Octavia

[Turdus]

Not sure why, but I bought an ocatavia the other night. Won't mention the brand but it was cheap enough for me to want to check out. What is this thing supposed to do, LOL?

Perhaps this one is defective, but so far I am thinking I have a metal box, with a few transistors, that acts as some kind of a funky noise gate.

Can anybody enlighten me?

[Jeff R]

Use overdrive in front of it (preferred) or overdrive on your amp.

Use your neck pickup.

Play from the 10th fret up.

Use a light pick attack.

I know it sounds crazy, but that's how you get the coolest of the "ghost notes."

[Jeff R]

Oh yeah, play single notes. Two notes at one time are a trainwreck 90 percent of the time.

[MCChris]

Use overdrive in front of it (preferred) or overdrive on your amp.

Use your neck pickup.

Play from the 10th fret up.

Use a light pick attack.

I know it sounds crazy, but that's how you get the coolest of the "ghost notes."

Way too much work.

[hamersandstrats]

This is the effect that Hendrix and Beck used alot-along with a fuzz tone. The high octave blends in alot with the fuzz tone, so much so that if you weren't listening for it, you might miss it. Listen to Band of Gypsies-Hendrixes uses one all over that album.

[Jeff R]

Way too much work.

You probably don't like these either...too many knobs 'n' switches...

[Nuclear Wessel]

It's supposed to sound like the solo in "Paranoid" or at the end of "I'm Bad I'm Nationwide".

I've never really felt like I needed one, except if I were to want to nail the authentic tone in some tune where the guitarist in the recording used one.

[Stike]

I kinda dig whatever version is in the Line 6 DM-4, it's a fun, extry flavor( slightly flatulent ) to toss in every now and then.

[hardheartedbill]

I love mine, it's a voodoo lad procatvia, you have to "play" the effect. heres a track featuring the proctavia

http://www.bigblockdodge.com/Allblues.mp3

[Turdus]

Bill --- OK.. I've got the same one... I did not want to break bad on Voodoo Labs without knowing if it was the pedal, or me, LOL. They have responded to some inquiries I sent, so they get an A+ for customer service, even though I bought used.

They have told me that I can experience a gate type effect with the pedal. It seems to sound very similar to the tune you posted. This will take some experimentation for sure.

Thanks to all for the replies.

[md2020]

Damn, Bill. Cool track.

[hardheartedbill]

thanks man! Turd, you must use another OD after it like Jeff R said unless you are going for low fi skank , a RAT II goes after mine. I bought mine from a country player He said he turned it one once and the rest of em stopped and made him unhook it right then and there! He also thought it was broken, it's a duplicate of an old effect and is faithful down to the almost useless ( yet insanly cool ) sound. you should here it w/ a gremanium boost, 1967 baby

[Jeff R]

The Proctavia is the one, I regret selling mine. I've been shot down on bids on eBay trying to replace the one I've sold. If you can't do what you want to with it, PM me and I'll take it off your hands if the price is right.

[tbabinec]

The Octavia is not the first effect I'd get, but it is essential to nailing Hendrix's solo in Purple Haze. You'll hear it all over the albums Are You Experienced and Axis Bold as Love. As others have suggested, try playing in the higher frets (10-18). Also, it benefits from being chained along with a fuzz (Analog Man has a great one). Experiment with the effect order guitar -> octavia -> fuzz -> amp OR guitar -> fuzz -> octavia -> amp.

[Brooks]

i vote for chorus as the most useless effect.

[MCChris]

i vote for chorus as the most useless effect.

Seconded, mah brotha from anotha motha!

[Jeff R]

Thirded.