The Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack is an Electro-Harmonix delay pedal, currently around $112.27. Close alternatives include the Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo and the Keeley Magnetic Echo. It pairs well with the Park P50 Classic and the Bad Cat Cub.

Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack

Electro-Harmonix · pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack Decay is a compact tape reverse simulator that recreates the classic Attack Decay effect, producing volume swells, backward tape sounds, artificially short staccato notes and bowed, violin like attacks. It offers a Mono mode with one volume envelope for everything you play and a Poly mode where each note gets its own envelope, creating cascading swell effects and smooth, agile attack shaped leads. From slow ambient swells to reverse tape textures and snappy synth like attacks, it is highly expressive. It suits ambient, experimental, indie and lead players who want auto volume swells, reverse tape effects and attack shaping, including polyphonic per note swells, in a tiny pedal.

What stands out

  • “It is used for ambient volume swells, backward tape textures, staccato attacks and bowed leads across ambient, experimental and indie styles”

    — from the community notes

  • “It offers a Mono mode with one volume envelope for everything you play and a Poly mode where each note gets its own envelope, creating cascading swell effects and smooth, agile attack shaped leads”

    — from the listing

  • “Its most praised qualities are the expressive auto swells, the revolutionary per note Poly mode and the reverse tape character”

    — from the community notes

  • “Players value the Pico Attack Decay for bringing the classic Attack Decay swell and reverse tape effect to a tiny pedal, now with polyphonic per note swells”

    — from the community notes

  • “The Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack Decay is a compact tape reverse simulator that recreates the classic Attack Decay effect, producing volume swells, backward tape sounds, artificially short staccato notes and bowed, violin like attacks”

    — from the listing

  • swell
  • attack
  • ambient
  • expressive
  • envelope
  • decay
  • backward tape sounds
  • lead

Good for

  • Live
  • Studio
  • Busking
$112.27View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 22, 2026

Genres the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack is commonly used in

  • Ambient
  • Experimental
  • Indie
  • Post Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack

Park P50 Classic

Park

29% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Into a dynamic tone, Park P50 Classic brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Bad Cat Cub

Bad Cat

24% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Bad Cat Cub's own harmonically rich character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Ceriatone British Style 2525

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Ceriatone British Style 2525 leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Vox AC30S1 OneTwelve 30W 1x12 Combo

Vox

tonal match

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Vox AC30S1 OneTwelve 30W 1x12 Combo leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Fryette Power Station 100

Fryette

tonal match
$1199via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Fryette Power Station 100 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Kustom HV30 Tube

Kustom

tonal match
$234.41via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Kustom HV30 Tube brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II

Mesa Boogie

tonal match
$1147.50via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Friedman PT-20

Friedman

tonal match
$1499via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Friedman PT-20 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack

Origin Effects RevivalDrive

Origin Effects

23% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Origin Effects RevivalDrive leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Keeley Super AT Mod Overdrive Limited Edition

Keeley

21% match

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)

Into a dynamic tone, Keeley Super AT Mod Overdrive Limited Edition brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Catalinbread Valcoder '70s Collection

Catalinbread

15% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Run Catalinbread Valcoder '70s Collection after Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack

Comes earlier in the signal chain

ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky

Zvex

10% match
$239via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Put ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky after Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack

Comes earlier in the signal chain

DigiTech DOD Compressor 280

Digitech

tonal match
$119.18via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, DigiTech DOD Compressor 280 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

DigiTech XBS Bass Squeeze

Digitech

tonal match
$95.90via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, DigiTech XBS Bass Squeeze brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Fairfield Circuitry 20% More

Fairfield Circuitry

tonal match
$451.25via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Into a dynamic tone, Fairfield Circuitry 20% More brings a pull toward compressed that's missing

Tech 21 CompTortion

Tech 21

tonal match

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Tech 21 CompTortion leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own

Cheaper alternatives

Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2

Alexander Pedals

92% similarity
$100via Reverb

similar tone character

Boutique & premium upgrades

Boss RE-2 Space Echo

Boss

53% similarity
$185.61via Reverb

Shared character: single rig, ambient

Boss RE-202 Space Echo

Boss

52% similarity
$238.28via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, ambient, smooth

Alexander Pedals Oblivion Vintage Delay

Alexander Pedals

52% similarity
$329.99via Reverb

Shared character: ambient, smooth

Old Blood Noise Endeavors Setback Reverse

Old Blood Noise Endeavors

51% similarity
$258.99via Reverb

Shared character: ambient

Catalinbread Belle Epoch

Catalinbread

50% similarity
$178.49via Reverb

Shared character: mono synth, ambient

Strymon El Capistan

Strymon

50% similarity
$379via Reverb

Shared character: ambient

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo

pedal

56% similarity

Shared character: ambient, smooth

Keeley Magnetic Echo

Keeley

52% similarity

Shared character: ambient, smooth

MXR Analog Delay

MXR

51% similarity

Shared character: ambient, lead

Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo

Benson Amps

44% similarity

Shared character: single rig, ambient

Electro-Harmonix Pico ReRun

Electro-Harmonix

43% similarity
$114.32via Reverb

Shared character: single rig, ambient

J. Rockett Immortal Echo

J Rockett

43% similarity

Shared character: ambient

See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack?+

The closest matches in character are the Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo, the Keeley Magnetic Echo, the MXR Analog Delay. Budget picks: Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2. Boutique upgrades: Boss RE-2 Space Echo, Boss RE-202 Space Echo, Alexander Pedals Oblivion Vintage Delay.

What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Park P50 Classic, Bad Cat Cub, Ceriatone British Style 2525 — Into a dynamic tone, Park P50 Classic brings a pull toward compressed that's missing.

How much does the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack cost?+

Around $112.27 (live listing price, updated Oct 22, 2026).

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