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The best analogue octave down pedal.
- Thread starter cnltb
- Start date
- Jan 11, 2008
- 1,373
- 155
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar, D'Addario
tried several ..
mono/ analog ... i liked the Older Aguilar Octamizer ..!
to me , the older Ag i had tracked much better than a newer one a tried ...!?!? they say they do have some newer parts inside , but those parts are the same specs ..?!
but now have one that's poly ... for bass/guitar/synths ..
Boss OC3 ( tracks best in poly mode )
the analog is really the best for that fat tone ... if you only need 1 note at a time ...
mono/ analog ... i liked the Older Aguilar Octamizer ..!
to me , the older Ag i had tracked much better than a newer one a tried ...!?!? they say they do have some newer parts inside , but those parts are the same specs ..?!
but now have one that's poly ... for bass/guitar/synths ..
Boss OC3 ( tracks best in poly mode )
the analog is really the best for that fat tone ... if you only need 1 note at a time ...
Copilot FX Cubic -- best sounding, most versatile octaver I've played. Tracking is quirky or responsive depending on instrument and point of view, but generally pretty great.
Sorry, MXR-sized.
This review has too many words.
Sorry, MXR-sized.
This review has too many words.
Iron ether subterranea. Had to get rid of mine but compared to my boss oc2, won hands down in terms of tracking and tone. Can cop the oc2s tone and you get synth voices to dial in. Tracking is instant and I got mine to go to an F on the E string every time. Also foxrox octron is my personal favorite! Plenty to choose from.
Agreed with Yaks... Plenty to choose from, but it does kind of depends on what you're after.
I currently own an Aggie Octamizer (main board), MXR Bass Octave Deluxe (moving to second board?) and Ampeg Sub Blaster (second board). In the past, I've had an OC2, OC3, Octabass (Black Label, but not the updated true bypass version), Micro POG and POG2. I know the EHX's aren't really what you might be after... But they still do octave down. Unfortunately, none I've tried or know of in a 1590A besides the Mooer.
The EHX's tracked excellently, but that's really their only redeeming quality, IMO. They're digital (which you said you don't want) and noisy, as all of EHX pedals I've owned have been. I got rid of anything EHX long ago. Mainly included to warn you off, just in case. These are not the droids you're looking for.
The Octamizer (also the older one that DavC mentioned above) is more of a vintage warm/fat octaver, but still has good definition of sound. Good tracking and can get pretty freakin' huge beef. I normally don't need to go over 9:00-10:00 on the octave level knob. The controls are pretty interesting and the way Aguilar designed them allows for a great variety of octave flavors. More on the vintage side than the MXR, but with enough synth vibe to be convincing.
The MXR tracks the best of the bunch I've owned, consistently down to a low F# on the E string. Quite a bit of attitude and growl, particularly with the MID switch engaged. More on the rock side of the scale, but can still pull off some of the synthy-ness of the OC's.
Boss OC2/3... Good octavers, good tracking. Pretty synthy octave flavor which seems to be why people either like them or don't. They weren't quite the flavor I was looking for, a little TOO synthy. I didn't own them at the same time as the MXR and Octamizer, so I didn't get a chance to directly A/B compare.
I owned the Octabass for a long time and it's a great pedal. Again, somewhere in between the MXR and Aggie for a sound, leaning a little more towards the vintage warm side. Consistent sound and good tracking (but not great)... Think of it as the MXR's "well behaved older brother." They supposedly improved the tracking on the updated version.
If you really want vintage warm, track down a Sub Blaster if you can. It doesn't track nearly as good as the newer octavers (it has trouble on anything below an open A), but there's something about the sound that the new pedals just don't have. It's a hefty chunk of a pedal, doesn't sustain all that well and there's a smidge of artifacting, but that's all part of it's charm. Smoothest and warmest octaver I've played, and usually when I'm using an octave pedal, I'm playing up the neck anyway so tracking isn't too much of an issue.
Hope maybe some of my info helped at least a little! The Octamizer and MXR BOD are my favs, and are different enough to warrant keeping both. MXR for my urban gospel band, Aggie for my funk cover band.
5sg.
I currently own an Aggie Octamizer (main board), MXR Bass Octave Deluxe (moving to second board?) and Ampeg Sub Blaster (second board). In the past, I've had an OC2, OC3, Octabass (Black Label, but not the updated true bypass version), Micro POG and POG2. I know the EHX's aren't really what you might be after... But they still do octave down. Unfortunately, none I've tried or know of in a 1590A besides the Mooer.
The EHX's tracked excellently, but that's really their only redeeming quality, IMO. They're digital (which you said you don't want) and noisy, as all of EHX pedals I've owned have been. I got rid of anything EHX long ago. Mainly included to warn you off, just in case. These are not the droids you're looking for.
The Octamizer (also the older one that DavC mentioned above) is more of a vintage warm/fat octaver, but still has good definition of sound. Good tracking and can get pretty freakin' huge beef. I normally don't need to go over 9:00-10:00 on the octave level knob. The controls are pretty interesting and the way Aguilar designed them allows for a great variety of octave flavors. More on the vintage side than the MXR, but with enough synth vibe to be convincing.
The MXR tracks the best of the bunch I've owned, consistently down to a low F# on the E string. Quite a bit of attitude and growl, particularly with the MID switch engaged. More on the rock side of the scale, but can still pull off some of the synthy-ness of the OC's.
Boss OC2/3... Good octavers, good tracking. Pretty synthy octave flavor which seems to be why people either like them or don't. They weren't quite the flavor I was looking for, a little TOO synthy. I didn't own them at the same time as the MXR and Octamizer, so I didn't get a chance to directly A/B compare.
I owned the Octabass for a long time and it's a great pedal. Again, somewhere in between the MXR and Aggie for a sound, leaning a little more towards the vintage warm side. Consistent sound and good tracking (but not great)... Think of it as the MXR's "well behaved older brother." They supposedly improved the tracking on the updated version.
If you really want vintage warm, track down a Sub Blaster if you can. It doesn't track nearly as good as the newer octavers (it has trouble on anything below an open A), but there's something about the sound that the new pedals just don't have. It's a hefty chunk of a pedal, doesn't sustain all that well and there's a smidge of artifacting, but that's all part of it's charm. Smoothest and warmest octaver I've played, and usually when I'm using an octave pedal, I'm playing up the neck anyway so tracking isn't too much of an issue.
Hope maybe some of my info helped at least a little! The Octamizer and MXR BOD are my favs, and are different enough to warrant keeping both. MXR for my urban gospel band, Aggie for my funk cover band.
5sg.
thanks VERY MUCH for the info thus far!
In addition I am wondering; Do you know of any 1590A octaves that sound good and track well?
Also , I see the OC2 and OC mentioned in the same breath all the time but isn't only one of them analogue(oc2)?
I m not after 'vintage' as such, just after something that sounds good and tracks well. I like the analogue idea.
In addition I am wondering; Do you know of any 1590A octaves that sound good and track well?
Also , I see the OC2 and OC mentioned in the same breath all the time but isn't only one of them analogue(oc2)?
I m not after 'vintage' as such, just after something that sounds good and tracks well. I like the analogue idea.
Oh Yesss it has.
Thank you very much indeed!
now, since I hear sooo much good stuff about the mxr I am wondering...might one be able to re box it into the smaller 1590A box? ( I know, I know...
)
Oh Yesss it has.
Thank you very much indeed!
no since I hear sooo much good stuff about the mxr I am wondering...might one be able to re box it into the smaller 1590A box? ( I know, I know...
Not a chance. Already pretty crammed in there. Surprised Mooer haven't done an analogue octaver already...
All of the mooer pedals I've owned have been top notch. Granted they were all dirt or modulation or time based effects. I don't think mooer would release a dud and may be the reason they haven't done an octaver yet.
I hope to be able to try the markbass one and a few others in the next week.
I sincerely dislike markbass but if it's god it's good and I'll report that it is...if it is
.
One possible reason for them not doing it is it's too hard. An analogue octave is not a simple circuit, by comparison to an analogue distortion.
Not saying it can't be done (I sincerely hope it can) but that might be a reason for it not happening yet.
