There's a line in a Limbo song that asked, "how low can you go"? With the Octane pedal you have to admit, "all the way down"! The Octane provides enough bottom to make your 12 inch speakers flap in the breeze, but you can easily back it off to taste. This unit produces a wide range of octave-augmented fuzztones; both low; and high, with a refreshing hint of ring modulation on some of its settings. The tone control is a round knob in between two "flipper" knobs, (like from a tiny pinball machine), that control Drive and harmonic content. Like the Fuzz Factory; the Octane was recorded at low volume, with the Amp set dead clean. The proof is in the playing of Z.Vex effects, the rap just seems like a lot of hype...until you play one in person. Speaking of persons: here's a few comments from the designer builder: Zachary Vex:
"You don't have to be old enough to be a hippie to get off on this wild pedal. The circuit uses a combination of germanium diode, and transistor fuzz generation and a ring modulator to turn simple chords into nutso note combinations and complex chords into incredible noise...and makes solos soar impossibly high.
"IN: Far right knob comtrols input (drive) level. Use just enough for fun but not too much if you need less noise during quiet spots. OUT: Output level.
TONE: Turn to right for mid scoop tone (mellow)... to left for more mids (aggressive).
HINTS: Use simple chords... three notes if possible... or limit voicings to octaves and fifths. This way you let the pedal generate thirds and control the color of the chords. For solos, play at the twelfth fret (double dot) or higher, using the rhythm pickup. This gives you the purest upper octave result with any high octaver.
WARNING: As with any fuzz, the nuances of the pedal's tone are lost with a distorted amp. Play fuzz boxes on a cleaner setting to hear the tone...this pedal is so distorted that you won't need any more distortion anyway."
"Like all Z. Vex designs, current flow is low in this circuit , enhancing battery life. The circuit board is machined, instead of etched, to eliminate chemical pollutants. Normal p.c. board manufacturing results in toxic photoresist, developer, stripper, etchant, and other solvent pollution. Z. Vex circuit boards are cut with a computer-steered high-speed bit, the only waste products being recyclable copper shavings and a tiny amount of fiberglass dust. The box is hand-drilled using no petro lubricants, degreased with natural ethyl alchohol, and hand painted so that every box is unique. Knobs are collected from surplus electronics houses... some (such as the one used on
this effect) are from the 50's and 60's. Each effect is dated, signed, and serial numbered." (Check it out below).
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