This is classic OC-2 behaviour. Play your lines between the 7th and 14th frets and try and stick to the E, A and D strings, it’ll track just fine. I own far too many Octavers, including an OC-10 and several OC-2’s.
Did a little bit of testing with mine this morning. The only way I can get the tap tempo to work is with an FS-6 setup as per the manual, then connected to the SY-1 via the centre output jack on the FS-6 with a TRS cable. The 'A' footswitch on the FS-6 then gives tap tempo.
I tried an FS-5 in all combinations with no success. I don't have an FS-7 to test, but suspect it'd work in the same way as the FS-6. (TRS output using a TRS cable.)
Love Lee Sklar, he’s decided to do a play along each day to show you his parts on his recent 'Not Dead Yet' Phil Collins tour.
Day 1 - Against All Odds.
I have a GT-1b also - The unit is operating correctly, it has to have either batteries or a PSU plugged into it and a jack cable plugged into the input to power up.