Boss OC-3

cybersnyder · #1 03-02-2010, 08:24 PM

After trying a few octave pedals with the exception of the Aguilar Octamizer, I think I like my OC-3 the best. Great tracking with no glitching and I like the different tones you can get from the Guitar and Bass inputs but that's a pain to switch when the pedal is on the board.

As I'm typing this I got an email back from Mr. Putnam that he can do a mod for me to add a switch to effictively switch the inputs. So now I'll not have to play around with the cables. I'm gonna have my "dream" Octaver. Giddy!

I know it's a lowly Boss and it's not as cool as some higher end pedals, but the OC-3 does it for me.

I'll post an update when I get the pedal back.

Phump · #2 03-02-2010, 08:47 PM

I have been digging mine, but only find two settings as usable for my situation. I got it to hold me over for the MXR which I am in love with. Unfortunately, it will be a while before I get one. But I think this pedal is great for what I paid ($40)

cybersnyder · #3 03-02-2010, 08:49 PM

I had an MXR BOD and sold it the next day. Did not appreciate that pedal at all.

Actually, the bes octaver, IMHO is the Bass Octave effect on the Line 6 M9/M13. That thing kills. But for pedals, I really like the OC-3.

Phump · #4 03-02-2010, 09:42 PM

I had a Line6 studio 110 that had a killer synth on it. I can't really speak for the octave on the M/models from personal experience, but some clips I've heard sounded good and I'm pretty much the analog type. What didn't you like about the MXR?

cybersnyder · #5 03-02-2010, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phump

What didn't you like about the MXR?

I hated the tracking on the higher notes. Seemed like a half second delay around the 7th fret and up on the D and G strings. I do a lot of staccato playing and it couldn't keep up. Not that my playing is that phenomenal but the tracking was slow, very slow. It did ok on the lower notes, but I couldn't get the sounds like Uriah Duffy was getting in his demo video. Others love their BOD so maybe there are some quality control issues.

Re the Studio 110 synth - yeah, I hope they add that to the M9/M13. Would love to have a selection of the synth sounds available at the press of a switch.

Phump · #6 03-02-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

I hated the tracking on the higher notes. Seemed like a half second delay around the 7th fret and up on the D and G strings. I do a lot of staccato playing and it couldn't keep up. Not that my playing is that phenomenal but the tracking was slow, very slow. It did ok on the lower notes, but I couldn't get the sounds like Uriah Duffy was getting in his demo video. Others love their BOD so maybe there are some quality control issues.

Re the Studio 110 synth - yeah, I hope they add that to the M9/M13. Would love to have a selection of the synth sounds available at the press of a switch.

Tracking on the higher notes can be a concern. Funny enough, the setting I use most on the OC-3 has the same problem...sorta. There is virtually no effect after the 8th fret or so on the POLY setting. This may be a QC issue as well. The DRIVE, to me, seems to track best, but isn't suitable IMO for those "I Wish" type of lines.

cybersnyder · #7 03-02-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phump

Tracking on the higher notes can be a concern. Funny enough, the setting I use most on the OC-3 has the same problem...sorta. There is virtually no effect after the 8th fret or so on the POLY setting. This may be a QC issue as well. The DRIVE, to me, seems to track best, but isn't suitable IMO for those "I Wish" type of lines.

In Poly mode you have to turn the third knob fully clockwise. In OC2 mode, you most likely want the third knob turned fully counter clockwise. It would be nice if they made the OC-3 so that you didn't have to change the third knob for OC-2 and Poly modes. And drive is extremely different depending on whether you use the Guitar or the Bass input.

Atomicant · #8 03-03-2010, 12:26 AM

Any recordings of the Drive mode?

Craig_S · #9 03-03-2010, 12:38 AM

I just picked up an older, black label, OC-2. It does everything I need it to. I think it sounds great. Should I want an OC-3?

cybersnyder · #10 03-03-2010, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I just picked up an older, black label, OC-2. It does everything I need it to. I think it sounds great. Should I want an OC-3?

The OC-2 is great. I just like the Poly mode on the OC-3 and the ability to get different tones from the Guitar and Bass inputs. You can't go wrong with an OC-2.

gnasher1993 · #11 03-03-2010, 07:17 AM

I really like the OC-3 as well. There's alot of tonal variety and it tracks well

. It's definitely staying, I'll try an Octamizer when I get chance though.

champbassist · #12 03-03-2010, 08:02 AM

Wow! Love for the OC-3?
In light of all the opinions of it I've seen on TB so far (negative to mixed at best), I'd pretty much striked the OC-3 off my list of possible buys.
I require an octaver with good polyphonic tracking, that's it. No extra features required.
This thread's left me confused. Guess I'll just have to try one at the store.

cybersnyder · #13 03-03-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champbassist

Wow! Love for the OC-3?
In light of all the opinions of it I've seen on TB so far (negative to mixed at best), I'd pretty much striked the OC-3 off my list of possible buys.
I require an octaver with good polyphonic tracking, that's it. No extra features required.
This thread's left me confused. Guess I'll just have to try one at the store.

Just remember that in Poly mode, twist the third knob all the way to the right. It controls the bottom of the octave range, unless you want octaves only at a certain note and not lower.

walker rosewood · #14 03-03-2010, 11:54 AM

I like my OC-3 as well. I have it set up in poly mode because I'm often playing double stops, or arpeggiating chords quickly. Most octaves I've tried get confused with two notes, and it fights over which one to track. The OC-3 is clean. and yes, in poly mode the third knob is the 'range' knob. I suspect playing chords on a guitar, and adding 6 notes would get muddy, so one would dial back the range knob so it adds octaves to only the higher strings. On bass though, I keep it wide open.

I haven't plugged my guitar in to it yet. Cybersnyder, are you saying you put your bass into the guitar input?

cybersnyder · #15 03-03-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker rosewood

I haven't plugged my guitar in to it yet. Cybersnyder, are you saying you put your bass into the guitar input?

I use both. The guitar input gives it a little brighter tone, the bass input gives it a fatter tone. In the distortion mode, the differences are much greater.

walker rosewood · #16 03-03-2010, 02:52 PM

hmm, I'll have to do some experimenting. Maybe put my bass into the guitar input, set the original note to zero volume, and use my LS-2 to blend in the original signal.

I recently put together a pedal board for my bass. I've been focused on my band in which I play bass, as well as learning to build my own effects. In the process I've sort of forgotten I own guitars, and that pedals work for guitar too!

Time Consumer · #17 03-03-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phump

I had a Line6 studio 110 that had a killer synth on it. I can't really speak for the octave on the M/models from personal experience, but some clips I've heard sounded good and I'm pretty much the analog type. What didn't you like about the MXR?

Aww, man, my bro just got one of the new line 6 110's and I had it over the weekend, I couldn't stop playing with the synth, he's probly pissed cuz the dials for tone and all that are all effed up but anyway, now im really gassing for a synth pedal or something.

led3 · #18 03-03-2010, 03:25 PM

I have an OC-3 as well. I liked the MXR one better at first but couldn't pass up the deal I got on the OC-3 (i think abt $40). Anyway, I was wondering where others are putting in their signal chain. Currently, I have mine in the 1st position coming in, but I'm not entirely happy with the tone there. Any suggestions?

cybersnyder · #19 03-03-2010, 03:46 PM

Mine is right at the beginning of the chain, well right after the tuner. I've run my Submarine before the OC-3 also which seemed to help tracking even more because of the signal boost.

**jbybj** · #20 03-03-2010, 03:59 PM

I'm always rearranging my pedals, order and choice, but one constant is the Multicomp is always first. It's always on in a mild compression/boost fashion, and I have also found the OC-3 likes a hot compressed signal feeding it.

I prefer Poly mode mainly because it seems to track best, even when playing only one note, as compared to an OC-2 (or OC-2 mode).

JBY