Control and Precision: Best Guitar EQ Pedals
-
Empress ParaEq Guitar EQ Pedal -
Boss GE-7 Guitar EQ Pedal -
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Small Signal Guitar EQ Pedal -
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver Guitar EQ Pedal -
Behringer Graphic Equalizer EQ700 -
Buyer's Guide
Guitarists can be pretty picky about the EQ of their tone. And while one can definitely adjust the frequencies of their instrument using the control settings on their amplifier and even on the instrument itself via the tone knobs, a tool like an EQ pedal offers an unparalleled degree of control and precision. Having your EQ control set inside a pedal gives you the ability to make changes quickly and easily, as the control is right at your feet, and can also be triggered on and off at will to drastically alter your sound in the middle of a performance. Here are the best guitar EQ pedals in 2022, with each one we've chosen offering multiple knobs and controls to shape individual bands/frequencies of your signal, they provide a small footprint so as not to take up critical space in your pedalboard or rig, and offer features to prevent feedback from creeping into the mix.
What is the best guitar eq pedal of 2022?
Empress ParaEq Guitar EQ Pedal - Best Guitar EQ Pedal Overall
Empress Effects’ ParaEQ pedal provides a very transparent enhancement to your guitar’s sound. Despite its compact size, the unit features three bands of parametric EQ – each band also offers three selectable q widths, which can can be used to solve common challenges such as feedback, harshness, and more. The pedal itself works very quietly, providing very little noise into your signal chain. It’s also true bypass, so your tone will never suffer when the pedal is not in use. And despite its micro size, this thing can get loud – it can boost your signal by 30dB.
Boss GE-7 Guitar EQ Pedal - Runner Up
The BOSS GE-7 packs seven bands of adjustable EQ sliders into a compact shape and size that has become a trademark for the company. Each band can be boosted or cut up to +/- 15dB. In addition to providing players with the ability to sculpt the frequency range of their sound, the GE-7 can also act as a boost that is ideal for guitar solos. Like all BOSS stompboxes, this pedal is built like a tank, so you won’t have to worry much about damaging it through regular use. And just in case something does go wrong, the pedal also comes with BOSS’s five-year warranty.
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Small Signal Guitar EQ Pedal - Honorable Mention
With its old-school design and tiny footprint, EarthQuaker Devices’ Tone Job guitar EQ pedal instantly harkens back to a vintage era of classic rock. The looks aren’t that deceiving, since this pedal is an all analog piece of gear that offers a no-nonsense, straightforward way to shape the EQ of your tone. Three knobs for bass, mids, and treble give you an easy and intuitive way to alter your guitar’s sound, while a level knob acts as the pedal’s boost control. The Tone Job is also true bypass, ensuring that it won’t affect your tone when it’s disengaged in your rig. In addition to working well with electric guitars, the Tone Job can also be used with bass guitars, synthesizers, and more.
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver Guitar EQ Pedal - Consider
The Tech 21 SansAmp Para Driver DI guitar EQ pedal can work well with most instruments, including acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses, and more – but regardless of what’s being routed through this unit, it’s going to sound warm and as if it were running through a tube-driven amplifier. This pedal offers a sweepable, semi-parametric EQ that gives you instant results in combing through and selecting your preferred sound. The fact that this unit also doubles as a preamp actually eliminates the need for an amplifier, but it still can sound great if paired with one. A drive control allows players to add some edge to their sound. A Rumble Filter switch subtracts unwanted sub frequencies while the Air switch provides top-end sparkle to the mix.
Behringer Graphic Equalizer EQ700 - Best Guitar EQ Pedal
Behringer’s EQ700 guitar EQ pedal offers seven bands of equalization to help guitarists fine-tune the mix of their instrument, as well as prevent against any unwanted feedback. The pedal offers a wide frequency range, going from 100 Hz to 6.4 kHz; each band offers +/- 15dB. Designed for the guitarist on the go, this pedal can operate off a DC power supply, or just a single 9V battery. And because investing in your sound is no careless affair, the good folks at Behringer have also included a three-year warranty program for the EQ700 to protect your purchase should anything go awry.
Buyer's Guide
Best Guitar EQ Pedals to Make Your Guitar Go Boom Chika Chika Boom
Buyer’s Guide for Best Guitar EQ Pedals
Getting a guitar EQ pedal may seem like the easiest thing you might be doing today, but there are many technicalities involved. If you are someone new to this, then you need all the help you could get. Here are all the things you need to keep in mind to buy the best guitar EQ pedals.
Functions of Guitar EQ Pedals
Also called the guitar equalizer pedal, these work in 3 different ways to give more features to your guitar. The various functions are:
- It helps in adjusting and shaping the sound or audio by controlling the frequencies.
- It helps in boosting volume so you can create different sounds from the same guitar.
- It helps in correcting the acoustics of the environment so that when the guitar is played in different places, unwanted sounds can be eliminated.
It is the equalizer pedal of an electric guitar that helps control tone, variety of sound, and audio. If you don’t have it, then you would not be able to produce different kinds of audio and music.
Types of EQ pedals
There are two kinds of guitar EQ pedals, the graphic equalizer and the parametric equalizer. The graphic EQ pedal has a frequency band with its own adjustment level. On the other hand, the parametric EQ works by choosing your own frequency, amplitude, and level.
Things to Look For in the Best Guitar EQ Pedals
When investing in an EQ pedal, the most important things to look out for are separate boost switching, ability to program, illuminated sliders, and form factor. One more thing you would have to look out for is the range of frequency. These things would decide what kind of sound your guitar would be able to produce. Other things you need to consider are:
Size
The size is an important aspect when thinking about buying a guitar EQ pedal. If it is too big or too small, then you might not be able to fit it into your rig. Check out how much space there is, and then get a pedalboard that sits well. Some experts believe that smaller EQ pedals are better than larger ones. But you would have to experiment to see which one works best for you.
Headroom
Guitar EQ pedals help in balancing your rig. They define the tone and improve the lows, highs, and mids, and overall cause a brightening effect for your audios and sounds. This is why you need to check the number of bands the pedal gives. The more bands you have, the more options of sound production.
Headroom refers to the boosting of your highs and lows. They are measured in kHZ, and you would have to read the top and bottom of the bands to see their reach. Depending on what kind of music you play, select the EQ pedal that meets your requirements.
Operation
Does the pedal work on the battery, or is it plugged into a power supply? This is an important question because you would want to be prepared about how to work the gear. If it has a battery, you would have to keep some extra with you when the battery goes dead. And if the EQ pedal works on a power supply, you would need to have access wherever you go.
Physical Look
This may not sound like an important thing, but you would not be interested in using something that you don’t like looking at or that does not go well with your guitar. So make sure that you check out how the EQ pedal looks with your guitar and feels in your hands. The more professional and pleasing your pedal is, the more professional and experienced you will look.
Budget
There has to be a certain budget you cater to, right? Guitar EQ pedals come in different shapes, sizes, and prices. You can select one that comes in your budget. Just remember that EQ pedals are long-term investments, so you don’t want to get something too cheap, as not only would it ruin your guitar sessions, you would also have to keep changing them again and again when they break down. If you are tight on a budget, opt for a brand that produces low-end pedals so that the audios are not damaged.
Remember, guitar EQ pedals are meant to oomph up your guitar sessions, so make sure you get the right kind of accessory so that it helps in improving your jamming sessions, as well as live and recording events.
FAQs for Best Guitar EQ Pedals
Your head bursting with questions about guitar EQ pedals? Rest assured because we have you covered with the most frequently asked questions. Here are some answers to give you some semblance of sense.
Q: What does an EQ pedal do?
A: In simple words, an EQ pedal helps you boost or cut frequencies already present in your guitar tone. They help shape the sound and make it come out better so that you can produce more mature and professional music.
Q: Are guitar EQ pedals worth the investment?
A: They most definitely are. Not only do they improve the sound, but they also shape the tone and help in boosting your audios in all their lows, highs, and mids. The minute you connect your guitar to an EQ pedal, you will notice the difference immediately. You will be surprised by how different and better your audio sounds with an EQ pedal attached.
Q: Are Guitar EQ pedals noisy?
A: Yes, guitar EQ pedals add noise as it is the property of resistors and semiconductors.
Q: What is a parametric equalizer?
A: Parametric equalizer or EQ is a type of live and recording sound that gives continuous control over all parameters. An audio signal frequency is divided into several bands, and a parametric equalizer allows you continuous control over the sounds. This way, you are able to produce sound according to how you want it to be.
