Maxon GE601 Graphic Equalizer

EQ’s may not be as sexy as overdrives, but when used properly they can add a wide variety of useful new colors to your existing guitar rig.

The GE601 Graphic Equalizer covers six carefully selected frequency bands over a five octave range with 12 dB of Boost/Cut per band (100, 200, 400 & 800 Hz, 1.6 & 3.2 KHz respectively).  There’s also a Master Level control with 12 dB of overall Boost/Cut.

Adjusting these controls, the GE601 can be used to fine tune your sound in an infinite variety of ways, a few of which are detailed below:

Pickup Simulator (Humbucker to single coil) – To turn a Humbucker into a Single Coil, cut 200, 400, & 800 Hz and Boost 100 Hz & 1.6 KHz.

Pickup Simulator (passive Bass to active Bass) – Cut 200 Hz and Boost 100 Hz & 1.6 KHz to give a passive Bass the clarity and punch of an active instrument.

Pickup Simulator (single coil to piezo) –Cut 200, 400, & 800 Hz and Boost 100 Hz, 1.6 & 3.2 KHz to make a single coil electric simulate the bright, chiming sound of an acoustic guitar with piezo pickup.

Half-cocked Wah – Boost at 800 Hz to emulate the tone of a wah pedal with the treadle set half-way forward.  This setting is also ideal for solo boosts (Adjust Level control to taste).

Clean Booster – Leave all frequency bands flat and boost the Level control to use as a clean booster for solos or to overdrive an amplifier’s input.  For more output, set all frequency bands to maximum boost.