EQ-200 Graphic Equalizer Pedal Review

Great equalizer!

I play in a band where I switch off between electric and amplified acoustic guitars. I have been using two separate pedal boards, a boutique tube amp (Swart) and for the acoustics either my Fishman amp or the PA system. I wanted to simplify my rig for the smaller gigs by trying to use use one pedal board and run everything through the Swart. This Boss EQ allowed me to preset and… read more save EQ settings for each of my 4 acoustic guitars - Gibson Songwriter, Gryphon, Taylor 12 string and Goldtone Dobro. I can quickly turn the EQ on when needed and easily and quickly toggle between my presets. The tones I am getting are very close to what I could get through a PA system and I bring less equipment, take up less floor space, and feel more in control. This has been a game changer for me. And I have yet to create additional presets for my electric guitars! Great pedal, absolutely love it!

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Stereo tone sculpting!

Using this at the end of my signal chain before going into my stereo looper, and really makes a world of difference. Un-linking the A/B channels lets me get a basic stereo pan as well as stereo tone dynamics that are hard to dial in anywhere else. I can export my recordings and try to fix my stems in post, or just have my lead/rhythm/bass/keys presets on this guy for on-the-fly… read more mixing. At this point I have a totally hardware mixing chain and had a real need for properly EQ'd stems long before hitting the DAW. Can't recommend this pedal enough, form factor is smaller than I expected too. Took my setup from usable to phenomenal.

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Thanks for the memories

The problem I have with EQs is that I can't stop adjusting them. This is the real value of having presets. Get a great sound and lock it in. Make a few good presets and you're done. You've "saved" your work. You can also move the EQ to different setups and just call up the proper preset. So an EQ without presets is no go. Likewise, an EQ pedal with knobs instead of easy to… read more see sliders means more noodling. And don't even get me started with parametric (although this pedal does let you move the "center" point.) Boss really got it right with this pedal. It's quieter than the EQ-7, has enough bands to really fine tune (actually more than needed for guitar). It has a suprisingly useful LCD display, and I forget the exact number, but roughly 170 presets(!) The EQ-200 is really two EQs in the same box, and there are things I would have traded for a less expensive pedal, like the routing options, MIDI, and stereo, but I'm happy, even using a fraction of the EQ-200's capabilites. The only thing I'd like to see is a way to scroll presets in both directions, instead of up only (you can cap the total number so you don't have to scroll through a hundred!) If your rig sounds good but not great, this should help you dial it in. If your sound is already great, now you have options that you won't get from simple tone controls.

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A different type of beast

i play metal - 20 years - im running a gibson custom lp with black winter pickups into a pisdiyauwot distortion pedal into the red channel of a mesa dual rectifier - with substantial gain and treble boost and slight mid scoop.. sounds great... slapped this eq-200 on, did the four cable method.. basically im set up so the eq running thru the fx loop, with shapes post amp-eq, is always… read more on - and i use the memory button to kick in or out the 2nd eq settings that go infront of the amp is part of the signal chain.. tell you what - a whole different amp .. reduced what i didnt like, boosted what i did like - basically a zig zag thru the mids - and oh boy what a difference.. boosting mids in the pre-eq chain for solos and i kick that in when i have to.. my set up sounded good as it is, but this just added so much life and juice... you can feel the sizzle.. kindda like i hit the tone in my head - or have gotten closest to it thx to this eq200 .. simply amazing what a little eq-ing and level boosting can do...... a must buy !!!!

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Brilliant tone shaper

I'd say in the quest for your tone first get a decent guitar and amp that suits you. Then get this. Great at fine tuning your sound for a particular guitar or situation. I bought it for my solo acoustic rig. I bring two different electric acoustics to the gig as a spare and for the occasional alternate tunings. It was great to set up two presets that allowed me to balance the two,… read more bring out some of their highlights, and attenuate some of the harsher tones from the piezo in one of them. Cautionary note is a little goes a long way and won't make a poor sounding rig sound great. What I'm experimenting with now is setting up the other presets for when I do the occasional looping of the guitar and want something a little different or boosted.

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