The Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron is an Electro-Harmonix wah pedal, currently around $93.99. Close alternatives include the Emma DiscomBOBulator and the Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample. It pairs well with the Soldano Astro-20 Head and the Friedman Runt 20.
Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron is a compact analog envelope filter descended from the original Mu-Tron III design. Playing dynamics control the filter: the harder the pick attack, the wider the frequency sweep, creating an auto-wah response. Controls include Drive (sensitivity), Q (resonance), and a three-position Range switch (low, mid, high frequency band), plus a filter mode switch selecting Low Pass, Band Pass, or High Pass. True bypass.
What stands out
“Controls include Drive (sensitivity), Q (resonance), and a three-position Range switch (low, mid, high frequency band), plus a filter mode switch selecting Low Pass, Band Pass, or High Pass”
— from the listing
“Playing dynamics control the filter: the harder the pick attack, the wider the frequency sweep, creating an auto-wah response”
— from the listing
“Highly responsive to input impedance; placement after a buffer in the chain is recommended for consistent, predictable tracking behavior”
— from the reviews
“Band Pass mode is the most commonly used setting for classic funk quack — it emphasizes the midrange resonance peak and produces the most recognizable Mu-Tron-style character”
— from the reviews
“the electro-harmonix nano q-tron is a compact analog envelope filter descended from the original mu-tron iii design”
— from the listing
- resonance
- filter
- responsive
- high pass
- response
- funk
- band pass
- sensitivity
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Soldano Astro-20 Head
Soldano
20% matchSoldano Astro-20 Head leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Friedman Runt 20
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman Runt 20 goes after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Friedman BE-Mini Head after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 goes after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the chain
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II goes after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the chain
EVH 010
Evh
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put EVH 010 after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Cusack Music
22% matchWhat Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Eons
Walrus Audio
21% matchWhat Walrus Audio Eons brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Source Audio Nemesis
Source Audio
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Source Audio Nemesis after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
FoxGear EchoSex
Foxgear
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put FoxGear EchoSex after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction goes after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Subdecay F-Bomb goes after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron in the chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron: modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron
Electro-Harmonix
70% similarityShared character: warm, peak, 8 impedance
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter
Electro-Harmonix
56% similarityShared character: mono synth, sensitivity, tight tracking
Chaos Custom Shop Sub Sonic Filter
Chaos Custom Shop
48% similarityShared character: filter, bass
Behringer B-Tron III Envelope Filter
Behringer
46% similarityShared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, filter
Maestro Agena
Maestro
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Chaos Custom Shop HPF
Chaos Custom Shop
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter
Maxon
65% similarityShared character: peak, sensitivity, natural resonance
Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: peak, mono synth, natural resonance
Fairfield Circuitry Long Life
Fairfield Circuitry
59% similarityShared character: peak, natural resonance, filter
Carl Martin Ottawa
Carl Martin
58% similarityShared character: mono synth, sensitivity, tight tracking
Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
Carl Martin
56% similarityShared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, natural resonance
Guyatone Wah Rocker WR3
pedal
50% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, mono synth, sensitivity
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Emma DiscomBOBulator
pedal
59% similarityShared character: mono synth, sensitivity, tight tracking
Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample
Subdecay
57% similarityShared character: mono synth, natural resonance, filter
Vox V847 Wah
Vox
53% similarityShared character: mono synth, original, filter
dpFX Pedals Variable Low Pass Filter
Dpfx Pedals
48% similarityShared character: filter, subtle, warm
Empress Para EQ DLX
Empress
46% similarityShared character: filter
Lazy Bear Effects High Pass Filter
Lazy Bear Effects
45% similarityShared character: bass, filter, response
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron?+
The closest matches in character are the Emma DiscomBOBulator, the Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample, the Vox V847 Wah. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron, Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter, Chaos Custom Shop Sub Sonic Filter. Boutique upgrades: Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter, Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus, Fairfield Circuitry Long Life.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Soldano Astro-20 Head, Friedman Runt 20, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Soldano Astro-20 Head leans toward high gain, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron cost?+
Around $93.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).