Electro-Harmonix EHX B9 organ pedal

**Doctor Jeff** · 06-19-2014, 03:59 PM

EHX has a new pedal out that simulates a Hammond organ:

EHX.com | B9 - Organ Machine | Electro-Harmonix

I don't know about you, but I have always wanted to incorporate an organ sound into my jazz playing. I have also wanted to play organ like Keith Emerson and Jon Lord, but since that'll never happen, this may be the next best thing.

I imagine recording a backing loop with the pedal on, then playing guitar over it with the pedal off. Who knows....I haven't found any pricing for it, but I bet it'll be more than $119...

**DRS** · 06-19-2014, 04:42 PM

very cool

**kenhan** · 06-19-2014, 04:45 PM

$299.

**Woody Sound** · 06-19-2014, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

EHX has a new pedal out that simulates a Hammond organ:

http://www.ehx.com/products/b9

I don't know about you, but I have always wanted to incorporate an organ sound into my jazz playing. I have also wanted to play organ like Keith Emerson and Jon Lord, but since that'll never happen, this may be the next best thing.

I imagine recording a backing loop with the pedal on, then playing guitar over it with the pedal off. Who knows....I haven't found any pricing for it, but I bet it'll be more than $119...

More like $300 list. Yikes! I hope the street price is a lot less.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-19-2014, 05:06 PM

I must have one.

**docbop** · 06-19-2014, 05:33 PM

Could be a lot of fun. Bet you need really clean picking technique to make it trigger correctly.

**marcwhy** · 06-19-2014, 07:13 PM

Wow, I was surprised by that; pretty cool!

**mangotango** · 06-19-2014, 07:28 PM

Wow, I've been trying for that for years with various Octave Pedals and Choruses. EHZ POG was the closest I got, but this is a whole new jeu de ballon.

Wonder how much UK price will be?

**mongrel** · 06-19-2014, 07:49 PM

Would be fun to play with. Didn't hear anything even approaching my organ god, Joey DeFrancesco. Most convincing for me was Question Mark and the Mysterions on the "Continental" setting. 96 Tears. Hail, 1966.

**RonD** · 06-19-2014, 09:35 PM

Don't care what the price is! I WANT!!!

**Eric Rowland** · 06-19-2014, 10:32 PM

Is there a Khalid Yasin (Larry Young) setting on it? Or maybe another other favorite....

**jazzbow** · 06-20-2014, 01:06 PM

Ghad, I just love EHX, they have some excellent pedals don't they (and odd ones too).

Got me a few just recently, wanted a Super Ego but the Freeze was better value for that particular sound.

But this B9 is top of my list! I was hankering for a Neo Instruments Ventilator but that is very expensive.

Damn! Just when I thought I got a decent pedal board together I'm gonna have to put an extension on now.

**ESCC** · 06-20-2014, 01:11 PM

Very impressive!!!

When EH develops the drum pedal, I'll have my (should I say be my) band!

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 06-20-2014, 04:51 PM

OMG that demo on the ehx site blew me away. It sounds much better that I would have guessed. I'm starting to save my pennies. Wait a minute, Canada no longer has pennies!

**RonD** · 06-20-2014, 07:20 PM

BDLH... We're effed!

**Jimmy Mack** · 06-20-2014, 08:05 PM

Great choice Eric R., I've had that album since it came out. Love John Ab.

My buddy Ric McCurdy now builds guitars and services others for him. Never met him though.

I am intrigued by this new pedal. Since the 60's, I always loved B3's and the sound of a Leslie. Rock or jazz.

Think I'll get one and change my name to Jimmy Smith. No, there was only one!

But I am thinking that this pedal could be trouble without some serious attention to technique, (and taste).

**Eric Rowland** · 06-20-2014, 10:35 PM

I hope with some minor adjustments the sound of the Hammond C3 can be attained with this product. I always liked the majestic sound of the C3. The aforementioned vid has Jan Hammer using the C3. Of course Keith Emerson used it effectively for a number of years. Here is some C3 action with a most talented young lady...

btw she is vision impaired...amazing!

**henry b** · 09-23-2014, 12:16 PM

Will be trying out mine tonight.

**Endorphins** · 09-23-2014, 04:18 PM

Maybe someday I'll find one used. I barely use pedals these days, but I'd check one of these out.

**Beanctr** · 09-23-2014, 04:32 PM

Very cool, I must have. rick

**Doctor Jeff** · 09-23-2014, 04:56 PM

I got one recently--have had a lot of fun playing with it. I particularly like to lay down a backing track with a looper and play over it with guitar.

I played it recently in a performance setting with my jazz combo--surprised the heck out of everyone, because I didn't tell them about it beforehand....It's particularly nice for comping with piano. (Though our lady singer said, What's up with that Wurlitzer crap.)

You can get a very serviceable Jimmy Smith tone out of it, though it does take a bit of adjustment of the amp knobs and attention to technique--Jazz Organ setting, way up on the tremolo, a bit of percussion. (It seems to have a noise gate or filter function that cuts out or mutes certain notes if not played accurately.) As noted, there are quite a few different sounds to play around with, and you can blend the organ and guitar for a nice mellow jazz tone or a really bombastic rock tone--think Smoke on the Water, with Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore playing the same notes...

I find it works best with the bridge pickup and the volume turned down to 6-7 and tone turned down a bit as well (to 6 or 7). Also adjust the organ output down a bit--if the output is too high, it seems to overdrive the amp and results in a muddier sound. Adjust tremolo and percussion to taste. I have read single coils are better than HB's for this pedal, but I haven't noticed a major difference. It seems more suitable for a Tele than an archtop though. I will get around to recording something with it when I get a chance.

**medblues** · 09-23-2014, 09:44 PM

I used the "Bottom End" setting to do bass accompaniment with my guitar in a jamming session on Sunday and the other players all thought it sounded very nice !

Guitar + EHX B9 + EHX 44 Magnum + 10" bass cab (20 lbs) was very portable and versatile.

**woland** · 09-23-2014, 11:21 PM

I no likey.
Tried it at the store and it was ok toy but not musical - too much latency and bad tracking.
If I really want to play with B3 I have guitar synth. that does the job much better.

**Little Jay** · 09-24-2014, 05:16 AM

I have one, it's a fun pedal for some purposes, but it hasn't found it's way onto my pedal board yet. My biggest complaint is that is doesn't take b2-intervals (or b9)! Then notes get muted. Especially noticable in 7#9 and major7 chords! It is possible to do nice organ-like comping playing partial chords, leaving out the dreaded intervals, but it does require adjusting your playing style.

And I'm a bit afraid it's a real gimmick-pedal that you only use for one song at a gig, otherwise you'll be that guitarist that wants to be an organ all the time (we can't all pull that off like Charlie Hunter....)

**AlainJazz** · 09-24-2014, 07:36 AM

I like mine too. It does take time getting used to though and I can't get some of the sounds to work like in the demo. I play it mostly with an old strat. Don't know if the pickups are the issue.