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Download Example 1
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| Clip recorded with a Performance Strat-style guitar into a Peavey JSX head mic'd with Sennheiser mic into Garage Band
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Since 1996, T-Rex Effects has been evolving and creating some of the coolest pedals in the biz. Their philosophy of bridging the gap between “analog warmth and digital precision” has produced a great line of pedals with terrific tones and user-friendly versatility. They’ve attracted heavyweight players such as David Gilmour, Carlos Santana, and Pete Townsend, so when the company’s latest offering, the Octavius Tri-Tone Generator, arrived, I couldn’t wait to try it out.
As Above, So Below
The T-Rex Octavius Tri-Tone Generator is a polyphonic octave divider that allows you to produce an octave above and below your guitar’s signal, while maintaining your original signal. It’s fully adjustable giving you the ability to mix the three sounds to create a wide assortment of big, fat doubling effects, and thicker-than-thou guitar lines.
This lightweight-but-solid pedal’s controls are laid out for instant usability. On the upper left is a Lo Oct knob that allows you to set the volume of the lower octave. The High Oct knob on the upper right controls the volume for the higher octave signal. Middle left is a Master Mix knob that allows you to adjust the volume of the Low Oct and the High Oct signal compared to your dry signal. To the right of that is a Boost knob that controls the output of your octave divided sound. This knob lets you tweak your solo level, whether the overdrive circuit is on or not.
On the lower left is an On/Off switch, and to the lower right is your Boost switch. It can work independently as a transparent clean boost for your amp, or add extra oomph to your octave divider settings.
The power supply is 12V DC, with an included 1250 mA external power supply, and can run on 9V DC with a 155 mA current draw.
Divide and Conquer
Plugged into a ’66 Fender Pro Reverb and my custom Strat, the fun began. I was able to dial in all kinds of octave variations going from subtle thickening of my stock guitar tone, to crazy high-pitched stuff that sounded like my Strat suddenly became a twelve string. That upper octave is very cool. The extra layer up top allows you to cut through a dull room mix without sounding synthy. I found it very easy to blend the pedal’s individual octave sounds and mix those levels with my amp and other effects. I got great girth and thickness without sounding obnoxious. Pushing that lower octave with some dirt made my riffs sound growly and huge, but always clear.
The coolest thing about this pedal is that you don’t have to turn it off to play chords. You can arpeggiate! The tracking is seamless. Chords or single notes sound transparent, clean, and bigger.
The Final Mojo
The T-Rex Octavius Tri-Generator is a great polyphonic octave pedal with seamless tracking and tonal clarity, that allows you to create a variety of cool sounds and textures.
Buy if...
you dig excellent octave sounds.
Skip if...
you prefer the nastier old school Octavia
Rating...
