MXR 288 Bass Octave Deluxe Problem??

rosstanium · #1 05-29-2009, 09:30 AM

hey guys, I just purchased the mxr 288 and had a question...

when i activate the pedal but am not sending a signal through the pedal (playing a note), i notice a quiet clicking sound.

this is my first octave pedal...and I'm wondering if this is the nature of an analog pedal or perhaps a power issue on my end or something else. I plugged in my buddy's OC2 and it does not have this same issue...which is why I asked the analog question...

RickenBoogie · #2 05-29-2009, 10:00 AM

Mine is silent. You might need to do an exchange. Bummer.

megadan · #3 05-29-2009, 10:25 AM

Could be a power supply issue as well.
What are you using to power it?

Sounds like it could be clock noise.

rosstanium · #4 05-29-2009, 10:36 AM

voodoo laps pp2. never had an issue with another pedal...

megadan · #5 05-29-2009, 10:48 AM

Hmm... weird. I'm not sure then. Try it with a different power supply just in case.

fightthepower · #6 05-29-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosstanium

hey guys, I just purchased the mxr 288 and had a question...

when i activate the pedal but am not sending a signal through the pedal (playing a note), i notice a quiet clicking sound.

this is my first octave pedal...and I'm wondering if this is the nature of an analog pedal or perhaps a power issue on my end or something else. I plugged in my buddy's OC2 and it does not have this same issue...which is why I asked the analog question...

When you say 'activate the pedal'--- do you mean click it on? stomp on the switch?

If so, then it sounds just like true-bypass switching noise-- and the OC-2 would not exhibit this because it has a buffered bypass. (pretty basic I know, just asking the obvious-)

If it is making a steady clicking sound when the pedal is activated and left on-- ie not related to any 3dpt switching, then I don't have any guesses..

rratajski · #7 05-29-2009, 02:50 PM

If it's clicking while it's "on" and you're not playing, there's a circuit issue. Exchange that bad boy.

rosstanium · #8 05-29-2009, 02:55 PM

it's definitely clock noise...I used a one spot and went to a different location - still the same issue.

thanks for the tip. I think I'm gonna exchange...one final question though...

when it's engaged and the volume of my bass is all the way down, it's cool. when i turn the level back up it starts again EXCEPT when I can get my bass to be completely still with absolutely no resonating. I'm talking me being completely still, muting the strings with both hands and not breathing.

is this a circuit problem or is it just insanely sensitive and trying to track any small noise that comes through?

rratajski · #9 05-29-2009, 05:36 PM

It sounds like a dud. Exchange City, USA! The clocky clicking shouldn't be there.
Let us know how it works out for you!

rosstanium · #10 05-29-2009, 07:19 PM

called Dunlop tech support and Derek was extremely helpful. sending it in and they'll replace or repair...only bummer is a 3-4 week turnaround...but it was a painless call and process.

thanks for weighing in everyone.

Jaycephas · #11 05-29-2009, 10:02 PM

Okay, so I just picked one up (my first octave) and here's my questions/issues.

1) I hear "great" and "excellent" on tracking from posts...overall, yes, but I seem to have some breakup between B and D on the G-string (4th-7th fret). With 100% wet, I get intermitent breakup across fretboard.
2) Understand that 100% dry is all the way clockwise, I have a significant drop off in volume between 100% dry and 100% wet with effects at noon to 100%. Is this normal?
3) Also, at 100% dry, I still get the effects in the mix.
4) Finally, volume up on bass, strings muted, other nobs at noon or better, I hear a very faint but intermitent "rumble"...like a motorcycle idling.

Anyone else have these issues?

fightthepower · #12 05-30-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaycephas

Okay, so I just picked one up (my first octave) and here's my questions/issues.

1) I hear "great" and "excellent" on tracking from posts...overall, yes, but I seem to have some breakup between B and D on the G-string (4th-7th fret). With 100% wet, I get intermitent breakup across fretboard.
2) Understand that 100% dry is all the way clockwise, I have a significant drop off in volume between 100% dry and 100% wet with effects at noon to 100%. Is this normal?
3) Also, at 100% dry, I still get the effects in the mix.
4) Finally, volume up on bass, strings muted, other nobs at noon or better, I hear a very faint but intermitent "rumble"...like a motorcycle idling.

Anyone else have these issues?

I can only comment on #1-- analog octavers are great at finding dead spots on your neck, and most basses seem to have these somewhere between the 4th-8th fret on the G string. Every bass I've played through an octaver (5 of them) had at least two dead spots and usually on the 5th, 6th or 7th fret on G string. I think thats just an area of the neck that suffers the most from string tension in some way.

Analog octavers also need significant technique adjustments for most people. Any string vibrations will break up the tracking, so it is necessary to play very cleanly and articulate every note well while muting the other strings completely. This took me a little while to adjust to, but it has improved my playing- I notice this the most when recording, as my solo'd bass tracks sound much cleaner when playing with a clean tone, and my proficiency with analog octavers and certain fuzz's is much higher than it was 6 months ago. I've only been playing for a couple years and I practice/play a lot so I've been improving in all areas, but I've definitely noticed a positive change in my right hand technique especially from spending a lot of time playing through octavers 100% wet. Also, playing with your fingers (more skin and closer to bridge the better) will net the best results by far- picks don't do well.

All my dirt pedals with wet/dry blends bleed a little when the pedal is active and only the dry knob is up, but none of them bleed when bypassed, and I don't use the pedal 100% dry anyway so it's not an issue- and I would assume that it is normal with your pedal. Other than that I've read that the MXR BOD doesn't suffer from a volume drop (like the OC-2 does) and I haven't heard anything about the rumbling noise you describe, but I don't have one to test at home and I haven't followed it very closely, so hopefully someone else will chime in about the other questions.

Sean S · #13 05-30-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosstanium

called Dunlop tech support and Derek was extremely helpful. sending it in and they'll replace or repair...only bummer is a 3-4 week turnaround...but it was a painless call and process.

thanks for weighing in everyone.

You don't wear a watch while you play, do you? I've found if I wear an analog watch the pickups literally pick up the ticking noise.

Jaycephas · #14 05-30-2009, 06:40 AM

hmmm...I thought about the dead spot thing. Makes sense. I guess I'll have to be more aggressive when hitting those notes.

Funny, but every bass I've owned has had a dead spot somewhere along the G string...interesting that the Octave pedal points it out so much.

Technique can always use improvement, but after 36 year of playing bass, I think I got that figured out. Recording and playing in studios with cans will significantly improve technique.

Oh well, if it ain't my thing, I'll sell it and try something else. Shiny and new is always good...