The Guyatone BE-2 Bass Equalizer is a five-band EQ pedal built for bass. Each of its five bands gives plus or minus 12dB of equalization, centered at 70 Hz, 150 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 4 kHz, covering the low fundamentals, mids, and top end of a bass signal1. It sits in the equalization pedals family, and Guyatone also makes the related BB-2 Bottom Blaster for bass tone shaping.
What it does to your tone
The BE-2 is designed around wide filters rather than narrow ones. Guyatone tuned the filter circuit by lowering the "Q" (peak frequency) and enlarging the bandwidth of each band. According to the maker's listing, the result is "a reduction of phase cancellation (muddy, thin sounds) at frequency crossover points, improved tonal character with lower noise levels, and increased tonal variation without peaking of any particular frequency band"1.
In practice, that means each slider shapes a broad slice of the spectrum instead of a narrow spike, so sweeping a band changes the overall balance rather than creating a honky peak. The 12dB of range per band is intended, in Godlyke's words, to "compensate for these different rooms and applications"1.
Beyond straight EQ
The same five-band circuit doubles as a tone tool in other roles. Godlyke's listing describes the BE-2's options this way1:
"The BE-2's versatile tone offerings allow it to be used as a notch filter, a low-end booster, or a clean level booster"
So with the bands set flat and the level raised, it can act as a clean boost with no EQ applied, the kind of job players often hand to a dedicated boost pedal. Set against a troublesome frequency, it works as a notch filter to cut a resonance out of the signal1.
Who has used it
Godlyke Distributing's listing names Juan Alderete as a player who has used the BE-2, calling it the "Best Bass EQ!"1.
Availability
The BE-2 listing at Godlyke Distributing is shown as sold out, and that unit was a B-stock pedal in like-new condition with the box included1.
Questions
What frequencies does the Guyatone BE-2 control?
The BE-2 covers five separate frequency bands centered at 70 Hz, 150 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 4 kHz. Each band can be boosted or cut by up to 12dB. Guyatone widened the bandwidth of each band and lowered the Q, which the maker says reduces phase cancellation at the crossover points and keeps any single band from peaking.
How much boost or cut does the BE-2 give per band?
Each of the five bands offers plus or minus 12dB of equalization. That is enough range to compensate for different rooms and applications, according to Godlyke Distributing, which lists the pedal.
Can the BE-2 be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Beyond straight equalization, the BE-2's tone options let it run as a notch filter, a low-end booster, or a clean level booster with no EQ applied. That makes it a flexible front-end tool on a bass board, not just a corrective EQ.
Who has used the Guyatone BE-2 Bass Equalizer?
Godlyke Distributing's listing names Juan Alderete as a player who has used the BE-2.
Is the Guyatone BE-2 still available?
The listing at Godlyke Distributing shows the BE-2 as sold out, and the unit listed was a B-stock pedal in like-new condition with its box included.
Sources (1)
- GUYATONE BE-2 Bass Equalizer EQ (B-STOCK), Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
