Boss OC-5 Octave!!!!

[stewblack]

2 hours ago, bassfan said:

Arrived this morning. Being gigged tonight. 
 

 

Great board

[bassfan]

7 hours ago, stewblack said:

Great board

Thanks Stew. Still got the Helix tucked away just incase I need it. 

[Quatschmacher]

One in stock here:

https://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/products/boss-oc-5-polyphonic-octave-guitar-bass-effects-pedal

[Noisyjon]

Thanks @Quatschmacher

 

I'm hoping I've snagged one elsewhere and very much have my fingers crossed here.

Just awaiting the shipping confirmation now! 

[Quatschmacher]

Used one here for those looking:

 

[bumnote]

Sold subject to usual

[Bagman]

so the Boss OC-5 is "better" than the OC-2

 

fair call? 

[Al Krow]

Given a choice of those two, I'd go for an OC-5.

In fact, I did!

[Kev]

1 hour ago, Bagman said:

so the Boss OC-5 is "better" than the OC-2

 

fair call? 

If you have them side by side, you'll notice the difference, goes beyond just tone, but in isolation?  I'd be surprised if anyone could identify one over the other.  OC-5 is a better choice all round.

[Bagman]

I think it's a good upgrade - well done Boss - I still have a lot of trialing to do 

 

I'm keeping the old OC-2 as well though 

[thisisswanbon]

I enjoyed the tone of the one I briefly had - but the ever so slight latency of it put me off in the end.  It just didn't have the same feel as my Octabvre mini or OC2s I've previously played through...

[Bagman]

4 hours ago, thisisswanbon said:

I enjoyed the tone of the one I briefly had - but the ever so slight latency of it put me off in the end.  It just didn't have the same feel as my Octabvre mini or OC2s I've previously played through...

Guitarist I was playing with on Wednesday evening said " something changed in the attack of notes"

[pantherairsoft]

19 hours ago, thisisswanbon said:

I enjoyed the tone of the one I briefly had - but the ever so slight latency of it put me off in the end.  It just didn't have the same feel as my Octabvre mini or OC2s I've previously played through...

I find this in the modern/poly mode, but not in vintage. In fact, if anything, in vintage mode I find is even more immediate than my OC2.

[thisisswanbon]

On 12/09/2025 at 20:59, Bagman said:

Guitarist I was playing with on Wednesday evening said " something changed in the attack of notes"

I'm guessing this wasn't a good change?

 

On 13/09/2025 at 11:33, pantherairsoft said:

I find this in the modern/poly mode, but not in vintage. In fact, if anything, in vintage mode I find is even more immediate than my OC2.

Really? I'm glad to hear the OC5 works for you, as it does for alot of other players - but I'm surprised it's more immediate, as with it being a digital pedal there's expected processing time that would normally result in some kind of latency (which admittedly was my experience). 

[pantherairsoft]

25 minutes ago, thisisswanbon said:

I'm guessing this wasn't a good change?

 

Really? I'm glad to hear the OC5 works for you, as it does for alot of other players - but I'm surprised it's more immediate, as with it being a digital pedal there's expected processing time that would normally result in some kind of latency (which admittedly was my experience). 

I’ve used digital pedals with a touch of latency, sure, but it’s certainly not a ‘norm’ in my experience. I find most modern digital kit has no discernible latency (note ‘most’). The OC5, in my set up at least, has absolutely no sign of it. I’d think it was an OC2.

 

To be fair, even in poly mode, the latency is barely noticeable. Only really when the filter is rolled back to its ‘lowest’ processing stage. I had a similar latency blip with the Eventide Pitchfactor’s octave when a heavy filter is applied. 
 

I can’t think of any other digital pedals I own that have any sign of latency at all, though admittedly all the digital stuff I own is fairly modern (no more than a couple of years since design).

[Bagman]

5 hours ago, thisisswanbon said:

I'm guessing this wasn't a good change?

 

Really? I'm glad to hear the OC5 works for you, as it does for alot of other players - but I'm surprised it's more immediate, as with it being a digital pedal there's expected processing time that would normally result in some kind of latency (which admittedly was my experience). 

Listening to it again tomorrow night 

I can't see it being an issue 

 

I virtually never use an Octave live band anyway 

 

[Kev]

Can attest the vintage mode has no perceptible latency.  The poly mode does a little as i recall, but i never used that.

[Sibob]

 

On 10/09/2025 at 12:16, Bagman said:

so the Boss OC-5 is "better" than the OC-2

 

fair call? 

I think it depends what you need, the OC5 has a lot more options of course, but the ‘vintage’ mode is never going to be ‘better’ than the OC2. It’s an excellent approximation of it though, so if you have use for all the other guff, the OC5 is great. If you literally just want a  -1 and/or -2 octave and that’s it, get an OC2 (if we’re just discussing those two).

 

Always ignore the OC3 🤣

 

Si

Edited 3 hours ago by Sibob