We don’t think there is any mistaking the banner year Mike and his crew at Electro-Harmonix had in 2009. The NYC-based pedal veterans unleashed a slew of high-quality, highly-sought-after effects boxes this year, led by the Memory Boy analog delay and the Cathedral stereo reverb. EHX made promises with these boxes, and they delivered. In addition, the company issued a new generation POG – the POG2 – an amp in a box stomp called the 22 Caliber, a pair of envelope filters, the Memory Toy delay, V256 Vocoder and so on! The volume of goodies and consistent excellence of both tools and tone makes EHX our Builder of the Year for 2009!

We had a chance to visit with the EHX crew at Summer NAMM earlier this year and get a preview of many of their offerings from the year. We were taken right away with not only the quality of effects like the Memory siblings and the Cathedral, but the price points as well. Affordable quality means a lot to a musician on a budget and EHX has proven a friend to the effects-starved guitar slinger with an eye on his wallet. Of the company’s 2009 releases, only the POG2 carries an eye-popping price. Diligent shoppers can have any other 2009 EHX pedals for $200 or less… and in most cases MUCH less. Regardless, any money spent on the EHX 2009 line is money WELL spent. Well done, EHX!

Quotes from around the ‘Net about EHX’s 2009 pedals:

Cathedral Stereo Reverb -
“I think its one of EHX best. The stereo imaging is almost 3D. Not sure how they do it, but is huge in stereo. The infinite switch is brilliant and something I use all the time.”

Memory Boy -
“Once again, I’m reminded of why I have so many EHX pedals. When it comes to modulation, they continue to make my favorites.”

POG2 -
“I think it’s really quite something. Sure it does the organ sound, but there’s way more.”

Here are a few demo vids of the various EHX 2009 releases…