Empress Effects ParaEQ Deluxe Pedal

[lorenkii]

I’m normally a guitar-cord-amp signal chain guy, but I have a cool vintage amp that I’ve been loving (early 1950s Fender Pro 5c5), but it gets a bit boomy on the low end and prone to feedback with an archtop, so I was looking for an EQ to get me beyond just having the “tone” knob on the amp. I’ve been looking at the Empress Effects ParaEQ Deluxe Pedal. Anyone have any experience or opinions about these? Or recommendations for something that would do something similar? There aren’t a lot of places where I can try out stuff like this here.

[JazzNote]

I've played through quite a few different parametric eq pedals over the years. I didn't really like the sound of the empress which i had ordered a few years ago, so i had it sent back after a trial period. Check this out: MegaPara v4 - 3-band parametric EQ, i bought an erlier version of this and am happy with it.

[drbhrb]

Bought it a few weeks ago and I think it’s fantastic. It is very powerful and precise so once you learn how to use it you can shape your tone however you need to. The pass and shelving filters are super useful, Q controls are great as well. Clean boost has more headroom than you could ever need too. Its been great to keep a fully saturated tone going into the preamp

[Stringswinger]

I have a Baggs Para Acoustic Di box which does the following:

It is a preamp for a guitar with a passive piezo pickup

It is a DI box for any guitar, but better for an acoustic guitar. With an electric guitar, a cab sim pedal would help a lot.

It is a EQ box for any guitar, acoustic or electric

[omphalopsychos]

I’ve got the empress. It’s amazing but it’s overkill and it gives me decision paralysis.

[jads57]

Try a cheaper eq pedal by boss, or even the Xotic Sweet Boost pedal
It has eq adjustment in different frequencies on the side.

[Spook410]

The more I use good EQ, and even the old Empress ParaEQ is really good, the better I get at being able to recognize what I need to adjust. Of course, after you learn to use your ears, you can't go back and most guitar amps suck when it comes to available EQ adjustment.

[Alter]

I 've had lots of eq/preamp devices over the years, Para DI, Venue Di, the Empress, a Dtar Equinox.. If you are really involved in eqing, can hear all the different bands and have the energy to get into that on every gig the Empress is great. I still have a couple of studio quallity parametric EQs, but at gigs i just take the Boss GE-7, simple, cheap, easy to use and works at any situation.

[garybaldy]

I use the one at the bottom of the barrel - the Behringer 7 band.

[bluejaybill]

The Empress has been discussed here before, I believe someone is even using it as a preamp into a powered speaker. I've had mine for about a year (The Deluxe model) and I think it's fantastic. But, and it's a big but, you should know something about EQ to get the best results. You need to be able to zero in on problem frequencies without making a mess of your tone. Once you get that going, it works great.

I've been using it mainly to fatten up the mids in a Fender style amp. Sometimes I cut the bass a bit as well. I suspect that other EQ's would do the job, and are simpler to operate, but for instance I found that with the Boss GE7, it's hard to dial in small increments, a slight push adds several db. The Empress is more controllable that way.

There are several other controls like hi lo pass and roll offs on the Deluxe, and they may be overkill for your purposes. I tend to use the high and low shelf controls for quick adjustment, and then zero in on one mid band. That still leaves a couple of bands for feedback or adjustment in a live situation. It may sound complicated, but I find once you get your setting you can forget about it. That might change in different live rooms however.

Overall it works great, and sounds great. I love their compressor too.

Good luck!

[lammie200]

I’m normally a guitar-cord-amp signal chain guy, but I have a cool vintage amp that I’ve been loving (early 1950s Fender Pro 5c5), but it gets a bit boomy on the low end and prone to feedback with an archtop, so I was looking for an EQ to get me beyond just having the “tone” knob on the amp. I’ve been looking at the Empress Effects ParaEQ Deluxe Pedal. Anyone have any experience or opinions about these? Or recommendations for something that would do something similar? There aren’t a lot of places where I can try out stuff like this here.

I can look and see if I can find mine if you are interested. Its a nice pedal in new condition but I don't use it, obviously. Price will be less than they go for on Reverb, but I will have to check to see what that is. I will probably take 25%-30% off for a JGO member.

Oh, actually I just clicked on your link. The one I have is a previous version. Still will sell if anyone is interested.

[tbeltrans]

I can look and see if I can find mine if you are interested. Its a nice pedal in new condition but I don't use it, obviously. Price will be less than they go for on Reverb, but I will have to check to see what that is. I will probably take 25%-30% off for a JGO member.

Oh, actually I just clicked on your link. The one I have is a previous version. Still will sell if anyone is interested.

I have the older version of the Empress ParaEQ and personally, like its form factor better. I doubt the differences are so substantial that I would be tempted to upgrade to the new one, so I doubt anybody could go wrong buying a used older version.

Tony

[lorenkii]

I've played through quite a few different parametric eq pedals over the years. I didn't really like the sound of the empress which i had ordered a few years ago, so i had it sent back after a trial period. Check this out: MegaPara v4 - 3-band parametric EQ, i bought an erlier version of this and am happy with it.

thanks all. I ended up ordering the megapara. Well see how I do!

[mdschwa]

I’m normally a guitar-cord-amp signal chain guy, but I have a cool vintage amp that I’ve been loving (early 1950s Fender Pro 5c5), but it gets a bit boomy on the low end and prone to feedback with an archtop, so I was looking for an EQ to get me beyond just having the “tone” knob on the amp. I’ve been looking at the Empress Effects ParaEQ Deluxe Pedal. Anyone have any experience or opinions about these? Or recommendations for something that would do something similar? There aren’t a lot of places where I can try out stuff like this here.

I have both the Mega Para and the Empress deluxe version. To my ear the Mega Para imparts a (pleasantly) warm tone, whereas the Empress tends to be more neutral or even 'crisp', if that makes sense. Not a sharp or harsh sound, but definitely not as warm as the Mega.

[JazzNote]

thanks all. I ended up ordering the megapara. Well see how I do!

Before i ordered it i had asked if he could customize it for me with only black knobs which he did. Apparently i wasn't the only customer asking for this :-). Also i'm running it with a power unit providing 12V i believe this provides some some more headroom than a 9V unit.