The Aguilar Octamizer is a type of bass effect pedal that generates a note an octave below your signal. The Octamizer promises superior tracking, clean sound, and durable steel construction.
Aguilar Amplification’s New York-based team is a group of bass players and engineers with a reputable track record. The newest version of this pedal has a new design that reduces the “lip” around the edges of the pedal.
Compared to other octave pedals, the Octamizer is versatile and easy to use with features that help control tone and produce a clean signal. On top of that, it’s steel enclosure makes the pedal ready for heavy live use.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Octave Pedal
There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the right pedal for you. You’ll need to consider the following:
Guitar | Pedal | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Main | Aguilar | Octamizer |
Aguilar Octamzier Bass Octave Pedal
PRO's & CON's of Aguitalr Octamizer
Generally, the Octamizer is a highly rated pedal. Most users agree that it gives plenty of control while producing crisp sound. However, it does have its limitations. Here is my breakdown:
Pros
Cons
Features and Benefits
The Octamizer’s design strives to be easy-to-use, yet highly functional. I’ve highlighted its most important features below. And I took a deep dive into the major benefits of its sound and the limitations of its construction.
Features
The Octamizer has many features that make it a great tool for bassists. Most importantly, the Octamizer can create a wide range of sounds and gives the user a significant amount of control. I’ve detailed the many features that make this possible in the next section on Sound.
In addition to its durable steel construction, the Octamizer is now available in a smaller case design, which seems to address the pedal issue being longer than average and thus harder to fit on a board.
Finally, all of Aguilar’s products, including the Octamizer, are made by bassists, for bassists. The engineers and creators at Aguilar are known for their bass amplification systems in particular. They are easily considered experts in the building of bass devices.
Control and Sound
The Octamizer can create a wide range of sounds, an octave below your original note. These sounds range from synthesized to a natural tone. It also has features other pedals don’t that help it generate, such as clean sound.
- 1Octave filter. The Octamizer generates an octave below your original note and gives you the power to shape the octave sound. This type of control is possible with the Octave Filter, a multi-pole low-pass filter. I love giving my sound a synthy tone, a smooth tone, or an edgy tone with only one tool.
- 2Independent volume controls. The separate controls for the Clean sound and Octave sound also help you create new sounds, as each signal path has its own tone controls. It also helps that the volume controls are separate. This makes finding the perfect balance much more accessible.
- 3Clean tone control. The Octamizer uses a full-spectrum tilt EQ, which simultaneously boosts treble and cuts bass frequencies. The tilt EQ feature creates a super clean sound. Iit also gives you more options for generating the sound you need.
- 4Analog. The fact that the Octamizer is an analog pedal is important, especially since there’s been a lot of debate between analog and digital signals. While it is a personal preference, the main benefit of analog is that it is a continuous sound that can pick up the subtleties of your playing.
But why take my word for it when you can listen for yourself? Check out this video to see the Octamizer’s range. As you can see in the video, the independent controls give the user many options for sound and tone. This includes high and low tones, as well as octave only, all in low, medium, and high filters.
Construction
As I mentioned earlier, one big plus of the Octamizer is that it is heavy duty and able to withstand a lot of wear. However, it has some significant limitations that make it a pain to incorporate into a board. Keep reading to learn the details, but also ask yourself if you are looking for a home studio pedal or one that’s versatile on the road?
- 1It is made from heavy-duty steel. Many pedals are made of metal chassis, which protects the pedal's innards, but it is not as durable as steel. Although it doesn't affect its primary function, I appreciate its durability when playing a lot of live shows or traveling.
- 2Input and output jacks are on the top of the unit, rather than on the sides. The jacks' location creates difficulty because it makes the pedal challenging to incorporate to a board and makes the pedal very long. This challenge can be annoying when I play anywhere but my home studio.
- 3It has a new, smaller design. Aguilar seems to be catching onto the annoyance that the top jacks cause because the latest version of the Octamizer has a smaller case. The smaller size is possible by reducing the "lip" around the edges of the pedal.
- 4The unit can be powered by a nine-volt battery, or by a universal power supply. The power supply may seem insignificant, but it can affect your sound. A lower quality power supply can create hum and other unwanted noises. That's why having the option to isolate each of your pedals' power source is a plus.
Social Proof of the Pedal
You've read my review, now let's see what others have to say. Online reviews on product pages are an excellent way to get a true sense of how a product performs. In general, reviews of the Octamizer are highly positive.
As reviewers mention, Aguilar is well-known for their bass products. This pedal is only one of their many products that musicians enjoy. They follow through in sound quality, functionality, and ease of use. Here are some of the most helpful reviews for this bass pedal:
As this reviewer notes, the Octamizer has an impressive range of sounds. While it is great for a synthy tone, it can also produce a more natural tone or give an extra punch at the end of a build.
This reviewer also raves about the versatility of the Octamizer. As the reviewer writes, the pedal can create a classic analog tone and an edgy, synthy tone. The reviewer also mentions the excellent tracking capabilities of the pedal.
At 20-year experience, this reviewer brings a lot of first-hand expertise. As the reviewer notes, octave pedals usually have a difficult time tracking, especially the lower notes of a bass. However, this is not a problem with the Octamizer.
In Conclusion
If you're a bass player looking for an octave pedal with versatile sound control and durable construction, the Octamizer may be the pedal for you.
As you learned in this review, the Octamizer is an impressive device that generates a wide range of sounds. It has multiple control systems, and a steel design that keeps your equipment long-lasting. Click here to try the Octamizer yourself.
