Electro-Harmonix White Finger

I've had limited experience with compressors but was able to get the sound I needed. I really just wanted my sound to be a little fuller and this did it with relative ease.

There is a hiss with this pedal engaged but as far as I know that's common when using a compressor with a tube amp. I can dial it out but I lose the sound I'm looking for.

Still, the white finger does make my sound much better. The squash feature and the Lamp feature really make this pedal the most versatile compressor out there.

True bypass switching comes in handy. It hasn't failed me yet and I don't think it ever will.

Works well for me.

It takes a while to set up this pedal the way i want, but once its set theres no need to tweek. No manual, no need, relatively simple pedal.

GREAT! This thing is the best pedal compressor i've played with so far. I use it in my effects loop on bass with a Stingray, ampeg preamp (SVP-PRO) and crown power amp(XTI). This thing tightens up my sounds and adds some wiked percussive thump to it, withough colouring my tone. It not noisy at all, it has LAMP and LED modes which can make this a slow acting subtle comp or a super phat squeeze.

EH always makes big metal boxes with big black knobs that have their own look. sounds a bit hollow, but sturdy as hell. I gig without a bakup.

Never Dealt with it so far, although i have heard that the unusually large boxes have a downfall, being that the knobs are far away from the pots so a tiny rod has extend the knobs reach, making them pretty fragile.

I play all sorts of music, and this thing can do it all. If it were lost or stolen, I would consider buying it again, but would probabl get a rack, just so i would have 1 less pedal to cary around. I lov the tweakablility. i HATE the adapter that came with it, it came with a wall wart specially designed that puts out 40V, so i cant use this pedal witha regular 9v daisy chained, which really suks, more wall warts to carry around. I wish this were available in a rack... but if i get a rack comp it would probably be DBX.

4 knobs, manual will tell you everything u need, 2 knobs control the input signal amount and overall output, 1 to adjust the depth of compression (soft to hard), and 1 to vary the amount of compression. The lamp/led switch toggles light sources driving the optic circuitry, while squash on/off basically changes attack. These two switches open up many more compression sounds, usable by both guitar and bass. Balance of pre- and post-gain is simple, while dialling in the right amount and type of compression feels intuitive. Only problem is that volume won't remain consistent when switching the optical circuit.

I run this with a MIJ Fender '71 reissue through a reverend hellhound, with a long chain of effects in between, including fulltone supa-trem, ehx doctor q, keeley-modded rat2, xotic rc booster and boss dd-20. The white finger is an incredibly transparent pedal, but it gives a full, creamy feel to my sound. I leave it on all the time when playing clean. My notes sustain on forever but in a very natural way. The lamp setting is great with funk, while flicking on squash with overdrive will get an immense lead sound. Led is best for quick passages or when a neutral tone has to be preserved. But even at dramatic settings it still sounds organic and allows your tone to shine through. Having essentially 4 different compression sounds is certainly a big plus. Oh, did i mention it's true bypass? Nothing's perfect though, there's abit of swelling when high compression is dialled in.

Electro-harmonix don't make the most reliable stompboxes. Mine had a problem with the true bypass switch, but was easily fixed though. It still doesn't feel too sturdy though, so I won't exactly be jumping on it. The adaptor cable looks pretty flimsy as well.

Haven't had to deal with them, my local guy fixed the switch

I've been playing guitar, bass and keyboards for over 12 years, and do plenty of home recording. I play mostly experimental and indie rock. I'm not the richest musician around so i have to watch my budget on these toys. The white finger is fantastic bang for the buck. I've compared this with numerous compressors including keeley, demeter, and EHx's own black finger, and this is the most versatile and usable of the lot. It's not the warmest-sounding compressor out there, but i want a natural, transparent compressor for home recording. The black finger gives a warm vibe, but that's not always what i want, and it costs alot more. The only thing I don't like is the adaptor, can't understand EHx's fascination with these things. I'm not sure it gives significantly more headroom anyway. The white finger has enhanced my playing alot, because it beefs up my tone without altering it or suppressing the feel of the dynamics; it's difficult to explain, it simply sounds so natural, you might not even notice it's there.If it was stolen or lost, I'd cry, then save up for another one.

Very simple to use. Controls are: pre gain, compression, sensitivity and post gain. Also there are two switches: Lamp/LED (these are are opto comp devices) and Squash On/Off. There is no attack or release knobs. Just use your ears to get the right sound by tweaking pre gain and compression knobs. The compression indicator helps a lot, too. Sensitivity knob controls between compression and limiter. When you adjust the sensitivity knobs, you can control sustain (or release time).

Even compressed a lot, it sounds clean and FAT! Very quiet too. It sounds very different from its brother EH Black Finger (also opto comp but tube driven instead of FET) that can provides more classic tube sound and even some cranch. I usually use Black Finger with guitar to give an edge and White Finger with bass to get thud and sustain for re-amping/mixing. Having option between Lamp and LED is just great to get different tones out of this box. LED works well with drums. Lamp has slower compression and you get attack AND sustain. Squash ON/OFF switch is useful to change the tone (when on, compresses treble even more, so you get more bassy sound.)

Very well made.

No problem and never needed to contact them. But what's up with their web site? Not much information. They should at least upload a PDF file manual or at least description of the knobs!

I use all of the new EH compressors: Black Finger, NY2A and White Finger for different applications. . They are all opto compressors and each one has its own sound charactor and strength. White Finger really shines when you want fat but clean and punchy sound. Also this is a sustain machine. EH White Finger is basically poor man's 1176. It is a steal! I am going to buy another one soon.