The Origin Effects EQDELUXE is a pedalboard take on the 1950s Pultec EQP-1a, a passive rack equalizer revered by high-end audio professionals. Origin Effects describes it as a Studio Equalizer & Drive, offering vintage tone-shaping for bass and guitar, with all-analog inductive EQ circuitry and a drive stage on top. The maker says that with huge low end and retro studio charm, "this EQ is anything but a utility pedal"1.
The controls
The EQDELUXE is laid out in three EQ bands plus an output stage, in the manner of the Pultec original but with frequency choices aimed at bass and guitar32.
| Section | Controls | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| LOWS | Low Boost, Low Cut, Low Freq | Low band boost and cut, including the Pultec low-end trick |
| MIDS | Mid Q Bandwidth, Mid Boost, Mid Freq | Inductor-based mid boosts with frequencies chosen for bass and guitar |
| HIGHS | High Cut, High Freq | Wide range of high-frequency attenuation for a warm, balanced sound |
| Output | Level, Gain | Level and drive controls2 |
The Mid Frequency Band uses the pedal's inductor-based circuitry to provide a range of mid boosts, with frequencies chosen for bass and guitar3. The High Frequency Band keeps things sounding warm and balanced, with a wide range of high-frequency attenuation3.
The Pultec low-end trick
The signature move carried over from the EQP-1a: by simultaneously using the BOOST and CUT controls on the Low Frequency Band, you can create a unique curve that adds bass weight while improving midrange clarity1. It works because the boosted and cut low frequencies overlap, leaving a dip in the low mids between two areas of low-end energy. It is one of the few EQ techniques with a name of its own, and it is the reason the Pultec design has stayed in demand for seventy years.
Circuit and drive
The EQDELUXE uses inductive EQ circuitry with premium solid state analog components2. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, noted that the tube-based gain recovery stage of the original Pultec units appears to be emulated via transistors, JFETs and op-amps in the pedal2. The result, per the maker, is an all-analog pedal that does not just shape your sound but emphasises and enhances it1.
For players comparing EQ pedals, Guitar Pedal X named the Empress Effects ParaEQ II Deluxe as the obvious competitor, an essential on that reviewer's board, and suggested that anyone who does not already own a ParaEQ II will love the EQDELUXE overall2.
Power
The EQDELUXE has no battery option and needs its own mains adaptor, which is not included. Origin Effects dispensed with the usual 9V battery to save space and to allow a high-current approach, so plan a dedicated supply output rather than a daisy chain1.
- Power: 9V DC, 2.1 mm center-negative connector1
- Mains adaptor only, not included1
- Recommended supplies named by the maker: Voodoo Labs Pedal Power series, Cioks supplies, Truetone 1 Spot Pro series, and Strymon Zuma1
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's review, published 3 August 2026, framed the EQDELUXE as a reduced-form-factor, all-analog recreation of the Pultec EQP-1A. Stefan Karlsson wrote2:
"I feel the EQDELUXE will be particularly handy for Bass Players because of its Low End dynamics. You know the quality is"
The same review judged the quality high for Origin Effects and highlighted the low-end dynamics as the standout for bass players2.
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Questions
Does the Origin Effects EQDELUXE take a battery?
No. Origin Effects dispensed with the usual 9V battery option on the EQDELUXE, both to save space and to allow a high-current approach. The pedal is powered by a 9V DC mains adaptor only, with a 2.1 mm centre-negative connector, and the adaptor is not included with the pedal.
Is the Origin Effects EQDELUXE analog?
Yes. The EQDELUXE uses all-analogue inductive EQ circuitry built with premium solid state analog components. Origin Effects describes it as an all-analogue pedal that does not just shape your sound but emphasises and enhances it. The tube-based gain recovery stage of the original Pultec units is handled by solid state circuitry in the pedal version.
What is the Pultec low-end trick?
It is a technique from the original Pultec EQP-1a: using the BOOST and CUT controls on the low frequency band at the same time. On the EQDELUXE, Origin Effects says this creates a unique curve that adds bass weight while improving midrange clarity, because the boosted and cut frequencies overlap in a characteristic way.
Is the EQDELUXE good for bass as well as guitar?
Origin Effects markets it as vintage tone-shaping for bass and guitar, with the mid band frequencies chosen for both instruments. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, felt the EQDELUXE would be particularly handy for bass players because of its low end dynamics, and judged the quality high for Origin Effects.
Where is the Origin Effects EQDELUXE made?
Origin Effects designs and builds the EQDELUXE in England, according to the maker's product page.
What is the EQDELUXE's bypass type?
The EQDELUXE uses high-quality buffered bypass, according to Origin Effects. That means a buffer stays in the circuit when the pedal is off, which can help drive long cable runs, though it differs from true bypass pedals that remove the circuit entirely.
Sources (3)
- EQDELUXE, Origin Effects, 2026
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-08-03
- EQDELUXE, Origin Effects, 2026
