The BOSS EQ-20 Advanced Equalizer is a compact pedal that gives guitarists, bassists and other live performers 10 bands of digital EQ. Physical sliders make instant EQ tweaks easy, and a Write function permits instant storage of EQ settings into nine memory locations, so a player can keep separate curves for different guitars or songs and recall them on stage.1
What it does
The EQ-20 is a graphic-style equalizer: ten slider controls cover the frequency range, and pushing a slider up or down boosts or cuts that band. Because the sliders are physical, a player can see the EQ curve at a glance and make changes mid-song without menu diving. BOSS positions it for live performers, and the nine memory locations mean a saved setting survives power-up, with the Write function storing the current slider positions into memory.1
It sits in BOSS's equalizer range between simpler analog graphic EQs such as the Boss GE-7 7-Band EQ, which offers seven bands, and later digital models such as the Boss EQ-200, a ten-band digital graphic EQ with two channels, presets and MIDI introduced in Boss's 200 series. For a wider look at the category, see Equalization Pedals.
Power and current draw
The EQ-20 runs on 9V DC with center negative polarity, the standard for compact pedals, but it draws 120mA. That is a heavier draw than many compact pedals, so it needs a power supply output rated for at least that current.1
At 120mA, the EQ-20 may exceed what a low-current daisy-chain output can supply. Give it a dedicated output on a pedalboard power supply.1
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Questions
Is the BOSS EQ-20 analog or digital?
The EQ-20 is a digital pedal. BOSS describes it as giving guitarists, bassists and other live performers 10 bands of digital EQ, and its circuit type is listed as digital. That makes it part of BOSS's line of equalizer pedals alongside analog graphic EQs such as the GE-7 and digital models such as the EQ-200.
How many presets can the BOSS EQ-20 store?
The EQ-20 stores EQ settings in nine memory locations. A Write function allows instant storage of a setting, so a player can save different EQ curves and recall them rather than resetting sliders between songs or instruments.
What power supply does the BOSS EQ-20 use?
The EQ-20 runs on a 9V DC supply with a center negative polarity, the same convention used by most compact pedals. Because it draws 120mA, a supply rated for that current is needed, and a low-current daisy chain output may not be sufficient.
How much current does the BOSS EQ-20 draw?
The EQ-20 draws 120mA. That is well above the draw of many compact pedals, so it is worth checking the current rating of each output on a pedalboard power supply before adding it to a board.
Sources (1)
- EQ-20 Advanced Equalizer by BOSS, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
