Pigtronix EP-1

Very easy to use, once you understand the different functions. The manual is indeed helpful in getting started. I think the sound is wonderful. When using the LFO side, my settings sound along the lines of an emulated rotary speaker (I keep the "character" knob nearly to the right). When using the Envelope filter, you can go from quite subtle to extremely vocal-sounding effect.

I love the sound, it is my favorite of two effects in one pedal. The phaser is excellent, I enjoy it much more than my EH small stone and various others I've tried. The EF has taken the place of my very expensive EMMA discumBOBulator. I really love how this sounds. When I got it, I had to exchange because of a minor issue (see below) and was surprised to find how much I missed it in the few days between sending it off and getting the replacement. I don't know if it's true bypass or not, but it is very quiet when off and does not take away from the input tone at all when on the way some of my pedals seem to (see EH small stone). I use in various combinations with a nobels ODR1, Boss DS1, Barber tone pump and tone press, Catalinbread teaser/stallion, ZVex fuzz factory and 2 SHOs, EH holy grail and Boss DD6. My amps are a Savage Macht 12 and a Carvin Vintage 33 w/ext cab. Guitars at this time are Reverend Rocco and Slingshot, newer LP Studio, Am Std Tele, G&L Legacy, 74 SG Deluxe, 74 Gibson L6-S and an Italia Modena. I can get any sound I want with this gear, and the EP-1 is a great addition.

I haven't used the external speed pedal, nor have I used the alternative trigger input for the EF. Both hold great interest though, and I am sure I will explore their uses in the future.

Also, I have been getting some very unique sounds with the fuzz factory both before and after the EP-1 while in EF mode.

With a Y splitter cable you can send your guitar signal direct to the trigger input while the input/output can be placed anywhere in the chain. (That doesn't make sense but check out the pdf manual and it makes more sense.

When the unit arrived, one of the LED indicators was not functioning. I chalk this up to the online retailer shipping it in the retail box rather than double-boxing perhaps. When Dave Koltai sent my replacement it was very well packed and I don't foresee any problems. If I do, see below.

I believe the owner is Dave Koltai and he is very helpful, friendly and rightly proud of his EP-1. I think Dave would be more than happy to make right anything that may go wrong.

I play all different kinds of music and have used it with a synth as well. Been playing 20 or so years. I would replace this for sure if lost or stolen.

The pedal's style is really unique and this unit has its own sound that I really like. I like that it replaces two pedals for way less than the price of buying them individually and they both sound better than what I was using. The EF/LFO LED is great and I like my blinking red blue and green lights.

I'm giving this thing a 9 instead of a ten because while it's easy to get cool sounds, there is a fair degree of range available, meaning a bit of a learning curve.

This is an interesting combination of vintage-style effects: an analog phaser that can be controlled by either a low frequency oscillator or by following the guitar's volume envelope. Very intuitive, very funky, very fun to play.

Lots of different guitars, but leaning more toward single coils, minibuckers and FilterTrons. Amps I favor are Class A EL-84 based, but I use a lot of different amps and cabs when recording. Effects: a mix of boutique and old stuff, nothing lame: Divided By 13, Pro Analog, FoxRox, Nine Volt Nirvana, Boss VB-2 & DM-2, Roland Space Echo, etc.

The Pigtronix unit performs at a level consistant with my favorite boutique analog boxes. Noise floor is low, sounds are uniformly juicy and organic. Just a great pedal. FWIW other pedals I own that cover some of the same general ground: FoxRox TZF, Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe, Frostwave Funk-A-Duck. The Pigtronix EP-1 definitely has its own thing going on, and it's a good thing.

Solid heavy enclosure, knobs and switches feel solid. I don't plan on losing any sleep wondering whether this thing will fall apart.

I've only dealt directly with the EP-1's designer, but he's a great guy who believes in what he's doing. Actually I met David at the NAMM show here in Nashville a few weeks ago. The Pigtronix EP-1 was literally the most exciting thing I saw at the show, and I went back to NAMM on Sunday specifically to hunt David down and beg him for one of the prototypes he had with him. The production units are supposed to be shipping within the next couple of weeks, but I had a session the next day that I wanted the EP-1 for. David was kind enough to let me leave with one of his precious prototypes tucked under my arm.

I write and record a variety of pop/rock/roots music, tonally covering everything from Buddy Miller, Sheryl Crow, the Wallflowers and Tom Petty/Mike Campbell to Hoobastank, Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch and Natalie Imbruglia. I love subtle shades of texture, and this pedal provides a lot in that department. Just a very musical piece of gear.