NPD!!!!! Childhood dream pedal!

[Joeynone]

I finally got an 1980s Black Label MIJ OC-2... the 15 year old in me is SCREAMING

 

[YawningJorin]

Looks like it's in great condition, too! Mine is not quite as pretty but I'm sure the missing screws, torn label, and dents in the chassis add character :^)

What are you using it for?

 

[Killing Floor]

Nice, congrats! Had one a long time ago, it walked away after a gig, sadly. Very cool. Looks like it is in very good shape.

 

[Joeynone]

Looks like it's in great condition, too! Mine is not quite as pretty but I'm sure the missing screws, torn label, and dents in the chassis add character :^)

What are you using it for?

I play in a synth heavy indie band. I’m using it for the no clean and maxed oct 1 sound. I notice a considerable volume drop with that so I’m gonna throw and EP booster after it to get the volume normalized. But man that tone is UNREAL

 

[YawningJorin]

Make sure it's being powered correctly! Might be quiet if you're running it at 9V isolated without bypassing the voltage-dropping part. See Boss ACA & PSA – what gives? – stinkfoot.se

 

[Joeynone]

Make sure it's being powered correctly! Might be quiet if you're running it at 9V isolated without bypassing the voltage-dropping part. See Boss ACA & PSA – what gives? – stinkfoot.se

I’m using the strymon Zuma at 12v for it! Sounds Monstrous

 

[sunbeast]

I play in a synth heavy indie band. I’m using it for the no clean and maxed oct 1 sound. I notice a considerable volume drop with that so I’m gonna throw and EP booster after it to get the volume normalized. But man that tone is UNREAL

The three voices are mixed inside using a simple resistance network, and it actually loads down the output all the time. If you don’t use any of the voices ( looking at you, -2) you can unsolder one end of the resistor for that voice and you’ll get a boost in output of the remaining voices (and its reversible by replacing the resistor). Remove the other voice as well and you’ll get an even larger output boost. I disconnected the -2 voice in mine and I feel like the soloed -1 voice now sounds close to unity (I pretty much always blend in some clean too, so achieving unity or above is easy for me). Part of the perceived difference in output is also a matter of filtering out most of the harmonic content of your bass, where much of the volume is to our ears

 

[Joeynone]

The three voices are mixed inside using a simple resistance network, and it actually loads down the output all the time. If you don’t use any of the voices ( looking at you, -2) you can unsolder one end of the resistor for that voice and you’ll get a boost in output of the remaining voices (and its reversible by replacing the resistor). Remove the other voice as well and you’ll get an even larger output boost. I disconnected the -2 voice in mine and I feel like the soloed -1 voice now sounds close to unity (I pretty much always blend in some clean too, so achieving unity or above is easy for me). Part of the perceived difference in output is also a matter of filtering out most of the harmonic content of your bass, where much of the volume is to our ears

Precisely why this community rules

 

[Blu bro]

The three voices are mixed inside using a simple resistance network, and it actually loads down the output all the time. If you don’t use any of the voices ( looking at you, -2) you can unsolder one end of the resistor for that voice and you’ll get a boost in output of the remaining voices (and its reversible by replacing the resistor). Remove the other voice as well and you’ll get an even larger output boost. I disconnected the -2 voice in mine and I feel like the soloed -1 voice now sounds close to unity (I pretty much always blend in some clean too, so achieving unity or above is easy for me). Part of the perceived difference in output is also a matter of filtering out most of the harmonic content of your bass, where much of the volume is to our ears

I did this a few months ago- I only unsoldered the -2 and it now plays at unity and I still have the option of adding dry.

Win win

 

[sunbeast]

I did this a few months ago- I only unsoldered the -2 and it now plays at unity and I still have the option of adding dry.

Win win

Yeah it’s a great option! I don’t think many folks use that -2 voice anyway.

 

[sunbeast]

Precisely why this community rules

Here is a post explaining what to do if you want to go that route!
Boss OC-2 Volume Mod
If so, also may be worthwhile to mod your pedal for 9V operation (which requires removing two components- D3/R17- and replacing with jumpers- it may have already been done, as many people have modded old Boss pedals over the years)- all versions actually only utilize 9V, but the early version had a circuit to drop 12V down to 9V
Modifying old Boss ACA pedals to PSA specs – stinkfoot.se

 

[DISCOSTUVW]

Awesome!

 

[Jakeman]

Really cool. Makes me wonder what the heck I'm doing. Over 5 octavers in my collection and no OC-2...

 

[wawawawa]

I play in a synth heavy indie band. I’m using it for the no clean and maxed oct 1 sound. I notice a considerable volume drop with that so I’m gonna throw and EP booster after it to get the volume normalized. But man that tone is UNREAL

It needs 12V from a power supply, not 9V. There's some good threads on TB about it.

EDIT - And there's a detailed comment just a little bit earlier than mine! Ignore me