Fulltone OctaFuzz

Volume and Boost only. LED indicator.

Good for octave legato runs, fifths legato runs, and single note runs. Does one thing right.

Very reliable.

I have been playing 20 years. 1956 Telecaster and 1950 Fender Pro Amp. Overall, I would say this pedal is good as a vintage fuzz ala "Wired", but for modern sounds it is not very good. Very difficult to get a consistent sound from amp to amp and from signal chain to signal chain. Ring Modulation effects are introduced, and serious clipping distortion on the note attack. I could not use this for recording because of inconsistency. I think it would be good for a session musician who wants a retro fuzz, and has to nail that sound exactly.

I don't understand why this pedal is so expensive since it is an exact replica of the Tycobrahe, whose schematic is available in the Internet. With about $10 - $15 in parts, where's the justification?

Sorry to pop the bubble on all these 9 and 10 ratings, but criticism is important.

I just wanted to write this review to help you if you are thinking of buying this pedal. My advice: Try it first.

I checked out the Fulltone homepage when I wanted an octave pedal and thought an Octafuzz would be great, especially since it is a replica of the Octavia. Long story short: I got the pedal, and I couldn't make much use of it.

In terms of ease of use...it's really simple...Volume and Boost. Boost kicks in the fuzz in a major way.

Make sure you have a specific need for this pedal or a use in mind for it. I didn't, and after messing around with it I determined I had absolutely no use for a pedal like this (I play blues mostly). I'm not after Jimi's sound, and unless you are...you better try it before you buy it.

However, for what it is, I does the job. No question.

The only thing I noticed is that if you turn both the boost and the volume up, you get plenty of extra noise. I'm guessing some players would really like it, but it's a matter of taste.

For FYI, I used it through a Super Reverb and a Strat. For experimentation, I threw in a FD2 and a TS-9 on the top.

I have several Fulltone pedals and have never had a problem with them. Perfect as far as I can tell.

I've sent a few e-mails....fairly helpful.

Again, I don't want to say bad things about the pedal. If it is what you are into, you'll love it. Just make sure it is something you can use. I recommend trying one out.

Really easy to use, two knobs fuzz and volume. Easy to get a good sound out of my strat rig. Great manual.

This is the best Octafuzz in my opinion besides the real thing of course Tycobrayhe version. Its a clone of the original and the closest clone to me opinion. I tried a few, way huge, voodoo lab, etc. Never had the priviledge to try the tyco but I have recordings of the original and to me this sound more smoother. Which I like. Hendrix didn't really turn me on with the octafuzz sounds he created until I heard SRV use it in one of his last concerts. He used it in his redition of Voodoo Chile and I just loved the sound and how he used it for the song. I am happy this isn't the exact same sounding pedal as the original. When I recorded with this pedal, I had this original smooth octafuzz on my solo and I just love it. So its my main octafuzz. I use it with my 1960 strat and fender super. The sound is awesome. Also its on top of my Jeckyll and hyde and sounds really smooth. Additionally, I use eveready silver carbon 9 volts and that really gives it the smooth sound I want.

I had problems at first with the volume pot, but man theres nothing perfect and defects do slip by once in while. So I sent it back to Mike and he repaired to working order. So its all good now.

Mike is a busy man and he will get back to you in suprising speed. So his support is excellent.

If it was stolen, I would buy another. Its the best out there in its class as far as all clones concern. I wish I had the dollars to buy the original Tycobrayhe and A/B them both. Like I said it sounds different compared to a sound recording of the original and a sound recording of the fulltone version. But thats not really accurate results. However I do love it and its the only fulltone pedal I use. Because to me its great.

I had to mess with this pedal a few times under different circumstances before I started to get the hang of it. Through a mega-distortion setup, this didn't add much. But put it through a nice tube amp with some headroom and this pedal screams like nothing I've ever heard. Pretty versatile, too. The boost level lets you go from subtle octave effect w/mild fuzz to screaming feedback chaos.

Full bypass! Absolutely quiet until you hit the strings, too! Impressive. I haven't mastered that Hendrix Band of Gypsies sound yet, but I can see potential there. Great for solos with the boost up. It kinda swells after the pick attack, like you hear on many Smashing Pumpkins songs. And then if you hold a note you can modulate into crazy feedback. I haven't used this with another fuzz box yet. Mainly I've used it with a Sovtek Mig-50 head into Marshall 2x12 1922 cab. This pedal will not work well for chords. But that's OK.

First thing I did was take it apart. The housing is very very tough-looking and beautifully powder-coated, the components and PCB seemed well-fastened inside. Wiring layout and soldering is outstanding (no loose wires here). I was surprised by how simple the layout is. I can't imagine what would break, except maybe the switch after a few years of abuse. For the money these sell for, they shouldn't use those cheapo battery-holding clips, though.

I only contacted Mike at Fulltone once via email (when I was looking for dealers who carried his stuff), and he replied very quickly. I had informed him that a certain dealer was out of "Ultimate Octave"'s, and I think they received a shipment within a few weeks.

This is my forth octave pedal (including: Boss OC-2, MXR Blue-Box, DOD Buzz-Box), and the last! I've spent years trying to get this sound. If you like Hendrix or Smashing Pumpkins, this pedal will make you smile. My metal-head buddy grinned and said "That thing is SICK, dude!). It's sorta like a Big Muff: you can't use it very often, but you are always glad when you do! I like it.

The are two controls volume(self explanatory) and bost. They are fairly simple to use and one quickly gets the hang of the controls. However the bost control is very interesting as it seams to do more for hightening the fuzz part of the effect than the ocatave in fact the lower the boost the more clearly the octave effect can be heard.This gives for very interesting results in cunjuction with other effects (especialy distortions) as it alows the octave caracteristic to be heard while smoothening out the fuzz I feel this is the true use for this pedal and it sould not be baught with the intention of beeing used by itself. With higher boost you get more fuzz (alot!!) and a knid of screaming sound with endless sustain this and the subtle octave I mentioned before were my reasons for getting this pedal. Yuo just cant get that eary octave up solo or that incredible guitar scream ala hendrix without this efect. I will not kid the effect does take some time to master but this has to do with playing tecnique and not with the ease of use of the mechanism itself, the controls are interactive providing for a very wide range of sounds.

This effect is dead silent when off and very close to it when on you have to look at the led or play a note to check if its on. The effect itself is very good I compared it to the voodoo lab proctavia( horible name yak ) and it just blew it away this is an effect ou cant aford to be close on either it tracks or it doesnt and I have to say that the fulltone does a very good job at tracking all over the fret board. Obviously the effect is more pronounced at higher frets and with the neck pu but while the others didnt track well at all in the lower range this one does cpontinue to track well there but with less of a pronounced effect so my conclution whas that the others just didnt do the job in that rage so they failed there was no octavia effect. The sound quality is extreamly high this is the classic octavia effectand not much more can be said for it. If you ned to know more just check out the fulltone web page and listen to the sound clips.

The effect is very well built. It is solid and easy to use at an ergonomic stand point.The comonents are top quality and this is parent imediately apon handleing the effect, pluging in the jacks, or rotating the controls. The wireing is very clean and well done aswell. I truley believe that this is will last very laong and become the vintage classic of the future.

I believe that Mike Fuller stands by his product I think this has become his trademark and that he realizes that it is one of the rasons people are so loyal to his products.If he is smart he will continue the good things he has started and in so doing keep all his loyal customers and create many more.

I believe this is the best clasic octavia effect onthe marketand I did my homework.Some come very close but are not the same and may I say are very over privced for the quality they offer.Others, the majority, just dont do the job because they cant track well,thease just fail compleatly in my mind and are not worth buying.This efect is very specific and not for everyone so please listen to an octavia befor e getting it. But if this is what you are looking for then THe fulltone octafuzz is in my opinion the best one out there.

Two knobs Volume and Boost. It provides great Octavia sound out of the box. The manual gives good info on how to get the most out of it. I like to have the have the boost about 11 0'clock and have my 69 pedal after it.

It is the most quiet Octavia I have heard. It provides a good fat Fuzz with the octave up cutting through. While, Octavias usaully sound good only at the 12th fret, the Octafuzz sounded good anywhere on the fretboard.

Man, it's a Fulltone. What else is there to say?

Mike Fuller gets paid for doing what he loves. I wish I could say the same. It is his mission in life to provide the best pedal efects. His e-mail response time is very quick.

I wouldn't have to buy it again because I know it will last. But I will definitely keep it. This is my 3rd Fulltone pedal. I have a Fulldrive II and a 69 pedal. What is interesting about the Octafuzz is that I was set to buy a used Proctavia for $70. Right when I pulled out the cash, I saw the store had the Octafuzz. Needless to say, the Octafuzz, blew away the Procatvia! The Voodoo labs people claim their pedal is an authentic replica of the Tychobrahe Ocatvia. Well, compared to the Ocatafuzz, Fulltone, it was very thin and cheap transistor sounding. I am sure they cut corners somewhere. Understand I paid Twice as much for the Fulltone. The difference in sound quality was worth it.

Being a two-knob pedal, there is not a great deal of science involved... The Octafuzz features a "Volume" knob and a "Boost" knob, "Volume" controlling output level and "Boost" controlling the amount of fuzz and octave-up effect. Mike Fuller (chief of Fulltone) includes an easy, straightforward user sheet. The Octafuzz spits fire right out of the box.

The Octafuzz is billed as an exact circuit replica of the Tycobrahe Octavia. While I can't comment on the veracity of this assertion, I CAN say that the pedal is dynamic, EXTREMELY quiet (surprise!), and tracks very well. I bought this pedal in order to avail myself of an obnoxious and startling lead sound. While this pedal certainly provides a crazy, head-turning tone, there is a refined harmonic wealth to the notes which goes beyond a mere octave-up effect. It's difficult to articulate, but it gives a strong and somewhat fuzzy and percussive fundamental which quickly "blossoms" with harmonic overtones and the "up-octave". This effect takes place with all pickup types: I use a PRS Custom w/ HFS bridge & Standard neck pickups, as well as a '62 reissue Strat w/ Custom shop S/C pickups, in addition to a Hamer Special w/ Duncan P-90s. When using the Octafuzz, I'm typically driving a Marshall 30w, 50w, or 100w with a heavy Marshall-esque grind, the Octafuzz when employed under this config. yields stunning results. Amazingly, the pedal adds very little hiss or other noise when activated, even through a loud half-stack, and since I use this pedal live this is really welcome. As previously mentioned, the pedal tracks extremely well, you never get that warbly bad-tracking sound that a Boss OC-2 can give (I use the OC-2, I also love it, but it is a whole 'nuther animal). The manual states that you achieve the most pronounced octave effects when using the neck pickup of your guitar, and this is true but there are also execellent results to be had (with plenty o' octave) with bridge pickups. Again, the pedal sounds great with h/b, s/c and P-90 pickups-I use 'em all!

I mistakenly "fried" the pedal as I hooked it up to the wrong (ungrounded) AC adapter. If you plan to use an AC adapter, take my advice and get the Fulltone one. I'm using Eveready Super Heavy Duty Batteries now (non-alkaline as recommended by Fulltone), with great results and plenty of useful life. The pedal is typically in use (in line with the rest of my effects, anyway) during gig/session/rehearsal about 10 hours a week, and since I bought the pedal in May 1996, I have had no problems other than the ones I created with using the wrong adapter. Incidentally, Mike Fuller fixed it real quick and cheap!!

Ask yourself how often you as a musician deal with people (salespersons, managers, booking people et al) who are not only professional, courteous and knowledgeable, but also take the time to listen to you? This is seemingly a rarity, however, not at Fulltone. When I burnt out a component in my Octafuzz, I called Fulltone and spoke to Mike Fuller himself. He took the time to trouble-shhot the pedal with me over the phone in order to hopefully avoid an east-to-west coast shipping situation and un-needed down time. When he determined the pedal nneded to be returned, he fixed it and shipped it back pronto. At no extra cost he UPGRADED a few components which he had found to function better than his orginal supply. Michael Fuller supports his products and THEN SOME.
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I'd really be bummed out if I lost this pedal. If it was stolen, I'd be hoppin' mad. I would surely replace this pedal immediately with another Octafuzz. I love the way the notes explode and then somehow blossom into magic little harmonic realms of their own. I should mention that I tried a whole bunch of other effects including the real Octavia, the Proctavia, the MXR Blue Box (new and old) and the Foxx Tone Machine (the red velvet one). A real Octavia or Foxx Tone Machine will cost you lots, and if they break you might have trouble getting support. I am not only happy with this pedal, but I am inspired by it. That is what we are all after, anyway.