The Electro-Harmonix White Finger is an analog optical compressor pedal that squeezes your signal using light: your playing drives a light source, and a light-sensitive element reacts to it to control the gain reduction. Electro-Harmonix describes it as using the same compression theory as the company's professional NY-2A, but with FETs instead of tubes, which made it the affordable alternative in the EHX line1.
The pedal was discontinued in 20231, so it is now a secondhand-market item.
Two optocouplers, two compression characters
What sets the White Finger apart from most optical compressors is that it carries two optocouplers, a lamp and an LED, and they behave differently. Electro-Harmonix says the two "offer distinctly different readings and uniquely varied compressions"1.
- Lamp optocoupler: for a softer, blooming compression1
- LED optocoupler: for a faster attack compression1
In practice, that gives you two pedals in one box, with two selectable opto devices that give the compressor two different characters. Electro-Harmonix describes the White Finger's circuit as following the same compression theory as the professional NY-2A, but using FETs instead of tubes1.
Electro-Harmonix says the White Finger "yields transparent, long sustain that preserves attack"1.
The controls
The White Finger keeps its control set simple, with three knobs covering how hard you push the compressor and how much it squeezes1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pre-gain | Controls how hard your instrument hits the compressor1 |
| Sensitivity | Controls how the compression will be hit1 |
| Compression amount | Dials in the compression ratio for your music1 |
Pre-gain and sensitivity work together: pre-gain sets the level going into the optocoupler circuit, and sensitivity sets how responsive the compression is to what arrives. Compression amount then sets how much gain reduction is applied1.
White Finger versus Black Finger
The White Finger is the FET-based sibling of the Black Finger, an Optical Tube Compressor that Electro-Harmonix discontinued in 20192. Where the Black Finger uses tubes, the White Finger uses multiple FETs, which is what made it the affordable alternative1. Both share the two-optocoupler lamp/LED design and true bypass switching.
| White Finger | Black Finger | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Analog optical compressor1 | Optical tube compressor1 |
| Circuit | Multiple FETs instead of tubes1 | Tube-driven3 |
| Optocouplers | Lamp and LED1 | Lamp and LED3 |
| Controls | Pre-gain, Sensitivity, Compression amount1 | Input and output gain controls2 |
| Status | Discontinued 20231 | Discontinued 20192 |
When the Black Finger was reviewed in Bass Player in September 2003, its list price was $2983, which gives a sense of where the tube version sat in the market.
Where it sits in the EHX compressor line
Electro-Harmonix has since filled its compressor range with other designs, but the White Finger remains distinct within that line. Its circuit follows the same compression theory as the professional NY-2A, according to Electro-Harmonix, but uses FETs instead of tubes4. The pedal itself is compact, with dimensions of 4.75 (w) x 5.75 (l) x 2.5 (h) inches5.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix White Finger discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix discontinued the White Finger in 2023. It remains a secondhand-market pedal, and its tube-driven cousin the Black Finger was discontinued even earlier, in 2019.
What is the difference between the White Finger and the Black Finger?
The White Finger is an analog optical compressor that uses multiple FETs instead of vacuum tubes, which made it the affordable alternative. The Black Finger is a tube-driven optical compressor with input and output gain controls. Both use selectable lamp or LED opto devices.
Is the White Finger true bypass?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix lists the White Finger as true bypass, so with the pedal disengaged the signal passes through without active circuitry in the path.
What power supply does the White Finger use?
The White Finger shipped with the 40DC-100 power supply included. It is a mains-powered EHX adapter rather than a battery, so it needs that adapter or a compatible supply to run.
Sources (5)
- White Finger, Electro-Harmonix
- Black Finger, Electro-Harmonix, 2019
- COMP-1 | Bass Player (September 2003) | Demeter Amplification, Bass Player, 2003-09
- Electro-Harmonix Unveils Tone Corset Analog Compressor, guitarworld.com, 2017-06-13
- Electro-Harmonix Introduces Platform Stereo Compressor/Limiter, guitarworld.com, 2017-06-29
