Prescription Electronics C.O.B. - Clean Octave Boost

[wbm68]

Originally Posted by James

I the COB.

How do you use it? Just by itself or with another pedal? What kind of sound are you trying to get out of it. Mine has not arrived yet and as there really isn't all that much info out there on it, I'd be really interested on hearing about it as much as possible.

[James]

Originally Posted by wbm68

How do you use it? Just by itself or with another pedal? What kind of sound are you trying to get out of it? Mine has not arrived yet and as there really isn't all that much info out there on it, I'd be really interested on hearing about it as much as possible.

I use as a Hendrix-style octave fuzz for lead playing. Just as the pedal's name implies, I do find it *very* useful to blend in the clean direct guitar tone back into the octave-fuzz tone. It gives it a whole other vibe, sounds sweeter/cooler. Almost synth-like. It's hard to describe. Have you ever run a clean amp and dirty amp at the same time to create a huge tone that is simultaneously clean and dirty? It's like that, but with an octave-fuzz you don't really want to play chords, just single-note lines.

[wbm68]

Originally Posted by James

I use as a Hendrix-style octave fuzz for lead playing. Just as the pedal's name implies, I do find it *very* useful to blend in the clean direct guitar tone back into the octave-fuzz tone. It gives it a whole other vibe, sounds sweeter/cooler. Almost synth-like. It's hard to describe. Have you ever run a clean amp and dirty amp at the same time to create a huge tone that is simultaneously clean and dirty? It's like that, but with an octave-fuzz you don't really want to play chords, just single-note lines.

So use the pedal by itself into a clean amp? No additional OD or Fuzz after the COB?
It is astonishing that after being in production now for over 12 years, there are no sound or video clips out there.

[James]

Originally Posted by wbm68

So use the pedal by itself into a clean amp? No additional OD or Fuzz after the COB?
It is astonishing that after being in production now for over 12 years, there are no sound or video clips out there.

Oh yes, good question. I use it into a clean, Fender Blackface-style amp. I prefer to use the COB alone, not combined with any other OD or fuzz pedals.

[James]

Originally Posted by wbm68

It is astonishing that after being in production now for over 12 years, there are no sound or video clips out there.

Think of it as an enigma, a mystery wrapped inside a riddle.

[wbm68]

Originally Posted by James

Think of it as an enigma, a mystery wrapped inside a riddle.

Well, if all goes well I will solve this riddle by Friday.

[wbm68]

The mystery has been solved! My COB has arrived. Mine is blue with white letters. It'll take some time so really get to know it, as it certainly is not a straight forward pedal.
For anyone else who is wondering about this pedal, so far I'd say it's a mild fuzz, a strong boost and an upper octave effect. It sounds good on it's own, but way better in combination with a separate OD or Fuzz pedal. I use it with a Fulltone '69, OCD, PowerScreamer and MI Audio GI Fuzz.
I need to experiment with the blend knob some more and run it at stage volume next week.
So far I do like it, it's real strength is that it works well with other pedals.

[James]

Congrats! The C.O.B. is a great gadget.

[tapeup]

Originally Posted by wbm68

The mystery has been solved! My COB has arrived. Mine is blue with white letters. It'll take some time so really get to know it, as it certainly is not a straight forward pedal.
For anyone else who is wondering about this pedal, so far I'd say it's a mild fuzz, a strong boost and an upper octave effect. It sounds good on it's own, but way better in combination with a separate OD or Fuzz pedal. I use it with a Fulltone '69, OCD, PowerScreamer and MI Audio GI Fuzz.
I need to experiment with the blend knob some more and run it at stage volume next week.
So far I do like it, it's real strength is that it works well with other pedals.

Any updates on how you're liking this pedal and how it worked at stage volumes, in a band context, etc.? I'm really intrigued by these and like you before, can never really dig up too much info on them. I'm very curious about them though because Doyle plays one, and so does Charlie Sexton. Any updates are much appreciated! Cheers.

[wbm68]

Originally Posted by tapeup

Any updates on how you're liking this pedal and how it worked at stage volumes, in a band context, etc.? I'm really intrigued by these and like you before, can never really dig up too much info on them. I'm very curious about them though because Doyle plays one, and so does Charlie Sexton. Any updates are much appreciated! Cheers.

Hello, here are some more thoughts on the pedal.
Played into a clean amp I do not like it, but I don't think that it is meant to sound good that way. If you run it into a gain channel, or into a dirt pedal or into a Fuzz pedal it sounds incredible. The nice thing really is, that you can add it to your existing tone, e.g. you play with either a Fuzz or OD pedal already on, and then add it to the tone. With the volume knob you can add more gain, and with the other two knobs you can dial in both the amount of octave and how it blends with your original signal.
I play it through a hand wired 59 Bassman clone in front of either a Fuzz or OD pedal. At stage volume it sounds just as great as great as at low volume. E.g. in front of the Fulltone '69 with both on, and the volume knob on the guitar rolled back, it cleans up beautifully and you can get that neck pickup typical Octave tone. With the guitar volume up and at full blast, you can get either over the top octave, or with lower settings on the pedal, you can even play chords.
I think if you like that Hendrix, Doyle or Satriani tone, you can't go wrong.
As far as I could tell from watching them, Charlie uses the Experience more than the COB, but Doyle is a great example for this pedal.

Again, the true strength of this pedal is that is works so well with other pedals, meaning that the octave can be added to an already great tone.
You don't have to tab dance to go from e.g. an OD or Fuzz pedal to the Octave Fuzz.
Hope this helps

[tapeup]

Originally Posted by wbm68

Hello, here are some more thoughts on the pedal.
Played into a clean amp I do not like it, but I don't think that it is meant to sound good that way. If you run it into a gain channel, or into a dirt pedal or into a Fuzz pedal it sounds incredible. The nice thing really is, that you can add it to your existing tone, e.g. you play with either a Fuzz or OD pedal already on, and then add it to the tone. With the volume knob you can add more gain, and with the other two knobs you can dial in both the amount of octave and how it blends with your original signal.
I play it through a hand wired 59 Bassman clone in front of either a Fuzz or OD pedal. At stage volume it sounds just as great as great as at low volume. E.g. in front of the Fulltone '69 with both on, and the volume knob on the guitar rolled back, it cleans up beautifully and you can get that neck pickup typical Octave tone. With the guitar volume up and at full blast, you can get either over the top octave, or with lower settings on the pedal, you can even play chords.
I think if you like that Hendrix, Doyle or Satriani tone, you can't go wrong.
As far as I could tell from watching them, Charlie uses the Experience more than the COB, but Doyle is a great example for this pedal.

Again, the true strength of this pedal is that is works so well with other pedals, meaning that the octave can be added to an already great tone.
You don't have to tab dance to go from e.g. an OD or Fuzz pedal to the Octave Fuzz.
Hope this helps

Hey, thank you so much! That definitely helps!! I know value is different for everybody, but based on how much you use your C.O.B. and what it adds to your setup, at what price point do you figure it's a smart move to add it to your pedalboard? I don't see them for sale all the time, so it's hard for me to guage a fair price for me to expect to pay for one. By the way, I've seen them with and without LED's, just as I've seen most of Prescriptions' models both with and without LED's, does yours have an LED or not? I'm not sure if the LED affects tone or not, and thus don't know which version to look for and what I should look to pay for one. Again, thanks for sharing all of your experience with the C.O.B. thus far. Cheers!

[wbm68]

Originally Posted by tapeup

Hey, thank you so much! That definitely helps!! I know value is different for everybody, but based on how much you use your C.O.B. and what it adds to your setup, at what price point do you figure it's a smart move to add it to your pedalboard? I don't see them for sale all the time, so it's hard for me to guage a fair price for me to expect to pay for one. By the way, I've seen them with and without LED's, just as I've seen most of Prescriptions' models both with and without LED's, does yours have an LED or not? I'm not sure if the LED affects tone or not, and thus don't know which version to look for and what I should look to pay for one. Again, thanks for sharing all of your experience with the C.O.B. thus far. Cheers!

Mine has a LED and I ordered it from MusicToyz, who then called PE to ship it, and who then send it to me directly. I talked to the builder directly too about the pedal during the curious shipping ordeal. You get it cheaper from a retailer than from him directly.
I paid $149 at MusicToyz and it was worth it!
MusicToys is a good place with a fair price, and I just gave up on trying to find one used after looking for several month.

I'd say you probably don't use an Octave pedal very often, but with the COB you can dial in the "wet/dry" signal balance so nicely, that you'll probably use this Octave pedal more than an Octave pedal that is just on/off.

I doubt you would hear a difference between a LED or no LED, but call the builder directly. He was very nice when I talked to him.
The pedals change colors supposedly quite often. E.g. mine is blue with white letters.

If you like Octave Fuzz, if you have a good tube amp and some good OD or Fuzz pedal to go with it, I think you really can't go wrong. My guess is that even if you don't like it, you can probably sell it quickly without much if any loss. They hardly ever show up used anywhere.

Here is another use for the pedal.
Let's say you have a mild OD going and want more gain/fuzz etc. Put the COB in front of the OD (where it should be anyways), turn the "BLEND" clean balance all the way up (no octave) and add COB Volume as desired. It'll turn any OD into a great Fuzz or high gain pedal.

[tapeup]

Oh sweet, thank you for your info and experience with ordering yours. I'll check MusicToyz out. I kinda stopped looking at MusicToyz site as much because it seemed like they were always out of stock of whatever I was looking for, if they even carried it at all. Plus, I had gotten so addicted to ProGuitarShop this past year, so I kinda forgot about MusicToyz as much in that regard as well. I've seen a couple C.O.B.'s on ebay lately, but sometimes there's so few C.O.B.'s or Prescription pedals in general, that I don't know if those ebay prices are fair or above market value. The ones that were on there the last time I looked were above the $149 that you paid through MusicToyz, so thanks for the heads up!

Very cool option you mention at the end of your reply about the boosting an od with the clean blend all the way up to make an od/drive nice and fuzzy. I'll be sure to try that application as well when I get a C.O.B.

Much thanks for your time and helpfulness, greatly appreciated!

[wbm68]

Originally Posted by tapeup

Oh sweet, thank you for your info and experience with ordering yours. I'll check MusicToyz out. I kinda stopped looking at MusicToyz site as much because it seemed like they were always out of stock of whatever I was looking for, if they even carried it at all. Plus, I had gotten so addicted to ProGuitarShop this past year, so I kinda forgot about MusicToyz as much in that regard as well. I've seen a couple C.O.B.'s on ebay lately, but sometimes there's so few C.O.B.'s or Prescription pedals in general, that I don't know if those ebay prices are fair or above market value. The ones that were on there the last time I looked were above the $149 that you paid through MusicToyz, so thanks for the heads up!

Very cool option you mention at the end of your reply about the boosting an od with the clean blend all the way up to make an od/drive nice and fuzzy. I'll be sure to try that application as well when I get a C.O.B.

Much thanks for your time and helpfulness, greatly appreciated!

Let us know how you like it when you get it please.

[tapeup]

Originally Posted by wbm68

Let us know how you like it when you get it please.

Okay, will do! Thanks again for all of your advice/info/help! Cheers.