Looking for advice on an EQ pedal.

[Chebax]

I did a benchmark of the Tech21 Q Strip vs the Empress a while ago.

The Q Strip had a bigger nicer low end, but I slightly preferred the mids and overall sound of the Empress. That’s the one I kept.

IMO, both were really good, it was a close call.

 

[mr coffee]

Freedom never is Yeah everything Free the Tone makes is pricey, that's a $380 EQ.

Damn. That's what happens when I don't look at the price LOL!

-m

 

[mongey]

empress for me. I have owned the mxr 10 band and its good if you want graphic

but once I got used used to parametric, I just find it too useful to go back

 

[mongey]

Isn't the Empress discontinued?

yeah it is off their site.

Id guess that are going to release a mk2 in the smaller format like they did with the compressor

 

[skullfxr]

If you go MXR, I had two black ones develop issues. They tend to be noisey too. The silver are quieter, and I have not heard of developing issues in time.

 

[laxu]

That has been my "fight", I can get a local used Helix Stomp for 450€. Full MIDI integration, lots of additional FXs (don't care for amp/cab simulations)... kind of kills all the competition... I find this "Free the tone" thing interesting for being analog with digital control, which is something unusual, but all the other digital EQs are way overpriced in my opinion, the Boss EQ200 included and the Source Audio's EQ2 more so...

I don't feel there's much point in insisting on analog for your whole signal chain. I run a full Helix Floor into my tube amps and the difference compared to going direct is less significant than using a longer, higher capacitance cable. Like I can tell that there is a tiny difference but it's so insignificant when you get a huge pile of fx and routing options in return. This is with full 4CM so that's 2 AD/DA conversions. Switching my amp's fx loop on/off changes nothing and neither does running it in series so the signal always goes through the Helix.

EQs are something of a niche thing anyway so boutique ones are not going to be big sellers, hence the higher price. Some people are also willing to pay extra if it says "fully analog signal path".

 

[odibrom]

I don't feel there's much point in insisting on analog for your whole signal chain. I run a full Helix Floor into my tube amps and the difference compared to going direct is less significant than using a longer, higher capacitance cable. Like I can tell that there is a tiny difference but it's so insignificant when you get a huge pile of fx and routing options in return. This is with full 4CM so that's 2 AD/DA conversions. Switching my amp's fx loop on/off changes nothing and neither does running it in series so the signal always goes through the Helix.

EQs are something of a niche thing anyway so boutique ones are not going to be big sellers, hence the higher price. Some people are also willing to pay extra if it says "fully analog signal path".

Yeah, I understand that point of view. My experience was with an old Roland GP100 rack unit which I had connected with the 4CM. I counted 6 AD/DA until the sound reached my ears through the PC audio interface: 4 within the rig itself, +1 for the signal to enter the audio interface, +1 for it to exit its digital/PC realm into the headphones... which is how I play and monitor most of the time. Ok, this was a 1995 digital unit and AD/DA converters have come a LOOOOONG way since then, but, nevertheless, the feeling is still here. One doesn't know what is loosing until changes something and when I got my G-Force, but the clarity was night and day and it's only a few years younger... but there's not those many AD/DA conversions...

 

[Bloody_Inferno]

I use this in the loop of my Triaxis. Works a treat for midi and set/forget. Slower for "on the fly" adjustments. Analog all the way, digital control.

I've got the bass version and it's great, certainly saved me during a lot of session work. Normally I don't like EQ pedals in general, especially for guitar, but bass it's definitely a handy tool for me.

The Free The Tone units have a wide range of sounds you can dial, and they do sound great, so you can practically get away with doing a long set with just one or 2 guitars and a midi controlled rig. But they ARE expensive no question, and definitely not for everyone (seriously, who the hell needs 99 EQ presets?).

 

[r33per]

I've got the bass version and it's great, certainly saved me during a lot of session work. Normally I don't like EQ pedals in general, especially for guitar, but bass it's definitely a handy tool for me.

The Free The Tone units have a wide range of sounds you can dial, and they do sound great, so you can practically get away with doing a long set with just one or 2 guitars and a midi controlled rig. But they ARE expensive no question, and definitely not for everyone (seriously, who the hell needs 99 EQ presets?).

I'm sure there's scope for a "99 EQ Presents but flat ain't one of them" meme, but I don't have the energy...

 

[c7spheres]

There's also the Mesa Boogie and Fender one's. Never tried them though.

 

[Hybrid_Child]

Does anyone have experience with the Wampler EQuator? I'd be curious to try one of those.

 

[angl2k]

I have the MXR 10-band and the Empress ParaEQ. The MXR is so noisy when boosting frequencies while the ParaEQ stays crisp. In this case you get what you pay for

 

[Matt08642]

I have the MXR 10-band and the Empress ParaEQ. The MXR is so noisy when boosting frequencies while the ParaEQ stays crisp. In this case you get what you pay for

Yeah but does your Empress instantly give you a headache and eye damage from looking at it? Didn't think so!

 

[Deadpool_25]

The silver MXR is really good but Matt is right, the damn thing is (visually) bright AF.

I also have the OD-200. I think both are excellent.

 

[Matt08642]

The silver MXR is really good but Matt is right, the damn thing is (visually) bright AF.

I also have the OD-200. I think both are excellent.

I bitch but on the plus side, you absolutely know when MXR pedals have power/are on. By comparison, I can't even visually determine if my TS9 is on when looking directly at it lmao

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

The silver MXR is really good but Matt is right, the damn thing is (visually) bright AF.

I also have the OD-200. I think both are excellent.

You can pull one of the LEDs to turn them sans the two outer LEDs, I believe.

 

[Emperoff]

I shall insist:

Also: