Strymon BlueSkyFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 37 mentions across 15 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment67%
PROS 67%
CONS 33%

Rank based on 37 mentions across 15 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want lush, high-quality Room/Plate/Spring reverb for guitar or synth
  • You value a beautiful, musical shimmer effect over cheaper alternatives
  • You want a pedal with an analog dry path that preserves your tone

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need extensive onboard MIDI-controllable presets for live switching
  • You dislike digital-sounding or overly synthetic shimmer effects
  • You're on a tight budget, since reviewers call it pricey for a single-function pedal

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Strymon BlueSky
Lush, high-quality reverb tonesGreat for acoustic guitarBeautiful shimmer effectLimited presets and no MIDIMild heat during useShimmer sounds artificial to some
Strymon BlueSky
Lush, high-quality reverb tones
Great for acoustic guitar
Beautiful shimmer effect
Limited presets and no MIDI
Mild heat during use
Shimmer sounds artificial to some

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Owners consistently describe the BlueSky's reverb quality as exceptional and inspiring. Numerous commenters call it their favorite pedal, use words like 'heaven' and 'holy grail,' and describe near-infinite decay tails that linger far longer than expected. It's praised for acoustic guitar especially, with users saying it transformed how they play, and for synth setups where it remains a go-to choice. Long-term owners, including one with a decade of use, still find new inspiration from it.

The shimmer effect divides opinion sharply between magical and artificial. Many users call the shimmer 'magic,' 'beautiful,' and more musical than competing shimmers that sound metallic. Others strongly disagree, calling it cheap, artificial, or too loud, drowning out the guitar signal. One user also notes the spring reverb's shimmer is locked to octave-down, limiting flexibility, while another wishes for a ducking shimmer option.

Practical concerns include limited presets, mild heat, and pricing. Multiple users wish for MIDI control and more than two saved presets for live performance flexibility. A few owners report the pedal getting mildly warm after extended use, prompting worry about faults. Commenters also note it's not cheap, though most feel it's worth the cost, while one reviewer found $300 excessive for a limited-use device compared to alternatives.

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