The Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron is an Electro-Harmonix wah pedal, currently around $77.03. Close alternatives include the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron and the Emma DiscomBOBulator. It pairs well with the Marshall JVM410H and the Soldano Astro-20 Head.

Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron

Electro-Harmonix · pedal

The Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron is an envelope-controlled filter pedal in EHX's compact XO die-cast format, derived from the classic Mu-Tron III design. Playing dynamics drive the filter: harder picking produces a wider, more dramatic frequency sweep for an auto-wah response. Drive and Q controls set input sensitivity and resonance; a three-position mode switch selects Low Pass, Band Pass, or High Pass filtering. The XO format presents it in a rugged, compact enclosure.

What stands out

  • “Playing dynamics drive the filter: harder picking produces a wider, more dramatic frequency sweep for an auto-wah response”

    — from the listing

  • “The envelope response tracks pick nuances directly, making the effect feel performed”

    — from the reviews

  • “Drive and Q controls set input sensitivity and resonance; a three-position mode switch selects Low Pass, Band Pass, or High Pass filtering”

    — from the listing

  • “Best placed early in the signal chain , to ensure the envelope tracks pickup dynamics correctly”

    — from the community notes

  • “Praised for funky auto-wah quack on single-coil guitar and bass, it responds directly to pick dynamics — soft playing produces a restrained filter sweep while digging in triggers wide, expressive quack suited to funk, R&B, and jazz-funk con…”

    — from the community notes

  • filter
  • envelope
  • resonance
  • band pass
  • auto wah
  • dynamic
  • quack
  • drive
$77.03View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 25, 2026

Genres the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron is commonly used in

  • Jazz
  • Funk
  • Experimental
  • Soul
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Bedroom Pop
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron

Marshall JVM410H

Marshall

19% match

Run mid-forward into Marshall JVM410H for more high gain on top

Comes later in the signal chain

Soldano Astro-20 Head

Soldano

18% match
$1999.99via Reverb

Put Soldano Astro-20 Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II

Mesa Boogie

tonal match
$1147.50via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II for more high gain on top

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade

Hughes & Kettner

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Hughes & Kettner Coreblade in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt for more high gain on top

Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head

Friedman

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head for more high gain on top

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H

Marshall

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Friedman BE-Mini Head

Friedman

tonal match
$195.67via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Friedman BE-Mini Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal

Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron

Airis Effects SPEC-Defier

Airis Effects

20% match
$169via Reverb

Airis Effects SPEC-Defier stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Comes later in the signal chain

Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz

Cusack Music

19% match
$249via Reverb

Put Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy

Comes later in the signal chain

Echoplex EP-3

Echoplex

8% 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.

Keep Echoplex EP-3 after Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte

Caroline Guitar Company

8% match
$199via 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.

Run Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2

Dr Scientist

tonal match
$204.36via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal

Death By Audio Destruction

Death By Audio

tonal match
$137.70via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Death By Audio Destruction in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy

Warm Audio Jet Phaser

Warm Audio

tonal match
$109.01via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Warm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set

Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)

Caline

tonal match
$52.99via Reverb

Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) belongs after Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron, since a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal

Cheaper alternatives

Maestro Agena

Maestro

48% similarity
$59via Reverb

Shared character: filter, pick attack, response

Boutique & premium upgrades

Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus

Electro-Harmonix

69% similarity
$162.08via Reverb

Shared character: peak, natural resonance, filter

Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter

Maxon

67% similarity
$263.27via Reverb

Shared character: peak, sensitivity, natural resonance

Carl Martin Ottawa

Carl Martin

61% similarity
$145.09via Reverb

Shared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, natural resonance

Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter

Carl Martin

61% similarity
$143.54via Reverb

Shared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, natural resonance

Fairfield Circuitry Long Life

Fairfield Circuitry

57% similarity
$348.11via Reverb

Shared character: peak, natural resonance, filter

Electro-Harmonix Riddle Q Balls

Electro-Harmonix

54% similarity
$152.28via Reverb

Shared character: extreme settings, peak, sensitivity

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron

Electro-Harmonix

70% similarity
$93.99via Reverb

Shared character: warm, peak, 8 impedance

Emma DiscomBOBulator

pedal

60% similarity

Shared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, filter

Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample

Subdecay

55% similarity

Shared character: natural resonance, filter, pick attack

Behringer B-Tron III Envelope Filter

Behringer

52% similarity
$78.90via Reverb

Shared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, filter

Ivy Pedals Tone Zone

Ivy

49% similarity

Shared character: filter

Vox V847 Wah

Vox

47% similarity

Shared character: warm, filter

See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron?+

The closest matches in character are the Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron, the Emma DiscomBOBulator, the Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample. Budget picks: Maestro Agena. Boutique upgrades: Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus, Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter, Carl Martin Ottawa.

What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JVM410H, Soldano Astro-20 Head, Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II — Run mid-forward into Marshall JVM410H for more high gain on top.

How much does the Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron cost?+

Around $77.03 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).

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