AMT Electronics EX­50 Review ­- Compact But Powerful Package

Controls:
Features:
Performance:
Value:

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AMT Electronics EX­50 has caused quite a bit of hype when it first hit the markets a few years back. Over time, it has proven to be one of the most reliable expression pedals you can find in stores these days. Especially if you want something that stands out aesthetically.

Features

You often hear term ‘compact' being thrown around in the world of expression pedals. The reason for this is that most brands try to pack their models in a smallest possible chassis. After all, this type of pedal is actually an accessory to another, making it important to reduce both the size and weight of the unit. With AMT Electronics EX­50, compact is pushed to a whole new level. This thing is tiny. So much so that its throw or travel tends to be relatively weird to some. The chassis itself is built like a tank. We are looking at all metal construction with reinforcements in all the right places. The top portion of the pedal features a thick, heavily textured rubber pad that offers plenty of grip. Lastly, EX­50 packs both a TRS and TS outputs, as well as an inverted mode for extra compatibility.

Controls

In terms of controls, things are about as simple as they get. AMT was dedicated to keeping EX­50 as close to the traditional concept as possible. In other words, this pedal isa true expression unit and nothing else. With that said, there are only two controls available. You have your main pot that is controlled by foot and the mode select switch. As basic as this all sounds, there's a few things that can be said about each of these controls. For starters, the pot is a quality piece of kit that definitely can withstand a lot of abuse. It is one of those things where you get the performance and reliability even under adverse conditions. Mode select switch makes the EX­50 a real force multiplier for those who have a variety of equipment that requires an expression pedal.

Performance

When push comes to shove, EX­50 isn't just a good looking pedal. It actually has a lot of performance to show as well. The detail and amount of control you have is sufficient even for those who have pretty exclusive standards. With that said, there are a few things you will have to get used to. The main one is definitely the throw of the pedal. Since it is abnormally short and stubby, the throw is going to be weird to say the least. This is especially true if you are used to standard size pedals. At first, you might feel that EX­50 is just too sensitive, but as you figure out the best foot position and how it actually responds to input, you will find it to be extremely precise. Needless to say, this period of getting used to the pedal is very much worth it.

Conclusion

High end expression pedals are often simple, but ultimately impressive. This is definitely one way to describe EX­50. Its small size, weight and general performance make it by farone of the best models you can find right now. It all comes down to how far you're willing to go.

For more info about the AMT Electronics EX­50, click here.
For more Expression Pedals you might like, click here.