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EBS Octabass vs Aguilar Octamizer
- Thread starter TravTrav
- Start date
I own the OctaBass and like it, but I do not own the Octamizer. I only tried it at a store and didn't care for the tracking.
I've tried these two and MXR m288 one by another, and I've got the MXR. It trracks better than both and I like the tone better. The two different octave voices are great. The EBS I really disliked, the Octamizer is great, but I felt that MXR is better. And I don't regret it.
If you have an option, go try them.
If you have an option, go try them.
I made the mistake of spending far too much in the boss oc3 . It now
Sits in line with my other non true bypass pedals waiting and hoping to be activated on the true bypass looper. Such a shame boss have to f**k with your tone. Has anyone found any boss pedals worth having? Back to octave pedals though....I take it the above mentioned ones are the cream of octaves?
Sits in line with my other non true bypass pedals waiting and hoping to be activated on the true bypass looper. Such a shame boss have to f**k with your tone. Has anyone found any boss pedals worth having? Back to octave pedals though....I take it the above mentioned ones are the cream of octaves?
Hey Trav,
I've had both of these and was able to A/B them side by side over a reasonable period. I was a long time Octabass user but have switched to the Octamizer.
Both are great octavers in my opinion, but slightly different.
In terms of tracking, my experience is that they're pretty much neck and neck. If anything, the Octamizer will track slightly lower (G#/G on the E string), though this is outside of the range that I'd use).
The Octamizer has a greater variety of tones than the Octabass - more synthy/fuzzy at the top end of the octave filter, and deeper at the low end. It can cop the three Octabass tone switch positions at various spots through the range. Those Octabass tones are very usable though, just the Octamizer has a wider range of use for me.
A/Bing the two, the Octamizer has IMO a beefier lowend - best way I can express it is that with the Octabass you hear the lower octave, with the Octamizer you hear it and feel it. The Octabass has a very focussed tone while the Octamizer seems a little wider if that makes any sense.
I did consider the MXR when I was recently upgrading, but in my mind it's not as intuitive in dialing in sounds - I guess I like the volume/tone controls for clean and octave.
Good luck with your investigations!
I've had both of these and was able to A/B them side by side over a reasonable period. I was a long time Octabass user but have switched to the Octamizer.
Both are great octavers in my opinion, but slightly different.
In terms of tracking, my experience is that they're pretty much neck and neck. If anything, the Octamizer will track slightly lower (G#/G on the E string), though this is outside of the range that I'd use).
The Octamizer has a greater variety of tones than the Octabass - more synthy/fuzzy at the top end of the octave filter, and deeper at the low end. It can cop the three Octabass tone switch positions at various spots through the range. Those Octabass tones are very usable though, just the Octamizer has a wider range of use for me.
A/Bing the two, the Octamizer has IMO a beefier lowend - best way I can express it is that with the Octabass you hear the lower octave, with the Octamizer you hear it and feel it. The Octabass has a very focussed tone while the Octamizer seems a little wider if that makes any sense.
I did consider the MXR when I was recently upgrading, but in my mind it's not as intuitive in dialing in sounds - I guess I like the volume/tone controls for clean and octave.
Good luck with your investigations!
i was down to the same choice as the OP. i picked up an Octabass based on YT vids.
i was going for tight & focused, which it is doing very well.
i was going for tight & focused, which it is doing very well.
Interesting how broad the opinions are on the analog octavers out there-I found the MXR to have the worst tracking of all of them, the Octabass the best, and settled on the Aguilar due to the LPF on the octave.
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I've had two different Boss's, the EBS, an M13 (surprisingly good octaver), a Fulltone, and a POG. The Aggie wins hands down (and is the only one I currently own). IMO it just has this wonderfully organic sound to it (lame term, I know). I feel the same way about the Agro...I don't know how else to describe it.
I've got both the Boss OC-2 and the OC-3. I found the OC-3 to have TOO MUCH going on and I went back to the simplicity of the OC-2.
But I've heard so much about the Aguilar Octamizer and the EBS Octabass that I really want to explore my options. The OC-2 is great, but it really doesn't track below C. I had the chance to test out the Octamizer and it was pretty awesome. It can get a synthy sound as well as something that's very similar to the classic OC-2 kind of sound. I still want to try out the Octabass, too, but haven't found a local dealer with one in stock at this time.
But I've heard so much about the Aguilar Octamizer and the EBS Octabass that I really want to explore my options. The OC-2 is great, but it really doesn't track below C. I had the chance to test out the Octamizer and it was pretty awesome. It can get a synthy sound as well as something that's very similar to the classic OC-2 kind of sound. I still want to try out the Octabass, too, but haven't found a local dealer with one in stock at this time.
I never got to try the octabass, but I'm a very happy Octamizer user.
It tracks great, and the filter on the octave is gives all the variation I would ever need from deep clean octave to gritty synthy octave. And this can be further emphasised by the filter on the clean signal. Much more versatile than the (otherwise great) OC-2!
It could even be used as a static filter and/or level control, by zeroing the suboctave and only using the clean controls. It would be cool to do an intro to a song with lower volume and the lows dialed out with the octamiser, then switch it of and burst into the song with full volume and lows!
OK, that's not what it is intended for, but the pedal certainly is versatile for an analog octaver...
It tracks great, and the filter on the octave is gives all the variation I would ever need from deep clean octave to gritty synthy octave. And this can be further emphasised by the filter on the clean signal. Much more versatile than the (otherwise great) OC-2!
It could even be used as a static filter and/or level control, by zeroing the suboctave and only using the clean controls. It would be cool to do an intro to a song with lower volume and the lows dialed out with the octamiser, then switch it of and burst into the song with full volume and lows!
OK, that's not what it is intended for, but the pedal certainly is versatile for an analog octaver...
I've got the OC-2 and the Octamizer and love them both. Each is a different animal with some overlap. The OC-2 can get WAY synthier and the Octamizer has a wider ranger os sounds. Now if someone would just combine them into one pedal.
Old(er) thread I know, but currently A/B ing these two. I used to have an OC-2. Great tone, marginal tracking. Both the EBS and Aguilar sound great. They can both essentially get that OC-2 tone I loved. The EBS has a much narrower tonal range than the Aguilar, but I really like that inherent EBS tone. As mentioned above in one of the comments, the Aguilar sounds clearer, fuller, girthier with bigger lows. Neither tracks flawlessly. The EBS tracks very well down to about C. Below that it struggles a bit, but does ok with 1/4 notes and quicker. Surprisingly, the Aguilar seems to have random tracking glitches all throughout the neck. This could be the deciding factor. Great tone is key, but marginal tracking bugs big time. The EBS tracking with the Aguilar tone would be ideal. Tomorrow I'll take both for a spin at practice.
EBS is nice for P/J and P basses, Ampeg is nice for J/P and J/J basses. MXR? I like their stuff, but could not understand the sound of their octaver. Aguilar - i haven't tried it.
I have a couple of octavers, this is my impression ...
- EHX Micro POG - best tracking, kind of meh too smooth sound. This pedal is stronger if you also need the octave up.
- EBS - tracking a bit glitchy, sound OK but not exiting. Like other EBS pedals, in my opinion, does the job without much interesting character, a bit lost in the mix.
- Aguilar - OK tracking but needs cleaner playing than the MXR, versatile sound but a bit more subby (low bass). Bonus: top mounted jacks.
- MXR - Very good tracking, versatile and "tighter" sounding than the Aguilar.
I would still have the MXR on my board if it hadn't been for a low end rumble that never goes away, the pedal seems super sensitive and makes a low noise even when not playing. I got fed up with this noise and therefor the Aguilar is on my board now even if I slightly prefer the MXR's sound and tracking.
- EHX Micro POG - best tracking, kind of meh too smooth sound. This pedal is stronger if you also need the octave up.
- EBS - tracking a bit glitchy, sound OK but not exiting. Like other EBS pedals, in my opinion, does the job without much interesting character, a bit lost in the mix.
- Aguilar - OK tracking but needs cleaner playing than the MXR, versatile sound but a bit more subby (low bass). Bonus: top mounted jacks.
- MXR - Very good tracking, versatile and "tighter" sounding than the Aguilar.
I would still have the MXR on my board if it hadn't been for a low end rumble that never goes away, the pedal seems super sensitive and makes a low noise even when not playing. I got fed up with this noise and therefor the Aguilar is on my board now even if I slightly prefer the MXR's sound and tracking.
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No doubt the EBS Octabass, it tracks great, has lot's of quality tones, & it has a more focused sound than the Octamizer. I have put it on many peoples pedal boards including guitarists. What's funny is I don't like EBS amps but I think they make great pedals, & I love Aguilar amps but don't really like their pedals(with the exception of the Tonehammer).
Yeah, I'm with you on this one, well said. I love the tone of my Aguilar, which is why it has stayed on my board so far (the top jacks help too), but the MXR I had tracked WAY better. The Aguilar does NOT play well with certain basses (so far they've all been active ones), and while it is better with other (passive) ones there still seems to be these odd tracking errors that come up. I even posted a thread about this a while back, and all the suggestions people offered to solve it were ineffective.
Reading this again and reflecting, I'm thinking I need to consider swapping back over. I just wish the MXR had top jacks, as my board space is so, so tight. That Aguilar tone is great too, but it isn't like the MXR tone is bad. Argh. This is tough...
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