Origin Effects' latest EQDELUXE is a full-fat take on the Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer, with enhanced frequencies for Guitar and Bass

The original 1956 EQP-1 was a passive equalizer with a tube amplifier stage that restores the gain lost from the EQ, making it particularly practical for use in broadcasting and recording.

The further updated 1961 EQP-1A added a 20 Hz setting for the low-frequency shelving filter, a 16 kHz setting for the high-frequency filter, and 5 kHz and 20 kHz settings for the low-pass filter.

Obviously those 2 early units were tube-based rack-mount devices, so Origin Effects has taken those circuit elements and recreated them with premium solid state analog components in a much reduced form factor - with the tube-based gain recovery stage here emulated via Transistors / JFETs and OpAmps presumably.

Controls - Level, Gain; MIDS } Mid Q Bandwidth, Mid Boost, Mid Freq kHz : 0.8 > 1.2 > 1.6 > 2.4 > 3.6 > 5.0; LOWS } Low Boost, Low Cut, Low Freq Hz : 20 / 60 / 30; HIGHS } High Cut, High Freq kHz : 5 / 20 / 10.

The Pultec EQP-1/A has been very popular in recording studios across the world, and many will love to have those capabilities in a smaller form factor.

You basically have Full Parametric Mids here, alongside semi-parametric Lows and Highs - with some additional Boost + Cut adjustments in the Low End. For me its obvious competitor is the Empress Effects ParaEQ II Deluxe which has been an essential for my board since its release - that has fully Parametric Lows, Highs and Mids, some addition shelving filters, and a +30dB boost. My favourite inhabits a smaller form factor, with additional controls, and is currently lower priced also.

I feel the EQDELUXE will be particularly handy for Bass Players because of its Low End dynamics. You know the quality is high for Origin Effects, and I feel anyone would doesn’t already have a ParaEQ II is going to love this!

The EQDELUXE is widely available now across leading dealers, where it goes for £349 / $449 / €419 and equivalent. You can read up more and access the excellent manual on the Origin Effects Website.