Electro-Harmonix (EHX) is a legendary manufacturer of guitar pedals and audio electronics, renowned for their distinctive sound and pioneering designs. Established in 1968 by Mike Matthews, EHX has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of effects pedals. The company’s pedals are celebrated for their innovative circuits and unique tones, earning them a dedicated following among musicians across genres. From classics like the Big Muff Pi fuzz to modern favorites like the POG octave generator, Electro-Harmonix pedals are known for their versatility and sonic character.
EHX’s product lineup spans a wide range of effects categories, including distortion, modulation, delay, and reverb, among others. Their pedals often feature intuitive controls and rugged construction, making them suitable for both stage and studio use. In addition to their iconic standalone pedals, Electro-Harmonix has also produced notable units such as the Memory Man delay/echo and the Holy Grail reverb, which have become staples in many guitarist’s rigs. With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to quality, Electro-Harmonix continues to be a leading force in the world of guitar effects, inspiring musicians to explore new sonic possibilities.
Just Pedal Ingredients.
Analogue — An analogue guitar effect pedal is a device used by guitarists to modify the sound of an electric guitar through the use of analogue circuitry.
Unlike digital pedals, which rely on digital signal processing, analogue pedals use components such as transistors, capacitors, and resistors to manipulate the guitar signal in real-time.
This approach often results in a warmer, more natural sound that many musicians find desirable for its organic qualities.. Chorus — A chorus pedal works by splitting your signal, slightly delaying one part and modulating its pitch before blending it back with the original. The result is a rich, shimmering tone that feels wide and fluid, almost as if several guitars are playing together in unison. It’s an effect that can add life and movement to your playing, making clean tones sound lush and dreamy or adding a subtle shimmer to warm overdrive.
From the classic 80s shimmer heard on countless records to modern ambient textures, the chorus effect remains timeless. Whether you want a gentle swirl for rhythm parts or a deep, detuned wash for atmospheric soundscapes, a good chorus pedal brings space and dimension to your tone. It’s a staple on many pedalboards for its ability to transform even the simplest chords into something spacious and expressive.
. Pedal — Your pedal is like a signature dish for your sound — a flavour-packed creation that transforms the bland ingredients of your guitar into something unforgettable. Each one adds its own seasoning, texture, and heat, turning a simple meal into a feast of tone.
These tasty little boxes sit in a row, like plates on a buffet, letting you mix and match flavours as you play. With one tap of your foot, you can swap sweet for spicy, subtle for smoky, and serve up something completely new. From the comfort food of warm overdrive to the fiery kick of fuzz, from smooth jazz sauce to heavy-metal spice, pedals give players a full menu of options to express their taste. And just like with food — once you’ve tried one dish, you’ll want to sample them all.
Collecting, trading, and discovering new flavours soon becomes part of the joy of being a tone-loving gourmet geek with a guitar.. Vibrato — Vibrato is an effect commonly used in music, particularly in guitar playing, that involves modulating the pitch of a note to create a wavering or trembling sound. It adds a dynamic and expressive quality to the music, enhancing the richness and depth of individual notes or chords. Here’s how vibrato works and some common features of vibrato effects:
1. **Pitch Modulation**: Vibrato effect pedals modulate the pitch of the guitar signal, causing it to oscillate above and below the original pitch at a controlled rate and depth. This creates a shimmering or undulating effect similar to the natural vibrato produced by a vocalist or instrumentalist.
2. **Controls**: Vibrato pedals typically offer controls for adjusting the rate (speed) and depth (intensity) of the pitch modulation. The rate control determines how quickly the pitch oscillates, while the depth control determines the extent of the pitch modulation.
3. **Waveform Options**: Some vibrato pedals provide options for selecting different waveform shapes, such as sine wave, triangle wave, or square wave. Each waveform shape produces a different character of vibrato, ranging from smooth and subtle to choppy and pronounced.
4. **Expression Pedal Compatibility**: Many vibrato pedals are compatible with expression pedals, allowing players to control the rate or depth of the vibrato effect in real-time using their foot. This adds a dynamic and expressive element to the performance, allowing for greater control over the vibrato effect.
5. **True Bypass**: Like many other effects pedals, vibrato pedals may feature true bypass circuitry to ensure that the pedal does not color or degrade the guitar signal when it’s not in use. True bypass preserves the tone and integrity of the instrument’s sound when the pedal is bypassed.
6. **Blend Control**: Some vibrato pedals include a blend control that allows players to mix the wet (effected) and dry (unaffected) signals. This enables subtle blending of the vibrato effect with the original guitar signal, preserving clarity and definition while adding depth and texture.
7. **Vintage vs. Modern Voicing**: Vibrato pedals may offer different voicing options to emulate the characteristics of vintage vibrato effects or provide more modern and versatile tones. Vintage-style vibrato pedals often replicate the sound of classic amplifier vibrato circuits, while modern pedals may offer enhanced features and flexibility.
Overall, vibrato pedals are versatile tools for adding movement, texture, and expression to guitar tones. Whether used subtly to add warmth and depth to clean passages or dialed in for dramatic pitch modulation effects, vibrato pedals offer guitarists a wide range of creative possibilities for shaping their sound..
