hey there, i just got a few questions about this pedal. i have an oppurtunity to get it at about 1/2 normal price, so i figured itd be worth a shot. i plan on using it for doomy/noisy stuff, a bit along the lighting bolt lines (using overdrive and a rat for distortion), and im just wondering if other types of octave pedals are better for that application, if the EBS is ideal for it, or if the pedal wont make so much of a difference.
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EBS Octabass
- Thread starter jjhardy
- Start date
I have an Octabass and I dig it quite a bit. It doesn't track as well as the POG (and isn't as versatile - no octave up), but I like it's sound better.
But for your purposes, I wonder if maybe the Link Removed might not be more in line with your purposes since it gives a more dirty sounding octave sound.
But for your purposes, I wonder if maybe the Link Removed might not be more in line with your purposes since it gives a more dirty sounding octave sound.
i use the ebs alot (it's one of my favourite toys) but it doesn't track that well below a low A. Though you shouldn't need it down there anyway. I use it mainly to fill headroom space during guitar solos and the like
+1 to the big O... I think some of the less clean octaves distort a little better, but it might not be all that significant if you're cranking the gain for doomy/noisey stuff.
Also, if you use lots of droning notes, an analog octaver might not be your best choice though. The EBS tracks well, but I didn't think it tracked well enough to play something entirely different over open, droning strings, although others on here claim that it'll track chords/several notes decently.
Also, if you use lots of droning notes, an analog octaver might not be your best choice though. The EBS tracks well, but I didn't think it tracked well enough to play something entirely different over open, droning strings, although others on here claim that it'll track chords/several notes decently.
I think that the micro POG (or regular POG) might be your best bet for tracking chords. I didn't like the octave down tone on the POG I had compared to other octavers though. With some drive after it, it might work. Try one if you can... its all pretty subjective as far as tracking and tone goes
I had an OctaBass briefly and was very disappointed with its tracking. I don't think it tracked as well as the Boss unit.
The EBS does not track as well as their advertising would lead you to believe. It does not track chords (or even just double stops) very well, and below A it gets glitchy.
That said, for my purposes (funky Larry Graham stuff or fretless Pino/Levin sounds) it works well.
But if I could find a better tracking octave pedal that also sounded as good as the EBS, I'd trade up in a heartbeat. I was hoping the Octron was my answer, but I'm still looking.
Yes.
The low A (fifth fret of the E string) is as low as it can go without getting a bit wiggly with the octave. An open E just sounds glitchy.
The low A (fifth fret of the E string) is as low as it can go without getting a bit wiggly with the octave. An open E just sounds glitchy.
Octave pedal tracking is up there with mysteries "what is the universe expanding into?" Tracking of any octave pedal depends on things like the mean soil temperature in Moscow, and whether or not there are an even number of pigeons roosting in The Statue Of Liberty.
So many variables are in play - active or passive, which pickups are in use, bass preamp EQ settings, position of the pedal in the signal chain, technique etc etc etc. Some people define "good tracking" as coping with 16th notes, but others want it to hold longer without wavering.
Lots of people rave about the EBS, but I've never been impressed, and I'm a huge EBS fan! The Boss OC-3 supposedly tracks polyphonically, but again, I wasn't impressed by it when I tried it. The new features seem great, until you realise they come with severe limitations.
OC-2
But I also dig the octave on the EH Bass Microsynth - very similar to the OC-2 in fact. An Akai Deep Impact can be tweaked for a reasonable octave too, and the tracking is phenomenal!
But, we don't see too many options downunder. I'd kill to try out a POG but nobody's willing to order one in unless I commit to buy!
But I also dig the octave on the EH Bass Microsynth - very similar to the OC-2 in fact. An Akai Deep Impact can be tweaked for a reasonable octave too, and the tracking is phenomenal!
But, we don't see too many options downunder. I'd kill to try out a POG but nobody's willing to order one in unless I commit to buy!
a half price octa bass is not something to over look
get it for some things, and then when you find another get it for other things
as someone else said, tracking depends on many factors, !!!
the bass, the strings, the hands how you strike notes, pick ups and their height, a good cable going to the octaver which should be first in line from any of your pedals.
I use the EBS octa exstensively, it is essential to my grindy dirty and sometimes doomy sound, i use it down to G sometimes
sustain wise on my bass and set up it wobbles out after 10 - 15 seconds
the sound quality of the octave is what turns people on to this pedal
it sounds enormous, worth picking up for somethings even if it does not do all.
ALso I use it exclusively with a neck pick up, like where all the rich bass tones are on my P bass, it does not work as well on my friends jazz bass, radically worse actually
get it for some things, and then when you find another get it for other things
as someone else said, tracking depends on many factors, !!!
the bass, the strings, the hands how you strike notes, pick ups and their height, a good cable going to the octaver which should be first in line from any of your pedals.
I use the EBS octa exstensively, it is essential to my grindy dirty and sometimes doomy sound, i use it down to G sometimes
sustain wise on my bass and set up it wobbles out after 10 - 15 seconds
the sound quality of the octave is what turns people on to this pedal
it sounds enormous, worth picking up for somethings even if it does not do all.
ALso I use it exclusively with a neck pick up, like where all the rich bass tones are on my P bass, it does not work as well on my friends jazz bass, radically worse actually
i have octabass for a long time... i ma very happy with it...
of course it has its limitations... like every octaver out there!!!
as far as tracking is concerned i have found out that passive basses are the best and that a neck PU should be used... the bridge PU doesn't have the same results and the tracking is poorer!!! my octabass tracks down to low F# on any of my P basses... but other basses that i have tried it goes to A or G lowest... open strings are ****... unless you have a zero fret witch helps a bit... on the G string all the standard fender dead spots are a night mare (even for other tracking efx)... i have tried the thing with aphex bass exciter in front and it tracked almost everything even the open strings!!! and technique is essential to good tracking as is for every effect or music situation!!! no device works for you you have to know how it works and work with it!!!
of course it has its limitations... like every octaver out there!!!
as far as tracking is concerned i have found out that passive basses are the best and that a neck PU should be used... the bridge PU doesn't have the same results and the tracking is poorer!!! my octabass tracks down to low F# on any of my P basses... but other basses that i have tried it goes to A or G lowest... open strings are ****... unless you have a zero fret witch helps a bit... on the G string all the standard fender dead spots are a night mare (even for other tracking efx)... i have tried the thing with aphex bass exciter in front and it tracked almost everything even the open strings!!! and technique is essential to good tracking as is for every effect or music situation!!! no device works for you you have to know how it works and work with it!!!
If you want chord-tracking and you want it to sustain for a long time without glitching (jumping up/down), which I imagine you might for doom-stuff, then analog octavers aren't for you. Look into POGs and pitch shifters. Since you're distorting the signal anyway, the somewhat "sterile" or "digital" tone won't be too much of a problem.
If you do want analog octave dividing, then I think the Octabass is your best bet. You won't get better tracking, the "low" setting on it has a nice big character that I think would be nice for doom, and if you get a price that's nice, you can't lose.
I went through many octavers, owning several, and the only one that I prefer to the EBS was the Octron, but it was a tradeoff of tracking for tone/features.
If you do want analog octave dividing, then I think the Octabass is your best bet. You won't get better tracking, the "low" setting on it has a nice big character that I think would be nice for doom, and if you get a price that's nice, you can't lose.
I went through many octavers, owning several, and the only one that I prefer to the EBS was the Octron, but it was a tradeoff of tracking for tone/features.
today at a local store i tried the EHX Octave Multiplexer and the Boss OC-3
the EHX seemed kinda bogus to me, couldn't even really track to a low A on a 4 string, and didn't hold notes longer than a few seconds (even on the higher notes).
The Boss, on the other hand, seemed about right up my alley. if the EBS doesn't work out i'll probably go for the boss.
the EHX seemed kinda bogus to me, couldn't even really track to a low A on a 4 string, and didn't hold notes longer than a few seconds (even on the higher notes).
The Boss, on the other hand, seemed about right up my alley. if the EBS doesn't work out i'll probably go for the boss.
- Mar 30, 2007
- 4,017
- 321
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genzler Amplification/Spector Basses/Mojo Hand FX
I've had a few of the "octave down only" pedals (EBS, MXR, Ampeg), and wasn't really impressed with the tracking on most of them...The one I liked the best was the Ampeg Sub-Blaster. I still have it, but am using the Micro POG now...I had the Ampeg up in the classifieds but didn't get any bites...
Has anyone tried a SWR X-series amp with subwave? I know it's not a pedal, but I need a new amp and if there is a good subtle octave that can track built in, then all the better!
