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Can't decide which octave pedal to buy

gibsualdo

gibsualdo

Jun 19, 2006
348
10
London, England
#1
I need a simple octave down pedal, that works well when blended with a dry signal, using a high-output active bass. Before anyone starts, I've searched the forums like a good lil' TB'er :p

Ideally, I don't wanna spend much more than £100, and I don't care if it's analogue or digital (I'm aware of the differences). I've basically narrowed my choices down to the following -

Digitech Bass Synth Wah - Used to own one of these, sounded great in the octave down mode with my passive Thunderbird. These days I'm playing a very active Spector, and I've heard the BSW in octave down doesn't play too nice with high output actives. Can anyone confirm this?

Digitech Synth Wah - Guitar version of the BSW above. I'm considering one of these because Doug Wimbish uses one, and he also plays active Spectors like myself. Anyone tried this combination?

EHX XO Octave Multiplexer - Love the sound clips I've heard, great price too, but the whole volume drop issue worries me. If I had one of these, being in my blended loop, I'd probably need to have the blend knob turned fully clockwise. In this position, can anyone tell me if it brings about the dreaded volume drop? I've heard it's most noticable around 12 o'clock but I need to make sure.

Boss OC-2 Octave - I'd be straight on one of these, if I knew for certain that they played nice with high output actives.

EHX Micro POG - Yeah, yeah I know all about these. To be perfectly honest though, personally I find them a tad boring.
 
#2
I can only speak to 2 of these:
I use the BSW with my Ibanez ATK, which has passive pickup but a pretty beefy active preamp, and have not had any problems. Plus other cool sounds on board.
OC2 - Years ago I used to use this with my Washburn Status series with EMG J's. Not the hottest output active pickups, but I had no problems, but I tended to play at the 12th fret for best tracking (BSW seems to track well lower down).

Steve
 
#3
gibsualdo said:
I need a simple octave down pedal, that works well when blended with a dry signal, using a high-output active bass. Before anyone starts, I've searched the forums like a good lil' TB'er :p

Ideally, I don't wanna spend much more than £100, and I don't care if it's analogue or digital (I'm aware of the differences). I've basically narrowed my choices down to the following -

Digitech Bass Synth Wah - Used to own one of these, sounded great in the octave down mode with my passive Thunderbird. These days I'm playing a very active Spector, and I've heard the BSW in octave down doesn't play too nice with high output actives. Can anyone confirm this?

Digitech Synth Wah - Guitar version of the BSW above. I'm considering one of these because Doug Wimbish uses one, and he also plays active Spectors like myself. Anyone tried this combination?

EHX XO Octave Multiplexer - Love the sound clips I've heard, great price too, but the whole volume drop issue worries me. If I had one of these, being in my blended loop, I'd probably need to have the blend knob turned fully clockwise. In this position, can anyone tell me if it brings about the dreaded volume drop? I've heard it's most noticable around 12 o'clock but I need to make sure.

Boss OC-2 Octave - I'd be straight on one of these, if I knew for certain that they played nice with high output actives.

EHX Micro POG - Yeah, yeah I know all about these. To be perfectly honest though, personally I find them a tad boring.
Click to expand...

Were you aware of the new MXR pedal (MXR M288 Bass Octave Deluxe)? You may want to add it to your "watch list." I have no idea how it will sound or work with your active bass. It should be pretty good since it's specifically designed for bass.

It comes out on April 3. Sweetwater is putting people on the list. It's going for $150.
 
#4
I just bought a Micro Pog and really like it. Turning down the octave up and only using the down function sounds really good with flawless tracking. It may not be a warm sound, but its deep and delicious!
 
#6
Another item you may want to check out is the EHX Bass Micro Synth. I own the XO version and the octave down isn't too bad, and it offers other effects, too. It's a tad pricey, though, so I wouldn't get it if you were using it just for the octave down option. I own all active basses and it hasn't really acted up on me at all. There are some issues with notes just cutting off rather than decaying naturally as some people point out in other posts, however a compressor placed before the pedal seems to remedy the problem well enough. The pedal states in the manual that it was designed with passive basses in mind, so, naturally, active pickups tend to drive the unit harder than intended, but I've found that adjusting the interal trim pot down helps with any unintentional distortion. This does present a minor drop in volume on some settings, but I don't think it's anything to fret about.

After saying all this, it seems like the pedal would be a write-off in terms of a choice, but it's not really as horrible as I've made it sound! I actually enjoy this pedal quite a bit and don't believe I will be parting with it.

Hope this helped!

~De Lucha
 
#7
I've become such a huge fan of the EBS "Black Label" series that I'm probably going to get an "Octabass" from that line for myself. Now in fairness, I am not terribly familiar with the Octabass specifically. My happiness with the EBS line comes from their Multi-Comp compressor and the Bass IQ Envelope Filter. Basically, whatever I've used from that line I've been happy with so I'm willing to take a chance on the Octabass.

I have the Digitech bass synth wah but I've not really gotten a clean octave effect out of it. I personally have used it more for the autowah (before I got my Bass IQ) and for some of the synth "voice" effects.
 
#8
My bass is active, but not that hot and the BSW worked fine. Nice budget octaver, but I can't speak to a really hot signal.

The OC-2 works fine with actives and passives. Classic octaver sound. But if you want a more natural octave that's still analog, I like the EBS a lot.

Haven't tried the Multiplexer.
 
#10
Thanks for the suggestions folks :)

Still looking to get some feedback on the EHX XO Multiplexer, or any of the above mentioned pedals especially from fellow Spector players.

The OC-2 is looking the most likely so far. How does it handle notes played on the D and G strings, at a tempo comparable to Tool's 'The Grudge'? -

I don't plan to use it for that song (JC doesn't even use an octaver), but some basslines I plan on using it for, are kinda comparable to the timing of the intro.

EDIT: Nevermind, I've ordered a Multiplexer. I'll report back in a few days.
 
#14
Just to answer to the Octave Multiplexer question.

I don't know if there is volume drop with the XO but the older reissue does have some drop on the octave output, the unit has it's own blend and as you blend more wet you notice the drop. I have heard of people that actually modded their Octave Multiplexers by adding a boaster [LB-1] inside the enclosure.

As for my opinion on octaves.

If I was to go analogue I'd go with MXR, the old M-88 is my favorite sounding octave.

Digital I'd go Pog over OC-3 just because I hate the sound of the OC-3 and I like EHX.
 
#15
Thanks again for the suggestiions :)

Well, I ended up getting a Multiplxer, and I'm going to be sending it back very shortly.

I love the sound of it, but unfortunately even with the blend as low as 9 o'clock, sub on and both filters maxed the volume drop is just too noticeable for me. I tried everything I could, but it was just no good. A real shame really, since it's a great sounding pedal IMO.

How EHX continue to fail to notice, or maybe just give a damn, about the volume drop or spike issues on several of their pedals is beyond me. Especially since this is a reissue, of a pedal which had the same drop on the original.

EDIT: I like the idea of adding a boost circuit to the Multiplexer, but unfortunately I suck at soldering and it'll probably easier just for me to find something else. I would put it in a loop with an EQ pedal, but that's too much pedalboard real estate for me just for one effect.
 
#16
I use the G***** version of the Digitech Synth Wah with an active Warwick. I mainly use it for the Synthy Wahy sounds as opposed to just a clean octaver. I have only messed with that setting a little and could find a use for it. I seem to recall it being more of an envelope down as opposed to a straight octave down. It's too late tonight seeing as I just got back from rehearsal....I'll unpack my pedalboard and check and possibly record some samples of the that setting for ya sometime this weekend, if you are interested.

That said; I find myself using the SW with my MicroKORG more often than on bass.
 
#17
gibsualdo said:
How EHX continue to fail to notice, or maybe just give a damn, about the volume drop or spike issues on several of their pedals is beyond me. Especially since this is a reissue, of a pedal which had the same drop on the original.
Click to expand...

Well........... maybe both. One thing I always keep in mind with ANY EHX pedal is that they almost always have at least one quirk that makes you ask "why would they do that".
 

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