The Electro-Harmonix Riddle is a powerful and precise envelope filter fine-tuned for guitar frequency response.
Sculpt your envelope to reveal a truly expressive tone, with a defined and unique signature. Riddle will deliver tight and smooth control over the complete 80 Hz to 5 kHz range, with a consistent and even sweetness.
Need some edge? Engage Riddle's analog distortion and dial in anything from subtle bite to dominating crush.
You can even plug in an optional expression pedal to control the filter sweep with your foot. With the ability to adjust Q, sweep range, and filter type, you'll also wind up with of the most versatile wahs available.
Riddle: a mysteriously musical envelope filter for guitar.
Legendary guitarist, Elliott Randall, demos the EHX Riddle Q Balls Envelope Filter for Guitar. Randall’s solo on Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” is considered one of the greatest of all time!
Bill Ruppert is a Jedi Master at the art of creating soundscapes that are truly not of this world. Travel along with Bill, into the astral plane, as he explores the outer limits of “Paranormal Guitar Effects.” In this latest edition of Effectology, Bill once again uses “only” his guitar and Electro-Harmonix effects pedals to conjure aliens, poltergeists and more!
Please note: Bill will be in the EHX Forums to discuss his sounds, settings, and process. We hope you join us there.
Here’s a great special effect that’s perfect for an intro or guitar break within a song.
Nothing is more dramatic to the human ear than a drastic instant shift in sound frequencies.
Going from a full-bodied guitar sound to one that sounds like it’s being blasted out of a two-inch speaker in a transistor radio is a perfect way to accomplish this.
The Riddle pedal produces this sound via its high pass filter. A high pass filter allows only the upper frequencies to be heard while chopping off the bottom or low end. This mimics the sound of a very small speaker.
Using the Riddle onboard distortion creates the overdrive effect of a small pocket radio turned up just a little too loud. Turning up the sensitivity knob even further will produce the sound of a transistor radio with its battery ready to die.
You are entering the EHX zone where Goblins and Goolies infest within diabolical guitar skills. Metallic clangs rasp against the midnight clock and rundown Lothar’s pipe organ to reveal a Halloween festival featuring Bill Ruppert as the caretaker.
From New Dehli to the Australian Outback, Bill Ruppert dials in the shortwave radio bringing the sonic mysteries of the East skillfully cloaked within EHX designs. Sitars shimmer as tablas relay the rhythm. Magical kalimbas meet the aboriginal drones to weave textures that define the interactive power of each and every Electro-Harmonix pedal.
Welcome to the 17th installment of effects guru, Bill Ruppert’s, Effectology Series. Watch and listen as Bill demonstrates how to create extraordinary bass and drum sounds using (just) his guitar and Electro-Harmonix effects pedals. From hand drums to bass pedals, and beyond, Bill picks, slaps and brushes his way through a collection of mind blowing sounds.
Guitarist Bill Ruppert recreates Aaron Copeland’s elegant trumpet and French horn sections with the restrained grace that only Electro-Harmonix pedals can deliver. Dynamic Tympanis thunder in a CATHEDRAL concert hall environment where even the Big Muff Pi adds a realistic edge. to this powerful EH pedal orchestra.
In Effectology 14, pedal guru Bill Ruppert takes us on a journey to previously unchartered sonic territory. Using only Electro-Harmonix pedals and his guitar, Bill creates a series of “believe it or not” soundscapes. Whether it’s the sound of songbirds singing joyfully by a babbling brook or a vintage vinyl “lo-fi” recording complete with clicks and scratches, Bill’s mastery of effects will amaze you. As he says, “Never judge what an effect pedal will do by what you have heard it will do. Experiment and you will find new sounds not yet discovered!” Indeed!
Meet Riddle & Enigma: powerful and precise envelope filters, fine-tuned for guitar and bass. To read about their origins (which date back to 1972) see this post. And a kind thanks out to Jack Conte for the videos.
First clue: Mike Beigel landing EHX color in the remote ice fields of Cape Crozier, Antarctica.
Years earlier, back in 1972, Mike also explored new sonic landscapes as inventor/engineer of the world's first stand-alone envelope filter, the Mu-Tron III. The sound was quickly captured by Stevie Wonder, and made famous by his 1973 funk classic, "Higher Ground."
Here's a vintage 1973 performance:
Despite Stevie's personal endorsement (see right) and other noteworthy users like Bootsy Collins and Jerry Garcia, the maker of the Mu-Tron III (Musitronics) closed shop in 1978. Years later, Mike Beigel decided to bring the original Mu-Tron III mojo over to EHX. Mike picks up the story:
"In '94 I met [EHX founder] Mike Matthews at a NAMM show. We talked about effects pedals, and later he asked me if I'd be interested in re-creating the Mu-Tron III for Electro-Harmonix. The new box which is called the Q-Tron, uses the same opto-electronic design of the Mu-Tron III, with new features and improved specs."
What about Antarctica? In that same year (1994) Mike Beigel was also hired to design and build a system to track penguins between their nests on the beaches of Antarctica and their aquatic feeding territories. Mike later traveled to Antarctica to install and troubleshoot his system, and remembered to pack his EHX t-shirt. Mike adds: "And yes, I did work on some EHX designs during my spare time in Antarctica!"
While there, Mike also managed to capture amazing photos of the locals:
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Our new EH Strings allow you to capture every nuance of your playing style with lightning fast playability. Made of a pure nickel wrap with a specially-selected stainless steel, these sweet-sounding round wounds are truly like no other strings you've played. Not only do they last longer and stay in tune longer, but we think they're the best sounding strings ever made. Available in 9s, 10s and 11s.
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