Beetronics finally makes the Octahive's Octave Mode Foot-switchable as standard and shrinks the pedal down to Babee size at the same time
Readers will know that I campaigned a long time for the standard version of the Octahive to have a foot-switchable octave mode - where that function was activated by default from a toggle switch on the side of the pedal. I actually own a really cool version of the V1 Octahive - pictured bottom right on the below visual - the mint-green one.
I think it was just a few months after I acquired my custom version, possibly as much as half a year later - when Beetronics started offering a second footswitch option on that batch of custom editions. I hoped that within a short while we might see it as a standard option - which never came to pass.
Obviously the Vezzpa dual-fuzz Babee format was sort of a forerunner to this as it also is an Upper or High Octave Fuzz as Beetronics likes to call it. And on that pedal you double-tapped the one footswitch - and then if used as a momentary hold - played a burst of the other mode (Fuzzzz / Stinger). That model had just 2 knobs - essentially volume and gain, and it was a wirier sharper style of octave fuzz 'Stinger' versus the beefier style of Octave Fuzz produced by the Octave.
Controls - Pre (Input Gain), Honey (Output Gain), Vol (Master Volume).
Using those 3 controls in tandem you can really refine the degree of harmonics and fuzz texture - and it produces a somewhat more potent High Octave Fuzz than the Vezzpa as far as I'm concerned.
In fact it will be interesting to see how much this V2 Octahive cannibalises the Vezzpa's sales - as for me - both the Modes on the Octahive are preferable to the Vezzpa's - yes they are slightly different in character - while the greater granularity of the Octahive further pushes the dial in favour of the newer pedal. The Pre / Input Gain knob can really reveal some interesting ring modulation style harmonics when you dial it back a touch.
Moreover I think the new Octahive looks brilliant in its standard Black and Gold livery - where the facia design is based on the epaulette from Jimi Hendrix's military style jacket that he used to sport. So it's a rarity for me that I will be going for the Standard edition here. There were 10 Custom Editions at launch - but I much prefer the Standard version to each of those - which retails for $199 - while the custom editions are at $269.
I wanted to picture the new V2 next to a similar black and gold V1 - but was unable to find a close match - so I further customised one of the former Star Wars Custom Editions - where I gilded the Rebel Alliance insignia - they make a very striking pair!
As is often the case - this release comes a little late in the month for me - as I've long since spent my budget for the month - so it goes on the list for next month.
The original Octahive has always been a favourite of mine - I just had two challenges with it - the lack of a footswtichable Octave, and it's slightly over-sized enclosure - the new V2 Babee Octahive totally solves all that - I'm actually delighted - a little less so about the timing!
Demos
