Oc2 Volume Drop

[pantherairsoft]

Hi folks....

I use a Boss OC2. It's a major part o my sound and I won't be chanimg it for an alternative that's for sure. I run it with the Oct-1 at full and both dry signal and Oct-2 off.

Sounds amazing... But. There is a noticeable volume dip between that and my dry signal/all other pedals. When it's run with something else, the other pedal picks up the volume, but when I use just octave it's just too quiet. If I dial the dry signal back in, that goes noticeably higher than the Oct-1.

Before I get a booster and a bypass loop to use this pedal long term (and I REALLY don want to do this as my boar is FULL), does anyone have any words of wisdom about getting around it/anyone else experience the same issue?

Shep

[Delberthot]

I've been using one for years but I would say that using it gives an increase in volume. I run mine with the dry signal up full and the -1 octave at about 11 o'clock with the -2 octave off. Quite a bit louder on than off

[umph]

is it okay up in the higher registers? just wondering if its the cabs not handling the lows.

[DanOwens]

Shep, it's actually a fairly well-known issue. Infact, SFX used to offer a +3db mod to the OC2 -1Oct channel.

I too have the same problem - I rectify it with a chorus or LPF but I'd rather not. Infact, I'd considered getting someone to build me a small loop with a boost - something tiny but switchable.

Dan

[Higgie]

Time for an Aguilar Octamizer I think. That thing goes LOUD. I have the Octave Level knob on about 8 oclock with the clean signal at 12 oclock and its still sooo loud. It's capable of boosting, so even without the clean signal it's easy to get the levels right!

[gnasher1993]

Are you using an active bass?

I had an OC-2 for a while but had a problem with volume drop. It was fine with my passive basses but quite noticeable with my active.

[dannybuoy]

Word on the street is that there is a dirt cheap Arion clone that has more volume on tap if you can find one on ebay! Otherwise check out Aguilar or MXR, or see if sometime like Max @sfx can mod it for you!

[pantherairsoft]

Cheers for the replies guys.

It's just the -1oct that drips volume and all over tue fretboard. I I roll the dry back in it's same volume if not louder... But Oct-1 seems to drop a few db. Cab handles the lows fine as I also have a MarkBass super synth and the -1oct and -2oct sound thunderous and low loss of tone or volume. The OC2 however has a special tone that I have not hear from another pedal. Deliberately synthy.

Had both the mxr deluxe and the Aguilar as well as the EBS, they all spun natural and fat... Which the Mark Bass does fine... Only the OC2 sounds like an OC2 in my experience...

The SFX mod sounds perfect and I'll give Max a shout...

[Finbar]

FWIW I'm pretty sure Max stopped offering the OC-2 mod. I'm not sure why, but I think it may be something to do with being potentially harmful to the circuit long term or something :/

[pantherairsoft]

Max says a boost is no problem so off to Max it goes. Cheers for the advice folks!

[sockdeluxe_mikey]

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1094297' date='Jan 18 2011, 07:48 PM']Max says a boost is no problem so off to Max it goes. Cheers for the advice folks![/quote]

That's a very interesting read.

How do you power your OC-2 as well? If you run it with batteries or with a 12V input, it will run internally fine at 9V but if you run it with a 9V input it'll run lower than 9V as (strangely) there is a resistor that brings the voltage down by a few volts as the original Boss adaptor (ACA?) was actually 12V, so the pedal then needed to be stepped down to 9V...very strange.

When I didn't realise this, I got some distortion with my OC-2 and a few other minor problems but it was completely fixed once I started putting 12V into it.

[pantherairsoft]

[quote name='sockdeluxe_mikey' post='1098667' date='Jan 22 2011, 02:16 PM']That's a very interesting read.

How do you power your OC-2 as well? If you run it with batteries or with a 12V input, it will run internally fine at 9V but if you run it with a 9V input it'll run lower than 9V as (strangely) there is a resistor that brings the voltage down by a few volts as the original Boss adaptor (ACA?) was actually 12V, so the pedal then needed to be stepped down to 9V...very strange.

When I didn't realise this, I got some distortion with my OC-2 and a few other minor problems but it was completely fixed once I started putting 12V into it.[/quote]

Its powered off my diago powerstation at 9v. It's with max now, but when its back i may try the 12v anyway to see how it effects it. I've certainly not heard anything I don't like about the tone etc… although it does remove a few natural sub frequencies compared to playing an Octave lower. If I play 12th fret on the low B for example with the OC2 on, the tone is perfect and synthy, but I get less Sub rumble than I do playing an open Low B. At times I wan't that sub…

Shep

[mep]

I have not experienced any volume drops with mine. I run it with a battery at practice and a Frontline multi supply adapter at a gig so I can run my other effects. I use both my Stingray and Aria fretless. I have oct 2 off and oct 1 and the mix around 1 o'clock.

I have been getting some positive responses at gigs latey due to the ocatver giving it some!

[pantherairsoft]

Got this back from Max today.

Perfect. The small boost has worked perfectly. Very happy

[phil.i.stein]

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1105422' date='Jan 27 2011, 06:59 PM']Got this back from Max today.

Perfect. The small boost has worked perfectly. Very happy [/quote]
he sorted a problem for me recently, and went well beyond the call of duty, by contacting the overseas manufacturer..

sfx will go far.

Edited January 27, 2011 by phil.i.stein

[pantherairsoft]

Indeed. He even moded the circuit board where the resistor sits to be a socket and included a range of other resistors... So if I'm not happy with the gain I pop in another resistor and change the gain myself.

Amazing bit of work

[deepbass5]

Interesting thread, have not noticed a drop in mine if anything a boost when in. Set mine Oct2 off, direct level at 3 oclock and Oct 1 between 11and 1. I saw this setting suggested in a bass Mag and find it about right for most of my numbers.

Thanks for the heads up

[pantherairsoft]

If you have some direct signal in there was no loss. I was just getting a drop of a few db's when running the setting I use - 2 Oct off, dry off, 1 Oct at 100%. the small gain boost has also given a bit more umph to the bottom end. All in all I'm very happy with the mod

[jj1234]

I know this is old but does SFX still do this resistor mod, or can you recommend someone in London? cheers

[GisserD]

There is a very simple mod that involves unsold eering one side of one resistor on the - 2 circuit that adds 3db to the output. 

@dodge_bass can tell you more than I can

[dodge_bass]

2 hours ago, GisserD said:

There is a very simple mod that involves unsold eering one side of one resistor on the - 2 circuit that adds 3db to the output. 

@dodge_bass can tell you more than I can

Sure can. Ready and waiting...

[jj1234]

great. I install my own pickups etc so it sounds like it should be DIY-able, and sounds easily reversible. If you could provide instructions or tips or a link here or in a PM that would be amazing 👍.

 

[GisserD]

this might help.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/boss-oc-2-volume-mod.1051293/

[jj1234]

sorted

 

[Sibob]

I wonder whether simply removing those resistors and then bridging the connection with some wire would help achieve the volume increase whilst retaining the pot function. Obviously the pot iteself is a resistor of sorts, but if they’re ‘off’, might have the same effect, difficult to know.

Or just get yourself a COG T-16 instead of modding your vintage pedals :). A Wazacraft OC-2 could also solve the problem Boss (if you’re reading).....just sayin’ ;)

Si