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So I am in the market for a guitar synth and I think the EHX Micro Synth is my choice after dicking around with it a little in a store and watching countless youtube videos...... my preference, aesthetically is the older, folded metal chasis version and have an opportunity to buy one used (but practically new) for less money than the 299 they retail for new, is there any significant difference between the old version and the XO version? I would prefer the old style version but if the new one is better I would take performance over aesthetics......

Any help is appreciated........

Don't know how significant this may be to you, but the old version requires its own wall wart while the XO uses a standard 9VDC jack.

jskadiang wrote:Don't know how significant this may be to you, but the old version requires its own wall wart while the XO uses a standard 9VDC jack.

Ah ha! You see that was another of my concerns with the new version, I have no objection to having warts, but why is the old run at at 18 or 24v and the new one at 9? Seems..... fishy to me....... makes me think I'd prefer an older version like with every other EHX pedal I've owned......

retinal orbita wrote:

jskadiang wrote:Don't know how significant this may be to you, but the old version requires its own wall wart while the XO uses a standard 9VDC jack.

Ah ha! You see that was another of my concerns with the new version, I have no objection to having warts, but why is the old run at at 18 or 24v and the new one at 9? Seems..... fishy to me....... makes me think I'd prefer an older version like with every other EHX pedal I've owned......

I have the old bass version, and I absolutely love it, regardless of its power requirements. The one thing I will warn you about, however, is that the bypass on the old micro synth is pathetically bad. The strange thing is that the bypass stomp is actually a 3PDT switch, so its quite easy to mod it to true bypass. I highly recommend you do this, or get someone else to do it for you if you aren't comfortable. Mine is modded to TBP and I now have no complaints whatsoever.

I owned a big box micro synth and an XO bass micro synth so I can help you with a direct comparison. But yes the bypass on the old version was pretty much terrible, true bypass was very welcome on the XO.

If you don't want to get it modded just put it in a true bypass loop then. Or better yet, put it in a feedback looper like the roadrage one or the dwarfcraft one so you can have both a true bypass looper and a feedback looper. I think the micro synth would have some interesting results in a feedback looper

I don't mind modding an older version, something about anything in an XO chassis gives me the willies..... every EHX pedal I have is older and I don't really have any interest in the 2000> reissues, that may be based on side by side comparisons with the small stone and big muffs, but I'm more comfortable with the older versions......

retinal orbita wrote:I don't mind modding an older version, something about anything in an XO chassis gives me the willies..... every EHX pedal I have is older and I don't really have any interest in the 2000> reissues, that may be based on side by side comparisons with the small stone and big muffs, but I'm more comfortable with the older versions......

I think the XO paranoia is 50/50 warranted. With their newer designs, like the POG, it doesn't make much of a difference - I had an old big-box POG and then new XO POG2, and I like the new one more. That said, I have heard critiques about the newer small stone and the XO Bass MicroSynth. That said, I'm not a guitar player, so I haven't been keeping track of the regular microsynth. Not sure if the critiques that I've heard about the XO version are limited to bass only, of if guitar players have had troubles too.

I had an XO Microsynth and it worked quite alright. I didn't hear much difference from demos online. However I understand your want for the older big box looks.

Either way get a micro synth they're extremely fun to play with.

I think elbandito has and old one up for offer here: viewtopic.php?f=44&t=10384

PumpkinPieces wrote:Either way get a micro synth they're extremely fun to play with.

This whole forum is just one big enabler to spend money I don't have on pedals I can't afford......

retinal orbita wrote:

PumpkinPieces wrote:Either way get a micro synth they're extremely fun to play with.

This whole forum is just one big enabler to spend money I don't have on pedals I can't afford......

Chumley wrote:

retinal orbita wrote:

PumpkinPieces wrote:Either way get a micro synth they're extremely fun to play with.

This whole forum is just one big enabler to spend money I don't have on pedals I can't afford......

Tell me I need a new flanger pedal too.......