The story: a one-man shop in the Pacific Northwest
Spencer Doren opened 3 Leaf Audio in 2008, borne of a lack of satisfaction with the offerings available at the time3. Today the company describes itself as primarily a one-man operation, with Doren's wife helping when her schedule permits, and the family is now Spencer, Erika and baby Max1.
Doren builds his products in the Pacific Northwest in small batches in order to maintain a high standard of quality and supply1. In 2025 the company moved to the Wenatchee River Valley, where, in Doren's words, "LAND and SPACE still exist (for now)"1.
Known for the Octabvre, Doom 2 and Proton
3 Leaf Audio is known for the Octabvre, the Doom 2 and the Proton3. The Octabvre is an octave pedal based on the tonal blueprint of older Boss OC-2 octave pedals, developed with Tedeschi Trucks Band bassist Timothy Lefebvre34. The Doom is a fuzz pedal, and the Wonderlove is an envelope filter3.
The Octabvre has gone through several versions:
| Version | What it is |
|---|---|
| Octabvre MKI | The original, giving "the sound of the classic OC-2, gritty 808, and the Mutron Octave all in one pedal"4 |
| Octabvre MKII | Adds a second footswitch that solos the sub octave sound, and a toggle switch to choose between the original voicing and the "Tim tuning" voicing45 |
| Octabvre MK3 / MK3.33 | Later versions; the MK3.33 redesigned the footswitch PCB to fix a known flaw2 |
| Octabvre Mini | A compact version with Volume, Mix and Tone knobs, described as a more affordable version with fewer features53 |
The idea for the Octabvre's second footswitch came from Doren watching Tim Lefebvre bend down mid-song to turn off the dry knob on his OC-2. As Doren put it3:
"I figured a 2nd footswitch that cut the dry signal would let him use the octaver effect more effectively."
Spencer Doren, the designer behind the pedals
Doren designs the pedals and runs the shop. Writing in the first person on the company's about page, he describes the build process: circuit boards are fabricated in California and assembled in Washington, metalwork is fabricated from American stainless steel in Washington and Oregon, and the graphics are screen printed locally by a master aerospace printer1.
Made in Washington from American steel
3 Leaf Audio's manufacturing is split across the Pacific Northwest:
- Circuit boards: fabricated in California, assembled in Washington1
- Enclosures: fabricated from American stainless steel in Washington and Oregon1
- Graphics: screen printed locally by a master aerospace printer1
- Home base: the Wenatchee River Valley since 20251
Monthly editions and limited runs
Doren releases an edition of pedals once per month, though lately it has been less than once per month, and each release is unique with no repeats2. Everything the shop makes is limited edition by nature of the process and the realities of being a small shop1.
Release dates are announced on the 3 Leaf Audio newsletter, with signup at the bottom of the company's website1. Because each release is unique with no repeats, a missed edition is gone for good2.
Support: warranty, returns and repairs
All products include a one year guarantee against defects. Outside the warranty period, repair costs are kept low, and repair inquiries go by email2.
- Returns: products may be returned within 2 weeks of purchase for a refund minus shipping costs2
- Return fee: all returns and cancellations incur an $11 fee to cover nonrefundable payment processing fees2
Half the pedals 3 Leaf Audio receives for repair are working fine. The most common issue is a bad 1/4" cable, and the second most common is a bad power supply output2. For power, the company recommends CIOKS supplies2.
Known issues and fixes
The company's support page documents several known issues:
| Pedal | Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Octabvre MK3 | Footswitches acting weird: clearance between the switch contacts and the mounting flange inside the enclosure is too tight, so the switch can short out | The redesigned MK3.33 footswitch PCB can be retrofitted into an MK3; boards available in the shop2 |
| Doom 2 / Octabvre MK3 (2020-2021) | Graphics fell off some pedals due to ink adhesion issues after the supply chain fell apart during COVID | Replacement faceplates available in the shop2 |
| Enabler | Power chip fried by phantom power on the XLR jack | Replace U1, an Analog Devices LT19312 |
What reviewers said
Bass Musician Magazine reviewed the Octabvre MKII, Wonderlove and Doom in January 2017. Reviewer Jake Wolf found that "all three of the 3 Leaf pedals have exceptionally high quality feeling build quality, are housed in heavy duty enclosures with great paint and graphics, top shelf jacks and switches"3. On the Octabvre MKII, he described "a super-fast tracking, warm sub octave that allows you to tailor both the mix level of dry/wet"3.
The range (10)
News
Questions
Where are 3 Leaf Audio pedals made?
3 Leaf Audio builds its pedals in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Circuit boards are fabricated in California and assembled in Washington, and the metal enclosures are fabricated from American stainless steel in Washington and Oregon. The company moved to the Wenatchee River Valley in 2025.
How do I find out when the next 3 Leaf Audio release drops?
Release dates are announced on the 3 Leaf Audio newsletter, with signup at the bottom of the company's website. Editions of pedals are released roughly once a month, lately less often, and each release is unique with no repeats, so following the newsletter is the way to catch a drop.
What is the difference between the Octabvre MK3 and MK3.33?
The MK3.33 is a redesign of the Octabvre MK3's footswitch circuit board. The MK3 had a known design flaw where the clearance between the switch contacts and the enclosure's mounting flange was too tight, so the switch could short out. The redesigned MK3.33 footswitch PCB can be retrofitted into an MK3.
How do I fix the footswitch on my Octabvre MK3?
The footswitch problem on the Octabvre MK3 comes from a design flaw: the clearance between the switch contacts and the mounting flange inside the enclosure is too tight, so the switch can short out. 3 Leaf Audio redesigned the footswitch PCB for the MK3.33, and it can be retrofitted into an MK3. Replacement boards are available in the shop.
Why did the graphics come off my 3 Leaf Doom 2?
On some Doom 2 and Octabvre MK3 pedals built in 2020 and 2021, the graphics came off because of ink adhesion issues after the supply chain fell apart during COVID. Replacement faceplates are available in the 3 Leaf Audio shop.
What power supply does 3 Leaf Audio recommend?
3 Leaf Audio recommends CIOKS power supplies. The company also notes that half the pedals received for repair are actually working fine, and that the most common issue is a bad quarter-inch cable, with a bad power supply output the second most common.
Is there a manual for older 3 Leaf Audio pedals?
No. 3 Leaf Audio states that no instruction manuals are available for old pedals. If you have questions about an older pedal, the company's support contact is support@3leafaudio.com.
Can I return a 3 Leaf Audio pedal?
Yes. Products may be returned within 2 weeks of purchase for a refund minus shipping costs, but all returns and cancellations incur an $11 fee to cover nonrefundable payment processing fees.
Sources (5)
- About - 3 LEAF AUDIO, 3 LEAF AUDIO, 2025
- Support - 3 LEAF AUDIO, 3 LEAF AUDIO
- Review - 3 Leaf Audio Octabvre, Wonderlove and Doom Pedals - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass, Bass Musician Magazine, 2017-01-01
- Octabvre MKII by 3 Leaf Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Octabvre Mini by 3 Leaf Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026