NPD: Free The Tone PA-1QB Programmable EQ

[markmck79]

I've had this in for a little while, but was asked to keep quiet until after the official release date.

A great EQ pedal; all-analog signal chain, digitally controlled with 99 presets (first 4 available by foot switch). The EQ points were specifically chosen for bass and they do work well. It is absolutely quiet and also works as a nice boost, as well.

Here it is on my fly-rig board:

 

[john keates]

I have been looking at this. One question: how well does it preserve frequencies above the top band? Eg, does it go to 20khz... and what happens to those frequencies when you change the top band? Is it a shelf which reaches all the way up there (like an 'air' band)?

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I have been looking at this. One question: how well does it preserve frequencies above the top band? Eg, does it go to 20khz... and what happens to those frequencies when you change the top band? Is it a shelf which reaches all the way up there (like an 'air' band)?

I'm curious about this too, @markmck79. Did you keep this pedal? How do you think it would do with a 5-string bass (strung with a low B)?

 

[JimmyM]

That looked really cool to me till I saw the price But it does seem like a very well thought-out pedal.

 

[markmck79]

I'm curious about this too, @markmck79. Did you keep this pedal? How do you think it would do with a 5-string bass (strung with a low B)?

I'm still using the board I posted above and am still very happy with the whole setup. This is the longest I've gone in at least the last 15 years without replacing a pedal or doing a complete teardown of my board. With everything shown above I can cover 98%+ of my gigs and I can always just put an OC-2 and/or envelope filter in front or a chorus after and I can cover 100% of what I've been asked to play in the last 30 years. After the board I typically use a Radial JDI (80%) and/or a Mesa Walkabout Scout 15 + 15 Extension (20% + practice).

I don't play with a 5 string much anymore, but I do have a Hipshot DTuner on my #1 (4-string PJ) and have had no issues with the FTT EQ. It is a great tone-sculpting device. Between that and the Bass Blaster I can easily go from old school P-Bass Motown thump to active Sadowsky preamp with a J and nearly everything in-between, including overdrive and light distortion/fuzz.

I have previously used Boss & MXR pedal EQs, the Tech 21 Q-Strip and the Source Audio EQ and landed on the FTT pedal. Yes, it is expensive. But, it is very well made and a lot of thought went into deciding on the fixed EQ points and it is very easy to dial in.

 

[mgmadian]

Digging up this long-dormant threat as I just learned about this FTT pedal while looking into adding an EQ pedal to my board. Mainly considering the Source Audio EQ2, which my guitarist has and loves. It looks interesting and has some additional features (limiter, tuner, expression pedal control) that could be useful on their own.

@markmck79 are you still using the FTT? I'm curious about how it compares to the Source EQ2? All-analog is what jumped out at me, as I typically shy away from digital pedals, though would be making an exception with the EQ2.

 

[markmck79]

@markmck79 are you still using the FTT? I'm curious about how it compares to the Source EQ2? All-analog is what jumped out at me, as I typically shy away from digital pedals, though would be making an exception with the EQ2.

Yes, it is still there and hasn’t really left my pedalboard (along with a FTT Bass Blaster). It is very transparent and effective. I also use an Origin Effects DCX in EQ mode - I think of the FTT as more surgical. I have the original Source toolbox EQ in a closet but haven’t felt the need to pull it out since getting this (and honestly forgot I have it). Might be time to move that on to new home…