The El Diablo HEQ1.2 Harmonic Equalizer is a fuzz pedal with a three-band EQ built in, made by El Diablo, a pedal store based in Minneapolis. Delicious Audio describes it as "a wild and crazy fuzz followed by a three-band EQ, with a separate footswitch to activate the EQ section," so the fuzz and the tone shaping can be used together or independently1. It is a refined version of the HEQ1 Harmonic Equalizer, a limited fuzz pedal designed by Minneapolis-based audio engineer Peter Bregman and launched in 20172.
A fuzz followed by a three-band EQ
The HEQ1.2 puts two stages in one box: a fuzz circuit, then a three-band equalizer that can be switched in with its own footswitch1. The EQ is not a simple tone stack. According to Gearnews, all three bands sit in the feedback path of an operational amplifier, which allows for optimized impedance balancing and make-up gain2. For a player, that means the EQ section is an active design rather than the passive bass-cut arrangement found on many vintage-style fuzzes, so boosting a band does not simply eat your volume.
The pedal's two shaping controls go beyond a normal fuzz's single fuzz knob. Expanse controls harmonic complexity, treble response and compression, while Edges affects envelope behavior, saturation levels and gating effects2.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Expanse | Controls harmonic complexity, treble response and compression2 |
| Edges | Affects envelope behavior, saturation levels and gating effects2 |
| Volume | Sets the overall output of the pedal2 |
| Bass | EQ knob for the low band2 |
| Mid | EQ knob for the middle band2 |
| Treble | EQ knob for the high band2 |
A separate footswitch activates the EQ section, so the fuzz can run on its own or with the three bands engaged1.
Where it came from
The original HEQ1 Harmonic Equalizer was launched in 2017 as a limited release celebrating El Diablo's annual FUZZAPALOOZA fuzz festival, and that run of 40 units sold out instantly, only available at the event12. Interest in the pedal convinced the store owners to make more1. The HEQ1.2 followed in 2021 as a new run, refined to be easier to build, with some capacitors and resistors sourced from different brands than the original2.
The look changed too. The original HEQ1 had black powder coating and, as Delicious Audio put it, "looked like something Realistic might have put out in the 70's"1. The HEQ1.2 comes in white with '80s-style graphics, which Delicious Audio describes as having "an 80's calculator vibe"12.
The HEQ1.2 was announced as a limited release of 200 units total worldwide, though El Diablo stated that if hoarding and flipping got out of hand they would make more, and a regular production run was planned for April 20211.
What changed from the HEQ1 to the HEQ1.2
The biggest circuit change is the removal of the internal trim pots. The original HEQ1 carried trim pots for calibration; the HEQ1.2 dispensed with them because, as El Diablo put it, "The HEQ1.2 has been carefully calibrated to sound exactly like Peter's own personal HEQ1"12. In other words, the factory-set calibration replaces the user-adjustable trims, and the change also made the pedal easier to build2.
The price dropped sharply as well: from $399 for the 2017 HEQ1 to $215 for the HEQ1.2, a difference of $184 between the two versions2.
What reviewers said
Gearnews covered the HEQ1.2 at its announcement in February 2021, when it was available for pre-order with shipping slated for April. The reviewer's overall impression was positive on the specs21:
"On paper, this pedal looks very attractive. This is my kind of effect! I'm hoping to hear this pedal in action soon"
Videos
Megan L
Demos In The Dark
Questions
Who designed the El Diablo HEQ1.2?
The HEQ1.2 was designed by Minneapolis-based audio engineer Peter Bregman. The original HEQ1 Harmonic Equalizer, launched in 2017, was also his design, and the HEQ1.2 was calibrated to sound like his own personal HEQ1 unit.
How many El Diablo HEQ1.2 pedals were made?
The HEQ1.2 was announced as a limited release of 200 units total worldwide, with a regular production run planned for April 2021. The original HEQ1 from 2017 was a much shorter run of only 40 units, sold at the FUZZAPALOOZA event.
What changed between the HEQ1 and the HEQ1.2?
The HEQ1.2 removed the original's internal trim pots and was calibrated to sound like Peter Bregman's own personal HEQ1. Some capacitors and resistors are sourced from different brands, and the enclosure changed from black powder coating with '70s styling to white with '80s-style graphics.
Does the HEQ1.2 have internal trim pots?
No. The internal trim pots of the original HEQ1 were removed in the HEQ1.2, because the circuit was carefully calibrated at the factory to sound like Peter Bregman's own personal HEQ1. The change also made the pedal easier to build.
How much does the El Diablo HEQ1.2 cost?
The HEQ1.2 launched at $215, a substantial drop from the original HEQ1's $399 price in 2017. It was available for pre-order when announced in February 2021, with shipping slated for April.
Sources (2)
- El Diablo HEQ1.2 Harmonic Equalizer + Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2021-03-11
- El Diablo HEQ1.2 Harmonic Equalizer: Attractive price drop on a boutique fuzz, gearnews.com, 2021-02-01