Is the BSW Octave a Good Octave Effect

DavePlaysBass · #1 02-13-2011, 01:44 PM

I was just getting to the point where I liked the Octave effect on my BSW. I bought the pedal for the envelope which was ok but really stared to get some usefulness out of the octave effect. Well the pedal died and I am wondering if there are better octave pedals to consider.

I read a lot about tracking and wonder if the BSW is considered a good one as far as tracking. I never had any issues with it tracking the single note lines when played quickly. I was doing stuff in the 8 to 14th fret range with 8th note to 16th note run and the BSW seemed to do a good job tracking.

I am looking at the EBS, MXR, and Aguilar which all seem to be the analog style and I am assuming would be more organic sounding than the BSW and also may not track as well? And the Prog 2 looks interesting as well with the higher octave.

bassbrad · #2 02-13-2011, 02:23 PM

The Boss OC2 is my favorite for it's synthy/organish analog sound but tracking is a bit more touchy than the other digital octavers.
The BSW is a lot of bang for the buck, with pretty good tracking and I am loving mine and is getting a lot of play as it is on the short board that is getting more play these days.

DavePlaysBass · #3 02-14-2011, 10:46 PM

Well it looks like I have my BSW octave back for at least a little while. I opened up the battery area and noticed the little push button the PCB was stuck in the down direction. After gently pushing on it with an allen wrench, I was able to get back in its normally high position. And after reading a whole bunch of stuff on all the draw backs of other octave pedals, I gotta say I am digging my BSW more than ever.

bassbrad · #4 02-15-2011, 12:32 AM

It is a surprisingly cool pedal, dunno why it does not get some love at least.

Bassmike62 · #5 02-15-2011, 06:15 PM

I have a BSW that I use mostly as an octaver, which I don't use a lot in all fairness (a couple of songs). But it works pretty well for me, so well that I sold the MXR BOD that was lying around. Although its a rather wacky pedal, there are a couple of settings that are usable... can do a decent sequencer when used with a Boss BF-3 on gate settings.

Robertron · #6 02-15-2011, 06:24 PM

I personally dislike the BSW as an octaver.
I prefer my MXR BOD because there's some flexibility to the tone with the two octave voicings and variable 400hz/800hz mid boost. The MXR BOD also works much better for me when I want to hear only the suboctave. Of course as always IMHO and YMMV.

shaolinwhat · #7 02-15-2011, 09:44 PM

I've had one on my board for years, and have used it as an octaver many times. I sold an OC-3 in favor of the BSW, if that means anything at all. I still am sometimes tempted to get another one, since there are tons of different settings to be had on it.

MakiSupaStar · #8 02-15-2011, 09:59 PM

I love my BSW, but I don't depend on it for an octave. I have an OC-2 and a EHX BMS for octaves.