Roger Mayer
Encyclopedia
Roger Mayer is the electrical engineer who developed several electric guitar
effects, most notably the Octavia
, an effects pedal which reproduced the input signal one octave
higher, and mixes the two sounds with some added fuzz. The effect was popularized by Jimi Hendrix
, and can be heard during the solos on the song "Purple Haze
".
The Octavia, as well as several other effects, are still being produced under Roger Mayer's name.
Roger Mayer was an acoustic engineer
, working for the Admiralty on underwater research projects. At a time when guitar effects were virtually unknown, he designed and built fuzz boxes for leading English guitarists (Big Jim Sullivan
, Jimmy Page
, Jeff Beck
) that can be heard on P.J. Proby singles such as "Hold Me" (1964) and on numerous Yardbirds tracks. In early 1967, he saw Jimi Hendrix play at Chislehurst Caves
and introduced himself. Hendrix was aware of the Yardbirds' records and wanted detail on how the guitar tones were created. Within weeks Roger Mayer was in the studio with him, working on tones and designing custom guitar FX to realize the sounds Hendrix 'heard' in his head. His designs can be heard all over the albums Axis: Bold as Love
and Electric Ladyland
. Mayer worked with many other artists from the Isley Brothers to Bob Marley
(he co-built a pioneering early synth for Stevie Wonder
) but will always be most closely associated with Jimi Hendrix.
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
effects, most notably the Octavia
Octavia (effects pedal)
The Octavia was an effects pedal designed for Jimi Hendrix by his sound technician, Jim Morris of Kelsey-Morris Sound Co., London, in early 1967...
, an effects pedal which reproduced the input signal one octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
higher, and mixes the two sounds with some added fuzz. The effect was popularized by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, and can be heard during the solos on the song "Purple Haze
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
".
The Octavia, as well as several other effects, are still being produced under Roger Mayer's name.
Roger Mayer was an acoustic engineer
Acoustical engineering
Acoustical engineering is the branch of engineering dealing with sound and vibration. It is the application of acoustics, the science of sound and vibration, in technology. Acoustical engineers are typically concerned with the manipulation and control of sound....
, working for the Admiralty on underwater research projects. At a time when guitar effects were virtually unknown, he designed and built fuzz boxes for leading English guitarists (Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...
, Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
) that can be heard on P.J. Proby singles such as "Hold Me" (1964) and on numerous Yardbirds tracks. In early 1967, he saw Jimi Hendrix play at Chislehurst Caves
Chislehurst Caves
Chislehurst Caves are a long series of tunnels in Chislehurst, in the south eastern suburbs of Greater London. Although called caves, they are chalk and flint mines and entirely man-made....
and introduced himself. Hendrix was aware of the Yardbirds' records and wanted detail on how the guitar tones were created. Within weeks Roger Mayer was in the studio with him, working on tones and designing custom guitar FX to realize the sounds Hendrix 'heard' in his head. His designs can be heard all over the albums Axis: Bold as Love
Axis: Bold as Love
Axis: Bold as Love is the second studio album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Under pressure from their record company to follow-up the successful debut of their May 1967 album Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love was released on Track Records in the UK in December 1967...
and Electric Ladyland
Electric Ladyland
Electric Ladyland is the third and final album of new material by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in October 1968 on Reprise Records, catalogue 2RS 6307. It is the only Hendrix studio album professionally produced under his supervision. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks in...
. Mayer worked with many other artists from the Isley Brothers to Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
(he co-built a pioneering early synth for Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
) but will always be most closely associated with Jimi Hendrix.