Electro-Harmonix POG

Primarily a singer, I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, been in a band (drummer!), and have continued to record and play with other musicians on a non-professional basis. My styles range from folk to hard rock, with heavy power-pop leanings -- Big Star, not Green Day.


Bought this from Musician's Friend as a blemished copy for $199.

It will alter your sound pretty dramatically. I plugged an Epiphone Mandobird into it and got an eerie church bell tone. Using a Les Paul, I also got some pretty intriguing simulations of an organ when the octave sliders are pushed up. It's great for making your guitar not sound like a guitar.

The chassis feels very, very flimsy. I also played with an Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff pedal and the feel is the same, like the pedal is surrounded only by a thin layer of pressed metal that can warp with pressure. The POG is also not exactly a versatile pedal -- it always sounds pretty synthesizer-like. The on/off switch is in a terrible spot, on a corner of the pedal, and since the pedal has a wide surface, I always feel like I'm going to flip the thing over when I activate it.

Feels flimsy. The thin metal sliders are tiny and thin, with cheap plastic caps, and will probably bend if you step on them by accident. The on/off switch is rough and has to be pressed down hard all the way to do its job. I can't tell you how many times I thought I'd been sent a dead pedal by Musician's Friend because that switch was so hard to activate.

Sonically this pedal was exactly what I thought it would be -- something to transform my guitar into almost another different instrument. But I have major doubts about the build quality, durability, and ergonomic design of the pedal. I definitely think Electro-Harmonix could revamp its approach towards construction, because none of my other pedals -- a Line 6 Delay Modeller, a Sabine fuzz, a Marshall Jackhammer, an Ibanez delay -- feel as awkward and flimsy as this one. I like the POG's sounds; I just don't like its fragile feel.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The POG (Polyphonic Octave Generator) is one of the most detailed octave pedals you can purchase. It's got more options that most octave pedals. It can't be edited on a computer, it's not rackable, and there are simply the 1/4" inputs and outputs. It's an analog pedal.

UTILIZATION

The effects editing on this pedal is pretty easy. There are 8 levers that control the input level, the dry (no effect) output signal, and the output for each octave setting (sub octave, +1 octave, +1 octave detuned, +2 octave, +2 octave detuned) and there's also a low pass filter. They all generally sound pretty good. The setup is pretty basic, and everything is really obvious and simple to use. The manual explains everything clearly, you'll only need to read it once, if at all. 

SOUND QUALITY

I have only used this with electric guitars. The pedal is pretty transparent if you are only running the dry signal. Obviously, the more octaves you add, the more it gets messed it. The sounds I really like are the twelve string effect (+1, +1 detuned), and the organ effect (all of the octave switches thrown). The organ sound in particular is amazing, obviously it doesn't sound that much like a real organ but it's polyphony and richness of tone are incredible. You can get sounds that I never dreamed possible out of a guitar. I like almost every sound. I tend not to use the sub octave by itself as much, unless I'm trying to replicate bass (which I usually don't do anyway). I like the sound of everything else. 

OVERALL OPINION

This pedal is unlike anything I've tried before. I've used octave pedals but none of them have the flexibility and range of this one. I think that it's a pretty reasonably priced pedal, but as always, try to get it used. It sounds great and clear, it can do a lot of things. I would highly recommend it to anybody. 

The Electro-Harmonix POG is an extremely unique effects pedal. The POG, which stands for polyphonic octave generator, will add octaves above any note or chord you play, which makes for some incredibly interesting sounds. It is an analog pedal that has 1/4 inputs and outputs and is not rackable.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration of the pedal is pretty straight forward. It has 8 sliders - input, dry output, sub octave, +1 Octave, +1 Octave Detuned, +2 Octave, +2 Octave Detuned, and Low Pass filter. It is pretty easy to get a good sound out of this as the tracking is great on this pedal.

SOUND QUALITY

The effects are very useful, depending on what you are using it for. I can get a really great organ-like sound out of this that blows my mind whenever I use it. It is a versatile sounding pedal as it is possible to get a number of different sounds from this, and it also includes a low pass filter that can come in pretty handy. I have only used this pedal with guitar, but I'm sure it would sound pretty good on other instruments as well. It tracks incredibly well on guitar, making the sound very fluid.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the POG for about two years and it is yet another innovative pedal from Electro-Harmonix. It transforms my guitar sound into something that I could not achieve without it. I can't compare it to any other pedal, as I'm not sure that any other company has made anything like this pedal. Electro-Harmonix does have a micro POG that is a bit cheaper and has similar type of power, but this POG is much more in depth and has more options for control. While the price of this pedal will drive most away, if you are looking for some cool new sounds and have some money to blow, definitley check out this pedal as it is one of a kind!

POG Electroharmonix (polyphonic octave generator)
18-volt power supply provided.
True bypass.
Between 1/1 output jack.
8 faders:
1 input / 1 output dry / sub octave / 1 octave / octave +1 detuned
2 octave / 2 octave detuned / low pass filter switch with 3 positions.

Nice look.

USE

Use a little weird to departure ...
The volume (input) happens saturation 3/4 of its travel.
The LP Filter is used to control the sonority Gnrale effect from bass / dull the acute / shiny but still a bit difficult to find the right balance ...
The 3-position switch provides a low grade on the interactivity of the LP filter other commands.
The more difficult it is to find a well-balanced sound without its saturated!
But hey it's not drinking water ...

SOUND QUALITY

Mouai ... a little of the same when the sound is a little too "artificial" especially in the treble.

Octaves "detuned" are hardly detuns causing a lightweight "flange".
Finally we quickly falls on the same rglages and faders are not really very progressive, once mlangs the sound is a bit messy.
This is a personal opinion, this effect is certe good quality and what it does it does very well to see, but it quickly goes around and that kind of sounds are not easily use as an'importe o.

As for his "low" is not bad, a little cavernous but nice.
12 string sounds a pass / organ sounds very well.
Use me most is convinced solo guitar / phras big good point is that it does not dcroche a hair!

NOTICE GLOBAL

Friendly, clean effect Electroharmonix, even when some chro (purchase OCCAZ) I am spar quickly, perhaps too quickly ?!