The Electro-Harmonix Epitome is a digital multi-effects pedal that puts three of Electro-Harmonix's best-known circuits in one enclosure: the polyphonic octave generation of the Micro POG, the flanging and chorus of the Stereo Electric Mistress, and the reverb of the Holy Grail Plus, with a Shimmer mode that re-routes the whole chain1. Released in 2013, it was discontinued in 20241.
The signal path runs in that order: the Micro POG's glitch-free octaves above and below your pitch first, then the Mistress's flanging and chorus, then the Holy Grail Plus reverb1. Each of the three sections has its own footswitch and can be used independently2.
The Epitome is discontinued, so it is only available on the used market. Its 185mA current draw rules out battery power and makes it a poor fit for a low-current daisy-chain output1.
Three pedals in one: octave, flanger and reverb
Electro-Harmonix built the Epitome from three of its best-selling pedals, in one compact enclosure2. The maker describes it as "classic octave, flanger, chorus, reverb and delay effects all in one powerhouse of a pedal"1, with the delay appearing only when Shimmer mode is engaged5.
The three sections, in signal order:
| Section | What it does |
|---|---|
| Micro POG | Polyphonic octave tracking, glitch-free octaves above and below your pitch1 |
| Stereo Electric Mistress | EHX's signature stereo flanging and chorus1 |
| Holy Grail Plus | Spring, Hall and Room reverbs, plus Flerb1 |
Each section has its own footswitch and status LED. The Micro POG LED lit means the octave effect is active; the Stereo Electric Mistress LED lit means the modulation is active, and it fades between red and green to show the rate of modulation; the Holy Grail Plus LED lit (red or green) means the reverb is active1.
The controls
The Epitome keeps the control set of the three pedals it bundles, with one knob whose function changes depending on the reverb mode selected1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| CHORUS DEPTH knob | Controls the amount of the chorus sound1 |
| FLANGER DEPTH knob | Controls the amount of flange mixed with the direct signal1 |
| REVERB switch | Chooses the reverb mode: Spring, Hall, Room or Flerb1 |
| AMOUNT knob | Function changes with each reverb mode1 |
| SHIMMER switch | Enables Shimmer mode, which changes the routing between each effect to produce a lush, shimmering reverb tone while keeping a dry initial attack1 |
Flerb, the fourth reverb position, is EHX's combination of flanging and reverb2. Premier Guitar's reviewer called it EHX's "kooky 'verb," and found that in Flerb the Grail section's AMOUNT knob alters the length of echo repeats from 25 to 590ms4.
Shimmer mode
Shimmer mode is the Epitome's fourth voice beyond the three pedals it contains. Electro-Harmonix says it "re-routes the effects' chain and opens the door to a world of amazing sonic discovery"1. In practice, MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found that when Shimmer is engaged, the Flerb is swapped for a digital delay, and the POG's octave knobs create repeats that change pitch in ascending or descending octaves5.
The Holy Grail Plus LED shows the mode at a glance: green when Shimmer is enabled, red when it is disabled1.
History: the Micro POG, Electric Mistress and Holy Grail Plus
Guitar Interactive Magazine announced the Epitome in March 2013 as a new multi-effect combining three of EHX's most popular effects from three of its best-selling products2. Rather than designing new circuits, EHX packaged the Micro POG, the Stereo Electric Mistress and the Holy Grail Plus as they were, each with its own controls and footswitch, into a single pedal12.
The pedal stayed in the lineup until 2024, when Electro-Harmonix discontinued it1. Vintage Guitar reviewed it in January 2014 at a list price of $491.843, and Premier Guitar's review lists a street price of $370.704.
What reviewers said
Reviews split on whether bundling three pedals into one is a strength or a puzzle. MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen's overall verdict was blunt in the pedal's favor45:
"You won't get this range of sounds from any other single pedal."
Premier Guitar's reviewer took the other side for some players:
"For some players, this particular bundling of effects will be totally confounding and, at $369, incredibly expensive4."
Pedal of the Day's reviewer noted the stereo input and output and that the pedal runs on 9V6, which sits oddly beside Electro-Harmonix's own specification of mono audio1. The maker's jack layout supports stereo connection: the MONO/L jack is the main output in mono and the Left output in stereo, with a separate R output jack, and EHX suggests the MONO/L input when using only one input1.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Epitome discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix lists the Epitome as discontinued in 2024. It was released in 2013 and remained in the lineup for over a decade, but it is no longer a current product, so finding one now means looking at the used market.
Is the Epitome true bypass?
No. The Epitome uses buffered bypass, according to Electro-Harmonix's own product page. Players who build pedalboards around true-bypass switching throughout should factor that in when deciding where the pedal sits in the chain.
What power supply does the EHX Epitome need?
The Epitome runs on a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter, which Electro-Harmonix includes with the pedal, and its current draw is 185mA. That draw is high enough that a standard 9V battery-style supply or a low-current daisy chain output is not a realistic option.
Can each effect on the Epitome be used separately?
Yes. The pedal has individual footswitches for the Micro POG, Stereo Electric Mistress and Holy Grail Plus sections, so each effect can be switched on and off independently. Each section has its own LED showing whether it is active.
Is the Epitome stereo?
Electro-Harmonix's product page lists the audio as mono, but the same page describes MONO/L and R output jacks, with the MONO/L jack acting as the Left output in stereo, and Pedal of the Day describes it as stereo in and out. The maker's jack layout supports a stereo connection.
Sources (6)
- Epitome | DISCONTINUED 2024 | Reverb / Flanger / Octave Multi-Effect - Electro-Harmonix, Electro-Harmonix (www.ehx.com)
- The New Eptiome Multi-Effect From Electro-Harmonix, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-03-14
- Electro-Harmonix Epitome, Tone Tattoo, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2014-12-16
- Electro-Harmonix Epitome Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2013-06-26
- Electro-Harmonix Epitome review, MusicRadar, 2013-08-28
- Electro-Harmonix Epitome Multi-Effect, Pedal of the Day, 2015-01-13
