Electro Harmonix Freeze Sound Retainer 3-stars Reviews

so-so

The intention is good, however it's hard to get a balanced sustain. Volume increases and some latency make it hard to use.

Fun little pedal

I once saw an acoustic guitar player perform alone, yet somehow he was creating some synth-like organ sounds as he was playing. The pedal he used was the EHX freeze. Since I am always happy to steal other people's tricks, I ordered one to see what I could do with it. I ended up doing mostly the same thing as the other guy, but it is a fun trick to have.

Build quility is as solid as EHX always is, strong metal casing, the thing could probably take some serious abuse.

The freeze takes a tiny bit of your guitar signal and sustains that as long as you want. You get to select if you want it to sustain as long as you step on the pedal or to have it latch on until you step on it again. Using it, you get to create synthlike sounds, almost sitar like at times. Really adds a some layers and depth to your sound while strumming chords. Of course, you can also use it to endlessly sustain that one note at the end of a guitar solo, or let one chord ring out while you noodle lead parts over it, but I like it best for adding that layer to strumming chords.

Controling it is a bit tricky, I must say. If you step on it too early while hitting the chord, it can just sustain the sound of your pick or fingers hitting the strings in stead of the sound of the ringing strings. Not very pleasant to listen too. Hit it too late, and it doesnt pick up enough sound to really ring out. I use it in songs where I also sing, and it gets quite challenging at times to get the timing right. With some practice though, it is a very useful tool to have on your board, and also a rather unique one. It is not one of the commonly used effects, but certainly worth giving it a go.

Fun to play but gave me the rash

The tone is GOOD and fun to play but I didn't keep mine for long because the pedal consumes tons of current (had to have a separate electric adaptor) and the pedal happened to cause some mild buzz on my soundsystem (because of the adaptor? Or because it is not true bypass and the buffering is not pro-grade? dunno) and I'm VERY allergic to unwanted noises.

Good idea.

It is an great tool for modal improvisation. I use it to create drones and atmospheres in my solo work. It is awesome to don't have to rely on loose strings.

BUT!

It could have been better! It looses some bottom (I'm a bass player it might not be a problem for guitarists etc.) and the switch makes a loud click when i press it down, not good for intimate solo performances. The switch is also quite small for on the fly use, a piano sustain design would have been great.

And now after a while, it make a strange noise when i ignite the pedal.

To sum it up.

It is an great(!) effect but it is poorly constructed.

Electro Harmonix could have done this so much better and made it an iconic effect instead of a gimmick.

/J