Boss OC-2 Octave

Old Boss pedals have a reputation for having certain special elements to them that can’t be replaced by anything modern, which is why some of them fetch huge prices throughout the gear collector world. While a small number of them warrant more prestige and worth than others, many of these pedals that were manufactured before 1994 or so feature unique components and characteristics, which make them hard to recreate, and thus make them that much more popular. One of these such classic stompboxes we’ll be reviewing today: the OC-2 Octave.

Being a simple 3-knob pedal, the OC-2 is basically just a fantastic tone booster, with a couple of different options for you to choose from. 2 of the knobs (Oct 1 & Oct 2) control the amount of octave is added onto the current note you happen to be playing, one or two octaves below, respectively. This actually opens up a load of sonic possibilities that you can add into your overall sound, especially once you figure out how to dial each octave setting in properly, to get just the right amount of each signal to be present in your tone.

The third control knob is Direct Level, which really lets you add in as much or as little of the octave’d effect as you want, for precise tonal manipulation and perfect harmonic convergence. While not as highly touted as some of the other rarer, more sought-after ’80s and ’90s Boss pedals, the OC-2 is an under-appreciated genius of a pedal, and one that fits in well with both guitar AND bass setups. Great for studio or live settings, if you want to beef up your tone slightly and for a great price, make sure to check out the OC-2 Octave, and see what it can do for you.