MXR Sub Octave Bass Fuzz or Red Witch Zeus?

Hi-End Basses

Hi-End Basses

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Apr 20, 2015
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#1
Looking at Sub Octave Bass Fuzzes. MXR has what I'm sure is a great pedal. That being said, I have an affinity towards some of the more high end pedals. The Red Witch Zeus is about $100 more. Does anyone have experience with these two pedals, and those of you with the Zeus, is the extra buck worth it to you?
 
#2
I only have the MXR, but I've heard some demos of the Zeus. I like how the Zeus has separate switches for the fuzz and octaver, whereas the MXR has a master on-off and octaver (might look into a mod at some point because I like the idea of separate switches). But I like the sound of the fuzzes on the MXR better, especially the midrangey one that sounds something like the MXR Bass Distortion set on stun.
 
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#3
The thing with the Zeus is you have to play with the internal pots to get the sound you want and the balance of Fuzz to Octave . But once you do the Zeus is nothing short of amazing IMHO. Plus as stated above you can use the octave that tracks well and sounds very organic/natural and the fuzz separately. I tried out both but went with the Zeus. I just like what the Sputter control brings to the sound plus you can do Hi Gain with the flick of a switch.
 
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#4
The SubOctave Bass Fuzz, if I am not mistaken, cannot be used to give you just an octave down by itself, unless you turn the fuzz level off. So in that way, it's not the 2-in-1 that the Zeus is, having both sides independent of one another.
 
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#5
cough cough........



there both great! the octave in the redwitch is massive sounding! the mxr is on my board now as it sounds really cool with the sub, fuzz and octave up on!
 
#7
I have to dismiss the MXR and the Redwitch to suggest getting an Emma Electronic Okto-Nøjs. Such an incredible pedal. Offers more control of both the octave circuit and the fuzz circuit vs the MXR and Redwitch. But don't just take my word for it, do a quick YouTube search, there are some very good demos of it.

I got one a couple of weeks ago and it's fast becoming my favourite pedal.
 
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#9
CameronJohnson said:
I have to dismiss the MXR and the Redwitch to suggest getting an Emma Electronic Okto-Nøjs. Such an incredible pedal. Offers more control of both the octave circuit and the fuzz circuit vs the MXR and Redwitch. But don't just take my word for it, do a quick YouTube search, there are some very good demos of it.

I got one a couple of weeks ago and it's fast becoming my favourite pedal.
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I wanted to love the Okto Nojs so badly, but with the setup I had at the time it just didn't work out, the tracking was not good despite Emma's claims and demos. Might try another if I can find one on the cheap. I love my hidden-gem Slash octave fuzz (i use the octave down without its fuzz, plus the switchable upper-octave fuzz).
 
#11
CameronJohnson said:
Mine tracks as well if not better than my other octavers (Aguilar Octamizer, 3Leaf Octabvre, COG T16 and a DOD Meatbox) so I'm surprised to hear that. What basses were you using with it?
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I just had a passive PJ Ibanez Talman TMB30 - tried it with and without compression in front and everything! VERY surprised, same as you are now upon reading of my experience.
 
#13
Ba55Man1ac said:
Sign up to the Red Witch mailing list - they have amazing sales a couple of times a year.
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THIS!

They just had a stupidly great sale, which I had to pass on (Synthotron :crying:) — but I got the Zeus previously for a stupendously low sum, half off if I recall accurately.
Since Redwitch just had a sale, it might be a wee while before they have another.
 
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#15
The Zeus has a great oc2 inside it.

The fuzz, meh. I'm not the most sympathetic audience, with a low output bass and an aversion to fuzz faces.

Together is pretty sweet.

The fuzz being off and the octave running into my tfr is better.

I already have an oc2, tho. It's less shiny I guess.
 
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