Empress ParaEQ MKII released!

[sunbeast]

The Deluxe version of this looks awesome! I had an original ParaEQ but found it too large of a footprint and at least back then I really wanted more Q control. These days I would probably dig one of these just fine, especially with the smaller footprint.

The standard version is "just" a really good 3 band parametric EQ (essentially a mk1/boost in a smaller enclosure it seems ?), which is already great for most usages; the Deluxe however really speaks to me as a all-in-one tone shaper.
It seems to be the perfect unit as the front-end for a clean power amp (to tune the stage rig to the room, drive the amp a bit harder, tame annoying frequencies via high Q cut or HPF, boost mids for better self-monitoring, ...). Judging by the feature set it's a better preamp than many preamps !
The continuously adjustable Q is what was missing for me on the mk1, however I understand how the switches would be easier and sufficient for most people.
Well done Empress

For a comparable option to the non-deluxe ParaEQ II, the WMD Utility Parametric has continuously adjustable Q for each band. I had one and it replaced the Empress v1 for me. I did find it added a bit of noise to my signal, but I don't have it anymore and it could have been somewhere else in my chain or power-related so I don't want to necessarily blame the WMD: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[XLunacy]

The Deluxe version of this looks awesome! I had an original ParaEQ but found it too large of a footprint and at least back then I really wanted more Q control. These days I would probably dig one of these just fine, especially with the smaller footprint.

For a comparable option to the non-deluxe ParaEQ II, the WMD Utility Parametric has continuously adjustable Q for each band. I had one and it replaced the Empress v1 for me. I did find it added a bit of noise to my signal, but I don't have it anymore and it could have been somewhere else in my chain or power-related so I don't want to necessarily blame the WMD: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I do know about the WMD : WMD Parametric EQ : knobs and frequency response
I reckon the Empress mk1 (and consequently the mk2) was much more predictable in the way it shaped the sound, as opposed to the WMD where it could get crazy really fast with mid or high Q values and interactive bands.

 

[sunbeast]

I do know about the WMD : WMD Parametric EQ : knobs and frequency response
I reckon the Empress mk1 (and consequently the mk2) was much more predictable in the way it shaped the sound, as opposed to the WMD where it could get crazy really fast with mid or high Q values and interactive bands.

Interesting! I actually mostly did use my WMD for more "extreme" type sounds to get some aggressive resonant peaks and valleys so the weirdness didn't bother me, but I was bothered by the difficulty of adjustment because of how wide the ranges were for each control. I found the Empress wasn't really capable of the same sort of aggressive sounds which was why I got rid of it at the time. I never did scope either of them though, this is interesting to see!

 

[Naack]

Rookie question from someone who has never had an EQ pedal, do they typically go towards the end of a signal chain?

 

[Mike_Empress]

Rookie question from someone who has never had an EQ pedal, do they typically go towards the end of a signal chain?

It really depends on what else is in your chain. I have mine setup with Bass Comp > ParaEq MKII Deluxe > Dirt > amp. I recommend experimenting with those to dial in a tone you like, but I would keep all that tone shaping stuff before any modulation pedals you might be using, like delay or phaser or something. Then again, I'm a guitar player and know you bass players do it differently, so correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[Naack]

It really depends on what else is in your chain. I have mine setup with Bass Comp > ParaEq MKII Deluxe > Dirt > amp. I recommend experimenting with those to dial in a tone you like, but I would keep all that tone shaping stuff before any modulation pedals you might be using, like delay or phaser or something. Then again, I'm a guitar player and know you bass players do it differently, so correct me if I'm wrong!

Thank you so much for the advice! I currently run Tuner -> Cali76 Comp -> Hudson Broadcast OD -> Iron Ether Filter -> Chorus -> DI. I guess I have some experimenting to do once they get released!

 

[Michael Vee]

The wait is over. The ParaEQs are shipping!

I got my ParaEQ Deluxe yesterday. Here's what I wrote about it to my guy Jimmy at Atlanta Discount:

"I have spent some time evaluating it, both with a very modern sounding Warmoth bass with active EMGs, and with a thumpy short scale Ibanez AFB200 with flats. I was able to uncover many usable voices with both instruments, and fix sonic problems with both (ex: EMGs can be VERY bright in some registers, the Ibanez with its tendency to feedback on G's in all octaves).

Although the black knobs are very small, they tend to be set and forget, and the large parametric controls are easy to see and grab to fine tune the sound and to fix live sound problems, feedback or fret buzzes or dead spots.

I like this pedal a lot! I can hear all the nuances it can add clearly through my recently acquired Genzler BA10-Combo. Very nice combination. And I haven't even hooked it up with the Empress Bass Compressor pedal yet! Can't wait. The guys at Empress that own both pedals say they are an awesome combination and are really happy I got both of them."

As I wrote previously in the My Preamp Journey thread, I envision the ParaEQ Mark II Deluxe replacing a number of pedals in my collection. The Deluxe sounds great even set flat with no boost- it makes my basses sound better. If you've never had an EQ pedal with these capabilities, it's astonishing to hear how cuts and boosts at specific frequencies with the Q controls open up worlds of tone.

This is my first high-end EQ pedal. My EQ has always either been onboard, in a preamp pedal with low/high sorts of EQ controls, or on the amp. To be able to tailor my sound coming out of the amp into the room like this is a dream.

All this said after just a couple hours of playing. I'm going to finish this post and hook the Bass Compressor up in front of the Deluxe and play the rest of the morning..

Don't be on the fence- if you need one, get one!

 

[XLunacy]

Really tempted to get one as a HPF + 3 band mid shaper, could be such a great always on first pedal in the chain !

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Rookie question very new to pedals (just put together my 1st board earlier this year and it's still a work in progress) would the ParaEQ replace your preamp to be used as a preamp or to enhancement tool along with your preamp. Also Mike_Empress are there plans to add a DI to either of these pedals?

 

[Michael Vee]

Rookie question very new to pedals (just put together my 1st board earlier this year and it's still a work in progress) would the ParaEQ replace your preamp to be used as a preamp or to enhancement tool along with your preamp. Are there plans to add a DI to either of these pedals?

I will probably use the following strategy. I'll decide which bass I want to use for a gig, and set the ParaEQ at home to get the best core sound for that bass with the amp I'm going to use. Then I will start the gig with amp EQ flat, and use amp EQ to make gig room adjustments as needed. I'll largely leave the ParaEQ settings alone, unless I need the precision control of the ParaEQ, say to knock out feedback. I'll be varying sounds for songs with whatever the bass's onboard controls can do.

So, I'll use it as an enhancement tool for my bass, not for the amp (although the overall sound is sounding better as a result!) I'm sure I'll deviate from that stategy at some point next year, but I'm starting out that way. Options galore!

It certainly has enough gain, especially with the boost function, to drive most power amp sections and serve as a preamp, albeit with no DI out. If that's needed, then add a dedicated DI after the ParaEQ.

I haven't opened the ParaEQ Deluxe to check, and don't think I will, but with the controls and circuitry of this pedal, there can't be any leftover room in that size pedal housing to put in a side DI jack. It would have to be a larger housing, say twice as wide, more like the original ParaEQ.

 

[Mike_Empress]

Rookie question very new to pedals (just put together my 1st board earlier this year and it's still a work in progress) would the ParaEQ replace your preamp to be used as a preamp or to enhancement tool along with your preamp. Also Mike_Empress are there plans to add a DI to either of these pedals?

There are no plans to release a version with a DI. You'll need to use a dedicated DI.

 

[Michael Vee]

Mike, I'm sure you saw my prior posts. I really like the ParaEQ Deluxe. It sounds great even set flat, and it can and will do many, many good things for my sound. I will have a lot of uses for this little wonder. Thank you for it!

 

[BN5HardCaseGuy]

This pedal is awesome. Less than five minutes in and I have my bass tone tighter, fuller and more articulate than ever before. I never thought subtracting would have such an effect! The frequency selection and Q width are awesome. The High and Low Pass filters are indispensable for me. My F Bass BN5 has a brand new life!

 

[Michael Vee]

I have a feeling we are going to see a LOT of such enthusing from new ParaEQ Deluxe owners. It's that good.

I'm doing the same combination of the Deluxe and a silver Bass Compressor. I like the way it looks, and certainly how it sounds! I thought the blue sparkle BC color might clash with the blue non-sparkle of the Deluxe.

And the Strobostomp! Got that too. I like your board, BN5!

 

[SteveC]

Mine arrives tomorrow. Going to use it after my Empress Bass Compressor and before my REDDI. A touch of eq, some high and low pass filters and my sound should be even better. Love the compressor. The boost will be nice with my passive bass. Looking forward to filing up my Nano with this one. No more room so I'm done with pedals.

 

[Michael Vee]

I discovered that some nice overdrive is possible with the BC/ParaEQ combination. You have the big output of the BC, the Color switch settings that overdrive a bit depending on the Output control, then the huge amount of ParaEQ boost to drive the front end of an amp.

My Nano+ currently is Strobostomp>Bass Compressor>ParaEQ> Vintage Microtubes>MXR Reverb. I may pull the VMT and rely more on the warmth of the Empress pedals.

 

[micguy]

How about the most readily available control of any eq pedal….

Source Audio stuff is great but I don’t want to spend hours on a laptop trying to figure out how to control my pedals.

The EQ 2 was very easy to figure out. The control page is very straightforward. 15 minutes in, I had 4 settings locked in and ready to go. Now, if I want to change something, it's a couple of minutes and most of that is hooking things up. The Source Audio Ultrawave, though, I have to agree with you on - a couple hours in, I had nothing figured out. It got sent back.

It's down to how you want to control things. If you want locked in, repeatable eq's, and far more flexibility in the eq's you can get, the EQ2 runs rings around the Empress. If you want to tweak on the fly at a gig, then the Empress is a better choice.

 

[micguy]

No more room so I'm done with pedals.

I'm sure others are as entertained by statement this as I am. The space on your board doesn't limit the number of pedals you can own. I have a few shelves of "alternate" pedals that aren't on either of my boards at any given time.

 

[SteveC]

I’m really not much of a pedal/effects guy. I use what I have, and my Nano is it as it fits in the Pelican with my REDDI. I don’t experiment too much. Most of my pedals are always on as well. Don’t really need a board, but I don’t want a rack either.

 

[Michael Vee]

If you want locked in, repeatable eq's, and far more flexibility in the eq's you can get, the EQ2 runs rings around the Empress. If you want to tweak on the fly at a gig, then the Empress is a better choice.

The Empress is also an analog pedal where the EQ2 is not (if that's important - always a subject of discussion), sounds terrific, and you can see everything (with good eyesight, ha) at a glance without a display device. As a technology person, I understand the appeal of the Source Audio products- the USB interface, customizability, very fine control over many parameters of an effect. Those are sophisticated products. I have seen that on the level of the Darkglass Hyper Luminal, which is not as sophisticated as the EQ2 or Atlas, but also has a USB interface and a controls app.

As a musician I appreciate the sound of the Empress and as you said, the quick hard knobs adjustability. What is the best way to play music and find sounds easily that enhance the performance experience? Depending on each player's preference, it could be the EQ2 way or could be the Empress way. This has been discussed extensively over the years on TB.

I'd want to hear from someone who owns both the EQ2 and the Deluxe, which will happen soon, to compare the sound and usability of the two. I will say the sound of the Deluxe is very, very nice in my experience so far.

Right now, the Mark II ParaEQ is hitting the market and in our hands, and those of us who are choosing to buy one are seeing what all the tumult is about. It really is a remarkable fully parametric, shelf filtering, and pass filtering analog device, in the standard pedal size format.