Electro-Harmonix Black Finger Compressor Reviews

[brandondrury]

Electro-Harmonix Black Finger Compressor @ Musiciansfriend

Electro-Harmonix Black Finger Compressor Description
What does that mean? The Electro-Harmonix Black Finger Compressor Pedal uses the same professional-grade techniques that the most revered, vintage and mega-thousand dollar, high-end studio compressors use, except that it's in the form of an affordable, compact foot pedal! 2 different light sources (LED and lamp) provide distinctly different readings and offer uniquely varied compressions. One tube handles the compression stage while the other manages the gain stage. And unlike other "tube" hyped products on the market, which use 9 to 50 volts, the Black Finger's design allows a full 300 volts of swing to be utilized. This makes it a true tube compressor in every sense.

Whether used as part of an effects loop or with direct guitar, bass or voice, the Black Finger will give music the type of treatment that simply cannot be achieved via plug-in emulation or with any other analog or digital product that doesn't cost thousands of dollars.

The Black Finger effects pedal breathes life and ****th into any musical instrument or recording and makes it sound magical.

[h20rider]

Quality: 3
Several issues here. 1) No where near as solid as a Keeley or Fulltone pedal (though I know Fulltone doesn't make a compressor) 2) The power jack is unusual and may proprietary. The problem is that it is badly placed and that placement leads to loose connection due to bumps, and collisions with other gear. 3) The shield over the twin 12AX7 tubes is easily pushed into the tops of the tubes when the footswitch is used. This leads to static and shorting. 4) Though compressors typically add some noise, I find that this one's his is unacceptable when the effect levels are dialed near medium or above.
As far as the quality of the effect...I found the Keeley to be much better ...and without all the nonsense.

Reliability: 1
The EH "customer service" is not customer service. Contact is impersonal and unhelpful. The standard answer is "Send it in." They will not sell a minor part (jack) and expect the customer to pay for shipping two ways, the cost of the replacement part, and the service fee. That would make sense for a major problem, but to replace a jack???

Overall Rating: 3
I don't think EHX's products are very good, but their support is just terrible. I think is is rather "scamish" to of them sell items and then try to transparently squeeze a lot more money from the customer. I'd find some other way to get an effect rather than buy from them. I won't even sell the Black Finger that I have because I don't want to stick someone else.