The Dunlop MXR SUB Machine is a Dunlop fuzz pedal, currently around $199.99. Close alternatives include the Beetronics Swarm Fuzz Harmonizer and the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter. It pairs well with the Magnatone 280 and the Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp.

Dunlop MXR SUB Machine

Dunlop · pedal

The MXR Sub Machine is a two-channel fuzz and sub-octave pedal from MXR by Jim Dunlop, combining an upper-gain fuzz channel with a sub-octave generator that drops the guitar signal one octave below pitch. The pedal features independent controls for fuzz and sub-octave level alongside a dry signal blend, allowing players to mix the three signal elements in any proportion. The Sub Machine produces dense, synth-like fuzz tones with the sub-octave adding a deep, full-frequency foundation below the fuzz. It is suited to players who want the textural complexity of a fuzz and a sub-bass element in a single enclosure without separate octave and fuzz pedals.

What stands out

  • “The MXR Sub Machine is a two-channel fuzz and sub-octave pedal from MXR by Jim Dunlop, combining an upper-gain fuzz channel with a sub-octave generator that drops the guitar signal one octave below pitch”

    — from the listing

  • “The sub-octave character is most reliable and stable on single-note lines, where the tracking is cleanest; on chords, the sub-octave can become indistinct”

    — from the community notes

  • “The Sub Machine produces dense, synth-like fuzz tones with the sub-octave adding a deep, full-frequency foundation below the fuzz”

    — from the listing

  • “The dry, fuzz, and sub-octave blend controls give a wide range of mix options from pure fuzz to full sub-octave dominance”

    — from the community notes

  • “Dense, synth-adjacent fuzz with a sub-octave channel that adds a deep sub-bass foundation below the fuzz signal, producing thick, full-frequency textures associated with stoner rock, doom metal, and experimental fuzz styles”

    — from the community notes

  • fuzz
  • octave
  • sub
  • synth
  • dry
  • frequency
  • tracking
  • mix
$199.99View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 24, 2026

Genres the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine is commonly used in

  • Stoner Rock
  • Rock
  • Experimental
  • Doom Metal
  • Noise Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Electronic
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine

Magnatone 280

Magnatone

18% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Magnatone 280 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here

Comes later in the signal chain

Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp

Gibson

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal

Magnatone 510

Magnatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Magnatone 510 layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal

Pedals that stack with the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine

Univox Uni-Vibe

Univox

20% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Run Univox Uni-Vibe after Dunlop MXR SUB Machine in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR SUB Machine's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

Fender Blender

Fender

18% match
$284.16via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → octave)

Fender Blender stacks octave on top of the fuzzy already here

Catalinbread Giygas

Catalinbread

18% match
$185.11via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → octave)

Catalinbread Giygas layers octave onto an already fuzzy signal

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Pigtronix Echolution

Pigtronix

12% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Put Pigtronix Echolution after Dunlop MXR SUB Machine in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR SUB Machine's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage

Electro-Harmonix

12% match
$275via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Run Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage after Dunlop MXR SUB Machine in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR SUB Machine's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Jackson Audio Bloom V2 Compressor/EQ

Jackson Audio

10% match
$263.20via Reverb

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.

Dunlop MXR SUB Machine leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer

Subdecay

tonal match
$199via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer goes in front of Dunlop MXR SUB Machine — pitch tracking is cleanest before anything colours the note

EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things

EarthQuaker Devices

$291.55via Reverb

Cheaper alternatives

Catalinbread Perseus

Catalinbread

61% similarity
$161.49via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, tight tracking, wide range

EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander

EarthQuaker Devices

48% similarity
$179via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave

Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz

Black Arts Toneworks

46% similarity
$119via Reverb

Shared character: mix, fuzz, full

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Electro-Harmonix

44% similarity
$74.89via Reverb

Shared character: mix, thickness, fuzz

EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General V2

EarthQuaker Devices

93% similarity
$179via Reverb

similar tone character

Boutique & premium upgrades

Fender Kevin Shields Blender

Fender

52% similarity
$284.16via Reverb

Shared character: one octave, fuzz, full

Univox Super-Fuzz

Univox

49% similarity
$599via Reverb

Shared character: one octave, mix, thickness

Fulltone OF-1 Octafuzz

pedal

49% similarity
$409.53via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, one octave, thickness

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Beetronics Swarm Fuzz Harmonizer

Beetronics

58% similarity
$249via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave

EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter

EarthQuaker Devices

57% similarity
$229via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave

Pigtronix OCT2

Pigtronix

53% similarity

Shared character: tight tracking, one octave

Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz

Behringer

53% similarity

Shared character: one octave, mix, thickness

MXR M103 Blue Box

MXR

52% similarity

Shared character: mono synth, tight tracking, one octave

JAM Pedals Eureka! Fuzz v2

Jam Pedals

50% similarity
$219via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, one octave, mix

See all alternatives to the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine?+

The closest matches in character are the Beetronics Swarm Fuzz Harmonizer, the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter, the Pigtronix OCT2. Budget picks: Catalinbread Perseus, EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander, Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz. Boutique upgrades: Fender Kevin Shields Blender, Univox Super-Fuzz, Fulltone OF-1 Octafuzz.

What pairs well with the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Magnatone 280, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp, Magnatone 510 — Magnatone 280 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here.

How much does the Dunlop MXR SUB Machine cost?+

Around $199.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).

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