Electro-Harmonix Unveils the Nano Q-Tron Envelope Filter

Electro-Harmonix has unveiled the latest incarnation of their long-running Q-Tron envelope filter – the Nano Q-Tron. As its name suggests, this diminutive stompbox occupies little in the way of floor space (at least compared to the overly capacious Q-Tron/Q-Tron+ units of the ‘90s and ‘00s.)

Though EHX have been making envelope filters since the ‘70s (including the excellent Doctor Q stompbox) their Q-Tron pedals were developed in the mid-‘90s with assistance from Musitronics co-founder and electronics engineer Mike Beigel. Beigel takes the credit for designing perhaps the most esteemed vintage envelope filter of all – the Musitronics Mu-Tron III – and it is this expertise he took to EHX when originally developing the Q-Tron.

Since then, Q-Trons have appeared in various guises of seemingly ever diminishing size. Which is probably good thing. One of the biggest gripes about the older units is the amount of space they take up on pedalboards, which is a fair comment considering how infrequently most electric guitar players use the effect.

That said, the auto wah sound can be used to literally great effect when applied tastefully. Larry Coryell and Jerry Garcia both favored the Mu-Tron III back in the day, while in more recent years Q-Trons have been spotted at the feet of John Mayer and Flea.

Touted as a compact version of the Micro Q-Tron, the Nano Q-Tron measures just 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.1 inches and is fitted with a simple set of control knobs including Volume, Drive (sensitivity) and Q (peak bandwidth.) The pedal features three Modes or filter types, namely LP (low pass), HP (high pass), and BP (band pass.)

To order your Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron head over to Sweetwater where you can make a saving of $35.10