Octave "Flub" out help

Ant1977 · #1 08-09-2009, 11:47 AM

Hate to keep coming back to this thread but, this is where it started...

MXR Bass Octave Deluxe - Tracking PROBLEM - BOO HISS!

I spent some time today with three octave pedals, and three basses.

I used a -
Boss OC-2 (Japanese "Octaver")
Boss OC-3 (through "Bass" input)
MXR B.O.D.

And I used three basses -
1977 Fender P-Bass
2000 Hot Rod Fender P-Bass
"Saint George" (no-name) Japanese Thunderbird Copy

I had the same results with all three pedals and all three basses. -
Flub out on the G string on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th frets before I what I consider a reasonable note-hold time.
No problems with any other strings.

So I ruled out that I had a defective MXR B.O.D. by having the same problems with the other Octave pedals.
I ruled out having a dead spot on my bass by it occurring with three different basses.

The only way I did NOT get a flub out was by using the "Guitar" input on the OC-3 and switching it to Poly Mode.

So I guess my question now is...

I know the MXR is Analog (which is what I was told may be the reason)... Is the OC-2 ???

And, what is it about the "Guitar" input and Poly Mode of the OC-3 that makes it so awesome?

And why are people so fixed on using an OC-2 when I think the OC-3 is superior to it?

What are your opinions ????
Anyone else having problems like this ????

eyeballkid · #2 08-09-2009, 11:51 AM

i could be that you used mostly fenders (which in my experience have a bit of a wide low end to em) and a no name that may have the same issue... just a thought. cos i have found on my Ashdown head with a built in octaver that fenders dont track well AT ALL, but my Musicman and G&Ls did great... and i think they both have a more focused low end.

Ant1977 · #3 08-09-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

i could be that you used mostly fenders (which in my experience have a bit of a wide low end to em) and a no name that may have the same issue... just a thought. cos i have found on my Ashdown head with a built in octaver that fenders dont track well AT ALL, but my Musicman and G&Ls did great... and i think they both have a more focused low end.

You know... it's funny you should say that because I have an Ashdown combo that I use for practice and smaller gigs.
With my Fenders, the Ashdown's Octaver is useless. For a while, I even thought it was broke.

But with my Washburn 5-String, the Octaver on the Ashdown sings.
I will have to try out the Washburn with the three Octave pedals and see what happens.

It would suck if it is an issue with Fenders because they are my primary basses.

dmusic148 · #4 08-09-2009, 12:11 PM

I use a DOD FX35 Octoplus, with a P bass and a Jazz bass. Works great. But you have to understand how it is with analog units- they simply won't hold notes for more than a couple of seconds, usually. Lower notes are tougher than higher ones. Yes they may work better with some basses than others, but it's mostly in your hands.
If you use it the way nature intended, it works fantastically well. That generally means stuff like 8th or 16th note funk grooves, no slapping or chords, and clean technique.
If you want great tracking on long/low tones, you must go to a digital unit. But they just don't sound the same.

eyeballkid · #5 08-09-2009, 12:16 PM

well, some basses work better with certain effects.... and octavers are probably the weak spot on fenders.... perhaps retry your fenders but turn the tone all the way up and roll back the bass a little and see if that doesnt make it work better...(.it might not work perfect, but at least better) and that may be a different tone than you normally use, BUT it may be a tone that works WONDERFULLY in a song with the Octaver... cos if you play with too much bass and use an octaver too your going to ruin any note definition (i say that as a fan of mutated notes).

fightthepower · #6 08-09-2009, 02:54 PM

You have dead spots on your neck.

Most people do, in the same place that you do.

Myself included. Analog octavers and especially good at finding them, and even my digital HOG- despite its incredible tracking- sounds weak and fizzled in my worst dead spots on the G string. It sucks, but I just deal with it and find the notes elsewhere on the neck (if I need a sustained note anyway).

*insertcoolname · #7 08-09-2009, 09:31 PM

I'm glad someone else is a fan of the guitar input/poly mode setting on the OC-3. Best sub octave I've played through for hard rock.

Ba55Man1ac · #8 08-10-2009, 12:34 AM

You might be onto something with the whole Fender thing. My Laklands struggle with my B.O.D. (especially in the neck pickup position) but my Stingray & Bongo track flawlessly. Maybe the "Fender" sound has a higher distortion content...

warpzone · #9 08-10-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant1977

And why are people so fixed on using an OC-2 when I think the OC-3 is superior to it?

You just answered your own question, It's your opinion. However, I have never used the OC-3 but the OC-2 does find dead spots very easily, as FTP said.

fightthepower · #10 08-10-2009, 03:51 AM

Quote:

I know the MXR is Analog (which is what I was told may be the reason)... Is the OC-2 ???

And, what is it about the "Guitar" input and Poly Mode of the OC-3 that makes it so awesome?

The OC-2 is analog, and with clean playing it tracks better/faster than anything on the market, save for dead spots and chords/double stops. It my opinion and many others, it also sounds much better than the OC-3, but ultimately this is subjective.

If I remember correctly, the Bass input on the OC-3 only effects the upper register, whereas the Guitar input produces a suboctave everywhere on the neck.