The Spaceman Effects Equinox is here to remind us that a great-sounding EQ is an essential tool on any pedalboard. Even more so if it’s a recreation of the most legendary studio EQ of all time: the vintage Pultec EQP-1a, currently selling for anywhere between $8k and $16k, with new reissues costing around $4k.
The Pultec is no ordinary EQ – it’s actually a quirky one, uniquely allowing you to cut and boost – at once – the bass frequencies, which inspired plenty of conversations among mixing engineers – not to mention articles about the “Pultec Low-End Trick.”
But it wasn’t that trick that made the EQP-1 become an industry standard: it was its sound, and the way it naturally highlights or attenuates low and mid/high frequencies.
The Equinox is not an exact replica of the unit, but a reinterpretation of it, optimized for electric guitar. It’s a hand-built multi-band, semi-parametric EQ with tons of headroom, carefully crafted gain staging and highly interactive frequency bands with interdependent cut and boost sections, just like the original.
Unlike the original, the Hi Boost and the Hi Cut knobs have separate rotary knobs selecting the center frequency (also optimized for guitar), while the Lo Cut and the Lo Boost share the same frequency selector, like in the original unit but with slightly different center frequencies going up to 150Hz. The Bandwith control (aka Q) sets the range of the EQ curve that’s boosted or attenuated. An output Level knob was added to compensate for volume changes due to the EQ settings.
Have a listen to the Spaceman Effects Equinox in the videos below, we added it to our comprehensive article about EQ pedals.
Here’s a demo with bass.
Spaceman Effects Equinox, Builder’s Notes
Spaceman is excited to present an inventive new limited edition EQ.The Equinox packs the power of an iconic studio rack with an abundance of innovations rarely seen in a package this portable. Its architecture features carefully crafted gain staging and highly interactive frequency bands with interdependent cut and boost sections, yielding a circuit custom tuned for tons of vintage vibe. This unique multi-band EQ gives you massive headroom, surgical tone shaping control, and limitless sound design capabilities. Use Equinox in any chain, anywhere – be it your pedalboard, tabletop, or studio – and unlock infinite sonic possibilities.
The Equinox is an expansive tone shaping tool borne from a primitive, though widely acclaimed studio equalizer. The core passive circuit features an abundance of irregular options that have never really been applied to traditional stompbox EQs. Spaceman has adapted this circuit to a modest form factor instrument level focused design. Completely new input and output stages modernize its usability, while preserving the warm vintage character of this classic studio staple. The entire signal path has been lovingly analyzed, and modified to transform this device into an amazing pedalboard friendly package.
FEATURES
- Studio quality EQ made explicitly for instrument level signals
- Dedicated Cut and Boost bands with interleaving center frequencies
- Discrete design with hand soldered through-hole construction
- High headroom 18V operation
- Well suited to guitar, bass, keyboard, and any instrument you can throw at it
TRULY HAND CRAFTED
Hand-wired and built in Portland, Oregon, the Equinox features mechanical true-bypass switching with a heavy-duty latching footswitch. On top of the cast-aluminum enclosure sits a durable, engraved vinyl faceplate and jewel indicator light. This pedal is built to last a lifetime, both on Earth or in the vacuum of space.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Width: 5.72 inches / 145 mm
Depth: 4.77 inches / 121 mm
Height: 2.24 inches / 57 mm
Weight: 17 ounces
Input Resistance: 500K Ohm
Bypass Current Draw: 2mA
Engaged Current Draw: 4mA
Input Voltage: 18V DC, negative center via the 2.1mm jack
