Boss OC-2 vs. MXR M-88 (not dlx)

I owned the octave multiplexer back at Christmas and ended up sending it back for a return because the tracking is pretty horrible you'll get about a second out of each note (if that at all) but I then about two months later replaced it with a boss oc-2 after doing lots of research on the mxr one too. I guess I settled on the oc-2 because loads of people here favour it and it just feels original to me (if ya get what I mean) it's tracking is brilliant especially when you consider It was made in the 1980's! It's a great buy look into I doubt you'll regret it

 

The octave multiplexer has the same volume drop that you described in your oc2. I got rid of mine for that reason. I think a lot of older octave pedals suffer from that. The MXR bass octave DELUXE (newer model) doesn't have that problem, and sounds great.

 

I haven't a noticed a volume drop in my oc-2

 

I have a M88 and had in the past an OC-3.

OC-3 in single note mode is as glitchy as the OC-2, but the OC-3 in poly mode is pretty much flawless, even playing chords (well, that's why it is called "poly" mode )

The M88 tracks better than OC-3 in monophonic mode and sounds more analog-ey.

I'm quite enjoying the MXR, bought it used for cheap to replace my stolen OC-3 but the replacement came out as better than the original!

 

I have an "older" non-XO version of an EHX Octave Multiplexer. No volume drop here! Actually, when I read the thread name, I was going to post "Get an Octave Multiplexer!".

 

I had an MXR... preferred the OC2.

 

Didnt like the oc-2 or the oc-3 at alllllll. AT ALL.


(i will now always suggest the ehx micropog, but I hear good things about the M88)

 

Never tried the MXR, but I really like my '82 OC-2. The tracking is iffy sometimes, but everyone knows that going in.

 

IMO, tracking is a little iffy on all octaves.

 

MXR BOD. I've never tried the older one, but just compared to the OC-2 it has more output, especially if you roll the dry signal all the way off and use just the octave down for synthy goodness. If you include the dry signal, even at moderate levels of dry, I find the OC-2 has plenty of output. So that's the way I use them.

 

I had an MXR M88 and it was by far the worst tracking octave pedal I've tried.

 

Cybersnyder, have you seen the YouTube video that Ed Friedland did on the M88? MXRBassOctave - YouTube

He seems to really like it. In fact, at about 1:40 he says, "It tracks like my old hound dog, Rex."

 

I watched a MXR bass octave demo on YouTube. It said the tracking is really good up to and past the low E, although I didn't notice it in the video, is this true? How does it track with low notes?

 

That's the MXR M288, not the M88.The M88 is an older, discontinued model.
The M288 is a great pedal, but I prefer the smooth sound and better tracking of the OC-2.

 

Ah... sorry about the confusion.

 

IMHO, they should have named the M288 something more distinctly different that the M88. But I seriously doubt that anyone uses the model number except in inventory systems and here on talkbass.

 

That could very well be!


So your order of preference would be:

1. OC-2
2. M288
3. M88

???

(If I'm not mistaken, the M88 as well as the OC-2 are discontinued, correct?)

 

Well I've got two OC-2s and none of the other one. I may well buy a third OC-2.