EQ pedals and power supply aren’t particularly interesting subjects. However, they can drastically alter your rig, much like power supplies can. Even though they seem simple, amp EQs are actually a crude tool. Meanwhile, studio and live sound engineers are aware that a superior sound may be achieved with much finer-grained EQ control. Hence, the best EQ pedals guide. The fantastic news is that there are now more EQ pedal alternatives available than ever before. Not only that, but with the addition of contemporary features like MIDI, studio-grade functionality is now accessible in pedal form.
Let’s start by defining what EQ genuinely means. The terms “EQ” and “Equalization” are interchangeable. In actuality, the term “spectrum of sound” is a scientific one. It specifies the locations of particular sounds and frequencies on a global spectrum. The three basic EQ terminology—Bass, Mids, and Treble—are likely terms you are already familiar with. Using linear filters, an equaliser is used in music to change the frequency response of an audio system (or amplifier, speaker, etc.). These basic filters have the power to change the sound of a song, or in this case, your instrument.
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Dunlop MXR M108S Ten Band EQ Guitar Effects Pedal
- Cut or boost 10 different frequencies up to ±12dB
- LEDs provide high visibility, even in direct sunlight
- 18-volt operation for increased headroom
The MXR M108S Ten Band EQ is our “Best Bang for the Buck” pick. This is a visual EQ with nearly twice as many bands as most others, allowing you to do some fine tuning or “create” smooth curves like the one shown above. It’s fantastic to have both possibilities. Most need you to choose which mode you wish to use, but with ten bands, you may use both at once.
This MXR EQ is a high-quality gem with excellent noise-reduction technology. It has a stylish design with bright LEDs that are visible even in daylight to allow you see what’s going on.
This can be really handy, but we’re betting that if you’re on a dark stage, it might be a little too light; they’re so brilliant that they risk blinding you, so they don’t truly help you see, but rather the other way around. However, whether you’ll be utilising it at home or in a studio, they’ll only be useful.
A second output has been added to this model, allowing you to split your signal and have two different treatments that recombine further down the pedal path. It’s as transparent as they come, so you won’t have any trouble dialling in your tone and doing precision work. There’s also a gain control for the input and a volume control for the output. This includes everything you need and a little more, giving you the best value for your money. This is the Best EQ Pedal in 2023.
Boss GE-7 Seven-Band Graphic Equalizer Guitar Pedal
With the Boss GE-7 7-Band EQ, they managed to cram a 7-band graphic equaliser into a standard-sized chassis, with the pegs sunken far enough that kicking them and accidently changing your tone is unlikely. Your options are infinite with up to 15 dB of boost or cut and additional 15 dB of output gain. You can do everything from removing squeaking from acoustic guitar to decreasing dirt in the 200-400 Hz range to adding a high shelf glitter.
All of this is carefully stored in Boss’ tough tank-like housing, along with a large switch that you can’t miss. Players that like a graphic EQ like this do so because they don’t enjoy being restricted by their amps’ simple two and three band selections at the end of their pedal chains. For example, they want to make particular modifications before their compressors and reverbs. And the GE-7 is as close to perfect as any other frequency ranges. These are just a few of the reasons why it’s one of the most widely used equalisers on the market.
Boss is a well-known brand that excels at producing high-quality sound and true bypass switching effects. The Boss GE-7 EQ Pedal is a popular and moderately priced EQ pedal. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it has everything you need to get the job done. If you’re looking for a simple, economical EQ pedal that works a little better than you may anticipate, this is a fantastic choice. It’s not cheap, but it’s a fantastic investment.
This graphic eq pedal has seven bands. The sliders and a master level slider are located at the top of the pedal. Each one is simple to modify and has a high level of precision. In fact, the design is so simple to use that you can adjust it even in low light. Because there are so many bands, you have a lot of control over your sound and can shape it to your liking. This makes it suitable for almost any genre. This is the Best EQ Pedals for Guitar in 2023.
JOYO JF-11 6 Band EQ Pedal Equalizer Guitar Pedal
- Each band provides 18Db± range to help find favourite tone
- This equalizer can exponentially improve the range of sound
- The output will be transformed into a more warm and natural sound
The JOYO JF-11 EQ Pedal is best budget EQ pedal. This six-band equalisation gives your highs more articulation, raises your mids, and removes muddiness from your lows, allowing you to design your sound exactly how you want it. If you’re searching for an inexpensive EQ pedal to add to your chain or are just realising you need one, this is a wonderful place to start.
The sliders have red LED lights on them so you can make exact adjustments even in low-light or dark live circumstances. Plus, because they’re accurate and easy to manipulate, you’ll always get the exact sound you want. Despite its low price, this EQ pedal delivers excellent results. It’s used by musicians to boost bass response, warm up the mids, and offer a clean boost or cut to the overall loudness.
This pedal is powered by a 9V battery or a standard adaptor and has a lightweight, robust aluminium alloy casing. Many individuals have expressed their admiration for how nicely this best inexpensive EQ pedal operates. When the pedal is turned off and on, a few individuals have reported hearing a slight but perceptible click, but it doesn’t add any noise to your pedal chain. Some users said the pedal only lasted a few months, although this wasn’t the case for everyone.
EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job EQ and Boost Guitar Effects Pedal
- A compact Boost & EQ is based on the tone-shaping options available in old...
- A great addition to your pedalboard no matter what you play
- You’ll hear full frequency response from your Tone Job everywhere you...
EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job EQ is one of the Best EQ Pedals in 2023 . This EQ pedal allows you to tweak your tone to your heart’s content. Because it is built around a stereo preamp, it covers as much frequency as possible, making it suited for guitars, basses, and synthesiser machines. The volume control can post the signal up to five times the input, and the EQ pedal cuts or boosts up to 20dB.
When EarthQuaker Devices makes them by hand, they use antique premium-grade stereo preamps as a starting point. As a result, they can withstand a wide range of input voltages (and has a lot of headroom). This pedal is capable of handling guitar, bass, synthesiser, and any other instrument you can think of. If you need extra volume later, the Volume knob provides a clean increase of up to 20 dB.
You receive only a smidgeon of saturation without the warm hue you’re used to. To add character, sweeten your tone, and hear your instrument like you’ve never heard it before, place this after your guitar and before your compressor. This pedal works best at the beginning of the chain to modify the character of your instrument, but it may also be used to raise output at the end of your effect chain or fine-tune the tone. Alternatively, if you only want to focus on boosting your sound, check out our review of boost pedals.
This is a fantastic and user-friendly device. The EarthQuaker has taken the internet by storm, with a slew of enthusiastic users recommending it. It makes it simple to achieve that specific sound you’ve imagined because it excels at what all other pedals strive to achieve. It’s a high-quality EQ pedal that should last you a long time. This excellent EQ pedal comes highly recommended at a very cheap price point.
Danelectro DJ-14C Fish & Chips 7 Band EQ Mini Effects Pedal
- Possibly the smallest EQ available.
- Graphic EQ for stage or studio and noise free.
- Level control for boost or cut.
Let’s start with the Danelectro DJ-14 Fish & Chips, which is our “Best Budget Pick.” It must first and foremost be quite good to meet our qualifications for such a certification. The trouble with most cheap EQs, and this one is no exception, is that they’re noisy, with crackling and dead spots in the pots. None of that garbage will be found here. The Fish & Chips were not skimpy where it mattered signal chain. They save money by adopting a strong plastic chassis, which is why the top has such a lovely moulded pattern source audio.
When you have seven bands (rather than three), you have more control over your tone, which is especially useful when you have a coloured pedal in your signal path or your amp isn’t quite perfect. It’s not simply about getting the work done. You can receive a boost or cut of plus-or-minus 15 dB that is completely transparent otherwise. Many people use the level slider as a boost pedal because it has so much volume. They’re glad to do so because the operation will be almost noiseless, even if the output volume is high enough to compensate for passive pickups.
You won’t find a better affordable EQ pedal for stage or studio for the budget-conscious guitarist or bassist. The sliders have a lovely, smooth Q curve between them and are sturdy enough not to shift on you accidently. With the Fish & Chips small pedal, you can still compete with the more expensive ones, whether you’re wanting to suck out the muck or add a little sparkle.
Empress ParaEq with Boost
- True Bypass
- Ultra-Quiet
- 30dB of Boost
Our preferred EQ is a parametric EQ, which follows the pattern of the best studio equalisers. The Empress Effects ParaEQ is not only that, but it also has a boost built in, providing you unrivalled tone control that always sounds musical.
Because it’s so easy to mess up, most players don’t require or want the extreme precision of 6 or 10 bands. Three bands are easier to deal with and always produce a more “musical” output, which is important when it comes to guitar tone.
The wide Q curves of 3-band EQs are what make them seem melodic. That’s excellent, but there are instances when you need to make a precise cut for whatever reason. The ParaEQ gives you the option of choosing one of three Q widths per band, which is something that nearly all other parametric pedal EQs lack.
You also have two options for controlling the volume. One is an input pad that you can use even if you’re not using the EQ, and the other is a clean boost that you can use even if you’re not using the EQ. You can easily handle all of these difficulties, whether you’re coming in hot, need to make up for lost volume from cutting, or want to drive distortion after with as much as 30 dB of boost.
This pedal is exceedingly transparent, and because to the genuine bypass, it’s even more so when switched off. There’s no instrument, amplifier, or situation where you can’t make your tone and performance cut through the mix and be the star of the show with plus-or-minus 15 dB of boost and cut. With our top pick for the greatest EQ pedal on the market, you can do it all.