Using an Octivider on Pedal Steel

[Bob Mainwaring]

Anyone out there ever used a Boss Octivider on Pedal Steel at all??

All Z.B.est.

Bob Mainwaring

[Bob Mainwaring]

I'm still wondering if an octave changer, either up or down of any description has ever been used similar to a regular guitar players bag of tricks?

All Z.B.est.

Bob Mainwaring.

[Stephen Cowell]

The problems with octave boxes are:
1. Not good for poly-chromatic stuff... only one note at a time, otherwise you get garbage (or nothing)

2. Introduces distortion... the regular guitar has a better tone, and probably (for PSG) the same notes are available an octave down anyway.

[Bob Hoffnar]

I and many other steel players use the Electro harmonox POG which has that function and works very well. Chords and all.

[chris ivey]

i think buddy uses one on some of 'one for the road'.

[Lane Gray]

I've used the Danelectro Chili Dog. As mentioned above, it doesn't handle diads well, even fifths. It positively rebels at chords.
It introduces some fuzz, but I like the effect.
Single note lines only.
I'd thought about getting a POG, but haven't yet decided it's worth it.

[Richard Rice]

I have an old brown BOSS Octaver, it doesn't do a good job of tracking, and forget about diads or chords. I also have a POG, which works quite well. I especially like the coloration and broad sound it can produce. It makes my steel sound like an organ, and my electric guitar can get into simulated 12 string sounds. I almost sold it, then I tried it with the steel. The pedal isn't going anywhere now.

[Karl Fehrenbach]

Another user of the Electro Harmonix POG 2 chiming in. It tracks very well and I use the B3 Organ setting in the group I play with. It is very versatile and chord comping with it is very effective. I will be using it tomorrow evening at a fundraiser in Horsham, PA, with a group that does a wide variety of pop music and the B3 organ sound fits right in with the steel guitar driving it for those 60's tunes. Love it.

[Pete Burak]

I use a MuTron Octave Divider.
I also have a Boss OC3 that I like to use in Poly mode, which allows for Octave on the low notes and normal on the high notes (it has a knob to set the cutoff point).
I also have a Boss OC2 which is OK but it has a bit of a chorus-ee sound to it.
Any Octaver with a 2-Octave-Down knob, I just turn that completely off, and mix the clean signal volume with the 1-octave-down volume (like on a the Boss OC-3).
I'm not real crazy about the Over-Drive tone on the OC3 (unless someone calls the electric version of Neil Youngs "Hey Hey My My").
I've never used an Octave-Up unit.
The MuTron has a Green-Ringer circuit built in which is kind of a mild Octave-up-with-a-little-fuzz signal. I don't use it much.
I like to combine Octave with Envelope Filter.
This is a very powerful combo when used with the low-end of a U12 (and is standard issue in the Jam-Band scene).
Funn Stuff!
pete b.

[Michael Haselman]

If you listen to the end solo of "Ghost Riders" on the classic Nashville Bar Association album you'll hear a great solo by Buddy using an octave divider.

[Micky Byrne]

Bob...I did use a Boss pedal for Octave below. It's just another "Toy" at the end of the day, and as such should be used very sparingly preferably on single note runs. I went to a pub here in UK to watch a band...The lead guitarist used a Waa Waa on "every" song!! I was about to ask him if that was a Christmas present ....seriously though, the sound of a steel is so sweet on it's own, but as mentioned earlier use effects sparingly and let the Audience wonder "What is that??"

Micky Byrne U.K.

[Gus York]

Bob-Have used the Boss Octaver since I can't remember when (mind you I can't remember most things these days?) Great sound on rock and jazz stuff-Like Micky says-Use sparingly, 'cos like most effects it can get,well not boring,but a bit like, well tedious, so learn when to use it !? Interesting sound, single strings only though!