Equalization (EQ) might not be as in-your-face as other effects for basses, such as overdrive and fuzz, but having one can make a night-and-day difference in your overall tone. Adjusting specific frequencies allows you to craft the perfect bass tone that helps you fit in or stand out in a mix and simply sounds more pleasing to the ears.
This article will share a few of the best bass EQ pedals on the market right now that will help you achieve exactly that.
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Stax Bass EQ
There are a handful of affordable bass equalizer pedals, but in my opinion, out of all of the bass EQs for under $50, Stax’s is the best one.
It’s a simple-to-use 5-band graphic EQ pedal for bass that produces a pretty clean sound. Some of the other ones at this price point, like the Behringer one, have a reputation for being too noisy for a lot of individuals, but at the same time, some people want that in their tone.
It’s also very compact, so it’s easy to carry around and won’t take up much space on your pedalboard if you use one of those
Even though it’s a fraction of the price of some of the other brands out there, Stax pedals are quite durable with their zinc-alloy shells and have good wiring, so you don’t really need to worry about this one breaking down on you anytime soon.
However, if you need something with more bands and want something that is known for being a workhorse, I’ve got another fantastic suggestion for you coming up next.
Boss GEB-7
Boss is easily one of the most popular manufacturers of pedals and has been for decades, so naturally, the Boss GEB-7 is also a staple in a lot of bass players’ pedalboards too.
This is because Boss pedals, like this graphic bass equalizer, always get the job done and are built to be used on the road while touring.
Their reliability is why people love their products and will probably have more than one of their pedals on their board – some people will have several!
There isn’t a whole lot to say about the Boss GEB-7 in terms of features, except that this is a super-durable 7-band bass EQ that will give you greater control over your tone than the Stax one.
It does come with a pretty hefty price tag, but this is more reflective of its heavy-duty construction and great quality sound.
If it fits your budget, or you happen to be loyal to Boss pedals, I highly recommend it because it truly is one of the best EQ pedals for bass and could very well last forever.
Boss EQ-200
It might be a bit overkill for some people, but the Boss EQ-200 is possibly the most advanced EQ pedal out there that works for both guitar and bass.
Aside from having ten bands, this equalization pedal boasts a lot of nifty features that professionals can take advantage of.
For example, if you run other effects, you can use this EQ to process them before or after the chain, which is great if you run overdrive pedals.
Having two separate channels and the memory features also allows you to store settings you like and can switch to at will.
For instance, maybe you have a solo in your live performances, and you could use an extra boost to help you cut through. The MIDI functionality can open up doors for programmed automation as well.
Overall, it gives you a lot of control and flexibility with how you want to run your signal and control your tone. Although it doesn’t really add to its functionality, I think the visual EQ on the little display screen is fancy and a nice touch, too.
Be sure to check this 10-band EQ pedal out and some of the other Boss 200-series pedals if you want the best of the best.
Conclusion
Along with compressors and preamps, having an EQ is one of the essential tools to help any bass player create a tone that sounds great and works with all of the instruments in a mix. It’s definitely a pedal that beginners and professionals alike can benefit from having.
Whether you want something simple and affordable, extraordinarily advanced, or something in-between, these are some of the best equalizer pedals for bass players, and undoubtedly one of them will suit your needs.
At the end of the day, they all do what they’re supposed to, and they’re durable and reliable, so you can count on any of these to help you carve out the ideal EQ curve.