3Leaf Audio Club - Episode 2

[bassvirtuoso]

Cheers dude, don't know how I missed that Have you owned any other octaves that you could compare it to?

Well, let's see - I've owned:
-Boss OC-2 (still own)
-3Leaf Big Box Octabvre
-TWA Great Divide (more than just OCT -1)
-Iron Ether SubT (more than just OCT -1)

The Boss is the gold standard, but not gig friendly for me since it won't go up to or past unity volume. The two "synthier" devices were great, but couldn't get a nice CLEAN fat sub tone like the Boss - so I moved on. Got the big box Octabvre next (original tuning) and LOVED it - only sold it to get the smaller version. Now my mini is the Tim tuned, so I notice differences between it and my big box version. I will say I miss certain aspects of the original big box tuning, but the Tim does give it more of the pure OC-2 vibe.

 

[silky smoove]

Ya I guess I will reverse the comp and octave and try that

It's hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like the box to the right of the BCP-1 is ahead of it in the chain. Union something? I would suggest putting your Octabvre FIRST in the chain if there is in fact anything ahead of the compressor, and assuming it's not something utilitarian like a buffer, an amp splitter, your tuner, etc.

 

[silky smoove]

I will say I miss certain aspects of the original big box tuning, but the Tim does give it more of the pure OC-2 vibe.

I too had an original version and then picked up a Tim-tuned one (not the new Mini, but rather the full-size box with the Tim-tuning). I greatly prefer the Tim-tuning with the tone control somewhere around noon. It offers just enough of the Mutron sound (grittier, synthier sound) while still having the major emphasis be on the OC-2 type sound (cleaner, fatter). My gold standard for octave tones has always been Tony Levin's playing on Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" and with my active Jazz and all of the Octabvre controls set at noon it absolutely NAILS it. Easily my favorite octave pedal to date. The inclusion of the sub-switch when I want to get all synthy is just icing on the cake. The updated tracking is incredible as well. It's not quite digital tracking in its precision, but it's as close as I've found in any analog device.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

It is a union sub-buzz

 

[silky smoove]

It is a union sub-buzz

Is it in front of the Octabvre in your signal chain?

 

[kittywithabanjo]

Yes

 

[kittywithabanjo]

Although generally it isn't on when I am using the octave so it can move

 

[silky smoove]

If it's not on in conjunction with the Octabvre it shouldn't matter. Honestly as long as the Octabvre is the first engaged pedal in the chain you'll be testing what I described. I greatly prefer octaves at the beginning of the chain and definitely in front of compression. Others feel the opposite relative to compression. You've tried it behind your compressor (I use the same one by the way), so now you might as well try it in front of it to see if the results improve.

Also, is this a current or older Octabvre? Spencer revised the tracking on newer ones. I had an older one that I sold and now have a new one. The older one had tracking problems, but the new one tracks better than any other analog octave pedal I've tried.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

I have had it for about a year is there a way to check?

 

[silky smoove]

I'm not sure when he changed the circuit.

 

[cnltb]

Ah...yet another new octave pedal to try.
I wish he had gone for 1590A which would increase his chances to end up with me against the T-16, my current frontrunner.

 

[DELACIUS]

I wish there is a switch in Octabvre 1 to change from Tim's mod to stock...

 

[bassvirtuoso]

I wish there is a switch in Octabvre 1 to change from Tim's mod to stock...

According to Spencer (I asked) - Mini will be Tim-tuned only. I'm bummed, I prefer the big box original tuning a little better.

 

[cnltb]

According to Spencer (I asked) - Mini will be Tim-tuned only. I'm bummed, I prefer the big box original tuning a little better.

You may just have made up my mind for me.
It looks more and more like it's going to be the T-16 for me..

 

[bassvirtuoso]

You may just have made up my mind for me.
It looks more and more like it's going to be the T-16 for me..

What are you looking for? I had a T-16 for a hot minute and it did not feel like an OC-2 to me (there are some that disagree with me); it was bought to replace my big box for board space reasons but it didn't stand up to it.

 

[cnltb]

What are you looking for? I had a T-16 for a hot minute and it did not feel like an OC-2 to me (there are some that disagree with me); it was bought to replace my big box for board space reasons but it didn't stand up to it.

So the reason you don't have yours anymore is because it didn't sound like an OC-2?
I just need a really good octave down pedal and am not looking for an OC-2 'wannabe'.
If I wanted an OC-2 I'd get an OC-2 despite it's size, as I do not tend to take that many pedals out.
Another one I find interesting is the ashdown octadose as I like it's layout with just direct and octave controls.

 

[Jeff Moote]

Good times with the mini tonight

 

[p0k]

I got my Mini too...love it.

 

[bass08053]

John, thanks for selling me your Tim-Tuned! I'm loving this thing. Hope you enjoy the mini.

 

[Funkfaker]

I've gotta say, the Tim Tuned Octabvre does it for me. I sent mine back for the modification and it knocked my OC2 off the board. That and the YOU'RE DOOM are mainstays.

The Wonderlove V2 is gonna go on the chopping block, however. I couldn't find what I was looking for out of that pedal. Beautiful construction, but I think envelope filters aren't my thing.