Electro Harmonix Pitch Fork Pitch Shifter

I bought the Pitch Fork as a simple up and down octave, and for that purpose I'm very satisfied. It tracks pretty well, it sounds great and it has straightforward controls.

The +2 and +3 (although situational) octaves paired with an expression pedal allow for really cool sounds that can take the place of a whammy pedal from the pedalboard.

This pedal also allows you to change your pitch whatever interval you desire which can lead to very interesting sounds, but also need a very creative mind to make them usable.

The detune sounds surprisingly good and easily passes for a chorus.

The only downside the pedal has for me is the inability to control the up and down octaves' volumes independently. But I guess that comes with this pedal's extremely convenient ease of use.

Let me start stating that my sound is forged upon three axis: distortion, delay and pitch shifting. For that reason, I have tried, rented, used, purchased or currently own many, many pitch shifters since the 80?s, being witness of the evolution of pitch shifting, as technology evolved, since its very inception.

Today, I?ve got three points in the sound chain with pitch shifting, as follows: Boss PS3 & PS2 MIJ, Digitech Whammy (various incarnations, today the chromed limited edition), EH Slammi (now replaced by the pitch fork), Eventide Pitch Factor, Eventide Ultra Harmonizer, TC Electronic G Major 2 (pitching effects) and POD XT Pro (pitching effects).

So what?s with the Pitch Fork? Quality of sound is very modern, similar to the Slammi I might say, in particular if you do not overdo it. At 35% mix, is smooth and still natural. It handles gives you true bypass capabilities and polyphony with no issue, lags, delays or annoying shimmering, lows are reasonably "analog" sounding, and highs are sharp and not brittle. Loved it. I sincerely believe that, given the market status at present, sound quality is not open to debate. Same goes to building quality. If you ever work with EH small sized pedals, same standards will be found here. 100% capable of handling tours, gigs, rehearsal with the fellas and most certainly your bedroom studio rigors for the next 100 years.

What I would like to address here is my admiration on the design of this effect. Envisioning the ability to select octaves on programs that are based on harmonies (even getting a fantastic chorus effect for free!), the possibility to convert switching from latching to unlatching, the simplicity of controls and (to top it off marvelously!) the added flexibility of an expression pedal in, is difficult to overlook the genius in the concept.

As a tool, everything is inside, Tom Morello, Dimebag Darell, all the sounds are here. Just spend some time with the pedal and you will be flying in no time. If you are not concerned about real state in your pedalboard, adding an expression pedal is a MUST.

Only con? From my perspective, clearly none. This has everything a great effect should have, executed beautifully (damm, it even looks good!). All you need had been included in the price (AC adaptor included!) right from the box and sound, construction, handling and looks are irreproachable.

If you?re in the market for a pitch shifter in stomp ox format, look no further.