BOSS OC-5 Octave Pedal — The New Standard for Guitar and Bass Octave Effects

The BOSS OC-5 Octave Pedal is a compact stompbox that generates sub-octave and octave-up pitch effects for guitar and bass, covering a full three-octave span in a single pedal. Powered by BOSS's latest real-time tracking engine, the OC-5 delivers clean, accurate pitch tracking with no latency — making it the most capable and versatile octave pedal BOSS has ever produced.

For guitarists and bassists seeking the best octave pedal for guitar and bass that handles everything from classic mono sub-bass tones to full chord octave shifting, the OC-5 delivers in two distinct modes. Vintage mode faithfully recreates the legendary OC-2 mono sound from 1982 — the same warm, present character heard across decades of recorded music — while the enhanced Poly mode enables full polyphonic chord playing with a variable Range knob that restricts the effect to lower notes only. This makes the OC-5 ideal for players who want to hold octave bass lines while freely playing chords and melodies in the upper register.

The OC-5 fits naturally into professional pedalboard setups with its dedicated Direct Out jack for wet/dry signal routing — sending the dry and effected signals to separate amplifiers, channels, or an audio interface simultaneously. A Guitar/Bass switch instantly optimizes the tracking engine for the instrument in use, while the BOSS five-year warranty provides long-term reliability assurance that working musicians depend on.

Key Features of the BOSS OC-5 Octave Stomp

• Zero-Latency Tracking Engine: Delivers fast, accurate pitch detection across three octaves with no audible delay, enabling expressive, real-time performance without the tracking artifacts common to older octave designs.
• Vintage Mode — OC-2 Recreation: Reproduces the warm mono sub-octave tone of the iconic 1982 OC-2 with dedicated level controls for the -1 OCT, -2 OCT, and Direct signals, giving instant access to classic sub-octave colors.
• Enhanced Poly Mode with Range Control: Enables full polyphonic octave effects on chords, with a variable Range knob that limits the effect to lower notes — or set to "Lowest" to isolate the octave to just the bottom note in any chord.
• Octave-Up Effect (+1 OCT): Adds a new dimension to both Vintage and Poly modes, usable solo for faux 12-string tones and unique lead sounds, or blended with the octave-down effects for rich, harmonically complex voicings.
• Guitar/Bass Switch: Instantly optimizes the tracking engine for either instrument directly from the pedal body, eliminating the need to adjust settings between players or rigs.
• Direct Out Jack for Wet/Dry Routing: Routes the dry signal and effect signal to separate destinations, supporting two-amp setups and discrete mixer or audio interface integration.
• Buffered Bypass: Maintains signal integrity across long cable runs and complex pedalboard chains, ensuring consistent tone whether the effect is engaged or bypassed.
• BOSS Five-Year Warranty: Backed by BOSS's industry-leading warranty coverage for professional confidence and long-term investment protection.

Technical Specifications

• Nominal Input Level: -20 dBu
• Input Impedance: 1 M ohm
• Nominal Output Level: -20 dBu
• Output Impedance: 1 k ohm
• Recommended Load Impedance: 10 k ohms or greater
• Bypass Type: Buffered bypass
• Controls: Pedal switch, Guitar/Bass switch, Vintage/Poly switch, Direct Level knob, +1 OCT knob, -1 OCT knob, -2 OCT/Range knob
• Connectors: Input jack (1/4-inch), Output jack (1/4-inch), Direct Out jack (1/4-inch), DC In jack
• Power Supply: 9V alkaline battery (6LR61/6LF22) or PSA Series AC adaptor (sold separately)
• Current Draw: 60 mA
• Expected Battery Life: Approx. 5 hours (alkaline, continuous use)
• Width: 2-7/8 inches (73 mm)
• Depth: 5-1/8 inches (129 mm)
• Height: 2-3/8 inches (59 mm)
• Weight (including battery): 1 lb (440 g)

What's in the Box

• BOSS OC-5 Octave Pedal
• 9V Alkaline Battery (6LR61)
• Leaflet ("USING THE UNIT SAFELY," "IMPORTANT NOTES," and "Information")