Bassic Review – Aguilar Octamizer Pedal

Posted by Bass Gear Magazine | Feb 12, 2024 | Bassic Reviews, Gear | 0 |

As a bassist, few things get me more excited than getting my hands on a new pedal. There’s just something magical about being able to shape and mould your tone with the tap of your toe. And when that pedal promises organic analogue octave effects, well, colour me intrigued.

That’s exactly what drew me to the Aguilar Octamizer. This pedal with its eye-catching graphics packs some serious low-end sculpting – the kind that any self-respecting bassist needs in their rig. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this pedal so special.

At first glance, the Octamizer keeps things simple. The front panel features four knobs. The top two adjust the levels of the clean instrument sound and that of the effected sound, which is one octave below the original signal. Being a classic analogue circuit, that octave tone has a very particular character to it. However, Aguilar has gone not just one, but two steps further. Both signal paths have their own tailored equaliser. And they aren’t just simple filters. The Octave filter is a multi-pole, low-pass type. The clean EQ is a tilting topology, allowing for boosting bass, whilst cutting treble, or vice-versa. Clever stuff, which results in a huge breadth of available sounds from scooped Hi-Fi bass, to gritty vintage midrange push.

A single foot switch toggles the effect on and off. An LED behind a top-mounted lens indicates the pedal’s operation clearly on a darkened stage.

The star of the show is in finding the sweet spot for the octave-down effect, versus the direct sound. Aguilar nails the warm, synth-like quality that we all know and love from classic analogue octave pedals. It’s thick, smothering, and oh-so funky. The tracking feels fast and responsive, due to the proprietary detector circuit, but do take into consideration that all analogue circuit pedals have limitations, by design. They cannot “do” polyphony, and will start to struggle to track lower notes on the bass neck, versus say, that of a top-tier digital pedal. This is no criticism towards the Octamizer or any analogue circuit; it’s more that we need to treat the effect carefully to get the best out of it!

Blending in the octave-down adds some serious depth and body to your sound. It can be a subtle, bass-boosting effect that fattens up the low end. I found it worked nicely for embellishing riffs or just giving my tone a bit more girth. However, it can also get a little muddy if you push the level high. Best used sparingly in most cases.

To reiterate, having separate knobs for the dry signal, octave down and equalisation for each gives you tons of flexibility. You can go for a pure synth bass sound, blend both octaves, or mix in just a dash of octave spice to liven up your natural tone. Lots of tonal options, here.

From Motown to prog-metal, the Octamizer delivers admirably. Not out of place in bass lines across all genres; Pop, funk, rock, and beyond – this pedal handled it all with ease. Higher output pickups and active electronics seem to push the electronics a little and draw out some grit and growl, nicely. The octaves retain their signature character, without succumbing to flub or excessive noise. Even at bedroom levels, the Octamizer impresses with its note separation and clarity.

The build quality is top-notch, as expected from Aguilar. The steel chassis feels sturdy and road-ready. The foot switch has a smooth, precise motion. The side-mounted 1/4″ input and outputs keep your cables neatly organised.

Power comes from an internal 9V battery, or via an external PSU connected to the standard “pedal power” 2.1mm 9V DC input socket.

When it comes to octave pedals, there are certainly plenty of options out there, both analogue and digital. Octamizer stands out with its innovative features. Firstly, the sound quality is a quintessential analogue octave, exactly as I’d hoped. Secondly, the separate mix knobs create a huge range of possible tones. And thirdly, the build quality means this thing will stand the test of time.

For bassists seeking organic analogue octave effects, the Octamizer is an ideal choice. Its warm vintage vibe instantly inspires funky grooves and melodic lines. Whether you’re playing covers or carving original sounds, this pedal delivers. Just make sure you send it some nice clean pitches to work with.

Let’s run through some key specs:

In summary, Aguilar’s Octamizer is a robust, great-sounding octave pedal that does well at fattening up bass tones with rich organic effects. It’s intuitive to use and built to handle the rigours of the road. If you’re seeking those classic octave tones in a compact pedal, look no further.

So, if you’re feeling funky, grab yourself an Octamizer. Your bass lines will thank you! Let those low-end octaves shine.

SPECIFICATIONS

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