The far reaches of octave-effect capabilities are made accessible via this compact new digital box.
Few effects can force a transformation in playing style quite like octave pedals. They can make single notes scream like birds of prey or add a beefy sub-octave thump that makes every string pluck sound like it weighs 300 pounds. But no matter which extreme you pursue, an octave pedal will make playing a familiar passage feel very differentāand, on good days, prompt musical invention.
Digital design has made octave pedals more flexible and friendly to experimental, inventive approaches in recent years. And clever manufacturers can now deliver some of the wider, interactive functionality of treadle-based designs like the DigiTech Whammy in compact pedals. TC Electronicās Sub āNā Up, the latest addition to the companyās TonePrint series, is a cool study in how much octave-tweaking fun you can stuff into a little enclosure without a treadle.
One Monster, Many Growls
The surprisingly basic, relatively simple layout of the Sub āNā Up includes knobs for controlling dry/effected mix, the amount of āupā or high octave, the amount of first sub-octave, and the intestine-rumbling frequencies of the pedalās second sub-octave engine. There is also a three-way toggle switch that allows selection between polyphonic settings, a TonePrint selector (our demo unit came loaded with a killer faux organ sound, complete with its own modulation), and traditional, non-polyphonic mode (labeled āclassicā). Itās an intuitive pedal, even if youāre a neophyte octave pedal user.
Ratings
Pros:
Great tones. Tracks well in extreme octave settings and with complex chords. Flexible. Small footprint.
Cons:
None.
Tones:
Playability/Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$129
TC Electronic Sub āNā Up Octaver
tcelectronic.com
The polyphonic sounds the Sub āNā Up brings to the table are superb. An oft-heard complaint from octave addicts is that most octave pedals track poorlyāglitching out when chords or odd interval bends enter the picture. Even some of the best octave pedals can still get confused and glitch if too much complex harmonic information is thrown their direction. So itās impressive that Sub āNā Up handles these musical situations as well as it does. In polyphonic modeāeven with the ominous low rumble of its second sub-octave engagedāchords ring and rumble with surprising clarity and without pronounced latency or glitchy artifacts. But if glitchiness is what youāre after, the classic setting provides those raw, crooked sounds with ease. The second sub-octave is a huge part of the fun, especially when utilized on bass guitar through a proper bass amplifier. Truly filthy textures lurk in the upper range of this control.
Beam Me Sub āNā Up
TCās very useful TonePrint technology looks more impressive and practical with every new release and TonePrint library addition. Itās a big part of what makes Sub āNā Up so versatile, too. The organ TonePrint the Sub āNā Up came with generated warbling, lush polyphonic swirl that evoked classic combo organs, stoked rhythmic ideas, and lent economy to my playing as I picked riffs to match the fat, bubbling tones. Paired with a Stratocaster loaded with Seymour Duncan APS-1 single-coil pickups through a Fender Pro Junior, comped chords became a great alternative rhythm guitar texture. With a distorted 100-watt Marshall JCM800 head and 4x12, it sounded like Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore melded into a single musician! Diving even further into the TonePrint editor enables you to craft tones that range from more esoteric keyboard sounds to very convincing 12-string guitar tones.
The Verdict
Between the killer polyphonic tracking and the nearly limitless flexibility afforded by its TonePrint technology, the Sub āNā Up might be the only octave effect you need. The lack of treadle means some extremely radical octave-shift maneuvers remain impossible. But the available tones are fantastic, and surprises aboundāespecially when you consider the small size. At just around $130, the Sub āNā Up is another great value from an increasingly impressive pedal line.
Watch the Review Demo: