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Octave Pedal Poll

Of these three, which would you choose?

  • Aguilar Octamizer

  • Boss OC-3

  • MXR M288

  • Other? Please specify

Results are only viewable after voting.
Bodeanly

Bodeanly

Mar 20, 2015
5,255
18,001
Chicago
fandthelcc.bandcamp.com
#1
Hello, TB. I am looking for something that tracks exceptionally well to an open A (or, at least, the 2nd fret). I play a 4 string and a few of our songs "require" a low B. I have narrowed my choice down to three octave pedals. Which would you suggest?

For an idea of what I want it for, start listening at 2:36
 
#6
I love octaves. I like the sound of analog octaves. But I like the tracking and ease of use of digital ones.

but sound is more important to me so I play my analog octave pedals in certain ways - ie over the bridge pickup of my jazz, above the fifth fret, concentrating on the upper two strings, etc.

My favorites are the OC-2, COG T-65, Mu-Fx octave divider and the Colorsound Octivider.
 
#7
Thanks, Mosfed. I am trying to steer away from digital. I currently use a Boss ME-50B, but dread the moments where I have to kick in the octave. It sounds fake, if that makes sense, but I dig its ability to track in the lower registers (although, in most cases, it is not necessary for the songs we play). The Boss is overkill since I am only using its distortion and octave.
 
#8
I've had digital (POG) and OC-2 variants, and neither worked for me. The OC-3 is a combo of those two. If you don't want that synthy square wave sound or the metallic chirpy digital sound, the Aguilar and MXR would both be worth trying.

I like the Aguilar a lot. Never tried the MXR, I think it's similar but maybe a bit less versatile...?
 
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#9
Currently Boss OC-2 or Foxrox Octron for me. The Foxrox tracks better, and does octave up and down, but the OC-2 somehow sounds fatter and warmer. I'd sure like to try the Mu-Fx Octave Divider some day too, from the youtube demos it sounds absolutely fantastic.
 
#12
I like this one at the moment and am hoping to get one in the nearer future.
Comes as a kit but can be had readily built.


Edit; I am actually not sure if it comes as a complete kit. The pcb can be had though and I think that comes with instructions... it's not expensive either-if your soldering is up to it, which mine isn't.

Here the relevant link
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Last edited:
#13
cnltb said:
I like this one at the moment and am hoping to get one in the nearer future.
Comes as a kit but can be had readily built.


Edit; I am actually not sure if it comes as a complete kit. The pcb can be had though and I think that comes with instructions... it's not expensive either-if your soldering is up to it, which mine isn't.

Here the relevant link
<Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

It's kinda interesting, but how does it sound with a bass?
 
#14
Based on what I've personally played (OC-2 and MXR M288), I'd go with the OC-2. They track about the same, but I felt the Boss had better low-end response and I really like its mojo.

Based on your list and demos I've seen, the Aguilar wins hands down. Nice octave sound, tracks really well and sounds clean, and I like the isolated tone controls for the dry and effected signals.

In my (very limited) experience and opinion, I'd give the OC-2 another go if you want a funkier, nasty sound (I've heard not so great things about the OC-3 with bass), but at the end of the day I'd go for the better quality, better sounding Octamizer.
 
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#16
I own the OC-2 and the Aguilar. The OC-2 is, to me, the standard by which all other Octave Pedals should be measured. You don't mention what settings you tried, but I keep Direct at full, octave 1 at about half, and Octave 2 off (it's too low to be useful). It tracks better if your bridge pickup is in the mix (assuming you have one). The downside of the OC-2 is that it cuts off a bit of high end from you signal.

The Octamizer can get really close to the sound of the OC-2 but gives you a lot of other nice sound options with its filter controls. For me, the Octamizer tracks lower than the Boss, but the Boss goes longer before its notes die off. If you you can live with the notes dying off a little sooner than the Boss, I'd vote for the Octamizer (although I'll never get rid of my OC-2 — it'll have to be pried out of my cold, dead hands).
 
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#18
I like the OC-3, it tracks at least down to G on the E-string. Especially with some compression in front of it.
I haven't tried the MXR, but it seems to be a very good pedal as well, I tried the EBS octabass but it stops at B on the A-string.
On the OC-3, I'm not to impressed with the OC-2 mode, it doesn't track very well, it does sound like a cool synth, and the drive mode is pretty cool too.
 
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#19
The OC-2 is a killer pedal by all accounts. I couldn't vote on this thread. I use both the mxr 288 BOD and the BOSS OC-3. The OC-3 with octave signal only on the second setting makes for some really fun party music with the right drummer next to you.. i use my mxr bod for octave + dry signal. It is the best tracking out of any octave pedal I've owned. I wouldn't want either of them to not be on my board as they both serve entirely different purposes.

If OC-2's were still being made I'd like to compare one to my OC-3 and see if it can put out that same boomy bassy octave signal that the OC-3 does.. but I never see them when I actually have cash to spare.
 
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#20
I voted other for OC2.... I owned the OC3 for years, and it was cool more recently I had a digitech Drop pedal(I found it very fake sounding), the OC2 is by far my favorite, in the lower register you can get decent tracking down to an open A if your careful with your attack and/or use compression before it...

I set.the 1 octave and clean fully clockwise, 2 octave off....I find the octave will sustain as long as my true note is held around C#(or higher)... lower than that and the octave effect will get glitchy and die out unless I play staccato , so I usually only use it above D...

Anyways IIRC, the OC3 had *slightly* better tracking in the lower register(I used it in a cover band for that Gwen Stefani song "hella good" chorus) down to a low G, but I never dug the tone in OC2 mode, where on the real deal its warm sounding
 
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