Ibanez PTEQ Pentatone Equalizer

In my opinion, an EQ pedal actually belongs in every setup. The option of being able to both boost and cut the signal level alone makes an additional boost pedal obsolete, while level reduction allows you to excellently simulate the usually non-existent low input of amps, which can definitely improve the final sound, especially in the clean range, but then there are the actual, possible sound shaping options.

I've never had a variable, parametric 5-band EQ with an adjustable Q factor (slope) before, but I already knew the system from the PTPRE. Its high-gain sound wasn't bad, but for me it wasn't quite convincing, whereas I really liked this new EQ section. It's good that Ibanez now offers this separately with the PTEQ and at a comparatively low price. (Just like the noise gate from the PTPRE, which is also quite good. If I didn't already have a pair of linked Decimator IIs, that would be my next pedal).

For me, it's the ideal solution for optimizing, subtly revoicing and intensively bending the sound of an already good amp without the need for complex and usually not cheap custom modding, new speakers or pickups.

However, a good EQ pedal won't work miracles, the basic sound of the guitar and amp should be right even without a pedal, but it can certainly be the salt in the soup in many ways, e.g. to reduce boomy basses or overly scratchy highs or to "clean up" the mid-range a little.

The sound seems to remain quite natural, I haven't noticed any basses that are too muffled or trebles that are too shrill, as some cheap solutions (undesirably) produce, and as a highly efficient, both sound-neutral and bass/mid/treble boost, I much prefer a pedal like this to various "ready-made products" with an unchangeable frequency response, where my own ideas of a good-sounding boost seem to differ considerably from those of various manufacturers.

The pedal is sturdily made, the bracket protects the somewhat fragile sliders, but at the same time may hinder the foot switch operation, which only works with the toe of the shoe or a slanted sole, but once you get used to it, it's no problem, and the pedal remains comparatively compact.

I also like the discreet Pentatone look, the EQ controls are illuminated, the rest you don't adjust or change on stage anyway, so the overall look is a designer look in a positive sense and not the usual orgy of kitschy pictures, which is usually just meaningless decoration anyway.

Of course, a preset memory option would be even better, so that you can access different presets, but this would probably make the pedal considerably more expensive, so investing in a second PTEQ pedal - if necessary - would probably be the cheaper solution. However, I wouldn't mind if Ibanez were to offer such a version in the future.

Highly recommended!