Not For Sale
Model Description:
The DOD FX35 Octoplus was manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA between late 1986 and 1994 with various cosmetic variants along the way. While octave dividers first appeared in the 1960s, the effect has flirted with popularity on and off over the intervening decades. Most manufacturers dipped their toes into the effect with a variety of approaches and different levels of success. The DOD FX 35 bore some similarities with the approach taken by the Japanese BOSS OC‑2 Octaver, although the latter allows for both one and two octaves down while the FX35 only creates one sub octave. Like most octave effects, tracking is best limited to single notes and, even then, getting a consistent signal can be a bit of an unpredictable gamble. Unlike the BOSS OC‑2, the FX35 features a tone control for the octave signal only, giving it a degree of unrivalled versatility. The octave signal can be blended with the original to produce a thicker, more organic sound, by generating a complementary separate bass note. The FX35 also became popular with bass players wanting to strengthen the bottom end to their sound. Its personality lies not only its discrete voice but also how it interacts with other effects, like compression, distortion and fuzz, or even EQ and delay. For many guitarists, an octave generator is not a ‘must have’ effect and, even if they use one, it may not be used frequently. Octave pedals are better suited to prog, hard rock, heavier metal or creative experimentalists than used as a workhorse for the mainstream pop or blues/rock. Lower demand at the time means that the FX35 was produced in smaller numbers relative to some of the ‘classics’, meaning that they aren’t as common and, when they do come up, they can be more costly. However, given DOD’s positioning in the vintage effect market, it can still be considered to be reasonable value if a good one can be found and secured.
Pedal Description:
This colourful blue effect pedal is a 1988 DOD FX35 Octoplus which, as its name kinda suggests, is an analogue sub‑octave generator. It has only three simple controls, ‘Octave Level’ and ‘Direct Level’ allow for the blending of the direct signal with the sub‑octave signal, while the ‘Tone’ control changes the tone of the sub‑octave, which is quite an unusual – and useful – feature. This example is in fantastic all‑original condition – just a couple of very minor superficial marks – complete with its box and its instruction manual. It’s not a pedal for everyone but if you want a straightforward octave generator, this one does the job pretty effectively. The tracking is variable even on single notes and particularly on plain B and E strings. Stick to the wound strings and it can create some great tones. It can easily be flummoxed trying to track weak, rapid or polyphonic signals. Don’t expect pristinely articulated discrete notes, it is much better for complementing the original signal to give it a bit of additional heft. It doesn’t go for all out sonic lunacy like, say, an MXR Blue Box or the clarity of the BOSS OC‑2 already mentioned but subtlety isn’t really the Octoplus’s bag. While the FX35 is neither better nor worse than other octave effects, it does what it does well and I admit to being pleasantly surprised by the results. Personally, I like more adventurous tone‑mongering, so the FX35 Octoplus is a welcome addition to CRAVE Effects. Octave generators like the all‑analogue FX35 have found favour with metal guitarists (and bassists) wanting to extend the low end of already down‑tuned riffs (great for, say, doom metal) or players just wanting to fill out their sound. It can sound big, if not epic. The FX35 may also suit purveyors of shoegaze or noise rock, or even experimentalist ambient soundscapers. In summary, the FX35 is a straightforward niche product that will either find favour or not with its particular flavour of sub‑octave tonal manipulation. Nice one; DOD not bad at all, as long as you don’t expect too much.
Features:
- Made by DOD in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. in 1988
- The ‘Octave Level’ knob controls the output volume of the sub‑octave signal
- The ‘Tone’ knob controls the amount of treble or bass applied to the sub‑octave signal
- The ‘Direct Level’ knob controls the output volume of the original signal
- The treadle‑style footswitch controls whether the effect is on or off
- Standard ¼” input and output mono jack sockets
- LED status indicator to show when the effect is in use
- 9V DC power supply input or 9V battery
- Dimensions: 5” x 3” x 2” – 127mm x 76mm x 51mm (L x W x D)
- Weight: 1.2 Lbs – 550g
- Original box and documentation
Detail Gallery:
