What is Octave Fuzz And How To Use It

[@soundinthesky96]

So much respect for how you give so much praise to other pedal companies despite having your own. Keep it up with the amazing content

[@davidrg1550]

skyler young totally 110% agree

[@brianpatrick6102]

Agreed.

[@cjohnson913]

He is a true fan and extreme enthusiast! His own company is just a small part of that!

[@justinespinosa7878]

Yeah completely awesome! So glad to support JHS

[@christopherecatalano]

Great observation.

[@kalebfrazier679]

My family didn’t play music. So I feel like you’re like my Guitar Dad. Thanks again Dad.

[@triplesevensix291]

I reckon he will love that? Lol. A+ Kaleb. Yeah thanks Josh pop.

[@candle_eatist]

Stop embarrassing me dad!

[@Ampher03]

Same

[@dankhill6851]

jhs missed an opportunity to ground you

[@7hotfuzz7]

I feel you dawg

[@andertons]

Love these videos guys...

[@pablo-xy7ly]

thanks

[@sidmanp]

No worries

[@pablo-xy7ly]

@Jaxton Malcolm stfu with your lame ass scam, you both joined youtube 2 weeks ago which is a clear sign this is just a scam but it ain't like I even gave shit

[@TrevorScanlan]

Get outta here ya red coats!!!!! This tattoo means not welcome!! (I like Andertons)

[@soundsmyth]

The year was 1967, a Serviceman neighbor sold my Dad a Telefunken console stereo he brought back from Germany. This had glorious electronics and some of the beefiest 6X9 speakers ever created. This stereo rocked. I stopped at Ben Franklin and got my first of many copies of Are You Experienced. I ran home, cranked the Telefunken, dropped the needle and was forever changed. I guess I got Experienced. My Mom came home during my 10th listen to the album and started screaming that I had blown up the speakers, I had to explain to her, it was supposed to sound like that. I like to crank my Strat through an Experience Pedal as often as possible, Mines got the cool tie dye finish.

[@fanoboss]

I've had more than a few PEI Experience Pedals and kept my first and the most musical, they are SICK !

[@tremelo68]

Got a swirly Experience too. Awesome pedal

[@J4060]

Awesome.

[@Billkwando]

The blown speakers bit made the story amazing. Reminds me when my mom walked into the bedroom where my brother and I were listening to Prince's The Beautiful Ones, on Purple Rain. She asked, "Why does he scream like that??" We both answered (in unison, IIRC) "'Cause it's Prince!!"

[@RelicOnMaui]

I love your story! Jimi on the Telefunken! That is so funny your mom thought the speakers were blown

[@zandigspiff138]

I really find this channel helpful because it's not cramming JHS's products down our throats. Not that JHS stuff isn't awesome. It really is but Josh does a great job of just going into what is worth mentioning and sometimes JHS products fall under that and sometimes they don't. That being said, my JHS wishlist includes the quadraPOG, the shamrock, and the colour box.

[@will-iu2bk]

My jhs wishlist is the whitey tighty, charlie brown

[@emil1279]

I think it would be dangerous for me to make a JHS wish list... There is just way too much that I want!

[@dublock]

The solo on QOTSA's Little Sister is an obviously great modern use of octave fuzz. I was lucky enough to find an Experience pedal a few years ago at a good price, and it's phenomenal.

[@chrisw1460]

I'm not an octave fuzz guy. With that being said, I loved this episode because I learned so much about the history, the innovators, and the design. Thank you for helping me appreciate the effect, Josh!

[@DjTroublemaker]

around 1979 I went to a rummage sale and picked up my first pedals, a mxr dyna comp, an eh microsynth, and a mxr bluebox. The sounds i could make were freaky, none of my friends wanted to play with me because my sound was so crazy.

[@idiosyncraticmushroom3030]

yeah the bluebox is crazy I love it

[@dannycottar3737]

I have those same effects ! Try partially un plugging the input of the blue box , if it is the 1st thing in the signal chain !! It will squawk like a parrot & a wah wah pedal will alter the speed of the squawking !

[@wayfaerer320]

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Blue on Black" was the first song I heard that REALLY grabbed my attention - I was learning the solo, but I had no clue why it didn't sound like the recording. Then I realized he was using an Octafuzz. Ever since then, I've been fascinated by univibes and octafuzzes. Great video!

[@victorpradella]

My favorite episode until now! I absolutely love Octafuzz. Go Josh

[@user-ig7nq7pc7k]

Cactus "Evil" - holy cow! Loved it. Energy just jumping out of the speaker - and that DRUMMING!

[@Sirapache1986]

My days off are Fridays and Saturdays and every Thursday evenings I get this sweet notification from JHS Pedals reminding me that it's the week end and I could not be asking for something better to watch and relax and forget about work. Thanks a million for that!

[@howardanderson3061]

When I was 16, I spent one whole weekend (except for sleep and food) dropping the needle on Purple Haze to learn the solo. I learned it. I of course slowed the turntable speed down to 16 rpm, I didn't know about effects yet, When I finally played through an Octave circuit, I was blown away. Thanks Josh great blog, I'm learning so much

[@PatFlanigan]

Never thought I'd hear Josh say he likes how a Joyo pedal sounds; but he's right!

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

I was in the 11th grade when, one day, my English teacher scheduled a "Show & Tell" day. I brought nothing but my ears were always with me so, when some kid I didn't know put on his brother's brand new "Are you Experienced" LP the teacher grimaced and my eyes at first crossed, and then popped wide open. I spent the rest of the school day trying to process what had happened, and what that might mean for me. I was already playing guitar and still do - but I never try to sound like Hendrix. I guess I may have what could be described as Post Hendrix Trauma of some sort, but I will not call it a "disorder".

[@hfm2hfv]

Favorite track ever with an octave fuzz is "Fool In The Rain." Favorite Zeppelin song, too, and maybe favorite song ever. Got a Blue Box just because you, Josh, taught me that that effect is what Jimmy used on the song. Now if I can learn to set the pedal right and play the solo...all will be well in the world.

[@jiontmusic1905]

I wasn't completely sold until you brought up Kid Rock and then instantly showing me a fuzzy fuzz pedal. Thank you.

[@davidkronzek6305]

My favorite track ever with octave fuzz on it is "Little Sister" by Queens Of The Stone Age. I love Josh Homme's sound.

[@samm9397]

One inch man by Kyuss is filled with Octave Fuzz as well. Homme loves his fuzz

[@andrewpappas9311]

Yeah, Josh’s fuzz tones are insane

[@michaelinglis567]

@@samm9397 My favorite Kyuss song is a cover they did of Catamaran originally by Yawnkng Man (which is also a great band). Have you heard it(The Kyuss cover if Catamaran)? If not check it out! Excellent cover and the original is great also.

[@samm9397]

@@michaelinglis567 heard both, Scott Reeder is god at bass

[@michaelinglis567]

@@samm9397 YES! Fully agree lol. I always thought a few songs off of...and the circus leaves town including el rodeo could just as easily be QOTSA songs. Instrumentally at least. I would have loved to see Kyuss back when they used to play out in the Desert all the time.

[@houseofshred3725]

Single coil front pickup, DISTORTED AMP. I can't stress this enough to anyone watching and wondering about octave fuzz. There are some cool sounds in this video, but in my opinion, the best ones have been omitted. Josh, love your videos and your stuff. Cheers.

[@sgall161]

Cheers for the tip. Is there any reason why your amp should be distorted?

[@houseofshred3725]

@@sgall161it takes the edge off of and adds fullness to an octave fuzz. Another cool thing to do is to run one into a big muff and play power chords. Really big sound. There are no rules though. Keep that in mind too. If something is “wrong” and sounds good, it’s right. Cheers.

[@50Something]

I picked up the Joyo Voodoo Octave on a whim and am pleasantly surprised with it. It's a pedal that is here to stay!

[@pilgrim9392]

My fav octave fuzz...I had an mxr octavio and sold it after I got the JOYO VOODOO Octave...

[@gratefuldrifter6588]

I here ya friend

[@purrsnickety8269]

Just picked up a 4 knob 1973 Fender Blender today...my first octave fuzz...couldnt be happier with it.

[@bydrewelliott]

Not exactly an Octave Fuzz, but the MuTron Octave Divider has to be my favorite octave effect. It's more of an octave ringer, but I believe it's what Jeff Beck used on his first guitar solo in "Come Dancing" off the Wired album. Absolutely obsessed with that solo.

[@infn8loopmusic]

I will never forget that On the purple haze vinyl I recall distinctly that I could hear the high pitched octave fuzz coming out of the record needle and it was louder than my actual speakers at the time. 😮

[@baileywatts1304]

I remember way back n the day my dad decided that since he was an electrical engineer and I was a guitarist that building some pedals would be some great parent-child togetherness activities and we built an octave fuzz/autowah monstrosity that we never managed to get working the way it should. I used it to try getting Robert Smith tone without knowing that a flanger was what I really needed. It was good times but sadly the box never survived the 90s, dying along with my ladybug ibanez pedals at some house party in the rural midwest

[@CraigHlavka]

You're awesome. I bet your inspiring so many people to experiment and find their sound.

[@GHOSTGHANG]

Craig Kuzma he’s definitely inspiring me, that’s for sure. Just found him a week ago. Now to binge watch his entire video history this weekend I’m not working.

[@RickCalhounplus]

Kenny Wayne Shepherd “Blue on Black” is what got me searching for the octave fuzz tone. That’s such a killer tone in that song.

[@peteytwofinger]

he uses VOX Wah, Tubescreamer , Fuzz Face, and a Roger Mayer Octavia to get that ovtave fuzz . note - using an octave pedal and a fuzz is different - jhs stated this . someone else inthis comment section mentioned using a boss octave and a fuzz well thats not the same tone . just sayin . as far as the blue on black thing a foxx tone machine or any decent octave fuzz will sound very very close . the foxx tone machine is kind of over the top -as always (with an octave fuzz) play with the neck pick up , tone rolled off and above the 12th frett for best results . ymmv :)

[@RickCalhounplus]

petey twofinger Thanks for the info. 😉 I’ve been using a EQD Tentacle Octave into a Wampler Velvet Fuzz and it gets me in the ballpark. I just love that octave fuzz tone.

[@andrewshepard3523]

Thank you for these videos and your channel. I'm 42 and I've been playing guitar since age 12. You are providing an invaluable resource for anyone interested in these topics. Love it. Thank you! Keep up the good work.

[@leonardsrobert]

Machine Gun by the Band of Gypsys! That live record was sick. That was what sparked my Octafuzz love!

[@joebowles06]

such a gnarly track!

[@leonardsrobert]

@@joebowles06 I know right. It still haunts me.

[@KTGHATS]

That was such a freaky, trippy tone, I always thought it was something like a ring mod, that tone probably raised a LOT of eyebrows in the guitar community, I could imagine Clapton had a stiff drink the night he heard that..

[@paulwright6989]

I have to have a lie down after I listen to that lol. The heaviest thing ever

[@aphaiknaime5920]

KEVIN from JJ HAT CENTER 🎸HATS & GUITARS ! Such a nice combination of the Octavia and Uni-Vibe together.

[@uhoh007]

Born in 57....you bringin it back. Been terrible on keyboards for 40 years, terrible on guitars for about 4. Just now getting my first pedals, after major nylon sidechain.....thank you Cordoba.

[@87LugosiBela]

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‘Honeybee’ has on octave fuzz solo. Its really good. Makes me happy hearing that tone again

[@kwyatt261]

Such a good track

[@maxhopwood7826]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4azYYSnmN6Do5I

[@iuriassalin1667]

it's a green ringer! Ruban built it into a pedal itself!

[@kwyatt261]

Nice. He's really a sonic wizard

[@simonoosterman2456]

yeah buoy. rockin the kiwi feathers

[@mikeblue385]

i carried the experience album around with me for about a year. ' do you have a stereo? put this on.'

[@RichusRkr]

except we usually called it a record player.

[@BadMotivator66]

I love that you mention joyo and another time donner. Cheap or not you like what you like! :)

[@fanoboss]

YES, finally a great video that features the Prescription Electronics Inc. Experience pedal. Don't forget about the PEI C.O.B. box.

[@jacttanna2353]

Saw Hendrix at the Whiskey the week after Monterey Pop Festival. He was already the talk of the town. They roped off the dance floor, and Jimi used the entire floor for his performance. Which meant he could get right in everybody's face. Every heavyweight in town was there, and Hendrix knew, like Monterey, this was a make your bones performance. He was absolutely astonishing. There were two Marshall stacks on stage (first Marshalls I ever saw) , and I wondered why he needed two stacks for such a small room. In the middle of the show his amp died, and the tech immediately plugged him into the other stack. Turns out the early Marshalls were completely unreliable, and every one had to have an extra stack. Which is why Jimi switched to Sunn. Recording studios were manned by dinosaurs in those days, and nobody was happy with the sound they were getting. We were very skeptical that anyone get Hendrix's sound in the grooves. Buck Munger from Sunn somehow got a test pressing of the album, and invited my band over to hear it. We were stunned by how good it sounded. Buck told us he had played it for Howard Robert a few hours earlier, and Roberts went nuts over it. So to answer your question - my favorite Octave-Fuzz - "Purple Haze" and "Foxey Lady". Why not?

[@howardmaryon]

I went to visit a friend who lived on a farm in the English countryside many years ago. He used to hang out in the haybarn with his friends and he had a Garrard record deck hooked up to a Vox amp so he could play his music loud. I bought “are you experienced” on the way to visit him, because I had heard “Foxy Lady” on the radio a few days before. We put the record on, and lay down in the hay to smoke. Must have shaken the whole village. Life changing experience indeed.

[@alanjohnson9189]

Loved the episode! Great timing too, just got my Pigtronix Octava in the mail today. Enjoying it very much. Super awesome octave fuzz.

[@collintaylorthebluesjets3364]

Blue Orchid, Red Rain, and Purple Haze are some of my favorites

[@scottallen9556]

Probably the most inspirational pedal for me. From Hendrix to Homme I can't get enough. For some reason I can always hear some of that quality in most Brian May solos? My current favorite user is definitely Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Little Sister comes to mind amongst others. Thanks showing us some true legends.

[@samm9397]

Josh uses the octafuzz to cut thru in his tracks so well. His TCV and Lullabies days have it all over the place.

[@uplaywithfire7564]

Brian May's pickups are wired "out of phase" He can get that hi octave sound,when he plays higher up the fretboard.

[@nickjensen8532]

I think Brian May usually used a treble booster

[@johncollins5552]

Vox AC 30 top boost channel doesn't need much added to it .

[@darthesgoobis123]

You got Jack White salivating in the corner don't you?

[@idiosyncraticmushroom3030]

Jack yes he does, same with the Big Muff video

[@Fritz-the-Brat]

2:12 Jack white did this (octaver and fuzz), he never used an octave fuzz ( which is a completely different thing) as far as I know.

[@FabianSalomonsson]

I recently had the urge to get a SG. This pretty much made me convinced. I NEED A SG

[@wulyf4lyf]

Easily one of my favorite effects pedals. My favorite for the last few months is the Fulltone Octafuzz. It just sounds absolutely awesome through the Fender Deluxe Reverb Amps me and my friend use when we write/rehearse every week. I was writing a syrupy Rhythm part with my walrus fathom and Earthquaker Levitation reverb. My friend was swapping around different pedals to find a perfect tone to compliment what i was playing, and once he swapped in the Octafuzz, the most perfect accompanying sound just flowed out his amp. I’m definitely interested in finding another great one, which is why these vids and channel is my favorite source for learning about all kinds of pedals. I love how with all the pedals Josh chooses to show, he gives history, demos, who used them on what songs/albums. Like so many other people have already commented, it’s really cool that so many companies are praised and recommend, while Josh has his own line of JHS pedals. That’s real, honest, pedal love, and I respect the hell out of Josh for doing what he does. Keep up the amazing videos, the pedals, everything you do, Josh!!!

[@IHATEBILLYWEAVER]

Rowland S Howard used the blue box and it was amazing

[@cebolaameaca]

Thank you for knowing Rowland

[@Michlandir]

This is my absolute favorite Sunday morning coffee vlog. In a swamp of YouRube bro-pinions and overhype, your insane level of knowledge, low key delivery, and fanboy enthusiasm shine. For me, the epitome of octa-fuzz bliss is Doyle Bramhall II’s work on the first Archangels album (Prescrip CoB & Exp pedals), and Daniel Lanois’ epic “Orange Kay” from the Slingblade motion picture soundtrack. I recently picked up a “76” pedal from Solid Gold fx, hoping to recreate the mojo of those v rare and expensive pedals.

[@MEGAMIGA]

You are a walking guitar effect encyclopaedia! As for the Green Ringer, Frank Zappa had one fitted inside his famous Baby Snakes SG

[@tomgross1953]

Great Video. Memories of an old guy: - Summer of 67, saw one of my older sisters friends outside her room, he was a jazz sax guy. He said "There's in there listening to that Jimmy Hendricks crap" (what I heard). I went in, saw that label spinning around and heard Fire. My mind was blown, never the same. - I had an original blue & red Univox Superfuzz. I loved it, except I kept the tone switch on the more normal setting and told folks trying it out "watch out for that switch - it's like the James Bond ejector seat button" - I had an original script mxr blue box. Had no idea what to use it for, til later in the 80's doing trippy fusion stuff I'd put it on just the sub octave and bend a lot.

[@razzledazzle1462]

Never thought I'd hear my favorite band (My Bloody Valentine) mentioned in a video like this. Great stuff!

[@olivedotcomm]

Good taste

[@ekdguitar123]

I was 10 in 1968 when my dad took us to see Jimi on his 2nd tour. Eric Burdon and the Animals were the headliners and Jimi came on after into a cloud of dry ice with purple lights playing Purple Haze. It was the first time I heard octave fuzz and I've never been the same. I bought a tele custom for $100 and a Princeton Reverb for $50 (sadly both sold years ago for not much more!) and I also had a cry baby and a Fender Blender and played Hendrix not badly until later that year when Led Zeppelin came out with Good Times Bad Times - first heard by me through a jukebox- and my mind was further blown. Here we are 50 years later and we're still chasing those tones. Thanks for this episode and everything you do.

[@skeletonpete]

I was not yet playing guitar when "Purple Haze" dropped into the universe, but it was still clear - even heard out of a transistor radio - that something unique was going on there. In the early 70's I grabbed a Univox branded SuperFuzz (the orange and blue style) and experimented from there. It was never very good for chord work, but there was certainly a "Live At Leeds" vibe when you'd riff through single note leads. I had to replace the broken on/off switch with a toggle ages ago, and therefore tear off the rubber footplate. Guess it will be coming out of mothballs for some nostalgic fun.

[@paulvontyrant3120]

I love octave fuzz. I have a Pigtronix Octava and a MXR Sub Machine. Thanks to Josh for sharing your pedal knowledge and collection with us in these weekly videos.

[@colinsmith5879]

Great to hear Cactus name dropped, amazing band! Love the video as always man :) Please keep em comin!

[@kosycat1]

Very underrated band

[@ripplebear]

Random, but very cool Hendrix story. Owsley (if you don't know who he was, you should find out) spoke to Hendrix after a show at Fillmore West. He told him that he'd like to record him on his own. They shared some party favors together, and then drove to another venue in San Fran. Owsley had a fender amp with him, and so they got set up in a room with a fireplace roaring, dosed themselves with something, and Owsley recorded Jimi doing his thing until sunrise.. and all was good! Afterwards, Owsley secured the tape, but Jimi grabbed it and tossed it into the fire with a smile on his face as it was destroyed. Some time later across the pond at BBC, Jimi was playing Day Tripper by the Beatles, and before a solo he can be heard saying "Oh, Owsley, can you hear me now?" :)

[@trabrex7697]

First heard Hendrix in the summer of 67. In 73 first band did 4 of 5 Hendrix songs. Just sold my black superfuzz a month ago.

[@enkiea8322]

Crazy. Just got in my Jext Telez Jext Foxx last night and plugged it in this morning (causing extreme joy, excitement and new riffs to pour out of me). I get done and BOOM! Here's this video on octave fuzzes!!! Too cool.

[@dls3939]

Funny, I was listening to Cactus last night and was just in awe with their fuzz tones. That whole album with Evil on it kicks ass. Would love to own the fender blender too.

[@ashtonebinger5651]

So happy you mentioned cactus and their song evil. Such an amazing band!

[@olafvanrijnsbergen1177]

Chorus into Octave fuzz, into driven amp.. Then tone all the way off and neck pickup activated.. Thank me later

[@barttledoo8440]

Thank you!!

[@benyip1145]

@@barttledoo8440 yeah this is definitely later lol

[@meesterdinglefritz2064]

@@barttledoo8440 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn-VmJJ7qMqfjq8

[@John3_16andthensome]

ProAnalog Ascension is the ONE. With input/output and power supply jacks on the back, I'm all in! Thank you for making these vlogs. Interesting, fun, informative, helpful.... What a guy!

[@pedrobrando4606]

Effects such as a Octavia sound best with single notes rather than chords.I am thinking the in the song Purple Haze's outgoing solo or the solo in the Black Sabbath song" Paranoid". Power chords sound best with degrees of overdrive to my ears. I own a Roger Mayor Octavia.It is difficult for me to play anything musical with it.The neck pickup must be used and playing more than one note at a time should be avoided.It will not track fast notes. I like the way JHS does not berate other peoples products.That is pretty rare on YT.

[@petejt]

Too right there.

[@KelticKabukiGirl]

Paranoid was done using a ring mod

[@ballamiguel]

I'm really happy and proud to see brazilian companies such as GNI and Stomp Audio Labs in your videos. This country has lots of amazing gems willing to be discovered.

[@DirtyTractorDr]

Until this episode I never knew what octave fuzz was. Now I own 2 octave fuzz pedals, one of them being the MXR Sub Machine that took that little blue pedal and exploded it into fuzz awesomeness.

[@supafrogg258]

Hi, Scott! Nice video! Oh, boy! I've got a TWOFER response for you! In 1968, as a foreign-service brat living in Turkey, at age 16, I got my 1st fuzzbox via mail order from the Lafayette Radio Electronics catalogue. It was a gray Shin-Ei (sp?) unit with a big oval "LRE" sticker on it's top front. It was the exact same gray crinkle paint sheet metal housing unit, seen being played by Pete Townsend in "Woodstock". Along with it's topside stomp switch, it had on it's side a volume knob, a fuzz attack knob, & a little black switch which gave that distinctive Shin-Ei electro-buzz in one position, & an octave electro-buzz in the other position. Lessons? #@%$! Are you kidding? -Any normal 16 yr old is hardwired to do Hendrix, Blue Cheer whammy-bar dive-bomb freakouts, with their Kingston Japanese electric axe, LRE fuzzbox, & 10 watt tube no-name amp! My mom thought it was hilarious! Early that year, my 1 yr older, already-guitarist, sister had told about this amazing guitarist who could play with his teeth, named Jimi Hendrix. Next, on Spring break, with my sister at a Turkish beachside cafe, I hear this rough-sounding, but really good guitar come over the cafe's speaker. I ask my sister, "Is that Jimi Hendrix?", "I think so!" We were digging our 1st listening to Hendrix's Purple Haze single with Jimi's great rough Octavia tone. We didn't waste any time. My sister quickly ordered Hendrix's Are You Experienced album from a record club. I successfully persuaded my stepdad to cover my mail-order Japanese electric guitar & amp combo. I ordered my Shin-Ei fuzzbox, and I passed my Senior Life Saving swimming certification, discovered Blue Cheer's Vincebus Eruptum, -all in one day! Must have been hearing and getting that Octave Fuzz that did it!

[@saddestchord7622]

Some great use of octave fuzz by Josh Homme on the Them Crooked Vultures record.

[@DiscOjeSUs100]

I was just about to comment Scumbag blues

[@EricBarnettMusic]

That record made me track down and buy the Fulltone Ultimate Octave. Killer pedal.

[@samm9397]

Josh is huge into Octave Fuzz. He's a fucking magician.

[@cryptickingdom]

These episodes never date. Their capacity for enjoyment never diminishes.

[@sazarod]

Frank Zappa had (among other mods) a Green Ringer-style circuit installed in his SG. You can hear that octave-fuzz effect on a lot of his solos.

[@PMofKhanadah]

I bought my Blue Box originally because of that record and learned to love it and still do. I don't have my original 70's one anymore, but I have the '95 re-issue and use it a lot still. Thanx.

[@dalerieger5927]

High school dance, someone put Purple Haze on the record player. A kid, who shall remain unnamed in case he later developed taste and a soul, shouted "Sounds like purple s...t to me!" I was astonished, horrified, speechless: heartless barbarians were plundering my Rome.

[@satchmodog2]

I bought three pedals off this video and already owned two. Aside from already owning the Purple platypus and the joyo (still planning on doing the mod), I bought some fabulous pedals and got a great deal on all of them. The Danelectro, The Octafuzz and the fuzzmaster general all appealed to me. After receiving the Dan last night I wasn't thrilled with it, but it was late and I'll play more. Today the Fuzzmaster is out for delivery. So excited about this pedal. Thanks Josh. This pedal and the thorpy fallout have to be two of the most epic fuzz ever.

[@simplecircuit]

Blue box can’t be beat. I was starting to worry it wasn’t going to be represented. I always describe it as an 8bit standup arcade game dying.

[@comradeshmoo]

Surprised he didn't take the opportunity to mention the MXR Submachine. It's a blue box + La Machine fuzz... PLUS a switch for the up-octave and a toggle to run the fuzz+octave in series or parallel

[@gowithgroove]

Yeah, the Blue Box is an underloved pedal. Always nice to see it get some props!

[@henrybartsch2085]

My vote goes to the MXR Blue Box as well, the circuit just feels right when you play through it and it is nearly impossible to dial in a bad sound.

[@obsequious_obsolescence]

Super happy to find this fantastic dive into the history of fuzz pedals! Really great collection!

[@diego2112gaming]

Octave fuzz. Plug in Octave Fuzz. Tune guitar to A#. Play Dopethrone. Profit. Also, fun fact about In Through the Out Door: When it was first out, it was sold in brown kraft paper wrapping. You didn't know which of the 6 album covers you were getting. And I think that's pretty neat.

[@napoleonsolo5929]

Make sure it's either a Boss FZ-2 or a Behringer SF300 for Electric Wizard.

[@EmptyDomoKanti99]

i had a funny moment today, yesterday i watched a good chunk of this video and saw the Fender Blender, and while helping my brother move out i saw a 4-knob Blender in a guitar store that we happened upon. Was pretty cool!

[@garywordsworth9302]

i put track one side one of are you experienced on and all i got was Foxey Lady ha ha oh and fav octave fuzz the criminally under rated roaring Rory Gallagher - Bad Penny

[@ToddtheExploder]

Gary Wordsworth You said it, amigo! Rory Gallagher had SO much talent! And he really was sort of in the shadow of other guitar greats of that era. May we please have a moment of silence to honor the memory of Rory Gallagher.

[@beeflin]

Oh, and the Green Ringer tracks that inspired me to build the kit were "Come Dancing" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" on Jeff Beck's Wired LP.

[@oliverharper7411]

For me, when I think of octave fuzz, I think of Rowland S. Howard from the Birthday Party using the Blue Box on tracks like “Sonny’s Burning”

[@squawker]

Jag -> Blue Box -> Distortion+ -> Twin Reverb .... bingo! www.reusseffects.com/products/rsh03

[@oliverharper7411]

Andy Walker I’ve got that pedal, it’s perfection in a box! Highly recommend

[@ksharpe10]

This is a GREAT HISTORY episode and a reminder to me of my Early playing days. And why we abandoned alot of these and stopped using them, Durability was one reason, Battery only power on them, battery dies no Work. Alot of them I had for very Short times. Made us just simply go straight to amplifiers from guitars. I still have an aversion to pedals because of the electronics durability issue. I had a Dod Chorus in early 80's, never even went out of the house, all of a sudden it had no power, so that was like 70 dollars down a Toilet. I am floored by the amount of pedals and makers out there today.

[@Milankoful]

I own the Joyo - Voodoo octave. It's an awesome fuzz.

[@bardobro]

I picked one up used and really like it. I read all the hate about it and thought about modding it, but found if you play with your guitar tone you can get a real clear sweet octave sound.

[@Milankoful]

Same man... Only thing that I don't really like is that the amount of fuzz goes from 0 to 11 very quickly and that's it. Not really easy to dial it up if you like a touch cleaner fuzzy tones.

[@DavidRFIT]

did you make the mod? as far as I know the Voodo Octave is the clone of the fulltone ultimate octave but has 2 caps soldered 180° wrong... if you turn those two caps the pedals (they say) are 100% identical

[@bardobro]

@@DavidRFIT not yet, maybe eventually.

[@beau-2222]

Same. I ripped the octave out of mine though.

[@sebuteo]

Fantastic video. Really dig your whole vibe. The enthusiasm, the information. Thanks!

[@aarontackett6739]

Desert Sessions Vol. 8: Nenanda Love all the fuzz tones on this whole record, but this track sticks out. Also, that Foxx Fuzz is amazing!!!

[@samm9397]

Lullabies and Era Vulgaris is full of octafuzz as well

[@aarontackett6739]

Sam McCabe 2 great albums as well!! Also, anything by Baroness is full of octave fuzz!!

[@ericdenton6664]

Having owned a Prescription Electronics Experience pedal I love this effect. Thanks for the history lesson. Again you know your business. That's refreshing.

[@jetrockshard]

Now if i can beat the price bump on reverb

[@chrisnewmandeluxecombo6545]

1967 I g0t Are You Experienced and it scared me! It was amazing, My Mom called him Devil. Jini changed my life. I love the Band Of Gypsys ocavia stuff. I am hooked on your Vlog! Thanks

[@taurushamilton2739]

chris newman deluxe combo that’s awesome ur mom called Jimi the Devil 😈😂😝🤘🏾

[@axe2grind911a]

Fall,1967: my 17 yr old uncle picks up the needle and puts it down on a 33 1/3 rpm disc, side 1, track 1. "You gotta listen to this loud" he says, turning up the stereo so I clearly hear the scratching of the needle in the grooves. It's my first exposure to Hendrix and the song is Purple Haze. I wait expectantly while the needle traverses to the opening ridges. The sounds that next emerge from the speakers immediately make my pulse race. Two bars of deliciously dissonant tritones play in octaves by bass and guitar. The drums come in with a spacey reverb and the bass continues driving along in rhythmic backbeat while the dissonant guitar notes are replaced with an alien sound I've never heard before. It's an ultra distorted guitar playing a lead line my 10yr old ears are straining to comprehend. By the 6th bar my heartbeat is racing, as though rhythmically entrained to the primal beat. So many new sounds, I feel I've entered a dream world where music has been given magical powers to overload my senses, pounding me into full body submission to what - I still don't know. What is that loud whisper or sighing sound on every 2 beat and offbeat? Sounds like "uh-oh", or is it "go back"? Oops, too late now - there's no going back! Now the guitar is playing chords, now it's not, it's doing little fills and going back to partial chords. What is this, rhythm or lead? Whatever it is, it's very cool. Jimi starts his vocal with words that have no meaning to me. But they paint a fuzzy abstract picture of something about his brain that I struggle to process into my own young mind. This is not The Beach Boys or the Beatles. It's 2 yrs before Led Zeppelin releases "Whole Lotta Love", and there is no precedent, no Sabbath, no Metallica, no genre called metal. This is cutting edge new sound - it truly is: an EXPERIENCE! Enrapt in the surreal world created in MY brain by this music, I float on every note and word until it starts spinning like a washing machine full of what remains of my neurons and synapses. Finally, I listen as the sustained guitar drones away to Jimi's voice moaning: "oh no, can't go on like this... purple haze..." Then silence - I'm momentarily stunned. Uncle lifts the needle and says "What do you think?" My immediate and visceral response is simple: "I think you need to play it again!"

[@cgodshall]

I dont even have a working amp, but I'm binge watching your backlog and telling myself I'm gonna buy all these different pedals lmao Love your passion for it!

[@QuaqQuao]

Thanks to this video popping up now and then in my feed, I've had several "fuzz nights ", were I put every fuzz I have on the floor and try them out. This invariably begs the question ; are all these really necessary? Which leads me to conclude that; fuzz is all I need. My girlfriend will, on the other hand, suggest that it may become all I have... Thx, great video!

[@Damage_Kase_99]

According to Robin Trower himself, he only ever used the Fender Blender on the song Long Misty Days from the album of the same name.

[@Ruefus]

Cactus' version of Howlin' Wolf's Evil is excellent.

[@discountpsyop]

One of my favorite Hard Blues bands. INCREDIBLY underrated.

[@sld67869801]

Jimmy McCarty is a master of octave fuzz!

[@antwannn111]

Wow what a cool video. Sweet riffs, great knowledge, you clearly put in a bunch of research & you're just so dang nice about everything!

[@chrisridesbicycles]

The Psychedelic Machine looks like a very early multi-effect. Maybe a history of multi-effects would be fun?

[@oza8578]

Excellent intro to Octave fuzz type pedals! Bravo, well done sir!

[@JayBeeBikes]

A Gibson?! Wowowow also dope shirt ❤️

[@gph2193]

Thank you for mentioning the Experience Pedal. I bought one when they first came out and it is always on my board. Just beautiful pedal that make many cool tone shades and glorious fuzzificational octave swell notes of distinction and righteousness. Hats off to Dr.Fuzz.

[@kasondietz391]

Josh, can you bring back the ridiculously large footswitch a la' the Super Fuzz? I'd be about that! XD

[@LordStompyHarpLoonyTunes]

I actually prefer a slightly larger pedal than this smaller micro stuff. When I'm singing and want to whack on a flanger or distortion I don't want to look down for half a second try to hit a micro pedal. My flanger is a Russian small stone. My octave fuzz is an original Studio Electronics Wolftone Helium. I have a Maxon PT999 and that's as small as I'd go. If it's too much smaller than a standard Boss I'm not happy.

[@MedicineBoy]

Rowland S. Howard + Blue Box. Thanks for the great episode.

[@williamballweber]

Sleep Alone is a blue box showcase, love the man and the pedal!

[@markhammer643]

Analog octave fuzz has the property of generating "sideband" products under some circumstances. That is, they produce a ring-modulator-like sound; particularly when one plays a double stop. My guess is this is likely why the Dan Armstrong octave fuzz was named the "Green Ringer". Try it, and you can hear a note descending, even though you're bending "up". Huh? Yes. A great many analog octave fuzzes - and I have made clones of most of those produced before 1974 - have a pair of clipping diodes near their output. In actuality, they are plenty fuzzy without them, and those diodes have no direct bearing on the octave generation. My sense is that, since the octave generally doesn't step out of the haze of harmonics into the spotlight until after the string has settled down a bit after picking, those diodes form a crude limiter that keeps the level relatively constant, so that you can hear the octave a little better. Otherwise as the string level dies out, the audible octave disappears with it. In my own Green Ringer clone, I find it improves the audibility of the octave. (Josh: I imagine you've done this already, but on mine I made the gain of Q1 variable, via the emitter resistance, and replaced the 47k resistor on the output with a pot.) The eternal challenge with octave-up fuzzes is that they double *EVERYTHING* . And that means that they double every...stinking...harmonic your guitar produces. The problem that provides is that all those harmonics hide the octave like a Where's Waldo picture. All of that is why the received wisdom about octave-up fuzzes is that 1) you need to use the neck pickup, 2) you need to roll off the treble on the guitar, and 3) you need to play above the 7th fret or so. All of those elements serve to remove harmonic content and let the fundamental stand out more, so that when everything gets doubled, it is the octave of the note you are playing that gets easily heard. Keep in mind that shorter strings are also stiffer, which means less harmonic content - the reason why we get "better" octaving playing up high. And again, that's why that pair of diodes near the output comes in handy. They DO add some unwanted and unneeded distortion, but they help to make the octave poke its head out a little more, so that it seems to "bloom". Lastly, ANY analog octave fuzz will produce interesting and pretty decent "sitar-like" sounds by turning the fuzz intensity down a bit, using the bridge pickup, and picking near the bridge. Really. Trust me on this. It's *not* an EHX Ravish replacement, but if your band wants to cover anything that may have used a Coral Electric Sitar, octave-up pedals will do a surprisingly decent emulation in a pinch. Favorite octave-up units? The Foxx, hands down, and all its imitators and derivatives. The Fulltone and Prescription Electronics units are Foxx derived, and of course, the Dano French Toast IS a Foxx, albeit with electronic switching. Just the most robust octave. The original Tycobrahe Octavia, with the transformer is also pretty decent. Nails the gentle octave tone from Hendrix' "One Rainy Wish". The Scrambler can be interesting, but suffered by not having a Drive/Sensitivity or Volume control, making it a bit extreme for many.

[@robcerasuolo9207]

Thanks! This is very informative. You made me wonder how these sound on bass, especially that blue MXR one. I don't play bass yet--haven't found one I feel comfy with--but I LOVE fuzz on bass, and I might like octave fuzz more on bass than guitar, so I'm interested. Have you tried this yet?

[@markhammer643]

@@robcerasuolo9207 I haven't tried it out *yet*. But I have two basses, a bunch of amps, a slew of octave fuzzes, and may give it a whirl tomorrow morning after my wife leaves for work. Note that the MXR Blue Box (which I think is the one you're referring to) generates a note TWO octaves below the fundamental. That's pretty dang low, and I'm not so sure most speakers would be able to reproduce it. ONE octave down, yes, but two is a tall order. Note as well that octave-UP and octave-DOWN units operate in very different ways. The down ones generate a single square wave for every two (or four in the case of the Blue Box) positive half-cycles it detects. They essentially use a sort of electronic counting. Octave-UP units create two opposite-phase copies of the input, slice off half of each of those, and combine them such that where there used to be one peak there are now two. But it is essentially a "folded-over" version of whatever you fed it. In contrast, most analog octave-down units *create* a waveform. Since the octave-down has to "count", whether in 2's, 4's or something else, it also sets a threshold for what gets counted. Think of it like a person with a clicker, counting things passing them on the street, and the only click for cars, not for bikes, pedestrians or motorcycles. So, where an octave-up unit might not give you a really obvious octave all the time, it will still behave itself and produce at least a fuzzy sound, with no "tracking" issues. Octave-DOWN units, however, require a certain minimum input signal level to "track" the notes, and require a certain more precise playing style as well. That's not a reason to avoid them, merely a qualification of how to use them, and why they are not the same beast as an octave-UP. I hope this makes sense.

[@robcerasuolo9207]

@@markhammer643 It makes total sense to me, actually--thanks! Puts a whole new spin on "create, sustain, destroy," though, doesn't it? So many possibilities and questions suggest themselves to me. For example, would some kind of super-low bass roll-off be necessary in such a circuit that generates nearly unheard tones one and two octaves down? Also, I wonder what one up, with all that folding and chopping, and one down, with all that counting, sound like? And would all this be better higher up the neck of the bass? Ah, well, that may never end with me. Plz let us know how it all goes!

[@markhammer643]

@@robcerasuolo9207 A number of pedals, past and present, have provided both an octave up as well as an octave down. The old Mu-Tron Octave unit combined a Green Ringer in the same box as an octave divider. Neither of us can afford one of those these days, even if we pooled our money. Pearl also made one, and of course the longstanding EHX Microsynth did so as well. I'm sure I'm missing out on some others. TC currently makes their Sub 'N Up and MXR has their Slash pedal. I gather the TC unit is digital, like the POG and Micro POG. Digital units may lack the "charm" and surprise (an essential part of their charm) of analog units, but they do provide more obvious octave up and much better tracking. The EQD Organizer also provides the sound of multiple octaves from the same input, but processes them in a way intended to sound like multiple organ drawbars, rather than something oriented towards sizzling shredding.

[@markhammer643]

@@robcerasuolo9207 So, I plugged one of my basses into a Foxx Tone Machine clone, and it sounds wonderful. You don't really get a clear audible octave the way you do with guitar, but it sounds great to my ears. I plugged the octave fuzz into a bastardized clone of the EHX Bass Balls, that allows me to stagger the two filters, adjust the resonance of the upper filter, and also adjust the decay time. The octave fuzz gives the bass more top end, as you might expect. And that gives the filter more content to filter. So it's a VERY nice sound. Very synthy. The verdict?: Yes, basses and octave fuzzes can get along very nicely, though you may need to turn up the bass on the amp to give a solid bottom.

[@sgriffett541]

Jason, you know I love that pedal show but I must say, you're better... even better; less pedal board more pedals with other gifted pedals and plus great albums! thank you

[@almightytreegod]

When I think acid blues riff rock, I think Super Mario Bros... I love my EHX Octavix. I’ll run my bass through a microPOG and put it on a high octave to do a lead, then run that to the octavix and it gets gnarly. EDIT: if you add a sustaining triad chord to the end of a lead line with it, the decay is CHAOTIC BLISS. Didn’t think octave fuzz was the same as a legit octave pedal, tho. I thought it was more of a “ring mod” thing, which is just what I heard and I’m not sure what that means... HENDRIX LIVES

[@pookachu64]

Hall of Canons new version of the ehx coming out soon - reckon it’s worth buying? Odd that it’s not in this video as it seems to be highly rated

[@Stewkeithmtb]

Love the sound of some of these old pedals. There's something so raw - at times almost unmusical - about them. They're a real in your face kind of fuzz. Must have blown people away when they first came out.

[@jorgefreittas]

My favorite sound of octave fuzz is Roger Mayer Octavia

[@peterwelsh1932]

I still have my original 90s Prescription Electronics Experience Hand Painted trippy blue, battery only, no LED,... Knobs labeled VOL TONE TONE SWELL (not Sustain)... So the rest of y'all can go and play. We A/B-ed it back in the 90s against the original Muffs, the Reissues. Its fuzz wins by a landslide. Without even getting to the octave or swell. I still wanna hear the The Band Of Gypsies pedal (dunlop?). Hendrix had a Fuzz Face on stage. But it sounded different. Apparently it was the Octavio fuzz without the octave(?). Maybe that's what I'm doing using just the fuzz on the Experience. Never realized that til I just now typed this. Need to A/B the P.E. Experience, the Band of Gypsies (dunlop) and an original Octavio with the Octave circuit ripped out( or not put in) . Cmon pedal Hero Guru, make it happen!!! (PLZ👼🌈🙊😹🙏🐆🌞🐣💃🍓🌠🎵🎻🎶🎺🎶🎹🎶🎤🎶🎵🎆🌋🎉🚀🎊🌜🌎🌚

[@Jakexx01]

Josh, you are truly a wellspring of knowledge and practical advice on all things 'guitar pedal'. Thanks for being the world's first TRUE Ambassador of Pedalism.