The Octave Fuzz Odyssey: From the Legend of Hendrix to the Mythos Argo

Mythos Argo Octave Fuzz

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There’s fuzz—and then there’s octave fuzz. It’s the wilder, weirder cousin in the distortion family, known for its ability to push a guitar into another dimension of sound. An octave fuzz pedal doesn’t just add grit and saturation; it adds a high-pitched harmonic overtone, typically an octave above the note you’re playing. The result? A snarling, synth-like bloom that can scream, sing, or sizzle depending on your playing style and gear setup.

The roots of octave fuzz trace back to the late 1960s, when electronics wizard Roger Mayer—working with the likes of Jimi Hendrix—developed the first octave-up fuzz circuit. That original design became known as the Octavia, and it helped Hendrix craft some of his most iconic, otherworldly tones. Just listen to the solos on “Purple Haze” or “One Rainy Wish”—those singing, high-frequency overtones are the unmistakable fingerprint of an octave fuzz at work.

While Mayer built the original, it was Tycobrahe Sound Company, a California-based PA company founded in 1969 by Bob Bogdanovich, who then also went on to build a trio of effects in the '70s, that cemented the circuit’s legendary status with their own version: the Tycobrahe Octavia.

The Tycobrahe Octavia quickly became one of the most revered and collectible octave fuzz units ever made, known for its raw, unfiltered growl and thick, responsive octave effect.

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