United States · Est. 1968
Electro-Harmonix
Creators of the Big Muff Pi. One of the most influential and innovative brands in the history of effects.
About the brand
Founded in New York in 1968 by Mike Matthews, Electro-Harmonix (EHX) has produced some of the most iconic and influential pedals of all time. The Big Muff Pi defined fuzz for entire generations. The Small Clone, the Holy Grail, and the POG are equally legendary.
EHX has always pushed into uncharted territory — from the Micro Synthesizer in the 1970s to the POG polyphonic octave generator. Their willingness to experiment with unusual circuits gave birth to sounds that no other manufacturer was offering.
The brand went bankrupt in the 1980s before Matthews revived it in the 1990s, bringing back the classics and introducing new groundbreaking designs. Today EHX remains one of the most creative forces in the effects industry.
Key facts
- Big Muff Pi: one of the most influential pedals in history
- Pioneers of synthesis pedals with the POG and Micro Synth
- Defining presence in rock, grunge, shoegaze and psychedelia
- Manufacturing in New York since the 1960s
Iconic pedals
Big Muff Pi
The most iconic fuzz/distortion in history. Its warm, high-sustain tone with pronounced low end defined grunge, shoegaze, and psychedelic rock.
Small Clone
Bucket-brigade analog chorus with two simple modes that produces the most recognisable chorus sound in alternative rock, popularised by Kurt Cobain.
Holy Grail
Accessible digital reverb with three modes — Spring, Hall, and Flerb — that became the reference for quality reverb at a reasonable price.
POG
Polyphonic octave generator that adds octaves above and below any note or chord in real time, with no appreciable latency.
Memory Man
The first analog delay with built-in modulation. Its warm, slightly imprecise sound became the reference for analog delay.
Notable musicians
- David Gilmour · Big Muff Pi
- Kurt Cobain · Small Clone, Big Muff
- Jack White · Big Muff, POG
- J Mascis · Big Muff Pi