Electro-Harmonix Synth9From real comments

Verdict distilled from 37 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment69%
PROS 69%
CONS 31%

Rank based on 37 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want classic synth textures without a special pickup or MIDI rig
  • You play covers or ambient blends and like tweaking knobs for tone
  • You've been frustrated by poor tracking on other guitar synth gear

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need footswitchable preset changes for live performance
  • You want the bass/solo synth voices to sound fully authentic
  • You're comparing directly against a Boss SY-1/SY-300 with expression control

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Electro-Harmonix Synth9
Easy access to classic synth tonesGreat specific synth voices (Lucky Man, String Synth, Organ)Good for ambient/blended dry-wet playingSome tones sound fake or gimmickyNarrow practical use case for some playersNo footswitch preset recall
Electro-Harmonix Synth9
Easy access to classic synth tones
Great specific synth voices (Lucky Man, String Synth, Organ)
Good for ambient/blended dry-wet playing
Some tones sound fake or gimmicky
Narrow practical use case for some players
No footswitch preset recall

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Guitarists praise how naturally it tracks and how playable the synth voices feel. Multiple commenters compare it favorably to Roland guitar synths and the Boss SY-1, citing better tracking and more usable tones. One long-time GK/MIDI module user says the articulation finally lets them 'play like a guitarist again' while getting real synth timbres, calling it a likely best seller.

Live usability is hampered by manual knob adjustments and no preset recall. Several users love the sounds but find switching between settings tedious on stage, wishing knob positions could be saved per voice. One player works around this using a separate rig setup rather than switching live, while another simply notes it's impractical without a footswitch for quick changes.

Opinions split sharply on whether the tones are inspired or gimmicky. Fans call specific settings like the mini-moog 'Lucky Man' solo, string synth, and organ voices incredible and inspiring for 70s/80s songwriting. Detractors call the bass voice fake and 'toy-like,' one calling the whole pedal a gimmick with 'poor tracking,' and a couple returned it for the Mel9 or Dirty Robot instead.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?