Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

[PFDarkside]

I know a few guys here had bought a B9 when they came out. 18 months on, who still has one and is still using one? How about the C9 or Key9? I'm looking from the perspective of a blues rock, classic rock and progressive rock standpoint, giving a two guitar band a little different flavor for a few covers. If you chose one now, which would you go for? (Or another pedal entirely?)

Currently I do have an original POG, but that's digital octaves only, no 5ths that seem to really make the "organ" tones come alive. Plus, a set of presets with effects make them appealing. All these seem to be based on the Hog2 chip with modulation and click added. (If I could get all tones out of a HOG2 I'd consider it, but from reading online it seems it's not quite possible)

B9:


C9:


Key9:


Mel9:

 

[Matt42]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I think the B9 or C9 would suit your needs most. I've played a bit with both, but nothing significant. I really want to get one to use with Pedal Steel as I've seen some people use them for very effectively with steel guitar.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I have a C9 I bought for a purpose similar to yours. I thought it would be really cool to lay down an organ track into a looper and then lead over it, and worked well. I was going to keep it on my large board but ultimately decided to scale down so there's no room on the board right now.

It is more than a novelty, though, it's good effect ... and the various organ sounds are convincing. I have to warn you about one thing that I struggled with - I am used to varying my volume to a great extent using pick attack only. That technique will not work with a pedal like the C9. It requires a very deliberate pic attack to trigger the tones so there is sort of an either on or off nature to it. And when a chord dies off naturally different octaves and ccomponents that make up the organ sound do not all drop out together. So it sounds best when you're blasting along at volume or if you use a volume pedal or the volume pot for adjusting loudness.

I just began to doubt my need for two boards because it will never be a big vs small gig situation. It will be a gig worthy travel board and one at home with more flavors and toys. Right now that doesn't interest me.

Still, it is a fun pedal, but I never tried to play lead or really anything other that organ parts ... like "House of the Rising Sun" or whatever. It does blow peoples' minds when they hear that organ and can't find anyone playing one!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Thought about the B9. Prefer the presets in the C9. Most likely to spend my money on the Lester G rotary cabinet emulation pedal.

 

[GuitarFanatic]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I can't wait to get the Lester K for my Hammond once it is working. I have a run cap coming from Sweden.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

IMO, even for keyboardists, it is worth paying the extra for the Acceleration control on the Lester G.

 

[teleblooz]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I can't wait to get my hands on one of the B9's or C9's. I spent a good deal of time with the B9 when they came out and loved the thing! Now, I'm just waiting for one to show up at my local pawn shops!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I have a C9 I bought for a purpose similar to yours. I thought it would be really cool to lay down an organ track into a looper and then lead over it, and worked well. I was going to keep it on my large board but ultimately decided to scale down so there's no room on the board right now.

It is more than a novelty, though, it's good effect ... and the various organ sounds are convincing. I have to warn you about one thing that I struggled with - I am used to varying my volume to a great extent using pick attack only. That technique will not work with a pedal like the C9. It requires a very deliberate pic attack to trigger the tones so there is sort of an either on or off nature to it. And when a chord dies off naturally different octaves and ccomponents that make up the organ sound do not all drop out together. So it sounds best when you're blasting along at volume or if you use a volume pedal or the volume pot for adjusting loudness.

Good tips. I think I'd use it after compressor and before volume pedal, using sparse chords and hybrid type picking for unified attack.



Anyone else have one of these pedals or have experience with them?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I would love for the same technology to come along and make a string machine. I like the C9, although it is difficult to accurately phrase like an organist all the time.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Ooh, even something that would do 70's string synths a la ARP.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Or Mellotron strings, voices, and brass. I figure if they can reshape the wave for organ, this can't be too hard, right?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Well, one of the pedals has the flute mellotron sound.

I think these pedals take the HOG2 engine generated pitch shifts, then apply frequency filtering and ASDR envelope manipulation to emulate the tones in question. There's got to be a way to do the other classic keyboard sounds too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I am sure it is coming. Once they do, my guitar synth is history.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Electro Harmonix Mel9....

http://www.ehx.com/products/mel9

 

[Mincer]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I JUST SAW THIS! OMG!

 

[Matt42]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

That might be my favorite one yet. As soon as I'm more than marginally competent on my pedal steel, this and probably the B9 or C9 will have to find their way onto my pedal steel board.

 

[Iwanarock]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I have a C9 and really like the pedal. The organ and Flute sounds are pretty convincing. My only issue with the pedal is using it live, If you just plan to use one sound then it is fine, but if you desire to use more then one then then you have to adjust dials which is problematic at a gig and you have to remember settings to dial in the sound you want. Only good option I came up with for live if using different sounds was to use it for one song per set and adjust and dial in next sound between sets. Of course you need to write down you dial settings to do this for the different sounds. For home use and recording its very cool useable.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Thank Clapton for the Chinagraph pencil.

 

[B2D]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

I have a Micro POG and I friggen love that thing.

I think for the band I'm in a C9 or B9 is in the future, I just need to play with each.

I just wish EHX would come out with a big version of all three of those hooked together with presets. I'd buy one right now.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Electro-Harmonix B9/C9/Key9

Once they do, my guitar synth is history.

Would that be for live work or recording?

You would be surprised what it is possible to get away with using the effects processing some current DAW software. The Rotary Cabinet modulation plug-in of Apple Logic 10 managed to turn distorted Chapman Stick into a passable Hammond organ vamp. More recently, a combination of some cheesy fake mandolin licks through the Condensator preset effect and the Rotory Cabinet produced an eery, floaty wash.

Isolated, these sounds bear zero resemblance to a real tonewheel organ. In the context of a full band mix, they do not need to. The modulation alone is sufficient to suggest Hammond organ.