 8 Bit, 1 here, along with the 8 Bit, 3, 8 Bit, 5, 8 Bit, 15, 8 Bit, 16, 8 Bit, 18 and 8 Bit Pride among others⁴.

The 8 Bit, 1 is a re-release of the 2007/8 pedal, with each unit individually handpainted and finished in oak wood¹⁴. It carries a list price of £175.00².

Handpainted enclosures

Each of the re-releases is individually handpainted and finished in oak wood¹, which means no two units share a paint job. The maker's product pages also show handpainted boxes with laser engraving¹, and packaging that uses recycled materials¹. MWFX describes its pedals as handmade in the UK, established 2008³.

Questions