Ibanez Pentatone PTEQ 5-Band Parametric Equalizer Pedal

[SumOne]

7 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

It's funny isn't it. Here on Bass chat (and Talkbass etc) we seem obsessed with Pre amp pedals. It's like no one uses EQ on the amps themselves. Im just as guilty of that, and while I get they can offer more EQ/drive options, I hardly read any posts about built in EQ on amps. "Got a tone issue, get a pre amp pedal" Still not right, add another .Then do the gig with a basic sine wave rumble 😂

Yeah, my justification is that something like the Ibanez 5 band Para EQ is more precise then my Amp EQ (Ashdown RM 500), and better than the EQ on Amps I use in rehearsal rooms, and for live stuff I'd prefer something I can immediately see and adjust rather than multi-fx menus, and for home recording it is nice to be a bit more hands-on rather than using EQ on VSTs.....but all of that is fairly weak justification, the reality is I don't really need an EQ (or preamp) in pedal format, the real reason is I like getting shiny new toys!

[dave_bass5]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

Yeah, my justification is that something like the Ibanez 5 band Para EQ is more precise then my Amp EQ (Ashdown RM 500), and better than the EQ on Amps I use in rehearsal rooms, and for live stuff I'd prefer something I can immediately see and adjust rather than multi-fx menus, and for home recording it is nice to be a bit more hands-on rather than using EQ on VSTs.....but all of that is fairly weak justification, the reality is I don't really need an EQ (or preamp) in pedal format, the real reason is I like getting shiny new toys!

Im the same as far as menus vs knobs go. I loved the Q-Strip when I had it, and wanted to get another when I went back to bass, but they seem to have jumped up in price quite a bit. Was tempted to get this Ibanez at the time, but it still didn't quite match what the Q-Strip has going for it. The issue I tend to have is when the knobs are so accessible I tend to waste more time tweaking them. I find the multi FX type of pedals are more set and forget as it's not as easy to adjust while playing. 

I must admit ive kept the EQ flat on my amps for decades, so not knocking anyone at all, it just struck me that Pre amps are so popular, and a lot seem to offer not a lot more than some amps. 

Edited November 8, 2024 by dave_bass5

[MichaelDean]

9 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

It's funny isn't it. Here on Bass chat (and Talkbass etc) we seem obsessed with Pre amp pedals. It's like no one uses EQ on the amps themselves. Im just as guilty of that, and while I get they can offer more EQ/drive options, I hardly read any posts about built in EQ on amps. "Got a tone issue, get a pre amp pedal" Still not right, add another .Then do the gig with a basic sine wave rumble 😂

 

Yes, I like the flat tone from my amp. My pedalboard? Well, there's the Noble, the Magellan, Le Bass, MXR, Sans Amp, BK7, Bass Butler, Digbeth. They're all running flat though. It's just the basic tone 😜

[Al Krow]

15 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

Im the same as far as menus vs knobs go. I loved the Q-Strip when I had it, and wanted to get another when I went back to bass, but they seem to have jumped up in price quite a bit. Was tempted to get this Ibanez at the time, but it still didn't quite match what the Q-Strip has going for it. The issue I tend to have is when the knobs are so accessible I tend to waste more time tweaking them. I find the multi FX type of pedals are more set and forget as it's not as easy to adjust while playing. 

I must admit ive kept the EQ flat on my amps for decades, so not knocking anyone at all, it just struck me that Pre amps are so popular, and a lot seem to offer not a lot more than some amps. 

 

Agree with the sentiment Dave: a big part of why we buy a particular amp head must be tied into how its preamp sounds, and on top of that there's the on board EQ on active basses.

 

For those of us, like me, who have gone done the FoH / PA route with no backline or are using a PA speaker (aka FRFR) as our backline, then having additional tone sculpting from a preamp pedal becomes a bigger issue. 

 

But even then, having a few choice EQ presets on a multifx can also work wonders and cover a lot of ground.

[AinsleyWalker]

On 08/11/2024 at 11:33, dave_bass5 said:

It's funny isn't it. Here on Bass chat (and Talkbass etc) we seem obsessed with Pre amp pedals. It's like no one uses EQ on the amps themselves. Im just as guilty of that, and while I get they can offer more EQ/drive options, I hardly read any posts about built in EQ on amps. "Got a tone issue, get a pre amp pedal" Still not right, add another .Then do the gig with a basic sine wave rumble 😂

Probably because more and more people are going ampless/direct and any on-stage amp is really just performing the role of a monitor so you can hear yourself, and at best it's a clean pedal platform. As a result, twiddling with amps settings isn't going to affect sound going to FOH/the audience, unless you use your amp's built-in DI which most venues won't do. 
So it makes sense that a lot of modern players are focusing more on compact, travel-friendly tone-shaping options. 

[dave_bass5]

34 minutes ago, AinsleyWalker said:

Probably because more and more people are going ampless/direct and any on-stage amp is really just performing the role of a monitor so you can hear yourself, and at best it's a clean pedal platform. As a result, twiddling with amps settings isn't going to affect sound going to FOH/the audience, unless you use your amp's built-in DI which most venues won't do. 
So it makes sense that a lot of modern players are focusing more on compact, travel-friendly tone-shaping options. 

I was talking more about those that do use amps. For ampless i totally get it, but this has been going on for years. Im just as guilty. Dont think ive ever really used the knobs on my Markbass heads, always used a BDDI with them. 

[SumOne]

I've found lately that playing live the Amp EQ is easier to adjust than a pedal - you don't want to have to crouch down mid song while wearing a Bass to fiddle about with a pedal EQ on the floor when the Amp is right there on top of my cab at easily reachable height.

 

Then again, an EQ pedal to stomp on for a EQ sound change in a particular part of a song is ideal. So the PTEQ is still on my shopping list for that.

[dave_bass5]

1 minute ago, SumOne said:

I've found lately that playing live the Amp EQ is easier to adjust than a pedal - you don't want to have to crouch down mid song while wearing a Bass to fiddle about with a pedal EQ on the floor when the Amp is right there on top of my cab at easily reachable height.

 

Then again, an EQ pedal to stomp on for a EQ sound change in a particular part of a song is ideal. So the PTEQ is still on my shopping list for that.

Ive never used an EQ pedal or Preamp pedal on the floor. Always sitting on top of my amp(s). After all, if its going to be the front end of my signal chain it might as well be in the right place and easy to get to. for me its always on so never need to use a foot switch.