TC Electronic Sub'N'Up OctaverFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 29 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment63%
PROS 62%
CONS 38%

Rank based on 29 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want octave, sub-bass, and organ-like tones plus extra TonePrint effects in one affordable pedal
  • You're comparing it to pricier options like the POG, Micro POG, or Pitchfork and want similar or better tracking
  • You play live and need to fill low-end frequency or experiment with ambient/ modulated octave textures

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need a built-in dry/wet mix or dry signal blend, which several users say is missing
  • You're chasing a classic Hendrix-style Octavia/fuzz tone specifically, since some recommend the Octavix instead
  • You rely only on Android for TonePrint, as the app is reported to be laggy and unreliable

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
TC Electronic Sub'N'Up Octaver
Strong value versus rivalsTonePrint layered effectsBetter tracking than competitorsMixed tone opinions versus other octave pedalsNo dry/wet mix optionStruggles with distortion or fast playing
TC Electronic Sub'N'Up Octaver
Strong value versus rivals
TonePrint layered effects
Better tracking than competitors
Mixed tone opinions versus other octave pedals
No dry/wet mix option
Struggles with distortion or fast playing

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

TonePrint turns one pedal into many effects. Commenters repeatedly highlight that TonePrint lets you layer overdrive and modulation directly onto specific octave voices, making the pedal function like several stacked effects at once. Some call this borderline ridiculous value and say TC should market it more aggressively. Others note the concept is clever enough that they hadn't realized extra effects were baked into octave settings until told, changing their view of the pedal's flexibility.

Tracking and tone beat popular octave rivals for many. Several users directly compare the Sub'N'Up favorably to the EHX Pitchfork, Micro POG, and POG 2, citing less hiss, whine, and noise, plus solid tracking that sounds better and costs less. It's praised for bass tuning workarounds, organ-like polyphonic tones, and live low-end fill in a three-piece band. However, a few disagree, missing the sound compared to a POG or MXR Bass Octave Deluxe, showing tone preference varies.

No dry/wet control and occasional tracking issues frustrate some. Multiple commenters flag the absence of a dry-out or wet/dry mix as a real limitation, with one calling it their 'slight problem' despite otherwise liking the pedal. Others note tracking can get messy or compressed-sounding under fast strumming or heavy distortion. One user reports the pedal blew out two amps, and the Android TonePrint app is separately criticized as laggy and in need of an update.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?