The Octavia was a stomp box that generated a pitch one octave higher than the actual note. It had a distinct sound and was popularized by Jimi Hendrix in the solo of the song "Purple Haze."
Lick of the Day: Faux Octavia Lick by Paul Riario, Sponsored by Guitar ToolKit 2.0
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Paul Riario has been the tech/gear editor and online video presence for Guitar World for over 25 years. Paul is one of the few gear editors who has actually played and owned nearly all the original gear that most guitarists wax poetically about, and has survived this long by knowing every useless musical tidbit of classic rock, new wave, hair metal, grunge, and alternative genres. When Paul is not riding his road bike at any given moment, he remains a working musician, playing in two bands called SuperTrans Am and Radio Nashville.
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