Electro Harmonix – EHX

Electro-Harmonix (EHX) is well-known for its wide range of effects pedals, and while it isn’t traditionally a synthesizer company, it has carved out a unique space in the world of guitar and bass synthesis. EHX’s synthesizer pedals, such as the Micro Synth and Bass Micro Synth, allow musicians to access synth-like tones and textures directly from their guitars or basses. The EHX Micro Synthesizer, first introduced in the late 1970s, features a series of sliders for controlling filter sweeps, sub-octave effects, and square wave generation, emulating classic analogue synth sounds. This pedal remains popular for its ability to produce anything from fat, Moog-like bass lines to soaring leads and effects.

More recently, Electro-Harmonix has expanded its synthesizer offerings with pedals like the EHX Synth9 and C9 Organ Machine, which take instrument synthesis a step further. The Synth9 specifically emulates classic synth sounds from the 1970s and 80s, allowing guitarists and bassists to achieve iconic tones without needing a keyboard or separate synth unit. These pedals are designed to be intuitive, letting players blend traditional guitar tones with synthesizer textures, expanding the possibilities of performance and recording without the need for complex setups or specialised gear. Through its innovative approach to guitar synthesis, EHX has given musicians an accessible way to explore rich, synth-inspired soundscapes.