octave down

[malleable]

Hello. I just bought the Boss OC-3, and realized I should have researched my interests a little more first. I'm trying to find a pedal that will drop the low-E string on my bass a full octave down... and work!

On my E-string with the Boss OC-3, a low A or Ab drops an octave as it's supposed to (which I guess is called good "tracking"?). Any lower than that, and I get a sound that doesn't stay in one place, and it's not even an octave sound, but more like a perfect 4th.

Is there a good pedal for dropping the bass' low E-string a full octave, that will provide a strong, steady sound? I would prefer a clean sound, but will consider anything. Any recommendations?

[Bredian]

Not sure your speakers could reproduce the low e you're looking for anyway. My practice amp, a Behringer, has a "sub-bass" octave button that creates nothing worth using from my E string.

[CopperheadLXXIX]

The only pedal I can think of off the top of my head that will likely do it reliably is an EHX POG or POG2. You're not going to hear anything that low from the average bass cab anyway, most commercial cabs start to roll off somewhere between roughly 40-60hz.

[RickenBoogie]

+1 to above. Accept for maybe the POG, nothing will track that low, and it really doesn't matter, because no one can hear that low anyway, (20Hz!!), and no bass cab will reproduce that frequency. It's a no-win situation.

[G3Mitch]

hmmm, i sold my OC-3 within 2 weeks of owning it.
i use a whammy for any octave stuff. it does the trick and is alot of fun to mess around with . obviously abit more expensive though.

[Kwesi]

To my knowledge, there are only two octavers that will do what you want reliably. The EHX POG2/MicroPOG or the Line 6 M series. And you WILL be able to hear it on most cabs but 1) the fundamental will not be present (not as big a deal as it may sound) 2) the note's clarity depends on your cab. My Berg can handle it and it sounds good but I doubt I'd hear it so clearly in a band mix.

[Hyssar]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

To my knowledge, there are only two octavers that will do what you want reliably. The EHX POG2/MicroPOG or the Line 6 M series. And you WILL be able to hear it on most cabs but 1) the fundamental will not be present (not as big a deal as it may sound) 2) the note's clarity depends on your cab. My Berg can handle it and it sounds good but I doubt I'd hear it so clearly in a band mix.

As an M9 owner, I can confirm that it will NOT track below an open A string or 5th fret on the E string.

[Smallequestrian]

Originally Posted by Hyssar

As an M9 owner, I can confirm that it will NOT track below an open A string or 5th fret on the E string.

Depends on your bass/technique/strings. My M5 tracks easily to the low f# and will get to e if I'm really careful.

[bigchiefbc]

An octave below a low E will produce a note that is inaudible to most human beings. Now, normally, you'll still hear upper-order harmonics, and things like fret buzz and pick noise (if applicable). The problem with most analog octavers is that they produce a pretty pure sine wave, with no upper harmonics, so even if they could track that low, you'd hear very little. But the micro pog / pog / pog2 / hog family of pedals does the octave down via sampling, rather than a tone generator, meaning that you'll get all of those upper harmonics and extraneous noise. So that is probably your best bet for going that low.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by Hyssar

As an M9 owner, I can confirm that it will NOT track below an open A string or 5th fret on the E string.

Then we're clearly doing things differently. I've owned an M5 and a M9 and I haven't had a problem with tracking all the way down to an E. I don't need to go that low and probably would never do so in a band setting but these pedals can do it. That much is for sure.

[Hyssar]

Hmmm, good to know, I'll try some things out.

[CopperheadLXXIX]

I should amend my first post by saying that the Aguilar Octamizer can track that low...at least on my Ergo EUB. That is, if I set the dry fully CCW and only give my amp an octave wet signal, I get a sound out of my cab even when playing an open E-I know I'm obviously not hearing a 20hz sine (pretty sure my Hartke Hydrive cuts off above even 40hz) but the note is distinct, without any "warble" or drop off.

Maybe it has something to do with the extra scale length of the EUB and/or the undersaddle pickup? Anyway, kind of OT, but thought I would throw that curiosity out there...

[cultrvultr]

The octamizer will give you a usable sound on the open e. it helps to use good pitch-tracking technique.

Neck pickup, clean playing near the neck, roll the tone down

[CopperheadLXXIX]

Originally Posted by cultrvultr

The octamizer will give you a usable sound on the open e. it helps to use good pitch-tracking technique.

Neck pickup, clean playing near the neck, roll the tone down

Might explain why it works so well with my EUB-The Aguilar is likely hearing more fundamental than a bass guitar, and since it is an upright, I'm plucking much lower on the neck than I would normally be.

[fokof]

FWIW



MobileMe Gallery

Like others said , there is not a lot of cabs wich will reproduce those frequencies , but your dog will appreciate.

[Nephilymbass]

If you just want to get that low get a digitech whammy. I have a whammy 4 and the only thing I use it for is the one octave down whammy setting low E sounds great through my rig. Sans amp RBI, swr 750x (for power only) then an ampeg 810e. But I do not use it for an actual octave effect more like a pitchshifter.

[JehuJava]

Anyone try that drop tune pedal I keep seeing around?

Although I agree an octave below open E sounds may not be very useful.