GGG TOCT weak octave response

[tjmicsak]

I just finished this GGG TOCT unit and it works, readings on the trannys are in the ball park for all three, but the octave is very weak. If I play hard it is not really even there. In order to hear it much at all I have to play the strings VERY lightly. How can I get more octave response from the unit? This is a Neg ground using the 2N5087 and 2N4401. The transformer is said to be a 3:1 but I read the primary and secondary outside leads as 48 and 128 so I think that is close enough too?
How can I boost the ocatve effect? Right now it is about the same octave you might get from a few fuzzes out there set to the sweet spot that don't even have the classification to do so like the speghetti western fuzz.
How can I boost the octave?

[Dai H.]

should be info on octavia tweaks and mods if you search. I made from a GGG board also, and if memory serves I matched the diodes with my DVM(think the voltage drop) and used a tweaked pot per R.G.'s Secret life of pots article (suggestion to use rev.audio taper by Mark H. IIRC) to obtain a more sensitive control over the octave effect.

[BAARON]

Are you
- Playing on the neck pickup?
- Rolling the tone control down a bit?
- Playing in the middle of the neck (12th fret region)?
- Leaving the gain control on the fuzz turned down really low?

Because those are all things you should do if you want the TOCT to produce a good octave.

http://solgrind.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/octavia-experimentsimprovements/ is an article you might find useful for modding your TOCT to make it more octavey and less fussy.

[Mark Hammer]

I found the 1k pot was generally less resistance than was needed.  A 2k pot might be optimal, but if you can't find one, consider adding a modest resistance in series with the pot to mimic a slightly higher value.  I used 330R and it made a very useful difference.  Something in the range of 220R-560R might be suitable.

[tjmicsak]

Thanks Mark, I was actually reading your post on this last night from searching the issue. I think I will try a 1K5 or 2K pot as suggested so I will still have the full fuzz when dimed. I did discover the low setting is a much greater octave and I think I will try and tweak a bit more with the pot change. This unit really does have a great fuzz without the octave switched on as well. Or I may add the 340-560R on a switch. Thanks

[Mark Hammer]

Nailing decent octave-up is often a matter of adjusting levels optimally.  The Distortion+/Ampeg-Scrambler combination that I have trumpetted several tims on the forum is a nice example of that.  The stock Scrambler comes with no provision for adjusting sensitivity.  Precede it with a gain stage that lets you set input level, and all manner of beautiful blooming octaves start happening, in addition to the aural chaos the Scrambler is capable of.