The Boss OC-5 is a compact octave pedal from Boss, released in 2020 as the latest generation of the company's long-running OC series for guitar and bass12. It focuses purely on octaves: a modern DSP engine pairs one and two octaves below your note with a new +1 OCT knob that adds an octave above, something earlier OC pedals did not offer34.
Where the all-analog OC-2 tracked one note at a time, the OC-5 is polyphonic, so it can follow full chords, and it carries a Vintage mode that recreates the OC-2's classic mono sound34. Guitar World's reviewer found it expands on its predecessors with improved tracking performance and a wider range of polyphonic capability, while preserving the classic sound of the original5.
What the OC-5 does: octaves down, and now one up
The core of the pedal is its octave-down engine. The -1 and -2 octave effects give you a voice one octave below your original signal and a second voice two octaves below, the same basic recipe as the 1982 OC-239. The new addition is the +1 OCT knob, a dedicated control for an octave-up effect available in both modes4.
Premier Guitar's launch coverage described the octave-up effect as usable on its own for faux 12-string sounds and unique solo tones, or blended with the octave-down effects for extended chord voicings and fat leads4. A new tracking engine is credited with smooth, accurate playability and no latency10.
The Direct Out jack routes the dry and effected signals to different destinations, such as two amps or separate channels on a mixer or interface10. That opens up split setups where, for example, only the octave-down signal goes to a bass rig.
The controls
The OC-5 keeps the control count low, with three knobs, a mini toggle, and a Guitar/Bass switch53.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| -2OCT/RANGE | Tied to the mode switch. In Vintage mode it sets the level of the two octaves below. In Poly mode it variably adjusts the frequency bandwidth from low to high, limiting the octave effect to the lower strings5 |
| +1 OCT | Level of the octave-up voice, available in both modes54 |
| Direct Level | Volume of the direct, unprocessed signal5 |
| Mode selector | Mini toggle switching between Vintage and Poly modes5 |
| Guitar/Bass switch | Optimizes the pedal for either instrument35 |
The Range function is one of the more practical features. Set to the Lowest position in Poly mode, only the bottom note in a chord gets the octave effect, so an octave bass line can sit under normal chording54. Pedal of the Day called the variable Range knob perfect for playing octave bass lines alongside higher chords and melodies10.
Vintage and Poly modes
Vintage mode engages the classic monophonic bass sound of the OC-2, with the -2OCT/RANGE knob adjusting the two octaves below and the +1 OCT control blending in an octave up5. Boss's own history of its pitch pedals says Vintage mode faithfully recreates classic OC-2 mono sounds3, and the company's buying guide describes it as recreating the OC-2's warm analog character11. Guitar World's bass pedal guide called it a spot-on recreation of the OC-2's sounds in the product description12.
Poly mode is an evolved version of the smart Poly mode first introduced with the OC-3 Super Octave, letting you play full chords with octave effects4. Boss's acoustic effects guide notes you can alternatively choose to process only the low notes13. Where Vintage mode is monophonic, Poly mode opens up full polyphony with the adjustable Range setting3.
From the OC-2 and OC-3 to the OC-5
The OC series goes back to the OC-2 Octaver of 1982, an analog pedal that produced voices one and two octaves below the original signal9. Boss lists the OC-2's production run as 1982 to 20056, and Premier Guitar has called it the lauded but discontinued Boss OC-214. The OC-3 Super Octave followed, running from 2003 to 20206. It used a different chip with different controls than the OC-2, as Pedal of the Day noted when both were in production15.
The OC-5 superseded both, arriving in 20202. It lists for £129 in the UK16 and launched at $129.99 in the US in late September 2020117.
The OC-3's Drive feature, which let players distort the octave signal, did not carry over to the OC-5. Players who want that sound will need to add a dirt pedal after it.
What reviewers said
Reviews across the press have been positive, with tracking the most praised quality7.
- Guitar World's bass pedal guide: "Tracking is superfast, it's almost impossible to play too far ahead of the OC-5."7
- Guitar World's octave pedal guide called it excellent value, noting it emulates the classic OC-2, that Poly mode tracks incredibly well, and that the range feature is super useful, while finding its sound more reserved than some rivals18.
- GuitarPlayer's reviewer found the cleaner layout a plus: "Some might miss the OC-3's drive feature but that's small potatoes when you consider the OC-5's superb performance and c[leaner layout]"19.
- Guitar.com's review noted the pedal's power comes from its digital nature, in contrast to the vintage analog OC-2 it replaced2.
"For too long, the OC series has been the unsung hero in the Boss catalogue. For compact octave effects, it's unbeatable."
One dissenting note on tone: the same roundups found the OC-5's octave-up voice more reserved sounding than some competitors, and Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, comparing legacy Boss pedals, wrote "I personally prefer the OC-5 to the OC-2"20.
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Questions
Does the Boss OC-5 take a battery?
Yes. The OC-5 runs on a 9V battery or a 9V DC power supply, which is not included. On a supply it draws 55mA at 9V DC, so it is easy to run from a standard pedalboard power brick.
Is the OC-5 true bypass?
No. The OC-5 uses buffered bypass, which Guitar World's reviewer described as a high-quality buffered bypass. Like other Boss compact pedals, it keeps a buffer in the signal path when switched off.
Does the OC-5 have the OC-3's drive?
No. The OC-3 Super Octave's Drive feature did not carry over to the OC-5. GuitarPlayer's reviewer noted some players might miss it, but called that small potatoes next to the OC-5's performance and cleaner layout.
Does the OC-5 work on bass?
Yes. A Guitar/Bass switch on the input side optimizes the pedal for either instrument, and the OC series has long been aimed at guitar and bass players alike. The Direct Out jack also lets bass players route dry and effected signals separately.
Is the OC-5 analog or digital?
It is digital. The OC-5 uses a modern DSP engine for its octave effects, even though its Vintage mode recreates the warm analog character of the all-analog OC-2 from 1982.
Sources (20)
- BOSS Announces OC-5 Octave Pedal, Bass Gear Magazine, 2020-09-17
- Boss OC-5 review: what makes a great octave pedal?, Guitar.com, 2025-12-26
- Shifting With the Times: The History of BOSS Pitch Pedals, articles.boss.info, 2025-12-17
- Boss Announces the OC-5 Octave Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2020-09-17
- Boss OC-5 Octave review, Guitar World, 2021-03-09
- BOSS - XS Series Pitch Pedals, BOSS (boss.info)
- Best bass effects pedals: best pedals for every style, Guitar World, 2021-12-20
- BOSS OC-5 Octave Pedal, Delicious Audio, 2023-07-05
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 2003
- Boss OC-5 Octave, Pedal of the Day, 2020-09-17
- How to Choose a Pitch Pedal, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2025-10-27
- Best octave pedals for bass 2026: Pitch-shift your playing with our pick of essential pedalboard additions, Guitar World, 2026-06-03
- The Complete Guide to Acoustic Guitar Effects Pedals and Signal Chain, BOSS Articles (articles.boss.info), 2023-11-21
- Quick Hit: MXR Vintage Bass Octave Review, Premier Guitar, 2019-03-08
- Boss OC-2 Octave, Pedal of the Day, 2014-11-04
- Boss launches the OC-5, its latest compact octave pedal, Guitar.com, 2020-09-17
- Boss Announces New OC-5 Octave Pedal, GuitarPlayer, 2020-09-17
- Best octave pedals: with octave up and octave down options, Guitar World, 2023-01-12
- Boss OC-5 Octave Review, GuitarPlayer.com, 2021-02-16
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-08-28
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