The Electro-Harmonix Flanger Hoax is a modulation stompbox that combines phase shift and flanging in one box, with the intention of creating varied sonic textures1. It is not a conventional flanger: the circuit consists of two phaser sections, one fixed and one swept, each with an associated delay line, and the swept phaser is modulated by a low frequency sine wave that can also sweep the delay lines1. Electro-Harmonix describes the range of results as "frequency collisions that range from beautiful choral shimmers to rich phasing, to war of the worlds assaults. Flanging is just one of its many possibilities."2
Electro-Harmonix lists the Flanger Hoax as discontinued on its product page2. The owner's manual remains available through a section on that page2.
How the circuit works
The Flanger Hoax is built around two phaser sections, one fixed and one swept, each with its own delay line1. A low frequency sine wave modulates the swept phaser and can also sweep the delay lines, which is where the flanging effects come from1. Electro-Harmonix specifies five modulation modes, from 270 degrees to DC, and five delay modes including DC2. The maker also notes the pedal works on guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments2.
Controls
MusicRadar's review counts nine knobs and four toggle switches besides the on/off stomp switch, arranged in color-coded sections1. The controls documented in the reviews work as follows:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FEEDBACK knob | Sets the amount of signal fed back into the phase shift circuits3 |
| FEEDBACK toggle | WET feeds the wet signal back into the phaser; OFF turns off all feedback produced; SWPT feeds the output of the swept phaser back into the phase circuits3 |
| Delay mode switch | Five-way switch that determines which of the two delays is swept: either, neither or both1 |
| Blend knob | Sets the exact mix of dry guitar sound and effect at the combined output1 |
| Phase invert switch | Thickens or thins the sound to double the options available1 |
The feedback arrangement is the pedal's most distinctive feature: it can be set to send either the pedal's wet (effect) output or just the output of the swept phaser back into the phaser circuits1.
Inputs, outputs and power
The Flanger Hoax is mono only, with a single guitar input and three outputs: direct, blended and effect1. The blend knob governs the mix of dry and effect at the blended output1. It is a large pedal running off a supplied 18V adaptor1, so it will not share a standard pedalboard daisy chain with your other pedals.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's reviewer summed the pedal up as "a great, but complex sonic resource, capable of modulation combinations that can create a vast range" of sounds, and called it ideal for experimentalists1. Pedal of the Day's 2016 review walked through the feedback and delay mode switching in detail, describing how the five-way delay mode selects between different phase shift combinations for the modulating waveform that sweeps both delay lines3.
Where it sits among flangers
Compared with a conventional flanger such as the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress or the Boss BF-3 Flanger, the Flanger Hoax is a deeper, more experimental design: rather than a single flanger voice, it offers two phaser sections and switchable feedback routing, and flanging is only one of its possibilities21. Players after a more traditional flanger sound have plenty of dedicated options on the flanger pedals page.
Videos
EHX
blondegraemey
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Flanger Hoax discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix lists the Flanger Hoax as discontinued on its own product page, so the pedal is no longer in current production. Units are still documented in reviews from MusicRadar and Pedal of the Day, and the maker's product page keeps the owner's manual available for players who already own one.
Is the Flanger Hoax true bypass?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix specifies true bypass for the Flanger Hoax on its product page, so the pedal takes itself out of the signal path entirely when switched off.
Is the Flanger Hoax stereo?
No. MusicRadar's review describes the Flanger Hoax as mono only, with a single guitar input. It does have three outputs, direct, blended and effect, but the input and signal path are mono rather than stereo.
What power supply does the Flanger Hoax use?
The Flanger Hoax runs off an 18V adaptor, which Electro-Harmonix supplied with the pedal according to MusicRadar's review. It is a large pedal, so plan board space and power accordingly.
What does the feedback switch do on the Flanger Hoax?
The FEEDBACK toggle switch selects what is fed back into the phase shift circuits. WET feeds the wet signal back into the phaser, OFF turns off all feedback produced, and SWPT feeds the output of the swept phaser back into the phase circuits. The FEEDBACK knob sets the amount of signal fed back.
Sources (3)
- Electro-Harmonix Flanger Hoax review, MusicRadar, 2008-01-03
- Flanger Hoax, Electro-Harmonix (ehx.com)
- Electro-Harmonix Flanger Hoax, Pedal of the Day, 2016-10-18
