The SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo is a compact delay pedal that emulates a multi-head tape echo, with up to three selectable delay heads, an octave-down mode, and modulation built in. It was revealed in May 2021 and carries a list price of $2091. SolidGoldFX describes it through its product line as a tape-style delay, and MusicRadar's Rob Laing noted that its recipe for ethereal soundscapes is enriched by an octave-down option1.
It is a digital pedal at heart, but one voiced toward tape character. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as starting "with a foundation of warm, analog-like digital delay"2, and Pedal of the Day found it capable of jumping "from analog echoes to crisp and precise modern delays, as well as futuristic and experimental sound paths"3.
What it does to your sound
The EM-III's basic delay sound is controlled by Time, Repeat and Level knobs2. From there, two knobs shape its character. The Color knob moves your repeats from crisp and bright down to the murky depth of analog vintage echo units, for warm, lo-fi repeats. The Flutter knob adds modulation: turned left it gives a slow, dreamy chorus-like sound, turned right a faster vibrato tone3.
The center mini-toggle does double duty. Pushed left, it selects the number of emulated tape heads, one, two or three; at power up the pedal starts with one head, and each further push adds another. Pushed right, it engages the octave-down effect342.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Sets the delay time, 70 to 1000ms32 |
| Repeat | Sets the number of repeats2 |
| Level | Sets the delay level2 |
| Color | From crisp, bright delay down to murky, warm, lo-fi analog-style repeats3 |
| Flutter | Modulation: left for slow, dreamy chorus-like sound, right for faster vibrato3 |
| Center toggle, left | Selects 1, 2 or 3 tape heads32 |
| Center toggle, right | Turns the octave-down effect on and off32 |
| Bypass footswitch | Engages and bypasses the pedal; hold with tap switch for Glitch2 |
| Tap footswitch | Tap tempo; hold with bypass switch for Warp2 |
The hidden functions
The two footswitches carry secondary functions that are not obvious from the face of the pedal. Premier Guitar's reviewer put it plainly2:
"The EM-III's secret personality is unleashed by holding down the bypass and tap switches, which have secondary functionality for glitch and warp respectively."2
The self-oscillation and tape-snap sounds contained in these switches can be as weird or as subtle as you want, depending on how long you hold them down2. For players who like the runaway feedback of a tape echo pushed past its limits, this is where the EM-III keeps it.
The Electroman lineage
The EM-III follows in the footsteps of SolidGoldFX's Electroman Delay3. The Electroman line goes back to at least 2012, when SolidGoldFX gave the pedal a metallic sparkle green case with a bold new silkscreened graphic5. A further new version of the Electroman delay was later announced6, and the EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo carries the line forward as a compact delay pedal with a foundation of warm, analog-like digital delay23.
The original Electroman earned its own following. Premier Guitar's reviewer concluded that "the Electroman is an echo machine well worth investigating" for players wanting a less-generic digital delay with unusual oscillation effects7. The EM-III carries that idea forward in a smaller box: MusicRadar noted it is a compact unit for your pedalboard that still features two footswitches with dual functionality1.
What reviewers made of it
Pedal of the Day's verdict on the EM-III was that it is "in a delay class all its own"3. Premier Guitar's reviewer took a similar view of its design, writing that "It's a powerful pedal, and thanks to a simple and well-considered set of controls, it's intuitive and practical too"2.
The EM-III also sits in a busy period for SolidGoldFX. Guitar World noted that in the 12 months to March 2022 the company had unveiled the Imperial MKII, the Ether Modulated Reverberator, the Supa Funk Envelope Bi-Filter, the LYSIS MKII Polyphonic Modulator and the EM-III itself8.
Videos
Premier Guitar
The Surfrajettes
AndyDemos
News
Questions
Is the SolidGoldFX EM-III analog or digital?
It is a digital delay, but reviewers describe it as warm and analog-like. Premier Guitar called its foundation a warm, analog-like digital delay, and Pedal of the Day found it could jump from analog-style echoes to crisp, precise modern delays and more experimental sounds.
Does the EM-III have tap tempo?
Yes. The EM-III offers optional tap tempo alongside its Time control, covering a delay range of 70 to 1000ms. The tap footswitch also has a secondary Warp function that is activated by holding it down together with the bypass switch.
Is the EM-III true bypass?
Yes, with a choice. It uses soft-touch, relay-based true bypass switching, but you can also opt for buffered bypass instead, which some players prefer when running long cable runs or many pedals in a chain.
What does holding both footswitches do on the EM-III?
Holding down the bypass and tap switches together unlocks the pedal's hidden functions: Glitch on the bypass switch and Warp on the tap switch. Premier Guitar found the resulting self-oscillation and tape-snap sounds can be as weird or as subtle as you want, depending on how long you hold them.
Where is the SolidGoldFX EM-III made?
The EM-III is made in Canada. SolidGoldFX is a Canadian boutique builder, and Gearnews described the EM-III as a Canadian-made boutique delay when the pedal was revealed in May 2021.
What delay times does the EM-III cover?
The EM-III covers a delay time range of 70 to 1000ms, with optional tap tempo. Its center toggle lets you select one, two or three emulated tape heads, which stacks repeats at different intervals within that range.
Sources (8)
- SolidGoldFX reveals compact EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo delay pedal, MusicRadar, 2021-05-20
- SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-10-03
- SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo, Pedal of the Day, 2021-08-08
- SolidGoldFX EM-III Multi-Head Octave Echo, gearnews.com, 2021-05-20
- SolidGoldFX Launches Surf Rider & Electroman Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2012-11-30
- SolidGoldFx's Electroman Delay, Delicious Audio, 2012-12-31
- Solid Gold FX Electroman Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-03-15
- SolidGoldFX aims to put a fresh spin on the BluesBreaker with new, slider-equipped Commodore overdrive pedal, Guitar World, 2022-03-15
