All user reviews for the Electro-Harmonix Black Finger

For specifications, I leave it to you to see on the site EHX.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple, you can easily find the desired sound.
the manual is minimalist but we do not need.

SOUND QUALITY

I use this pedal directly between my jass bass Squier VM (crel microphones) or my Cort B4 FL and my amp head (TC electronic BH250) and 410 Ashdown ABM 115 coupled to an ABM.

Compression is effective without much "pump effect", provided not to push down.
I mainly use the lamp mode, the pre and post gain noon.
In addition to the compression, this brings the pedal and a heat gain to the sound, without fundamentally changing thereof.
a slight overdrive is felt when pushed gains a background, it is not what I want but it can be interesting.

Even with my passive bass directly plugged this pedal, I have no hiss or background noise mentioned in some reviews.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 15 days.
As usual with EHX, it looks solid.
What I like least is its size, weight and power supply dedicated ... but as I do not have 36 effects, ca happens.

I used a multicomp EBS before, which I found very (too) transparent. BF offers a real plus to the sound.

Compressor pedal for guitar or bass operating on two technologies: optical coupling and LED lamps (2x 12AX7 EHX). We choose between two compression modes: full LED or LED lamps +, between two types of effect: compression or squash (a kind of gate) input gain + output, and finally compression ratio. Switch true bypass relay (if the power supply is cut off the pedal, the pedal automatically switches to bypass, this is very handy).

UTILIZATION

We were told many things about this pedal, for good or not, I do confirm that: getting a nice clean sound is quite delicate. There are two reasons: the BF is made to work with low impedance, so if possible with a pre-amplified signal and then an active instrument. It is not desirable to try to boost the signal by increasing the gain, because it may significantly degrade the sound and add a big breath. BF is not a preamp, the input level should be sufficient, without being line level, if it saturates! It limits the blow quite use. Deuxio, the settings are all very interactive, it should not look bad to get what we want. For example, the input gain plays a lot on getting the compression. This is the control in the second set after the compression. At the same time we must not push too, or else watch the breath or saturation (which is not nice at all).

SOUND QUALITY

Side sound reproduction, wholesale, simply put:
- The lamp mode is punchy, moderately compressed, with a characteristic hump in the midrange.
- The LED mode is less hot but more "spicy", perfect for funky casseroles.
- The counter mode is very hairy, gains should be very low to avoid saturating.
- Squash fashion behaves both as a sustainer and a limit. There must be more gain to compensate for the loss of volume. I do not like this method because it seems to lose momentum, but it can be nice to smooth an instrument without too much sustain.

My favorite setting is the following, on acoustic and electric guitar:
Location: ahead in the effects loop of the preamp AMT SS11.
Mode: Comp / Lamp, Input gain: 10h, Output gain: 10am Compression: 13-14h.
I get very hot and very compressed sound. This setting back substantially all of the lower levels means all breads and glissers strings! But that's what I love the most, for me to play clean then.

In fact, the quality of sound from this pedal is simply excellent, once it is left tamed.

OVERALL OPINION

I took me months before allowing me to post a review, story to go around. Initially I bought it to warm up a POD (but nothing did). Then I plugged into a preamp tube, wondering if it was justified ... Then I had to change the lights, I had to remove because I had bad contacts and I really failed to sell it short, it was a bit I love you me either. Plus it takes up so much that it has an interest to be essential! And with patience, I finally found what I wanted. It perfectly complements my preamp, so I keep it.

So we are dealing with a tube compressor (two 12AX7). The beast comes in a wooden box sealed (in case the post would have liked to play with?). The pedal comes in the form of a spare part tank of the first World War, with a black grille to protect the small lights. In any case, he gives an impression of strength even if the case seems rather thin. Anyway, it's not made to jump in with both feet!

UTILIZATION

Level settings, it's Electro-Harmonix, so kindergarten level. So we have three knobs (Compress, pre gain and post gain), two switches (compression tube / diode and normal / Squashed affecting the attack). Add to that a status LED, one that flashes when the compression ratio is optimal (and not an LED overload as one might think) and the famous switch that makes a big "clong" when you enable / disable the effect.
The manual is reduced to its simplest form: an A5 sheet, quite useful to understand the function selectors.

SOUND QUALITY

Once connected, it is the slap, not possible, it sounds too good !!!!! I use it mainly upstream of the preamp, just after my wah. This pedal really brings something to my sound. More dynamic, heat, in the words of one of my friends, my sound has the thigh! The lights are really something, adding according to the settings (pre / post gain) gain, and yes! I expected anything but that, suddenly, it became a kind of boost that adds compression. I tell you, this pedal is miraculous.
Playing mostly music from raw, it is mainly used in lead as it adds just the right compression (no kidding!) But also potato!
In clean, the sound becomes more crystalline, more slamming, in short, that's good.
The only downside to this is the rather unpleasant noise it generates. That said, a good noise reductor should overcome this désagrément.Veillez also enough to keep you away from your amp, or else watch the feedback!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year and a half, and this pedal has become indispensable to me. It fits all my needs without fail. It is an integral part of my set. To be compared to a compressor Edward Marshall (yuck), I do not regret the € 200 spent on its acquisition. Price to pay, I grant you, but this effect is well worth the.
I remember the day my friend Buckaroo Banzai was tried for the first time ... dedeux weeks after he had his own!
Anyway, if I loose one day, I bought one without hesitation!

Compressor Lamps

-2 12AX7, photocell electric compressor

-5 Knobs: COMPRESS (compression) LAMP / LED (switch to select the type of compression); sqsh / NORM (attack time), PRE-GAIN (adjusts the signal), post-gain (volume)

Diode d -1 tmoin erglage compression

-1 Activation switch on / off

-No edition of sounds (no memory)

-Fairly bulky compared to effects pedals that we are used (must accommodate two lamps (also trs being protected well), this explains that.

I do not put that 8 because the on / off foot dsagrable is frankly, hard dclencher made a big "clong", but the pots are of quality.

The wire of the supply is ridiculously fragile, but it's also ... 12 V / 1 ampre and works.

UTILIZATION

The configuration is relatively simple though gnrale labore enough for a compressor, five pots of rglage seems a lot to beginners, but closer examination they each have a function trs pr precise.

The manual is insignificant, a small piece of paper at the bottom of the box and dbrouille you with a.

SOUND QUALITY

Compression is effective and beautifully colored particulirement by the lamps must be said that ... two pedals in one 12AX7 has almost oversized.

Once found the right one rgal rglage is no need to touch it except to the studio, but APRS me it is too noisy for this purpose is the stuff of scne.

Attention, proper rglage is the limit of breath, not easy to find.

I bought it because I n'tais not satisfied with the compressor too discreet for my DB ROLAND 900 and I admit that there is no picture ... the big bass sound is expected in the temp Rant the ridges.

I think it can equally well be used with other amplified instruments because it provides a "prsence" indisputable.

In short it is more than a good job, but 170 we expected no less when same!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for six months, but left twice in default for SAV production ... I confess I n'tais not used to with Electro Harmonix and d ... lais back way too long ...

Since he oprationnel confess that I can not do without it as it boosts its presence in my sound, I use the output of a Sansamp Bass Driver and these two effects alone than enough to get a round and warm from of any prs little stuff.

Tube compressor (2 12AX7) comprising 5 distinct settings:

COMPRESS (compression ratio)
LAMP / LED (used to select the type of compression)
Sqsh / NORM (attack)
PRE-GAIN (input volume)
POST-GAIN (output volume)

No PC edition, a starter, output, a push button on / off and external power.

Huge pedal but so effectively ...

UTILIZATION

The pedal is fairly easy to use even for a neophyte. Adjusting the input volume (PRE-GAIN), we chose its compression (LAMP / LED), an attack that is desired (sqsh / STD), the level of compression (COMPRESS) and added heat if the drive output (POST-GAIN). Not too sorcerer, even if it requires a certain refinement of course. Question is really

SOUND QUALITY

compression efficiency. It's beautiful, colorful, this is rich! Used on my bass, I win in definition and sustain. But, and this is where the bottom lies, I win too much in the background. It is quite manageable for the live but it makes sense to my pedal unusable recording. Too bad because its got the heat with this machine is absolutely unparalleled in this price range. Purchased

OVERALL OPINION

there is a little over a year, I referred to the opinions of AF and I did not regretted. A pedal which I can not do without live! Especially on my Ashdown; inserted loop it gives me a visible gain of punch and intelligibility. So what else to say except that I finally have it through this heat vintage that was lacking in my amp ...

everything has been said analog tube compressor, pedal format
some massive transformer and connector poorly thought (on the side .. em .. bêtant for those who want to place multiple pedals side by side but hey, it's the only downside.)
The construction is solid and exudes quality manual

UTILIZATION

very brief (one step away ^ ^)
General config quite understandable, editing sounds intuitive, easy to adjust compressor ..

SOUND QUALITY

I was looking for something to warm the sound of my config (I play the bass amp Hartke, and soon Markbass, amps are quite "cold"), in a trio of blues / rock with quite a few times style ZZ Top, Led Zep, etc. .. I play on a Blade Tetra Standard 4-string active and a warwick corvette proline 5c active ditto ... the sound is excellently warm, I was tired of problems with compressor-type settings and 12,999 with Boss effects monstrous pump .. . because I am a big lazy question this is an ideal setting for me: the compression tube is awesome simplicity and efficiency, (the LED for that matter, you can switch), 1 volume pot and turning it ' is ..

WARNING beware output gain or it may blow (this is also not recommended on a passive bass, YOU MUST SEND AN INSTRUMENT TO OUTPUT if not too little impedance = sound c. .. r THE FAMOUS BREATH COMES THE .. with me he does not totally blow a bit I wanted to say "If you can plug into the effects loop of the amp to avoid this problem)

For my part whatsoever with my Blade or even more with Warwick's just terrible the sound is warm, even magnified, and I tell you no extra punchy, so much so that I use it constantly now .. is when I mute I'm like "but there's something missing here?" It is with this sound that I played before? " PURE HAPPINESS THAT A SMALL BINIOU LAMPS (says guitarist / autism with whom I am the noise of a full moon, the stuff used in lamps and which remained as two rounds of blank ^ ^) &%&%& % &% I use it extensively for a week .. (repeat / home ..) on different amps (it goes really well on a micro cube also ^ ^)

I tried EBS preamp style or art before but this seriously: the price / quality ratio is unbeatable, and with this one we really feel the difference. I THE tube sound, it adds tremendous energy to my sound.
I like the fact that we can determine the quantity of heat (1 lamp preamp and compression)
Compression is excellent, I am repeating myself but it should be stressed in vintage, natural, fishing on the sound of hell ... that's good!
Failure: I have already said, the connection of the transformer which is located on the side (at a constant pe ... they should try the more they make those here ^ ^)

to 158 euro nine fdpin (search on Google ...) I would do this choice without hesitation, I recommend it to any bass player who can not afford (and envy ..) to afford a tube amp. It will never replace an SVT stack it is okay, but it's still very interesting and it greatly improves the sound a bit "cold" for playing on transistor amp (not to mention the compression is simply excellent vintage )
It can also serve as a studio compressor (tested out of my M-Audio and the fact that serious ... also tested on an Fender Stratocaster = idem)
Basically it is versatile for those like me who wants his warm sound and / or do not want to hit 15 adjustment knobs for compression a sound that makes him too risky graaave (two for the price of one)

EH = very good stuff as usual .. go for it if you can afford (and I repeat an active bass if you intend to use it)!

OVERALL OPINION

Bluffing!

Enough said.

UTILIZATION

Careful to respect the neutral and phase feeding on the pedal. Let me explain. If your power supply does not keyed (mine was purchased in the UK and the adapter did not land, so it is possible to plug in one direction or the other), but he is important to respect the meaning, despite the a priori of each on the fact that it is not important since it is the alternative! Big mistake is VERY IMPORTANT.

In my case the first test the power supply was "inverted" which had the effect of adding a big breath unbearable as the engagement of the effect.
By turning the PSU, the breath has disappeared. Amazing is not it?



SOUND QUALITY

So that's the sound quality is of course to the rendezvous. His warm, beautiful harmonics, beautiful vintage compression. The bass sound is magnificent.

OVERALL OPINION

7.5/10

I use it since yesterday, and I think it is possible to use it on vocals too.

For 150 euros is not bad.

(Originally written by Bk basse/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Tube compressor

-Two 12AX7 tubes, optical compressor

- Five controls: COMPRESS (compression ratio), LAMP/LED (compression mode), SQSH/NORM (attack time), PRE-GAIN (input level), POST-GAIN (output level).

- Compression indicator

- On/off switch

- No memory

- Quite bulky (compared with usual effect pedals) due to the tubes and their protections.

I give it only an 8 because the on/off footswitch feels much too hard and it makes noises. But the controls have a good quality.

The external PSU cable is very fragile (a 12volt / 1 A PSU is included).

UTILIZATION

The configuration is very easy but also comprehensive for a compressor: five controls seem to be a lot in the beginning but each one has a very precise function.

Very short and poor user's manual: only one sheet of paper!

SOUND QUALITY

This compressor is very effective and it adds a nice color to the sound due to the tubes... two 12AX7 in a single pedal might be too much.

Once you find the right setting you won't need to touch the pedal again, unless it's a studio session. But I think the signal to noise ratio is too low for that anyway. It's a stage product.

Caution: it's not easy to find the right setting, and it might generate a bit of noise.

I bought it because I wasn't satisfied with my Roland DB900 and this compressor is actually very different... I finally have that big bass sound with limited peaks I was expecting.

I think you can also use it with other electric instruments. It clearly adds presence to the sound.

It's a bit expensive, but it's worth it because it does a great job.

OVERALL OPINION

I've only had it for six months but I've send it twice to the service center already because of a manufacturing defect... I wasn't used to this with Electro Harmonix... And I waited a long time before getting it back...

Ever since it started working properly I can't play without it anymore. It enhances my sound a lot, adding more presence to it. I connect it to the output of a Sansamp Bass Driver, and these two effects are enough to get a round and warm sound in almost every setup.