What h/w EQs do you t'rockers like?

[Drumstruck]

In the vein of the 'verb thread that is getting good discussion... thought I'd start one about the h/w EQ's you good t'rockers like.

To kickoff, the fat channel parametric in my DM console is really clean and functional and serves most of my needs, but it doesn't have a particular colour... and a pair of Wharfdale graphics sit nicely in my external chains (sidechain or sequential).


So, what's good? what's great? what really puts a smile on your dial?

[Chris H]

Of what i have bought and sold over the years, this is what i have settled on for now:
I really like the TC 1140 especially on acoustic instruments and i use mine in my live rig for accoustic guitar. In the studio, It's great for surgical and corrective eq, especially on the kick or snare.
For additive eq and tone shaping, the passive inductor eq in my Audek is simple but great in the tone dept, as are the silver optro modules of simmilar topology, magic on vocals when using with the inbuilt comp limiter.
Then there is the eq section on the Avalon 747. The 32 kHz high's are great at adding some air when recording with a ribbon mic on drum overhead duties, or adding to the mix buss. The bottom end eq is great when using in combo with the compression settings, side chain eq, and before of after comp option when wanting to tighten up or add a bit of impact to the bottom end of a mix.

[mylesgm]

DIY'ed passive, inductor based eqs are fantastic, relatively easy to build and plugins don't compare to them. I'll be building another set when I get back because I haven't found anything it didn't sound really good on.

I also liked a pair of Astor inductor eqs and inductor eqs in general actually because they are colourful and delicious sounding whilst if I want clean I go for plugins.

[Lee Cardan]

Retro 2A3 is magic, seriously!
I'll elaborate - really 'energises' the bottom end and 'clarifies' the midrange and intelligibility, well that's how I feel about it. On vocals and bass (and kick and snare) it's.. well I can't imagine not using it. And on mixbus, it's incredible. Even sometimes all I do is insert the 40Hz filter and bam! bottom end tightens right up and gains definition - this is the final 5% that makes all the difference (and Chandler Zener, yep!). But usually it's a tiny bump at either 30, 60, or 100Hz and a little, or a lot of a broad boost somewhere from 3 - 14KHz (completely dependent on what the material wants, no two things are the same, and when you're listening the 'correct' choice is obvious). One thing it lacks in is really opening up the air in a mix - for this, Kush Clariphonic is on my list

Maybe this is just standard Pultec behaviour, but I've none other to compare it to. Regardless, it's incredible and easily can turn a dull and lifeless source into a slick finished sounding.. thing

Also, the MCI 500 EQs really have "that sound", I feel
Not for everything, the bottom end does leave a lot to be desired, but low mids - mids and highs are fantastic. The curves work on guitars from clean to high gain and everything in between, they're perfectly at home. Drums too, perfect! (but for Kick it's always the retro)

[rob]

I like the Neve 51 four band sweepable EQs ..... just like the pair I have freshly racked up ready for sale

.... shameless plug ....

[mylesgm]

nothing wrong with the Neve 51 eq, I quite like the strips you did up for me Rob.

[Drumstruck]

DIY'ed passive, inductor based eqs are fantastic, relatively easy to build and plugins don't compare to them. I'll be building another set when I get back because I haven't found anything it didn't sound really good on.

Could you elaborate a little Myles? Not that I have time for DIY, but am interested in options

[mylesgm]

well there are a bunch of options over at groupdiy.com The easiest and most well reported is the GPultec clone. Simple circuit that could be valve or solid state and very well documented with PCBs and inductors readily available. There are also 500 series pultec copies over there as well as a couple of API inductor based EQ clones. I've built valve and solidstate pultec clones and 4 API 553 3 band eq clones and they all sounded very good but the pultec clones were exceptional. Paul Maybury has them now but I'll be making more when I return.

[The Tasmanian]

My faves: -
Electrodyne 711's and 712's - inductor EQs
Q8 Coranado EQ's
Amtec PEQ-1A Valve EQ - best bass eq Ive ever heard!
Chandler TG passive + inductor EQ
Neve 51 series EQ's
Filtek Mk5's
API 550a's
Optro's (silver model)
MCI 500's
Urie 565
Urei 545
Pultec HLF 3C

also - a lot of my compressors are approached as EQ's - as they impart a certain sound(EQ) - so when I think of EQ choices, compressors are part of my decisions.

As for kits - Interested in building a pair of EZ 1084's soon........

[Chinagraf]

I agree with you Chris, I have the Amtec and it is beautiful, also like the upper bands on it for 'air'. I really dig my massive passive for anything in the mids, I have an eqh-2 I almost never change the settings on, just patch a kick thought it and sounds awesome. I also have a Moog parametric that does some nice stuff to bass and guitars.

[The Tasmanian]

Ive always wanted to try the moog eq

[Chinagraf]

If you ever get one to try, the trick is to use the mid band for the bass instead of the low band. Something in the design maybe, I don't know enough tech stuff to explain it. The low band for bottom end is not as good as the mid band for bottom end, go figure..

[Manning]

I'm pretty fond of my Focusrite Red 2 (the one I bought from Christian while he was still with us).

Phil Rigger at Monstereo recently acquired a Peach EQ which seems very tasty (at least from my limited exposure to it).

Next year I have plans to acquire a Fearn VT-4.

[The Tasmanian]

The Fearn would be a class act

[Manning]

Ah yes, my Fearn fantasy...

Well this is slightly OT, but next year I have two things on my wish list...

A Wagner mic (it appears Gunter may have completely exhausted his parts supply for the NOS Wagner 47s**, so I might end up with some other "Wagner" mic... but it will still be amazing, I'm sure)

Two Fearn VT4s - combined with my pair of VT1s and my VT7 dual mono compressor, that will effectively give me two Fearn channel strips (although it will take up 15 racks spaces... not exactly a "lunchbox' solution).

In the unlikely even there is any more money to spend, I'll be adding two more Bees Neez mics to my collection so as to have a pair of T1s and T2s.

(** disclaimer - anyone who assumes I am a reliable source of information about Wagner inventory needs to seriously think again)

[Sammas]

Here is a strange one.
I have grown rather attached to a Zsys Z.Q2 digital EQ.

It is kind of like a plugin in 2u rack form that fills up heaps of rack space to make me look uber cool.

In all seriousness, it sounds better than any plugin I have heard. It has almost an analogue quality to it. It does some cool stuff like M/S processing and 96dB of cut.

[Chris H]

............and for speaker eq shaping, let's not forget the toilet paper over the old philips ceramic tweeters to tame the highs a bit, usually one layer of the standard double layer no bullshit type dunny paper!

[Futureman]

...As for kits - Interested in building a pair of EZ 1084's soon........

I built one and love it to bits.

If you wanna take it for a spin, your more than welcome to trade something for a week.
(whenever you are in Syd)

Not a cheap build though, but a very easy build with very high quality parts specced.

[Alistair]

Enjoy my Empirical Labs Lil Freq for getting me out of trouble. Filtek Mk2/3/5 for general sweetening.

[rick]

You know I have had all of the eqs over many years

Desert island I would buy it again .. In a heartbeat
Is my Avalon 2055 with stepped freq mod that they sorted
Out for me ..

You can buy a 2055 2 nd hand cheap and dream of stepped
Switches ( but they wont ever do it for you ) so
just wonder what if ?

or buy the 2077 with stepped switches
For the price of a car

But somehow I think the 2055 I have is the
Only eq I have ever decided I won't sell
And I have had literally everything
It's just a solid always does more good then harm
Workhorse ..
It makes me money .. It works with and for my ears
And tastes .. We are friends

Some people don't like them
They must hear something differently to me .

[walding]

Surely u'd never part with those pultecs of yours Rick?

[rob]

I have an Avalon 2055 for sale if anyone is interested ... and no... no stepped pots

[Text_Edifice]

I don't think I want to know the answer but, how much?

[rob]

strange as it might seem, I don't know just yet what the price will be, I'm currently refurbishing it.

sensible suggestions will be taken on board!

[Drumstruck]

all drool worthy so far ..... I'm liking this one atm - Telefunken IPS F2000s:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9910326/AA%20Rack%201b.jpg


ahhhh ....3 RUs left - don't racks look ugly with spaces in them?

[dave01.cooper]

I'm pretty fond of my Focusrite Red 2

+1 on the Red 2. Love it to bits, one of my Q pots on the top channel is a little scratchy when moved but apart from that flawless, pretty versatile eq for either sculpting nasties or gently pushing some bands up/down...

eq section on the Avalon 747

Also a massive fan! Certainly one for gentle EQ'ing and as you say Chris, the 32k band is great to add that air band that so many eq's just can't emulate.

Kush Clariphonic is one of my faves for drum buss EQ'ing and also entire mix tweaking. Not one to use as an insert (desk wise) but working in parallel with whatever signal then summing back to the stereo mix is great. Open & silk settings at about 10 o'clock opens up the top end so very nicely.

Seriously want a pair of the Neumann 491's, from what i've read about the fixed bands that they chose are just 'right'

cheers