May 24, 20222 min read

Popular Harmonica Pedals TESTED | Tone, Delay, Reverb, Octave & Organ Pedal Demos

Updated: Jun 7, 2022

Hello! Today I'm testing some of the most popular harmonica pedals. This video will teach you what each pedal does and give you a chance to hear them all in action. I've also included links to find out more about each pedal.

PRIZE DRAW I'm giving away all the pedals in this video, worth a total of $1,100 USD!

Click here to enter the prize draw (NOTE: this giveaway ended on Sunday 5th June 2022)

Tone Pedals

As the name suggests, tone pedals change the tone (or 'timbre') of your sound. Harp players are usually looking for a more gritty, dirty, tube-amp type of sound so that what most harmonica tone pedals do. Tone pedals can help you get a big amp sound with a small amp, or even straight into the PA. In the video above, I demo three different tone pedals: the Lone Wolf Boogieman, Little W Booster and the Harp Mojo.

Reverb Pedals

Reverb adds length to your notes, to imitate different room sizes. Rather than stopping dead, you will hear the note sustain. This creates a really atmospheric, epic and sometimes spooky sound. The controls allow you to change the length and volume of the 'verb to your own taste. In the video, I'm testing the Harp-Verb.

Delay Pedals

Delay is the other side of the coin from reverb. It creates a 'room' sound by adding repeats of your notes. You'll hear the note(s) repeating back at you as if it's bouncing off a wall. The blend, timing and number of those repeats can be controlled with the pedal. In the video I'm using the Boogieman again, as it offers both tone and delay controls, but I use the Lone Wolf Harp Delay at gigs.

Octave Pedals

Octave pedals double up your note by adding an extra note in the octave below or above (or both at the same time). They give you a really amazing and distinctive sound and it really has to be heard to be believed! In the video I use a Sub'n'Up Octaver.

Organ Pedals

Finally, organ pedals... These are a strange one for harp. They basically try to imitate classic organ sounds by harmonising your note and changing the tone as well. You can get some pretty crazy results with these things. Lots of fun and very different from the normal harp sound. In the video I play the C9 Organ Machine.