From thick, sustaining fuzz to dreamy ambient swells, Electro-Harmonix has been shaping the sound of electric guitar for nearly half a century. Known for daring circuits, big tones, and pedals that have become as iconic as the artists who use them, EHX’s influence reaches far beyond boutique pedal culture — into the very landscape of modern music.
Birth of a Bender: Electro-Harmonix’s Early Years
Founded in 1968 by Mike Matthews in New York City, Electro-Harmonix (EHX) started as a distributor of imported effects and pro audio gear. But it wasn’t long before Matthews and his engineers began designing their own circuits — pedals that would go on to define entire genres.
By the early 1970s, EHX had begun releasing pedals built around distinctive, simple electronics that produced massive, characterful sounds. While other companies chased pristine clean boosts and subtle modulation, EHX went straight for bold — and loud.
Fuzz for the Masses: The Big Muff Pi
Perhaps no pedal is more synonymous with Electro-Harmonix than the Big Muff Pi.
Released in the early 1970s, the Big Muff Pi blended fuzz, sustain, and distortion in a way that was at once aggressive and musical. Its creamy, sustaining tone could sing, roar, and slither — making it a favourite for players who wanted power and texture in equal measure.
Famous Users of the Big Muff
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David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) – The glacial lead tones on Animals and later albums were built around Big Muff circuits, contributing to one of rock’s most expressive lead sounds.
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J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) – Mascis’s wall-of-noise approach leaned heavily on Big Muff fuzz to give his solos massive sustain and harmonic richness.
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Jack White (The White Stripes) – Big Muff fuzz crawls through many of White’s most memorable tones, from gritty riffs to driven leads.
Delay with Personality: The Memory Man
In the late 1970s, EHX introduced the Memory Man, a bucket-brigade analog delay that added warmth and modulation to repeats — far from the sterile echoes of early digital designs.
Players loved the Memory Man not just for its delay, but for the way its repeats shimmered, detuned slightly, and breathed with life.
Notable Memory Man Fans
Though delay pedals proliferated in the ’80s and ’90s, the EHX Memory Man remained a go-to for players who wanted warmth and musicality in their echoes. Guitarists across genres — from ambient experimenters to roots rock players — gravitated toward its lush repeats and organic charm.
Modulation and More: Holy Grail, Electric Mistress, and Beyond
Electro-Harmonix kept innovating through the 1980s and 1990s:
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Holy Grail Reverb – One of the first compact reverb pedals with convincing spring and hall sounds, opening up ambient textures for guitarists without racks.
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Electric Mistress Flanger – A classic analog flanger with swooping, jet-like modulation, heard on countless recordings from rock to psychedelic and beyond.
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Small Clone Chorus – A simple, bold chorus that found its way into many grunge and indie rigs in the ’90s.
Icons Who Embraced Modulation
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Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) — Used an EHX Small Clone chorus to help define the thick, underwater guitar tones on Nevermind.
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The Edge (U2) — While known for many modulation devices, EHX delays and flangers were part of his palette during the band’s formative years.
Resurgence and Innovation in the 21st Century
After a period of dormancy in the late ’80s, Electro-Harmonix experienced a renaissance in the late 1990s and beyond, thanks to renewed interest in analog effects and legendary vintage circuits. EHX reissued classics like the Big Muff and Electric Mistress, while also launching bold new designs such as:
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Soul Food Overdrive – A transparent and dynamic overdrive beloved for its touch sensitivity.
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Pitch Fork – A compact, versatile pitch shifter with harmonisation capabilities.
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Synth-style pedals and multi-effects that blur the boundaries between guitar and keyboard textures.
Why EHX Matters
Electro-Harmonix pedals have a few things in common:
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Character — They don’t just alter tone; they impart personality.
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Affordability — Many classics arrived at accessible price points without cutting corners on sound.
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Influence — From prog to grunge, punk to ambient, EHX tones have been etched into the music that defined generations.
Tone That Stands the Test of Time
From garage rehearsals to stadium tours, the sound of an Electro-Harmonix pedal tells a story. Whether it’s the sustaining roar of a Big Muff powering a blazing solo, the lush repeats of a Memory Man floating through a mix, or the shimmering wash of a Holy Grail reverb under a clean chord, EHX continues to inspire guitarists around the world.
