It is a rare and satisfying thing when a manufacturer distills the core intelligence of a beloved, complex device into a form that is both radically simplified and utterly immediate. Electro-Harmonix has achieved precisely this with the Pico Intelligent Harmony Machine. The original Intelligent Harmony Machine was a powerful but panellised affair; the Pico IHM pares that concept down to its essential, musical vertebrae and houses it in a chassis no larger than a bar of soap. The result is not a reduction in capability, but a lesson in focused design.
The operation is simple and effective:
- a single KEY knob, in concert with a push-button, selects your tonic.
- The ten Interval settings cover the canonical harmonic moves—thirds, fifths, sixths, octaves—with a musicality that feels less like a processor and more like a thoughtful accompanist.
- Engaging Dual Mode—done by holding the # button—unlocks the pedal’s true glory: three-part harmonies that can evoke everything from Brian May’s layered guitar orchestras to the tight, jazzy clusters of a skilled vocal group.
- The dedicated MIX knob is the critical tool here, allowing you to blend these lush generated voices with your dry signal from a subtle, reinforcing glow to a full-spectrum chorale.
The magic, however, is in the execution. The tracking is, in a word, flawless. Rapid legato runs, staccato picked passages, and languid bends are all met with a corresponding harmony voice that attaches itself to your note with unshakable conviction and negligible latency. It doesn’t feel like following; it feels like part of the original phrase.
Ultimately, the Pico IHM transcends its compact format. It delivers the scale-aware harmonic sophistication that was once the domain of rack units and digital workstations, but presents it with the tactile, instant-gratification interface of a classic stompbox. For the guitarist seeking professional, polyphonic intelligence without sacrificing precious board real estate, this isn’t just a good if not great, option.
