cetera Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 So, I have a lovely old Boss OC-2 pedal which gives me smooth, clean 1-octave down tones when using my Fender & Tokai passive basses. However, when I plug my Haz-loaded US Spectors in it becomes distorted and if I plug an 18v Tonepump loaded Euro Spector in it becomes distorted with terrible tracking. Does anyone have a real world experience/recommendations for a nice OC-2 look clean octave pedal which can handle the higher output of active basses (in particular Spectors or others with very high output)? For clarification - I'm not looking for mad synth octave bass sounds - just nice clean 1 octave down action... I've been pointed towards the 3Leaf Octabvre... (very expensive) and the MXR.... but don't want to waste time/risk purchasing something completely unsuitable. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elephantgrey Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 As someone who has never owned an octave pedal, isnt the OC2 fames for having a synthy sound? I thought that the clean octaves where the like of the markbass and the POG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I use the MXR pedal with my basses which are both fairly high on the output (ACG Uber Spec (9volt) and a Dingwall NG-2 (18volt Darkglass Preamp)). I've never had any issues at all with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 If you like the OC-2 why don't you just tame the input with an attenuator, or a compressor maybe? I find most tracking type effects work better with a compressed signal anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee650 Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 (edited) I've always had my compressor before my OC2 and it tracks much better, I don't have any distortion issues with my Spector and it has a very powerful East circuit. For the tone your looking for, id suggest the EBS octabass, it tracks really well and very clean! Sometimes come up on here quite cheaply 😆 I really liked my old Aguilar octamiser as well, but still daft money. Edited December 4, 2015 by lee650 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted December 4, 2015 Author Share Posted December 4, 2015 I do have my Compressor (Empress) before it but it still farts out..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherairsoft Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 I've never had any issues with tracking or distortion even with 18v pre basses and the OC2, but if you are having issues... Not much sounds like the Oc2. The 3leaf and both COG offerings (T16 and T65) are the closest to my ear. I've not tried the 3leaf, but the COG stuff loves active basses. The MXR is also good, but is a very different voiced pedal. It's grittier, and well suited to naturally distorted tones. It's not smooth and synthy like the OC2, so you may not dig it's sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Have you tried reducing the output volume on the Empress to see it that tames it? Esp if you use it as an always on pedal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 Yep, tried that..... I decided to try the MXR as a shop local to me had it..... and if that didn't work then I'd have to take a long trip to Bass Direct for the Octabvre.... Luckily the MXR was great, brilliant tracking, no distortion and a cool sound so I went with that. Cheers all for you suggestions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 I was going to write that my MXR works really well with both my TRB and the Ken Smith i had, both with output way above an average active bass... but i see that you've chosen wisely already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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