Octave pedal(s)

[bassman2001]

Anyone know of a good octave pedal? I'm looking for one that converts the single note to one octave lower instead of the majority out there that "add" on to the original note. Does that kind of pedal exist? hmmm

[Ryan Mohr]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean but I use my Digitech Bass Synth Wah for Octave purposes only. You just turn down the filter and it tracks wonderfully.

[JohnDavisNYC]

it can. the Boss OC2 or OC3 have seperate volume knobs for direct, 1 oct below, and 2 oct below.

john

[bongomania]

The FoxRox Octron and DOD Meatbox also have that ability.

[TaySte_2000]

Dod Octoplus can do this as well

My recommendation would be the Foxrox Octron

[bassman2001]

Thanks guys...I'm ebaying that stuff right now...I guess I sort of dislike that "organ" like sound you get when the octave pedal that adds the octave lower instead of only putting out the low note

[Higgie]

Most octave pedals have the ability to mix the levels of the octave and direct signals.

If you only want it to put out the lower note, where abouts are you planning to use it on the fretboard? Below A most octavers can't track, above D/E you might as well just play the low note anyway.

Just my 0.02

[Ian Perge]

Actually, most if not all Octave pedals should should be able to do that. It's simply a matter of turning the "Octave"/"Level"/"Wet"/"Signal"/"Blend"/whatever knob that controls the percentage of unaffected signal to effected "octave" signal (typically 12:00 is the 50% clean bass/50% Octave lower point on the vast majority of pedals) all the way to the right... or whichever direction the effect-only point is.

"Good" is up to the ear of the beholder... and how much you feel like paying - DigiTech's Bass Synth Wah runs about $80 new while Electro-Harmonix POG Polyphonic Octave Generator Pedal will set you back $324. There's also the basic fact of how one is designed - some people like clean sound and tracking ability of a digital pedal, while others value the "organicness" and classic tone of one based on analog components. I don't know where you're located (hint: filling out your profile can actually be helpful in giving info) but I'd get out there and try some different brands and see what you like, how they work with your particular playing style, etc.

Some of the more common brands are the Boss OC-2 Octave (the classic "Brown Box") and OC-3 Super Octave, the Electro-Harmonix Micro POG (creates both an octave above as well as below and allows you to pull of mock-doubled-string sounds like Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" 12-string bass as well as earlier King's X and Cheap Trick"), DigiTech's Bass Synth Wah with has not only an Octave function but some decent Envelope Filtering and "Synth" bass effects as well, and E-H's Polyphonic Octave Generator, the Big Brother to the Micro POG - 8 sliders, 6 of which manipulate various octaves (sub octave, +1 octave, +1 octave detuned, etc) and costs as much as you imagine it might.

Higgle's absolutely correct about tracking, and you might want to try playing with the original note mixed in with the octave below when playing parts high up on the neck, especially if you're playing in a power trio or a section where you need to fill in "space" sonically. Add some chorus or overdrive/distortion (or both! ) and you might find some great sound that'll affect both what as well as how you play.

[JanusZarate]

Not much more for me to add, except that I have yet to see a sub-octave pedal where you couldn't adjust the mix and dial out the clean signal completely.

AFAIK, they can all do it. Ian is dead-on.

[speak_onion]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Not much more for me to add, except that I have yet to see a sub-octave pedal where you couldn't adjust the mix and dial out the clean signal completely.

AFAIK, they can all do it. Ian is dead-on.

The Ashdown Sub-Octave doesn't let you adjust the clean signal. I hate everything about that pedal. . .

except the glorious, glorious tone.

[cheapbasslovin]

What kind of crazy nonsense do you want to do that for????????

I would get it if you wanted to go 1 up and 1 down and leave the clean out of it, but your speakers aren't going to be able to pump out any note lower than the one you can play (unless you're really against getting a 5 string?).

[TaySte_2000]

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

What kind of crazy nonsense do you want to do that for????????

I would get it if you wanted to go 1 up and 1 down and leave the clean out of it, but your speakers aren't going to be able to pump out any note lower than the one you can play (unless you're really against getting a 5 string?).

Obviously never tried this have you, it can be very cool if you play up high you get a keyboard like attack it's the main reason I got my Octron 2

Also the best way to get a synth sound when you add a bit of fuzz

[cheapbasslovin]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Obviously never tried this have you, it can be very cool if you play up high you get a keyboard like attack it's the main reason I got my Octron 2

Also the best way to get a synth sound when you add a bit of fuzz

I thought that he said he didn't care much for the organ sound, although synth could be different. All my experiences in killing the original signal completely sound not as good as if I just dropped down and played it. Except the POG. That was bitchin', but I was going hi/low. Clearly I didn't have the $ to buy it.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by speak_onion

The Ashdown Sub-Octave doesn't let you adjust the clean signal. I hate everything about that pedal. . .

except the glorious, glorious tone.

I stand corrected.

Any octave pedal still in production can adjust the clean signal.

[midichlorine]

i jusy got tha octron and it is great! its a little weak on tracking on the lowend but it sounds very cool and organic

[bassman2001]

Thanks for all the help guys...I'm basically using this for one of our new songs live. For the recording our producer put an effect on my bass that made it sound very low....Its meant to sound really good live (assuming the gig has subs)...Don't worry...I don't want this to ruin PA systems and think I have "the ultimate tone" lol. I'll look into some of the pedals suggested. It's just for me, I need something that will sound almost like a low synth bass, and not sound like an organ with the original, 1 up, 1 down...

[bassman2001]

Only pedal I have ever owned is a tuner, so I'm new to this stuff...bear with me!

[OhThePeacock]

Originally Posted by bassman2001

Thanks for all the help guys...I'm basically using this for one of our new songs live. For the recording our producer put an effect on my bass that made it sound very low....Its meant to sound really good live (assuming the gig has subs)...Don't worry...I don't want this to ruin PA systems and think I have "the ultimate tone" lol. I'll look into some of the pedals suggested. It's just for me, I need something that will sound almost like a low synth bass, and not sound like an organ with the original, 1 up, 1 down...

If you don't want an organ sound stay away from polyphonic octavers like the POGs.

[cheapbasslovin]

Originally Posted by OhThePeacock

If you don't want an organ sound stay away from polyphonic octavers like the POGs.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think I like the organ sounds and he doesn't so my advice, for him, would then be junk.

[johnvice]

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

it can. the Boss OC2 or OC3 have seperate volume knobs for direct, 1 oct below, and 2 oct below.

john

The OC-2 is analog. The OC-3 is digital and, IMHO, the sample rate is too low. Thus, I'll stick with my OC-2.