The MXR M267 Octavio Fuzz is an octave-up fuzz pedal: it takes your played note and piles on saturated fuzz an octave above it, with a response that shifts under your fingers. Jim Dunlop's manual describes it as an octave-up fuzz with touch-responsive octave-up saturation, the kind of effect the maker says is employed by modern players, from straight-up rockers to low 'n' slow doomsayers1. It is a deliberately simple pedal: two knobs, a footswitch, and nothing else.
What the two knobs do
The control set is about as short as a pedal gets, and each control does one job21:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets overall volume of the effect1 |
| Fuzz | Sets intensity of the fuzz effect1 |
| Footswitch | Toggles effect on/bypass, with a white LED indicating on1 |
There is no octave control. Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen flags this directly in his review: "No adjustment for the octave."2 The octave-up character is fixed into the circuit, and the Fuzz knob shapes how hard it saturates. For players used to octave pedals with blend or octave dials, that is the main thing to know before picking this one up: you control level and intensity, and the octave does what the Octavio circuit does.
Where it came from
The name points at its history. Curwen writes that the lineage can be traced back to the vintage pedal used by Jimi Hendrix to full effect on Purple Haze2. The M267 is MXR's standard-production take on that circuit: Curwen notes it is the only one available as a standard two-knob MXR pedal without any artist connection2, which sets it apart from the signature octave fuzzes in the same family, such as the MXR Slash Octave Fuzz and the MXR Siete Santos Octavio Fuzz. It sits in the wider fuzz field alongside MXR's other circuits like the Blue Box and the Hybrid Fuzz.
Power and connections
The M267 runs on 9 volts DC and draws 5 mA1. It takes a battery or an adapter:
- One 9-volt battery, installed by removing the bottom plate1
- The Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter1
- Dunlop's DC Brick, Iso-Brick, and Mini Iso-Brick power supplies1
Connections are the standard two: run a cable from your guitar to the M267's INPUT jack, and another cable from the OUTPUT jack to your amplifier1.
The manual specifies 9 volts DC. Use the Dunlop ECB003 adapter or one of the Dunlop power supplies listed above rather than an unspecified supply.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | < 187 kΩ (octave on)1 |
| Output impedance | < 50 kΩ (octave on)1 |
| Gain range | 8 dBV to 37 dBV (octave on)1 |
| Max output | 4.6 dBV (octave on)1 |
| Dimensions | 64 (w) x 110 (d) x 48 mm (h)2 |
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review describes a "Typically solid and compact MXR build."2 The review's verdict on the design is that the two-knob, no-octave-control layout is the point of the pedal: it is the standard, artist-free version of the Octavio idea, and the fixed octave is part of that2.
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Questions
Does the MXR Octavio Fuzz have true bypass?
Yes. Jim Dunlop's manual for the M267 lists the bypass type as True Hardwire, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal straight through when it is switched off. A white LED shows when the effect is engaged.
Can I adjust the octave on the MXR M267?
No. The pedal has only two knobs, Output and Fuzz, plus a bypass footswitch. Guitar World's review notes there is no adjustment for the octave, so the octave-up character is fixed and you shape the effect with the Fuzz knob's intensity control.
Does the MXR M267 Octavio Fuzz run on a battery?
Yes. According to the manual, the Octavio Fuzz is powered by one 9-volt battery, and you remove the bottom plate to install it. It can also run from a 9-volt DC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003.
How much current does the MXR Octavio Fuzz draw?
The manual lists the current draw at 5 mA, which is low enough that almost any pedalboard power supply output can handle it comfortably.
Is the MXR Octavio Fuzz made in the USA?
Yes. Guitar World's review lists the origin as USA.
Is the MXR M267 based on the Jimi Hendrix Octavio?
Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen writes that the lineage can be traced back to the vintage pedal Jimi Hendrix used to full effect on Purple Haze. The M267 is, in Curwen's words, the only one available as a standard two-knob MXR pedal without any artist connection.
Sources (2)
- M267.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2020
- MXR M267 Octavio Fuzz review, Guitar World, 2020-06-18
