EBS Vs MXR Octave?

Volume4 · #1 08-15-2010, 12:58 AM

I'm looking to aquire an Octave pedal.

Can't decide between the MXR M288 Deluxe and the EBS

Anyone care to share their thoughts?

Ba55Man1ac · #2 08-15-2010, 03:18 AM

The MXR tracks much better for me. They're both great sounding pedals though.

BassInUrFace · #3 08-15-2010, 03:45 AM

+1 on the MXR, you should put a poll in.

vibhas_2310 · #4 08-15-2010, 04:04 AM

Check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHauQR3Pi3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxQRMoMv_5s

ba$$ · #5 08-15-2010, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vibhas_2310

Check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHauQR3Pi3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxQRMoMv_5s

Ed Friedland knows his ish! I asked him personally about this pedal and he highly recommended it. I just ordered it - waiting anxiously!

Volume4 · #6 08-15-2010, 08:59 AM

Thank you all

Yes, I'm leaning heavily towards the MXR.

Ed is amazing btw

Volume4 · #7 08-15-2010, 09:02 AM

Poll added

Ian Perge · #8 08-15-2010, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ba$$

Ed Friedland knows his ish! I asked him personally about this pedal and he highly recommended it. I just ordered it - waiting anxiously!

Ed's opening "piece" was absolutely beautiful fretless playing - both his notes choices and playing *with* the Effect made for fantastic lines! I swear, his "Bass Whisperer" Reviews for Guitar World has likely increased his presence in the Bass Community tenfold!

I just picked up an MXR BOD last week after weeks of being taunted both Uriah Duffy & Ed's reviews as well as friends posting audio & video samples, and it's indeed everything that Uriah, Ed & and everyone is saying about it. It's only been just over a week, but I'd even say it's got my former "to beat" Octave effect (the "SubWave" in my SWR Mini Mo' preamp) likely beat due to the Growl/Girth combo as well as the ability to boost a selectable mid-frequency range (2 very different areas of the mids)... and choose the amount of boost and not a preset amount. Between this and their Bass Envelope Filter, MXR is batting 2 for 2 and I hope they keep it up and continue to develop other Bass Effects - I've e-mailed them suggesting Bass Chorus and Compressor Pedals next!

Edit: Sorry about the recommendation, I got carried away above.

Obviously I voted for and would recommend the MXR from the above, although now seeing that EBS has lowered the price of the OctaBass to the same as the MXR I would have had a fairly tough competition on my hands. The EBS' High (synth), Mid (classic divider), and Low (sub-lows) switch is a nice choice of settings to have, especially the high synth mode to my ears. However, I also found that its Octave effect was a touch subtle, especially when compared to the mid-boost switch, ability to choose between the two fairly different midrange frequencies & amount of mid-boost.

I'd try and play both back-to-back in real life if possible to compare which suits your playing and tone best. If ordering online from someplace like Musician's Friend.com, ordering both and having the 45-day return period as a testing period would be ideal if you can float paying for both until you return the "loser". But both are quality pedals - whichever you go with, I think it'll end up being a good choice.

Volume4 · #9 08-15-2010, 10:29 AM

Excellent Post Ian!

Thank you

Ian Perge · #10 08-15-2010, 10:32 AM

Whatever this former Strong Island bassist can do to help out a current Strong Island bassist!

Volume4 · #11 08-15-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Perge

Whatever this former Strong Island bassist can do to help out a current Strong Island bassist!

Haha! Good deal. Thanks again

Okay I'm going to order the MXR at the end of the week (payday)

crapusername · #12 08-16-2010, 01:14 PM

tbh, it depends on the style of music you're playing.
ebs - clean octave tracks well. think Earth Song
MXR - great tracking, able to do gritty as well as clean, mix of EBS and OC2

Kromwarp · #13 08-16-2010, 01:17 PM

OC-2 or OC-3, or the Octave Multiplexer

NickD · #14 08-16-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kromwarp

OC-2 or OC-3, or the Octave Multiplexer

Octave Multiplexer. Warmer synthy tones.

Volume4 · #15 08-16-2010, 04:05 PM

I'm an odd dude. I have no use for the Synthy sounds.

I have a P-Bass with Flats and a Jazz with SS Rounds

I'm usually either playing Motown or Metal/Stoner/Prog Rock.... I also like playing the Bach bass transcriptions, sometimes clean and sometimes through a Big Muff

So I definitely prefer a nastier Octave pedal and really would need fast tracking too. Based on the videos, the MXR seems to be the ticket. I got plenty of Fuzz pedals here to mix with it too.

Jared Lash · #16 08-16-2010, 04:26 PM

The MXR has a very close copy of the OC-2 sound with the "Growl" knob. It sounds virtually identical, though as I found out it doesn't track quite as well as the actual OC-2

It also has the "Girth" knob which is very huge sounding. A bit flabby for my tastes and I hate the sound of it soloed, but with a healthy amount of clean it sounds good and being able to blend Growl and Girth (plus the mid switch) means the MXR can be tweaked quite a bit to get the sound you want.

Personally I think the EBS tracks "faster" but not "lower" if that makes sense. I happen to like it's voices a bit better, though none of them are great for that soloed, electronica John Davis/Tim Lefebvre tone. The MXR's growl knob would be better for that (and the Pino 80's tone). That's what I used mine for when I had it, but ultimately sold it and kept my old Boss OC-2.

But for rock or non-synthy sounding fretless I actually like the EBS more than both the Boss and MXR.