Here is one weird thing: this pedal, at least on principle and following practical thinking, should be identical in sound to the Pitch Fork one, right? Then why I still like the sound of the original better?
I was super excited to get me one of these. Pitch shifting is crucial for my own sound and I do own a number of pedals, from the dirt cheap to the sublime (Eventide, Brainwaves, Drop, Ricochet, several Whammys, original Pitch Fork, Harmony and some rack units) so I have some perspective and units to compare with. When Electro Harmonix announced that they will double the capabilities and add a myriad of features to the original Pitch Fork, a bona fide favorite of mine, my mouth started to water.
And I finally got it! The design of this pedal, how usable it is, how fast and easy is to operate on the fly and how clever is the selection of features at design demonstrate that Electro Harmonix is the master at this game. Expression pedal, auxiliary pedal, twin outs, preset banks, large readable led screen and deep programmability makes this pedal unbeatable if pitch shifting at your feet is what you need. As said, Electro Harmonix has extensive experience in the market, knows their trade and this pedal is demonstrating that fact beyond question.
As said, the amount of features packed here is impressive, without being staggering or superfluous, size factor is reasonable, tracking (even with chords) is state of the art, as a tool it sits between a POG and a regular shifter (hence super creative and inspiring), the range of the shifting is HUGE and everything points at crowning this thing as the definitive shifter pedal. BUT...
For some reason, I like the tone of the original (which I still keep) a bit better, in particular at its most extreme setting. As the range goes up, that "digital" phantom gets noticeable, something that was far better with the original (which to me is the best at that). Even when the sound out of this is still better than most (including some at higher price tags, mind you), is not perfect. And I know that this statement probably makes no sense at all. And I imagine that is just coupling the same digital circuitry with replicated software, with components made by same manufacturer and there are no mysteries or medieval coven here. Pitch Fork one and plus should be one and the same guts. But I can hear a noticeable difference and if I am sharing my findings I should underline this in the name of fairness.
In brief, this is an amazing pedal, super creative and useful, well constructed (exception made by a little shaky selector knob, which we will see how it holds in time), sports most features than any human being could possible need, is easy and logical to operate and does a supreme job as a shifter. For some odd reason though, I am still hearing that is the original Pitch Fork, and not this one, the one destined to be a classic.
Having said all that, you will have a great deal of fun and be massively inspired by this pedal!
