Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron

This is the second “version” of this pedal that I have owned.

Initally, I picked up a Micro Q-Tron in 2024. I sold it not long afterwards as I saw that (once again) I was acquring more and more equipment for its own sake. That Q-Tron ended up being sold as part of the Autumn Gear Purge of 2024.

This Nano Q-Tron is more felixble in that is has an addiitonal control for “Volume” that the Micro lacked.

This pedal is essential for guys looking to capture the Jerry Garcia sound. And while the Cork Sniffers are quick to point out that “ACKCHYUALLY, Garcia used the Mu-Tron III”, the Mu-Tron costs anywhere between $500 to $1000. And two of the three Electro-Harmonix (EHX) Q-Trons are below $150 new. They’re even less costly on the used market.

This was the begining of my modest Pedal Board, a thing that I never intended to build in the first place. But, I will address that elsewhere.

Electro-Harmonix Soul Food “Transparent” Overdrive

In 2021, I began to look at FX pedals in a deeper fashion. During this time I was introduced to “Drive Effects”, these are the effects that simulate pushing amplifier tubes to the point of signal distortion.

Drive effects come in three “levels” moving from milder, less-pronounced to wilder, extremely-pronounced: Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz.

I wanted an overdrive that did not introduce a large amount of “color” to the guitar signal. These are called “Transparent” overdrives. And the Soul Food from EHX had excellent reviews. And when I found one at Guitar Center for $60, I jumped on it.

And so, my “Pedal Board” (that I was not going to build) grew to two.

MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay

Also known as an “Echo Pedal”, a delay pedal makes a copy of the original signal and duplicates it while making the copy decay over time.

In the broadest sense; there are Analog and Digital delays, with analog being described as more “warm” and “vintage”. The digital delays are precise. The reader can find better, more in-depth explanations on the Interwebs. I’m just not clever enough to describe all of the different types of delay.

I wanted a delay pedal because they are just cool. In addition, delay pedals have been used on many of the songs I listened to in my now-faded youth.

There were so many options for a delay pedal that I got overwhelmed and went with an extremely reputable brand; MXR.

This beautiful pedal is covered in a deep-green, bass boat sparkle finish, it is built like a tank, is the heaviest pedal I own, has easy-to-understand controls, and sounds fantastic.

It was then that this non-existent “Pedal Board” (the one I refused to build) was up to three.

Electro-Harmonix Bad Stone Phase Shifter and Small Clone Chorus

These were purchased together from a music store on Reverb at a time when EHX had significantly marked down a few of their pedals. And they are the only two brand-spanking new pedals I own.

The two are members of what is broadly referred to as Modulation Effects with Chorus “thickening” the tone, and Phase applying a “swirling” effect. Together, they are a lot of fun!

OK, OK, OK! I ended up building a Pedal Board.

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (NYC, USA Reissue)

I think of the EHX Big Muff Pi as the Grandfather of my Pedalboard. It’s imposing, massive size, and its origins go back to 1969, two years after my own birth make it an kind of Elder in terms of FX pedals. Its effect on the signal is also massive.

Fuzz takes Distortion to the next level, and this pedal is next level in every sense. It’s also very reasonably priced when purchased new. However, I managed to pick up an extremely excellent iteration for only $50.

This one was made in the U.S.A. in the early 2000s and came with its original box.

I bought it because of its overall historical significance because I’m not much of a “Fuzz guy”. Although, based on my first experiences with this thing, I might just become one.

The placement of this monster required some rearranging of my now-existent Pedal Board. As you can see, there is no more room for any more pedals. Well, maybe one more as the tuner is not a pedal and not stuck to the Velcro.