TC Electronic Nether OctaverFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 33 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment79%
PROS 79%
CONS 21%

Rank based on 33 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want an affordable octave/fuzz pairing for gnarly riffs
  • You're a guitarist without a bassist needing occasional low-end coverage
  • You want a cheaper alternative to a Boss OC-2 or Whammy

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need clean polyphonic tracking on chords and high strings
  • You're expecting a shimmer/cosmic ambient octave sound
  • You want a premium-feeling footswitch out of the box

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choiceBest value
1Value
MXR Super Badass Distortion~$130 · 1.9× pricier
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion~$130 · 1.9× pricier
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
2Value
MXR Sugar Drive~$130 · 1.9× pricier
Great for stacking with other drivesTransparent, organic Klon-style toneAffordable price for Klon-style toneSkepticism about matching the real KlonLost out to competing clones in some comparisonsSound depends heavily on amp/settings
MXR Sugar Drive~$130 · 1.9× pricier
Great for stacking with other drives
Transparent, organic Klon-style tone
Affordable price for Klon-style tone
Skepticism about matching the real Klon
Lost out to competing clones in some comparisons
Sound depends heavily on amp/settings
3Value
MXR Micro Chorus~$109 · 1.6× pricier
Simple one-knob operationFull, warm, rich toneGreat value for the priceVolume boost when engaged
MXR Micro Chorus~$109 · 1.6× pricier
Simple one-knob operation
Full, warm, rich tone
Great value for the price
Volume boost when engaged
4Budget
MXR GT-OD~$79 · similar price
Hidden ZW-44 switch (two pedals in one)Warm, transparent toneVersatile boost / stacking pedalSlightly dark toneAdds mud in certain setupsConsidered unremarkable by one user
MXR GT-OD~$79 · similar price
Hidden ZW-44 switch (two pedals in one)
Warm, transparent tone
Versatile boost / stacking pedal
Slightly dark tone
Adds mud in certain setups
Considered unremarkable by one user
You are here
5Budget
TC Electronic Nether Octaver~$69
Excellent with fuzz pairingsGreat value for the priceGlitchy octave effect appeals to experimental playersInconsistent note tracking, especially on chords and high stringsCheap-feeling footswitchFootswitch activation feels sloppy
TC Electronic Nether Octaver~$69
Excellent with fuzz pairings
Great value for the price
Glitchy octave effect appeals to experimental players
Inconsistent note tracking, especially on chords and high strings
Cheap-feeling footswitch
Footswitch activation feels sloppy

Who wins on what (similar price)

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

A budget octave pedal that punches well above its price. Commenters repeatedly highlight the Nether Octaver as excellent value, sounding awesome for around $60 and often compared favorably to a used Boss OC-2 costing $100 or more. Several describe it as a 'proper copy for a fraction of the price' and note it's a mean, deep take on the classic OC-2 sound, making it an easy recommendation for players on a budget looking to try octave effects for the first time.

Fuzz pairings turn this pedal into a standout tone machine. A huge number of comments focus on stacking the Nether Octaver with fuzz pedals like Honey Pot Fuzz, TC Rusty Fuzz, and Tube Pilot, describing the combination as gnarly, nasty, and surprisingly good. Multiple users say they came for the octaver but got sold on the fuzz side, and this pairing seems to be the pedal's biggest selling point, repeatedly cited as the deciding factor in purchase decisions after watching demos.

Note tracking struggles on chords and higher strings. Several users report that since the pedal isn't truly polyphonic, chords and complex parts trigger unpredictable glitching, and higher strings like B and high E require very hard picking to register reliably. While some players find this glitchiness charming or even therapeutic for experimental or punk styles, others see it as a real limitation, and one buyer returned the unit after it didn't deliver the smooth cosmic octave/shimmer sound they wanted.

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