The Electro-Harmonix Tube EQ is a parametric tube equalizer pedal, described by the maker as "the first affordable vacuum tube equalizer that guarantees the warmest balancing of tone"1. It is no longer made: Electro-Harmonix lists it as discontinued in 20171.
What it does
The Tube EQ is a parametric EQ, meaning you can change the EQ's center frequency and its Q, the width of the band around that frequency. Electro-Harmonix describes this as letting you "zero in on and boost specific frequencies"1. A Gain control sets the amount of frequency boost the parametric EQ applies1.
For players, that makes it a tool for picking out one part of the guitar's range and lifting it, rather than the fixed bands of a graphic EQ. It sits among other EQ options on the Equalization Pedals page.
Expression pedal input
The Tube EQ has an expression pedal input that sweeps the parametric EQ's center frequency, which Electro-Harmonix suggests for use as a wah1. With an expression pedal connected, the boosted frequency moves under your foot instead of staying fixed, giving a wah-like sweep built from the EQ band rather than a filter circuit.
Power and bypass
The pedal runs on the included 12VAC-1000 power supply1. Because that is an AC supply rather than the common DC pedalboard standard, it will not share a standard daisy chain with typical pedals. Bypass is true bypass using a mechanical relay1.
The Tube EQ was discontinued in 2017, so it is only available secondhand1.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Tube EQ still in production?
No. Electro-Harmonix marks the Tube EQ as discontinued as of 2017 on its product page. The pedal was a parametric tube equalizer with a Gain control, true bypass via a mechanical relay, and an expression pedal input, and it shipped with a 12VAC-1000 power supply. Anyone looking for a current EQ pedal from the maker will need to consider other options.
What does the expression pedal input on the Tube EQ do?
Electro-Harmonix describes it as an input to sweep the parametric EQ's center frequency, so the pedal can be used like a wah. Instead of a fixed boost at one frequency, a connected expression pedal moves that center frequency up and down as you play.
Sources (1)
- Tube EQ | DISCONTINUED 2017 | Parametric Tube EQ - Electro-Harmonix, Electro-Harmonix, 2017
