Why the hate on EHX?

[eyeballkid]

so I know this is a loaded question, and Im REALLY NOT wanting this to be a bashing thread, I just am curious. Over the years Ive had almost a literal ton of pedals. Ive had alot of EHX stuff. Some of it I thought was really great for the time, like the Cathedral. Some I thought was great for the time but had little glitches that were annoying, like the Bass Big Muff. Some i thought were great utilitarian effects, some were kinda standard issue. BUT... Ive had the same feelings with some boutique stuff and with some small builders and even some coveted pedals. Different strokes and different tools i guess. But my question is why are some people really ANTI-EHX?? Did I miss something? Yeah, sometimes the pedals are a little south of bullet proof, but for the price point they are a great working mans option. So somebody 'splain it to me.

 

[devnulljp]

Who is anti-EHX? Don't think I've ever heard anyone ever say a bad word against em.

 

[RattleSnack]

No anti-EHX here.

 

[AlvarHanso]

I don't understand it either, especially since they've been producing some really awesome boutique-like pedals the last several years since Bill Ruppert has been consulting on pedal creation. Some of the pedals are hit and miss as you say, but that's the way it goes. And they've been in the game for 50 years, so not sure why all the hate.

Also, how can one hate on pedals so integrally tied to David Gilmour's amazing tone palette?

 

[catcauphonic]

I don't visit other effects forums outside of TB, and I can't recall ever seeing someone say anything negative about EHX here.

 

[cosmicevan]

Better question is what makes you think people are anti EHX?

The only thing I can think of here is snobbery since EHX can be bought in every store or online shop...but again never heard of ANY hate to the company, maybe a pedal or two arent popular?

 

[cardinal]

Their build quality is sometimes suspect and they had a habit of making things with huge enclosures. Those are the only complaints I usually read.

They are somewhat a victim of their own success. They have some really iconic designs and I think some folks wish they would build them now the exact way they first built them.

 

[bholder]

EHX units are generally not the most sturdily built, compared to other brands. But they do lots of stuff the other big manufacturers won't.

 

[giacomobass]

Why is the Earth flat?

 

[HelpImaRock]

Historically, EHX had problems. Mike went bankrupt what 4 times? Customer service wasn't always there and build quality suffered at various times. But that's been a long time now.

Some pedals, like the one and two knob modulation pedals, have perceived volume drops.
Some have wide ranges, which some people feel like they have finicky controls.
Some use 24v power supplies and can't be daisy chained.
Some digital pedals whine when you daisy chain them and people think that's a QC issue when it's not

Then there's the group who says the XO pedals don't sound like their big box predecessors and boo on EHX for cashing in on a name and not making accurate reissues.

Personally, I don't fit into any of the above. That's just a bunch of stuff I've read over the years. The only EHX pedals I own these days are the Deluxe Memory Boy and SuperEgo+. The DMB's volume runs away when it oscillates. And the effects on the SE+ are mostly terrible. But the sounds I like on them are fantastic.

 

[Wasnex]

From about 2011 to 2016 I went on a amp buying binge. All of the amps that arrived with EHX KT88 or 6550 had lot's of problems and pretty much all of the output tubes failed over a very short period of time. I replaced all of them with JJ KT88s and have not experience a single failure since.

I also bought a small sample of most of the 12AX7 tubes that are currently in production, to have some fun tube rolling. I rolled the EHX 12AX7 in a couple of bass amps and it was consistently the worst sounding tube IMHO. Here are my notes from when I rolled it in my Trace Elliot V8 OD channel:

The Electro Harmonix 12AX7 had the leanest/brightest timbre and produced the most uneven fizzy/buzzy distortion. The EH also had the least linear transition from clean to distortion and the break over into distortion varies with frequency. Low notes require a stronger signal to distort than higher notes.​

IMHO the EHX12AX7 tube might be useful for high gain guitar use, where it's always pushed into heavy distortion. I have seen a few threads where people like them in bass amps as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few are hiding in my Reeves 400, which sounds fabulous. But in general, I give it a low rating.

I do think many of the EHX effects sound pretty awesome, although I don't own any of them. In particular I have loved the sound of the Small Stone since I was about 5. I bought a Blackout Effectors Whetstone which is able to produce a very similar sound, although it's not quite as wet.

I also think some versions of the EHX POG and HOG can make some interesting sounds. I don't have any effects that are similar to the POG or HOG. They would be fun to play around with, but I can't imagine a situation where I would use either live as a bass player.

 

[Vinny_G]

I do not see hatred for EHX, at least on TB. Personally I am really a fan of their products, for their uniqueness, their design, their quirky side sometimes, but mainly their overall quality. If there is resentment towards this brand with some people, I would guess it must be because of Mike. And I have to say in all honesty that I see pretty much why, although I do not share this opinion at all.

 

[Vinny_G]

Why is the Earth flat?

Because otherwise we would slip and fall into the void

 

[AlvarHanso]

I do not see hatred for EHX, at least on TB. Personally I am really a fan of their products, for their uniqueness, their design, their quirky side sometimes, but mainly their overall quality. If there is resentment towards this brand with some people, I would guess it must be because of Mike. And I have to say in all honesty that I see pretty much why, although I do not share this opinion at all.

I'd not been on TB much the last few years, so I could be misremembering where I encountered hate on EHX (perhaps coming from another site?), but I remember quite a bit of people talking bad about EHX. It stayed in the back of my mind as I avoided buying their pedals until I had an old Holy Grail gifted to me, then got a POG2 not long afterward, and now almost half my board is EHX.

 

[JimmyM]

I've had a couple problems with EHX pedals but most have worked flawless, and the ones that had problems they fixed for dirt cheap with incredibly fast turnover.

 

[40Hz]

I don’t see any EHX bashing around here.

We’ve currently got their Freeze, Analogizer, East River Drive, and Oceans 11 sitting in our effects cabinet. I think they’re all interesting and musically useful effects except for the Oceans 11 - because that pedal is stellar!

Over the years I’ve owned or played through a large number of EHX pedals starting with the earliest Big Muff plus the Hog’s Foot and Screaming Bird boost pedals. And I’m completely ok with EHX gear.

 

[matante]

The memory man, holy grail, muffs, and others are extremely popular with pros and can be found on many pro pedalboards. I don't see how they're "utilitarian pedals good for the price." To be that popular on pro tours, and in the studio, they must be good pedals period.

I've been critical here about their hot tubes pedal, but I have nothing bad to say about the company or brand.

 

[jamro217]

My only experience with EH is the Big Muff Pi fuzztone pedal I bought new back in 1975. Aside from a few surface scratches on the top it still works perfectly. It only weighs a few ounces and has a rather large chassis for the modest electronics inside. It's nowhere near as durable as the MXR effects I usually use, but the sound is unique.

 

[Bassmike62]

I've seen a few of those comments on EHX over the years I've been lurking around, but also on a lot of other pedalmakers. I don't think any maker gets a unanimous positive vote, as you can't please everyone.

One thing I give credit to EHX: they have bassplayers in mind.

EDIT: and they do come up with oddball ideas sometimes, I find that quite charming .

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I remember a time in the 2000s when I literally said to myself "If EHX doesn't make it, I don't need it". The only EHX pedal on my board right now is a big-box Deluxe Memory Man that is also my favorite pedal.