Octavian

I am using this with Fender Strats and Teles,through Fender Bassman and Twin 65 reissue amps.Pedal board is big-- Rotosphere/deja vibe/choralflange/tremulator/chicago iron octavian/analogman sunface nkt275/hoochee mama/fulldrive 2/cesar diaz squareface fuzz/fatboost/clyde wah.I play in a number of different bands so need a variety of sounds.With my own stuff I go for the Hendrix pedals mostly. Firstly,the Octavian is silent when on,no hiss or popping switches.I was interested in this unit because Doyle Bramhall 2 uses one,and he seems to get a great tone with his.I was using a Fulltone Octafuzz,but found it a bit too fuzzy,and limited to 12th fret and above.The Chicago Iron is more versatile,and works well on its own or when using with other pedals on the board.The octave tone is very similar to Hendrix,and its fairly easy to get that high octave sustain a la 'Who Knows'/'Purple Haze'/'One Rainy Wish'.Also,and what sold me on this unit,is that you can get some really useable dark tones at the first fret,where the pedal responds differently to the lower strings and upper strings.You really can use the pedal through out all neck positions,unlike other Octave effects.Watch Doyle Bramhall 2 'Live at The Great Wall of China'--'Chariot',where he 'plays' the pedal,and uses it not just as a one trick pony.It also sound great with Fuzz pedals and Vibe pedals.It has a warm,full and vibrant tone,much fatter than the Fulltone Octafuzz,and also much more authentic and 'real' sounding.

Have gigged with it,and not too worried about reliability as it seems to be extremely well built.Also Kurt is a great guy,and his customer relations are up there with the best.

Easy to use if you know a little about Octave sounds before you try it.If you are not familiar with the modulation it could be difficult to get a good tone from.I guess most people that go for this type of effect do so because of Hendrix,so they know what they are after.Simple set up-two knobs Volume and Boost.The volume can get very loud and push any amp's front end.Boost a little wild on full-up.Comes with the repro Tycobrahe manual,and an up to date version,giving good pointers on how to set up and use the pedal.

Had some contact when purchasing the unit,but not needed since.Kurt is passionate about what he does,so I assume he would care greatly to accomodate his customers too.

I have been playing 21 years,semi-pro mostly.Looking to make a living playing,but not easy here in the UK.Play mostly blues/rock style,and also pop/rock/soul covers to make money in function bands etc.Am currently recording an album for small indie label,and looking to tour UK/Europe,so could be the start of something.This pedal will remain with me on gigs,and I am enjoying getting to find out more ways to use it as the nights go by.You have to learn to 'play' the pedal,and utilise all its sonic possibilities,not just copy Hendrix.If it was stolen I would buy another straight away.Sorry,cant give a ten--never know whats round the corner and a 10 would mean search over!

Of course my all time favorite without hesetation is the psychedelic Space Traveler himself. Jimi (no last name needed)The distortion WAILS, and the ring modulator is the best out there, PERIOD. I own about a doxen ring modulators, including two original Tycobrahes. This pedal sounds better than the originals just because the parts are coroding inside. This thing has the "bloom" down to incredible perfection. as you play two notes, and bend one up, you will actually hear 4 tones, the 2 originals, and the 2 modulated tones. You MUST hear this thing to believe it. It makes the Way Huge Platypuss sound very tame. This pedal is a lion. You can also bring it down to a whisper, and get human vocal-like sounds. Total Jeff Beck and pure Hendrix.....dare I say it: Better than the R. Mayer? I would prefer this one, just because I know they are hand built one at a time and the construction quality is second to none.     I have many amps, but play this with my 100 watt super lead, and it is guarenteed to put a smile on your face. Enjineered to the 'enth degree, and I would absolutely say the best sounding, best build and most solid Octave/Fuzz one could find. WELL WORTH the $300+ I paid.    Oh, it is not at all noisey. When engaged, it is very musical, though my Grandma would call it noise. To me the effect always sounds great. The fuzz alone, or the modulation set to on, there is no bad setting on this pedal. Get one you will NOT regret it!

Have NEVER had any problem with it. I would not hesitate to skip the back-up, even playing the Allstate Arena.

This pedal is pure professional grade. VERY easy to get several INCREDIBLE tones here. Manual and pedal are straight forward and easy to use in every way.....No upgrade....I own a Chicago Iron Octavian and the special release Octavia.

The guy who makes these is easily accessible, I have gotten him on the phone (the owner himself) and he has also done mods to some of my wah-wah pedals....called para-babies, and he was super nice to deal with lightning fast, and helpful in every way.     Never needed repair. There is now an upgrade called the Octavian+ which I am savbing up for. I don't know what the "+" is, but it must be off the hook. I just can't say enough good things about this pedal. It is Tycobrahe Octavia to a "T". Now, I can gig with my $1,000+ Tycobrahe safe at home, from bar-drunks and fast fingered a-holes...(my friend had an MXR script phase 100 stolen between sets. So, trust me, they're out there)

I play psychedelic blues/groove/jam/rock (think Hey Baby by Jimi)and it is a perfect match, no matter which amp I choose for the night. Been playing for 30 years and am a collecter with a sick problem: over 300 pedals...If it was stolen or lost, I would buy a new one the next day.     What I love most, and favorite feature is the octavia when soloing around the 12th fret. the only word to describe it is MAGIC. I don't know how it is done, but people will come up to me after shows and ask "what the HECK was that pedal....how did you get that sound?" I am always happy to tell them, "Chicago Iron, man. It will change your life!".     Get one. No other Octave pedal comes close, IN MY OPINION!!!!

The reason why I give this pedal a 1 is for the reason that the owner of this company claims this is an authentic copy, and its trully not.  I am one of the few people in this world that is fortunate enough to own the real Tycobrahe Octavia.  Which is a really rare pedal.  So I can understand how easy it is for Chicago Iron to claim they have a real clone of this pedal, because most people can't get a real Tycobrahe Octavia to compare it with.   I do have both, and both of these pedals are totally different in tone. I have owned all the Octavia clones out there.  There is no copy of the Original, if so, they wouldn't be worth $1400+ in todays market.  The original has more Octave presence than The Chicago version, or any version, fulltone, voodoo lab, etc.  The original is more musical, warmer, and better sounding and funner to play.   Nobody has a real clone of this pedal at this point in time that I know of...  Cosmetically, this pedal clones the real pedal.  But sound, parts, transformers is a BIG NO and you buyers, like myself have been hyped and suckered for $200 for a $50 or less pedal..   The original has a better, more costly transformer that makes a difference in the octavian sound..Has totally different parts than the chicago iron and has point to point wiring..The most obvious thing you we see in comparison with a Chicago Iron and a real Octavia is  the "el cheapo" transformer and cheap parts...Which in turns gives you a false clone version and brittle bright sound....If you ever get an opportunity to own or have the real Tycobrahe Octavia in your guitar playing hands, then you know I am speaking the truth.  I can't believe what some people in this world will do to make a buck.  Just horrible, but I must say, I have been suckered from hype.

Never would gig with it, because it doesn't sound like the real deal.

Nothing improved from the original.  Still have unscrew all 4 feet to switch out the battery.  Time consuming. Same controls, so easy of use has not changed since the 70s.

How can you have customer support from a person who makes false claims?

I play blues rock and original rock music.  Not a good match for a tone head like myself.  I have been playiny seriously for 16 years.  I own a  61 pre cbs strat, groshes, nashes, suhrs all strats, carr, fender amps.  If this was stolen, the thief did me a favor.  I compared this with the real Tycobrahe octavian.  I wish there was somebody out there who when claims that they have a 100 percent clone of an original speaks the truth and works so hard to really make a clone, not profit $$$$$.  SAD