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OC2 or one of its accessible clones?

J

Just Wrong

Mar 30, 2023
1,449
2,317
#1
It's 2025. I can get an OC-2 in excellent condition for cheaper than an OC-5, MXR Vintage Bass Octave of MXR Bass Octave Deluxe.

Should I go with the OC-2 or one of its clones?

I'm not interested in the unobtainable ones, like the Broughton or 3 Leaf.

Thanks!
 
#2
Go the OC-2. Its a classic, and a specific sound and feel. It's hard to compare clones to the OG if you've not tried the OG. Also, if it is in excellent condition, you'll be able to sell it for at least break even, if not a profit if you find out you don't actually love it
 
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#3
I have a couple OC-2s and the MXR VBO and use them pretty interchangeably. The VBO sounds basically the same and has some advantages (smaller size, true-bypass, more volume, higher headroom, a useful clean midrange boost option). IIRC you use an active bass and if it has a hefty enough output it could definitely overload an OC-2 IME (I actually use a compressor before my OC-2s to attenuate the output of some of them for this reason, not necessary for me with the MXR VBO). I'd recommend a used VBO if you can find one for a reasonable price (I certainly got mine for cheaper than a typical OC-2 is priced these days, but that depends on where you live- I also got one of my OC-2s for less than $30 last year!).

Apparently some early VBOs had some circuit issues though, so worth pointing out if you are looking at used examples (I had similar issues with an MXR BOD when I tried one). I thought the BOD sounded pretty good, but even if it didn't have tracking issues the sound just didn't sit as well in a mix as well as the OC-2 I had at the same time (regardless of settings). That's subjective though, unlike the VBO the BOD doesn't claim to be an OC-2 replacement and there are plenty of people that prefer the BOD to the OC-2
 
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#4
I agree with what @sunbeast wrote, but I want to add that in my personal environment (passive basses with low'ish outputs, flatwound strings, soft touch, plucking between neck pickup and fingerboards), I chose the OC-2 for the reason that the tracking felt superb to every single analog octave I have tried.
I did not write that the tracking is better. It's just that it felt better. Other pedals would glitch here and there and give me a weird feeling, while the OC-2 instantly felt right and like my fingers could predict what I'm getting out ot it.

I tried a few clones and digital alternatives, and yeah, the VBO sounds so close to the OC-2 it really makes no difference, but with an unwieldy beast like an octave, especially if you're using the -1 with no clean signal, how well the tracking works with your style and gear is actually more important IMO.
 
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#7
I went from an 3Leaf Octabvre Mini, which I loved, to a beat up early 90s OC-2 and have no regrets.

sunbeast said:
I have a couple OC-2s and the MXR VBO and use them pretty interchangeably. The VBO sounds basically the same and has some advantages (smaller size, true-bypass, more volume, higher headroom, a useful clean midrange boost option).
Click to expand...

This is very good to know. Someday I'm going to end up with a VBO on a small board for space reasons.

I rectified the headroom and volume issues with the OC-2 by running it at 12v and clipping the -2 down pot out of the circuit entirely. Even with the -1 soloed (not a setting I use all that much anymore), I can still get beyond unity this way. There's a thread that gets bumped every few months detailing how to do it, and it's easy.
 
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#8
Stubb said:
I rectified the headroom and volume issues with the OC-2 by running it at 12v and clipping the -2 down pot out of the circuit entirely. Even with the -1 soloed (not a setting I use all that much anymore), I can still get beyond unity this way. There's a thread that gets bumped every few months detailing how to do it, and it's easy.
Click to expand...
Yes I've done this and it works great. You can unsolder the -2 pot from the PCB in case you need to resell it and revert it to stock someday. The -1 has enough gain finally with the dry signal and makes the pedal far more useful
 
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#9
The Mxr Vintage Bass Octave models a specific OC2 (with the Octaver - so the Japanese one) out of Janek Gwizdala's collection and has a few quality of life features - as well as obviously new components. (so less failure).

The OC5 is perfectly fine and the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe is a bit of another vibe (see Snarky Puppy).

Either the OC2 as well as the alternatives are great. I had an OC2 die recently as several components randomly burned through.
So if you don't have other octaver pedals and only have the option to get one, I would probably get either the OC5 or one of the MXR (depending what vibe you want).
 
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#12
blastoff said:
i found that the VBO (i had) clipped noticeably and tracked worse than my octaveR. (with passive basses) maybe it was a bad sample though.
Click to expand...
This seems like a thing with MXR unfortunately- why I added a caveat at the end of my suggestion for it. My MXR BOD had the worst tracking of any octave pedal I've ever tried, and based on years of happy users on Talkbass I can only assume it was a dud. My VBO on the other hand sounds virtually identical to my early OC-2 when adjusted to match output levels by ear, maybe a hair cleaner when fed the same signal and tracks basically the same and a bit lower. As I recall, when it was first released there was a thread on TB with a number of VBO users that mentioned duds and MXR took care of them as they found an issue in the circuit.
 
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#13
There are a lot of options that are more affordable and accessible than a vintage OC2 but as always if you have the chance for the OG, go for it. I have very strong feelings about the OC2 but honestly I rarely use mine more often dialing in something I like better with the Spectrum or other synth pedals.
 
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#15
AngelCrusher said:
How much is an oc2 going for now? I have one but don't use it as often. Still it sounds great and the response and feel of the analog pedal is awesome.
Click to expand...
I would not pay more than $150 at the most. I think I paid $120. There are tons in circulation. It was so refreshing, coming from limited release this, waiting list that, to decide I wanted one, shop for five minutes to find one, and have it three days later.
 
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#16
Stubb said:
I would not pay more than $150 at the most. I think I paid $120. There are tons in circulation. It was so refreshing, coming from limited release this, waiting list that, to decide I wanted one, shop for five minutes to find one, and have it three days later.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's fair pricing. It's a great pedal, an all time classic.
 
#17
I had a TC Nether for a while, which is supposed to be an OC-2 clone. I've seen some complaints on here, but I didn't have any issues with it myself. I sold it, but not because of any fault with the pedal, just took a break from music for about a year+.
 
#18
Stubb said:
I would not pay more than $150 at the most. I think I paid $120. There are tons in circulation. It was so refreshing, coming from limited release this, waiting list that, to decide I wanted one, shop for five minutes to find one, and have it three days later.
Click to expand...
I agree. I can afford the 3 Leaf and Broughton; I just don't want to encourage that sort of behaviour anymore. I understand they can't build according to demand, but there are other ways to do this than relying on FOMO and hype.

I paid US$160 for an early MIT OC-2 in excellent condition with the box. The cheapest right now on Reverb that ships to Canada is US$200, and it's pretty beaten up. It goes way up from there.
 
#20
I recently picked up a VBO due to needing to swap my synth and octaver spots on my board (Bananana Effects) and I really like the VBO, it does the sound and does it with no fuss, the mid switch is a nice add on as well. It replaced my ride or die Octaver… the OC3, you can't tell me otherwise, it's the best out of the bunch and I'll die on that hill! It's a great successor to the OC2. I've had them all, and the OC3 sounds the best to my ears and works so well with other effects, it's even got a built in distortion!
I'm hoping if they ever do an OC6 it keeps the upper octave of the OC5 and adds the distortion back to it, that would be amazing!
 

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