Photo of Boss OC-3 Super Octave and more gear in a pedalboard, guitar, and signal chain

Boss OC-3 Super Octave

^# 20

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$73.63 to $133.99 Price Tier: Standard

4.0 (203)

30 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Newer option

Boss OC-5 Octave

$133.75 - $164.99

5.0 (15)

Find out who is using Boss OC-3

39 community setups

Featured in

Top Octave Pedas | Gear Guides

133 wishlisted

509 saved

Page last updated Jul 06, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated July 6, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (93)

$73.63 1 available New

$80.00 37 available Used

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3.5 (1)

$133.99

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Average Price: $111

Standard/Professional

$100

$301+

Price Tier

In the Harmonizer & Octave Effects Pedals category, Boss OC-3 Super Octave is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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High-end

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Description

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Discover a world of enhanced sonic possibilities with the Boss OC-3 Super Octave. This versatile pedal takes guitar effects to the next level, offering a palette of three distinct modes – a groundbreaking Polyphonic Octave, a Drive mode that adds a punchy distortion, and the classic OC-2 mode for those who swear by the original. Whether you're a guitarist or a bassist, the OC-3 has got you covered with separate inputs for both.

The Polyphonic Octave mode is the world's first in a compact pedal, offering true polyphonic octave effects. It's adjustable to play within a specific note range, giving you the flexibility to tweak your sound to perfection. Get ready for a fatter, more aggressive tone with the Drive mode, which adds distortion to your octave notes. If you're a fan of the original, the OC-2 mode is included and capable of producing notes one and two octaves down.

Key Features:

World's first compact pedal with true Polyphonic Octave effects
Drive mode adds distortion for a bolder, more aggressive tone
Includes the classic OC-2 mode, capable of producing notes one and two octaves down
Poly Octave effect adjustable to play within a specific note range
Separate inputs for both guitar and bass
Comes with Boss' 5-year limited warranty

Product specs

Brand	Boss
Model	OC-3 Super Octave (Dark Gray Label)
Finish	Brown
Year	2003 - 2025
Made In	Taiwan
Categories	Distortion Pedals, Octave and Pitch-Shifting Pedals

FAQs

What is the difference between the Boss OC-3 Super Octave and the OC-2?: The Boss OC-3 Super Octave offers both polyphonic octave effects and a Drive mode, while the OC-2 provides only monophonic octave capabilities. The OC-3 also includes separate inputs for guitar and bass, making it more versatile for different instruments.
Can the Boss OC-3 Super Octave be used with a bass guitar?: Yes, the Boss OC-3 Super Octave has a dedicated bass input, allowing it to function effectively with bass guitars and produce clean octave effects tailored for lower frequencies.
What power supply does the Boss OC-3 Super Octave require?: The Boss OC-3 Super Octave requires a 9V DC power supply, and it can also be powered by a 9V battery for portable use.
Does the Boss OC-3 Super Octave work in polyphonic mode?: Yes, the Boss OC-3 Super Octave includes a polyphonic mode, allowing it to track chords and apply octave effects to multiple notes simultaneously.
How does the Drive mode on the Boss OC-3 Super Octave affect the sound?: The Drive mode on the Boss OC-3 Super Octave adds a distortion effect to the octave sound, creating a richer and more aggressive tone that is ideal for rock and heavier music styles.

Videos

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ProGuitarShopDemos

Boss OC-3 Super Octave

ProGuitarShopDemos

Boss OC-3 Super Octave Demo

Boyd's Guitar Warehouse

Boss OC-3 Super Octave | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

How To Get The Best From Your Boss OC 3 Super Octave

Gadget8Bit

BOSS OC-3 Super Octave Demo

Pepe Music

Boss OC-3 Super Octave

Wall of Sound

Super Octave OC3 Pedal Demo - NO TALKING

Sandy Ridge Music

Reviews

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PROS

Superior octave adjustment compared to OC-5
Analog vibe despite being digital
Effective with humbuckers and compressed signals
Unique retro and synth bass sounds
Features drive-octave channel not found in OC-5
Poly setting offers selective effect application
Can create dramatic and thick sounds
Intuitive and straightforward knob controls
Durable and reliable build quality
Inspires creative playing and sound tweaking

CONS

Tracks poorly, especially on high/low notes
Can sound synthetic and unauthentic
Poly mode sound decreases with higher notes
Short delay when effect is engaged
LED indicator not bright enough for outdoor visibility
Lower octaves can rumble excessively
Not the best for purely bass sounds
Original octave cannot be muted independently

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Boss OC-3 Super Octave.

Features and functionality

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The OC-3 offers polyphonic settings to isolate bass frequencies, allowing for separate bass processing through additional effects and amplification.
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The OC-3 can transform bass sounds into a deep, low-end sub synth type sound when paired with a compression pedal and no dry signal.
Source

Use cases and applications

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Owners use the poly setting to split signals for guitar and bass, achieving a fuller sound in two-member bands by routing to separate amps.
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Owners use the OC-3 with a tap tempo tremolo to replicate the synth bass tone from the song "Latch" by Disclosure.
Source
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The pedal is highly recommended for electronic music, providing a flexible and full bass sound that rivals keyboard-generated low end.
Source

User experience

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Placement in the signal chain is crucial; it performs best before any distortion effects to avoid tracking issues.
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It has been highlighted that adjusting the tone control and plucking technique significantly improves the pedal's tracking accuracy.
Source

Build quality

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The pedal employs COSM technology, which may result in a brief activation delay compared to analog pedals.
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Comparisons

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Some users prefer the OC-2 for its analog sub bass sound, despite reporting volume differences between it and the OC-3.
Source

Mods and upgrades

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A common modification is running a bass fuzz and phaser after the OC-3 for a more aggressive sound.
Source

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 30 Reviews and 203 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

afbob

164

about 6 years ago

Great to replace a bassist ;)

I use this at every single AFBOB gig. Reliable. I did spend a while dialling in the sound I like but it was worth it

aidenmustafa

293

almost 8 years ago

Not good for me

The tracking was awful and it blew up a day after I bought it. Take into consideration when thinking about buying this that it is NOT a polyphonic octaver, it's meant to be analogue which explains the quality of the tracking.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Funk / Soul Jazz

roope_halonen

168

over 8 years ago

Doesn't play E-A on bass.

Doesn't properly track lowest E-A on bass, nothing it can do on the B string.. Really great otherwise and have been able to play some massive basslines with this!

jos_de_vries

293

over 7 years ago

Nice effect for lowering your guitar with an octave.

Nice effect for lowering your guitar with an octave. With or without distortion. The effect that the guitarist of Accept occasionally uses. Solid pedal, will last for years.

pope

8195

almost 12 years ago

Very complete

Just what you expect from a Boss pedal: first of all, it feels like it could withstand anything, and of course the sound is now a standard. It works just as an OC-2 (1 and 2 octaves down) in one mode, 1 octave and a 4th down in another mode, and also has a simple overdrive mode, for which you can adjust gain and add a lower octave.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Stage & Screen Alternative rock Art rock

joerocco

180

over 10 years ago

Boss Octave

Great sounding Octave pedal. Classic Boss looks and craftsmanship. My not be the best one on the market but for the money its's damn good.

lex_hill

298

over 9 years ago

Good for most uses

Awesome pedal, really inspires me to write. The overdrive is a really cool sludge sounding kind of thing, And the Poly octave really allows for some creative playing

graciebass

171

over 9 years ago

Solid pedal, but a bit niche...

Solid pedal with useful drive function as well as double octave. Lower octaves tend to rumble quite a bit and it would be nice to mute the original octave and just hear the lower one. Only really useful for a few particular songs...

fabiomuzik

204

almost 11 years ago

My bass generator!

First i was looking for a POG to generate a octave down signal that gonna through a Zoom B3. My idea is to achieve a powerful bass sound this way. I buy the Boss OC3 with a less expensive price and everything that i need. Boss is a great company and have a well recognized reliability.