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TC Sub n Up thoughts

T

the low one

Feb 21, 2002
1,388
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UK
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#1
I need to replace my MXR BOD and wondered if the TC Sub n Up would do the job? I'm not really interested in the tone prints, though I guess they could be fun. I mainly use an octave pedal for adding weight, think Slefgehammer, Tear Your Playhouse Down etc, and occasionally solo'd. Would the TC do the job? I've heard it can be a bit 'flabby' compared to the MXR or OC2.
Another option would be an EBS Octabass which I'm also considering, but the TC is well priced.
 
#2
I had the mini version and didn't like it at all.

All the sounds you're looking for were made by an analog octave down pedal. Digital octave down isn't as warm, synthy or 'immediate' sounding. The only advantage to digital is the possibility of a clean sounding octave up, but even that sounds very fake -to me at least.

Stay with the MXR octavers (they even have a new mini version now) or EBS, 3 Leaf Audio or the perennial old Boss OC-2.
 
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#4
I have the full size S&U and after a few weeks am now just starting to become friends with it, same with an Aguilar Octomizer which IS all analog and much warmer/thicker sounding. Though I don't have any experience with the MXR stuff yet, and I'm not really looking for the squishy OC2 tone, personally. I'm primarily a pick player too. YMMV and all that :thumbsup:
 
#5
I have both the little and big versions. I don't use them too often, but when I do (shouldn't I be saying this in the "Interesting Man" voice?) they seem to do pretty much what I'd like them to. They don't track perfectly, but they're as good as any octaver I've ever tried at that - if I found an octaver that was better, I'd buy that. The Tone prints add flexibility - you'll probably find a few sounds you like (and quite a few that won't work for you).
 
#6
The Sub'n'Up is a digital pedal. It's an excellent pitch shifter. Even for chords. But your MXR BOD is based on a classic analog octaver like the OC-2. An option would be a Octabvre mkII from 3Leaf Audio. The Octamizer from Aguilar comes to mind. The Cog Effects T-16 is one of the best OC-2 inspired pedals. Here you find a comparision against an OC-2:

The Sub'n'Up is similar to a Nano/Micro POG from Electro Harmonix or Mooer Tender Octaver MKII.

If you are looking for a synth sound the C4 from source audio or SY-1 from boss could be valid options too.
 
#7
Thanks for the replies. I was in 2 minds about the TC, not that it's a bad pedal but would it do what I need so I've gone for another MXR BOD as I know it works for me. I was tempted by the 3 Leaf Audio Octabvre Mini and if the cost was comparable I think I would have done but I don't use the octave enough to warrant the extra cost.
 
#14
JimmyM said:
I'd stick with the BOD. Very good pedal. Use the growl knob.
Click to expand...
As a better tracking version of the legendary Boss OC-2 analog octaver for sure. It's even more versatile.

But the Sub'n'Up is a more modern type of digital octaver. Like the POG, Micro POG, Nano POG or Mooer Tender Octave. In my opinion you can't compare both types. They have nowadays different uses. Sometimes yon can even spot both on the same board. The Sub'n'Up has a switch setting and some toneprints, which try to emulate an OC-2, but they don't even come close. They track extremely good and sound nice, but at least in my opinion not even close to a OC-2 in terms of sound.
 
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#15
Alex_H said:
As a better tracking version of the legendary Boss OC-2 analog octaver for sure. It's even more versatile.

But the Sub'n'Up is a more modern type of digital octavers. Like the POG, Micro POG, Nano POG or Mooer Tender Octave. In my opinion you can't compare both types. They have nowadays different uses. Sometimes yon can be even spot both on the same board. The Sub'n'Up has a switch setting and some toneprints, which try to emulate an OC-2, but they don't even come close. They track extremely good and sound nice, but at least in my opinion not even close to a OC-2 in terms of sound.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's the impression I get in demos of the Sub'n'Up. Never tried it, but the demos just don't interest me.

Now if you want to get really serious about that exact OC-2 sound, MXR makes an actual OC-2 clone that's got much better tracking, ability for higher output, and the mid control from the BOD called the Vintage Bass Octave. It recently bounced my OC-2 off my board. But I didn't have a BOD, and honestly, I used to have a Sub Octave Bass Fuzz that had the growl half of the BOD built into it, and I thought it was pretty close to the OC-2, though a little darker sounding. But certainly close enough to the Sledgehammer sound, and he already has it.
 
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#16
I’m not a pedal guy, but I do like my sub-n-up. I’m not trying to emulate a certain sound so I like it for what it is. 2 down and 1 up is fun to play with. I didn’t think it was flabby when I blasted it through an old crate solid state.

It does have mono and polyphonic settings, and I’m still deciding what sounds best.

I picked a toneprint, but I can’t say I have used it, or compared it to any others.

I was hunting for an oc-2, but couldn’t find one I could afford. And the used price was pretty decent on the sub.
 
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#18
If you want to 'add weight' to your core tone whilst playing up the neck, the best I have found for that is the Octamizer. Also the T16 and Octabass.

I find the OC-2 and pedals like it have a lot of mids, which sounds great for a soloed octave. But it kind of interferes with the midrange of the bass and muddies things up a bit. The Octamizer has filters which let you EQ each voice so they play nice with each other. You can filter the octave to leave just the low frequencies, and you can also filter the low frequencies out of the original bass tone, which sounds like something you wouldn't want but it does help keep the low end sounding very clear and precise.
 
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#19
dannybuoy said:
If you want to 'add weight' to your core tone whilst playing up the neck, the best I have found for that is the Octamizer. Also the T16 and Octabass.

I find the OC-2 and pedals like it have a lot of mids, which sounds great for a soloed octave. But it kind of interferes with the midrange of the bass and muddies things up a bit. The Octamizer has filters which let you EQ each voice so they play nice with each other. You can filter the octave to leave just the low frequencies, and you can also filter the low frequencies out of the original bass tone, which sounds like something you wouldn't want but it does help keep the low end sounding very clear and precise.
Click to expand...

Seems to me that the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe can do all of the above. Dry with or without mid boost and 2 differently voiced octaves.
I did try the Octamizer once and was impressed too but it's not cheap and rarely see them used.
 

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