The Sonicake Tone Group Graphic EQ is a fully analog, 10-band graphic EQ pedal made by Sonicake. It gives you ten frequency band sliders, each with an adjustable gain range of ±15dB, plus an overall volume control, so you can shape your tone precisely and quickly with sliders rather than knobs123. Sonicake positions it as suitable for a variety of instruments, not just guitar1.
When Delicious Audio covered it in March 2023, the reviewer described it as "a new, sub-$50 entry in the world of graphic EQ pedals" and noted that "the price is what makes this pedal very attractive"2.
A fully analog graphic EQ
Sonicake describes the Tone Group as a "100% Analog 10-Band Equalizer based on Classic EQ Effect Pedal's Frequency Band"13. In other words, the ten frequency bands it covers follow the layout of the classic 10-band graphic EQ pedals that came before it, and the tone shaping happens in analog circuitry rather than in a digital processor. Delicious Audio's reviewer, Paolo De Gregorio, confirmed the same point in March 2023: "it's fully analog and offers ±15dB of boost or cut"23.
For a player, an analog signal path means the EQ works by cutting and boosting actual frequencies in the signal rather than modeling them, and the pedal behaves like the classic 10-band EQs many players already know how to read at a glance: sliders up for boost, sliders down for cut, and a flat curve when everything sits at the center.
The controls
The front panel is built around sliders rather than knobs. Sonicake lists 11 sliders in total: the ten frequency band sliders, plus a level slider1. Delicious Audio's buying guide describes the extra control as "an overall volume knob placed before the EQ, which is pretty standard for pedals of this kind"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ten band sliders | Boost or cut each of the ten frequency bands by up to ±15dB12 |
| Level slider / volume control | Sets the overall output level before the EQ section14 |
Because each band offers the full ±15dB range, the pedal can work as a subtle tone shaper with gentle nudges, or as a more aggressive corrective tool, for example pulling back a harsh frequency on a bright amp or lifting the low end on a thin-sounding guitar152.
Power and connections
The Tone Group runs on 9V DC from a 5.5×2.1mm center negative plug, drawing 75mA, and the power supply is not included with the pedal1. Delicious Audio lists the same figures: "Power: DC 9V 5.5×2.1mm center negative (not included), 75mA"2.
There is no battery option. The pedal works only with a regular 9V center negative pedal power supply, which is not included, so plan on a pedalboard power supply or a separate adapter12.
The pedal is true bypass, which Sonicake says "keeps a clean Signal Path" when the effect is off15. Delicious Audio confirms the true bypass circuit2. Input impedance is 470k Ohms and output resistance is 1k Ohm2.
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the Tone Group has been positive and focused on its value. Delicious Audio added it to the pedal's own review page in March 2023 and included it in its roundup of the best graphic EQ pedals, where Griffin Jennings wrote: "It's fully analog and offers ±15dB of boost or cut for a total of 10 frequency bands"4. The reviewer's overall verdict on the pedal was straightforward:
"The price is what makes this pedal very attractive"
The published press coverage agrees that the combination of a fully analog circuit, ten bands, ±15dB per band, and true bypass at a sub-$50 price is what defines this pedal24.
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Questions
Is the Sonicake Tone Group EQ true bypass?
Yes. Sonicake states that the Tone Group uses a true bypass circuit, which keeps the signal path clean when the pedal is switched off. Delicious Audio's review of the pedal confirms the same true bypass design.
Does it come with a power supply?
No. The Tone Group runs on a 9V DC power supply with a 5.5×2.1mm center negative plug, and the supply is not included with the pedal. You need to use a regular pedal power supply.
Can it run on a battery?
No. The pedal has no battery option. It is powered only through a 9V DC, 5.5×2.1mm center negative power supply, which is not included, so a standard pedalboard power source is required.
How much boost or cut does each band give?
Each of the ten frequency bands offers an adjustable gain range of ±15dB, so you can boost or cut any band by up to 15dB. Delicious Audio describes the same ±15dB range per band.
How big is the Tone Group EQ?
The pedal measures 124mm deep, 90mm wide, and 54.8mm high, and weighs 358g. That is roughly the footprint of a standard double-width pedal, similar to other 10-band graphic EQs.
Sources (5)
- Tone Group 10-Band EQ Equalizer Guitar Bass Effects Pedal, Sonicake
- Sonicake Tone Group Graphic EQ, Delicious Audio, 2023-03-27
- Tone Group 10-Band EQ Equalizer Guitar Bass Effects Pedal, SONICAKE
- 2023 UPDATE! Best EQ Pedals For Guitar: Graphic & Parametric, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-13
- Sonicake Tone Group product data, Sonicake