Beetronics OctaHive

The Beetronics OctaHive is a high octave fuzz pedal: super high gain fuzz with a well pronounced high pitch octave riding on top of the note. Beetronics based the circuit on the 1970's Tycobrahe Octavia, and the maker says it can produce both classic and modern sounds¹. In octave mode things can get, in the maker's words, "really nasty, splashy and gated," which Beetronics describes as great for high gain leads, especially played above the 12th fret²³.

A toggle switch turns the octave off, and with it off the pedal becomes what Beetronics calls "a whole different pedal," producing a warmer and thicker fuzz tone that is more versatile and chord friendly². The pedal has appeared in many finishes over its life, from numbered Custom Shop units to the current OctaHive V2 High Octave Buzz.

What it does: high octave fuzz after the Tycobrahe Octavia

The Octavia family of circuits, of which the Tycobrahe Octavia is the 1970s example Beetronics names, generates an octave-up component by folding the waveform, and the fuzz that drives the folding stage shapes how strong and how wild that octave is. The OctaHive follows that recipe: super high gain fuzz with a well pronounced high pitch octave²¹.

How the two halves of the pedal behave, as the maker describes it:

Players comparing octave pedals should note the OctaHive is an octave-up fuzz, not a low octave pedal; Beetronics' own low octave take is the WhoctaHell²³¹.

The controls: Pre, Honey, Volume and the octave switch

The original OctaHive has three knobs and a toggle. Beetronics describes the balance between PRE and Honey as "the key to achieve a variety of sounds"⁵. The V2 keeps the same three control names: Pre, Honey and Volume⁴.

Getting the octave to speak clearly is a matter of gain staging. Beetronics says the best way to achieve a well pronounced octave sound is by rolling off on the PRE gain and the tone control on your instrument⁶. On the V2, the maker's advice is to roll down the PRE control and switch to your neck pickup to bring the octave harmonics forward⁷.

OctaHive V2 footswitching

The V2 replaces the original's toggle switch with a single smart footswitch and two modes: BUZZZ, which Beetronics describes as raw fuzz, and OCTAVE, the high octave fuzz⁴. The maker says the V2 "keeps the legendary fuzz character of the original but adds smart footswitching, customizable switching profiles, and improved live control"⁴.

The footswitch gestures, as the maker describes them:

• Double tap: toggles between BUZZZ and OCTAVE modes⁴
• Hold: instant switching from BUZZZ to OCTAVE, or momentary switching while held⁴
• Response profiles: choose from Fast (20ms), Medium (100ms), or Lazy (250ms) footswitch response times⁴

In BUZZZ mode, Beetronics says the pedal delivers "searing, high-gain fuzz that's thick and aggressive," while OCTAVE mode gives "screaming, psychedelic octave-up tones that cut right through"⁴.

Power and connections

Both the original OctaHive and the V2 require a 9V DC power supply with center negative polarity, which is the standard for most pedalboard power supplies, and the power supply is not included²⁴. No battery operation is mentioned for either version.

The original pedal measures 5.5" x 4" x 2.75" including knobs and switches, in a 5.5" x 3.25" x 2" enclosure, and weighs 1 lb / 0.5 kilos². The V2 is smaller, about 4.5" x 2.5" x 2.25", and weighs approximately 0.8 lbs⁴.

Versions and Custom Shop editions

The OctaHive has been sold in a wide range of finishes and formats. The original runs include the OctaHive Dual FS, a dual footswitch version, and numbered Custom Shop units such as the Custom Shop Dual FS OH1715, listed at a regular price of £216.00 and sold out². Other original-era editions include the Musashi, OH909, Damask, Green Roses, Neon Drops, the Dual FS LA Purple, The BlackBee Edition and the Great Pumpkin limited editions, plus Custom Series finishes like the American Beeauty dual footswitch model.

The V2 line carries its own Custom Shop units, identified by numbers such as OC0038, OC0007 and OC0008, with prices listed in pounds sterling, for example £166.00 and £176.00, and sold out status on the maker's site⁸. V2 editions include the Custom Shop Ouija and limited runs such as OSIRIS⁴.

Beetronics' returns policy for these pedals includes a money back guarantee, with a possible 15% restocking fee or store credit if a returned product shows wear and tear or is missing accessories, and refunds processed within 5 business days after the returned product arrives².

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