The Electro-Harmonix Pico Triboro Bridge is a compact drive pedal that packs three different saturation types into one small box: overdrive, distortion and fuzz. Electro-Harmonix describes it as "a tri-mode drive box with a wide range of tonal possibilities," and the idea is that it "bridges any gap in your gain" by covering the range from a light always-on drive to an over-the-top fuzz in a single unit1. It was released in 2023 as part of EHX's Pico line of small-format pedals1, and Guitar.com reported the launch price as $144.402.
The three modes
Mode selection is done with a Type button rather than a knob. Pressing it cycles through the three saturation modes, and the LED color tells you where you are: green for overdrive, orange for distortion and red for fuzz1.
- Overdrive (green): the gain spectrum ranges from low to mid with an open voicing. Electro-Harmonix positions it as a light always-on drive or a solo boost1.
- Distortion (orange): adds gain-staging on top of the overdrive, covering what the maker describes as a tone from crunchy rhythms to fully saturated leads1.
- Fuzz (red): the maker calls this mode's gain "over-the-top," and it changes the pedal's character substantially, adding a Gate and a Low Pass Filter1.
Guitar.com's report on the launch noted that the pedal takes its dirt algorithms from two other EHX digital units, the Platform and the Attack Decay2. That digital heritage is worth knowing: despite being a drive box, the Triboro Bridge is not an analog clipping circuit1.
Controls
The control set is simple, but two of the knobs change what they do depending on the mode, which is the main thing to learn on this pedal12.
| Control | Overdrive / Distortion | Fuzz |
|---|---|---|
| GAIN | Controls the amount of saturation1 | Same1 |
| VOL | Controls the output volume1 | Same1 |
| BASS/GATE | Bass control, boosts or cuts low frequencies1 | Controls the threshold of a noise gate1 |
| TREBLE | Treble control3 | Acts as the gate mode control for the fuzz's noise gate threshold3 |
| TYPE button | Selects overdrive, distortion or fuzz1 | Same1 |
Guitar.com summarized the layout as "a simple control set of Volume, Gain, EQ controls, plus a Gate for the fuzz"2. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio added detail on the fuzz mode's remapped knobs: "In Fuzz mode the Treble knob is now the gate more, controlling the Fuzz's noise gate threshold" and "the Bass knob controls a Low Pass Filter for extreme tonal variations"3.
When you first switch to fuzz mode from a different mode, the gate is initially deactivated until you move the Bass/Gate knob1. If the fuzz seems to have no gate when you arrive at it, that is why.
The pedal also has an Input Contour Mode, which Guitar.com's Crystal Koe reported "applies additional EQ at the input for more modern tonal capabilities"2.
Footswitch, jacks and power
The footswitch engages or bypasses the effect, with the LED color indicating the selected distortion type; in bypass the LED is off1. Bypass is buffered rather than true bypass1. The input and output jacks carry audio to and from the pedal1.
Power comes from a 9.6VDC-200mA adapter, which is included in the box1. The pedal draws 100mA at 9.0VDC1, a figure worth checking against your board supply's per-output rating before sharing an output with other pedals.
Where it sits in the EHX range
The Triboro Bridge covers three gain types in one Pico-sized chassis, which sets it apart from EHX's single-purpose drives and distortions such as the CRAYON 69 Full Range Overdrive, the OD Glove or the Hell Melter. Its fuzz mode, with its gate and low pass filter, also gives it a foot in the door of fuzz pedal territory without committing a separate fuzz box to the board. For players weighing it against dedicated overdrive pedals or distortion pedals, the trade is one box and one set of controls against the deeper control sets those single-mode pedals usually offer132.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Pico Triboro Bridge analog or digital?
Electro-Harmonix lists the Triboro Bridge's circuit as digital. Guitar.com reported that it takes its dirt algorithms from two other EHX digital pedals, the Platform and the Attack Decay, so the three saturation modes are generated digitally rather than with analog clipping stages.
Is the Triboro Bridge true bypass?
No. Electro-Harmonix specifies Buffered Bypass, so the signal passes through a buffer when the effect is off. The footswitch engages or bypasses the effect, and the LED is off in bypass.
Does the Pico Triboro Bridge come with a power supply?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix includes a 9.6VDC, 200mA power adapter with the pedal. The pedal itself draws 100mA at 9.0VDC, so the supplied adapter covers it with headroom.
What does the Bass/Gate knob do in fuzz mode?
In overdrive and distortion modes the knob is a bass control for boosting or cutting low frequencies. In fuzz mode it instead controls the threshold of a noise gate. Note that when you first switch to fuzz mode from another mode, the gate is deactivated until you move the knob.
How do I switch between overdrive, distortion and fuzz?
Press the Type button. The LED color shows the selected mode: green for overdrive, orange for distortion and red for fuzz. In bypass the LED is off.
How much current does the Triboro Bridge draw?
Electro-Harmonix specifies a current draw of 100mA at 9.0VDC. That is more than some analog pedals need, so it is worth checking your power supply's per-output rating before daisy chaining.
Sources (3)
- Pico Triboro Bridge, Electro-Harmonix
- Electro-Harmonix unveils the NYC DSP Series: 9 ultra-compact stompboxes for your 'board, Guitar.com, 2023-09-22
- New Pedal: Electro-Harmonix Pico Triboro Bridge, Delicious Audio, 2023-09-22
