Ah, the EQ pedal… Less flashy than a fuzz, less sexy than a delay, but nonetheless indispensable for sculpting your sound!
Whether you’re a stoner, jazz-fusion or metal fan descending to the tuning of a mammoth with a cold, a well-placed EQ pedal can radically transform your grain, attack and even feel. But what exactly is an equalizer pedal, how does it work, and above all which one to choose from the jungle of options in 2025?
Come on, let’s get to the heart of the matter, here’s a complete article on equalizer pedals with our selection of 10 nuggets for 2025 :
What is an equalizer pedal and what are its uses?
An equalizer pedalEqualizer, or EQ for short, lets you shape the frequencies of your guitar signal. Basically, it’s like a miniature mixer under your foot.
What can you do with an EQ?
- Boost treble to get out of the mix,
- Attenuate slobbering bass,
- Recover midrange lost in overdrive,
- Correct a temperamental amp,
- Giving a second life to a disappointing pedal…
Above all, it’s the perfect tool for the demanding guitarist who needs very precise control over the equalization of his sound.
Joyo R-12 Band Controller EQHow does an equalizer pedal work?
There are 2 main families of equalizer pedals:
- Graphics: with faders (usually 6 to 10 bands), each slider controls a frequency range.
- Parametric or semi-parametric: rarer in pedal format, but more precise. You choose the frequency to target and the intensity of the boost or cut.
Some pedals also offer volume control (overall gain), a handy feature when used as a booster, especially for solos.
Where to place the EQ in your pedalboard chain?
It all depends on your goal:
- Before distos/overdrives: to shape your signal before saturation,
- After the distos: to refine the already crunched sound and master your big pedals,
- In the amp’s effects loop : to sculpt the overall sound,
- Before a headphone amp or amp simulation: to give relief to a digital sound.
It takes time and elbow grease, but it’s the best way to get a configuration perfectly suited to your taste and the rest of your setup.
The 10 best equalizer pedals in 2025
Here is our selection of the 10 pedals we feel are the must-have equalization pedals on the market:
Boss EQ-200
Launched in 2019, the Boss EQ-200 is the Rolls-Royce of pedals of this type: it’s an ultra-complete EQ pedal with 10 parameterizable bands, an intuitive LCD display, 4 memory slots for saving your presets and a MIDI connection for perfect integration into complex setups.
Its stereo or dual mono mode makes it extremely versatile, both live and in the studio.
Price: €249
Boss EQ-200 Graphic Eq249 €Buy
MXR M108S Ten Band EQ
The MXR M108S Ten Band EQ is an EQ pedal offering 10 carefully selected frequency bands, each adjustable by ±12 dB, for precise sound control.
The MXR M108S Ten Band EQ is an EQ pedal offering 10 carefully selected frequency bands, each adjustable by ±12 dB, for precise sound control. It features volume and gain controls, 2 outputs to manage two separate signal chains, and a noise reduction circuit for silent operation. A classic of its kind!
Price: €169
MXR 10 Band Equalizer Silver169 €Buy
Source Audio EQ2
Source Audio EQ2 is an advanced equalization pedal offering 10 fully parameterizable bands with a range of ±18 dB, for precise control of the sound spectrum.
It features stereo connections, 128 MIDI-accessible presets and an additional 12 dB volume boost. Thanks to integration with the Neuro application, it offers extensive editing options, including parametric equalizer, noise gate and dynamic limiter. A true high-tech nugget!
Price: €325
Source Audio SA 270 – One Series EQ2325 €Buy
JHS Haunting Mids
The JHS Haunting Mids is a parametric EQ pedal dedicated to precise midrange control.
It offers Volume, Mids (to boost or attenuate midrange frequencies), Sweep (to select the affected frequency range between 400 Hz and 7.5 kHz) and a Lo/Hi switch to adjust bandwidth. This pedal is a Swiss Army knife!
Price: €169
JHS Pedals Haunting Mids – Parametric EQ169 €Buy
Empress ParaEq MKII Deluxe
The Empress ParaEq MKII Deluxe is an advanced, high-end parametric EQ pedal offering exceptional sonic control.
It features 3 parametric bands with fully variable frequency, gain (±15 dB) and bandwidth (Q) settings, allowing precise adjustment of the sound spectrum. High-pass (10 Hz to 330 Hz) and low-pass (1.5 kHz to 22 kHz) filters, as well as treble and bass shelf filters (±15 dB), offer additional flexibility for sculpting the sound. A switchable boost of up to 30 dB is also included to amplify the signal as required.
Price: €377
Empress Effects ParaEQ MKII Deluxe377 €Buy
Boss GE-7
It’s hard to write an article on this type of pedal without mentioning the Boss GE-7… It’s a compact, timeless EQ pedal, offering 7 frequency bands specifically adapted to guitar, ranging from 100 Hz to 6.4 kHz, with an adjustment range of ±15 dB per band.
It also features a level control for adjusting overall volume, making it ideal for precisely sculpting sound, eliminating unwanted frequencies or acting as a boost for solos.
Price: €109
Boss GE-7 Equalizer109 €Buy
Wampler EQuator
The Wampler EQuator is a semi-parametric EQ pedal offering precise sound control thanks to its 4 active EQ bands.
It features 2 parametric midrange controls for fine-tuning center frequencies, plus fixed bass and treble settings. An American boutique pedal that’s sure to appeal to those looking to color rather than correct.
Price: €185
Wampler EQuator Equalizer185 €Buy
Walrus Audio EB-10
The Walrus Audio EB-10 is a versatile pedal combining preamp, equalizer and boost, designed to precisely sculpt your sound.
It offers 3 equalization bands (bass, midrange, treble), each with 9 positions for cutting or boosting frequencies, enabling fine adjustments of timbre. A dedicated boost switch adds up to 10 dB, ideal for highlighting solos or compensating for differences between instruments. What’s more, the EB-10 features 3 preset memories, making it easy to quickly access different sound configurations in live situations.
Price : 284 €
ThorpyFX The Fat General
The ThorpyFX The Fat General V2 is a high-end parallel compression pedal, the result of a collaboration between ThorpyFX and Dan Coggins, creator of the Dinosaural OTC-201.
It offers transparent compression that adds sustain and balance to the signal without introducing excessive noise or “pumping” effects. Intuitive controls include a sustain control, a balance control for mixing dry and compressed signals, a treble knob for adjusting high frequencies, and a “Mode” knob for choosing between “Blend” (parallel compression) and “Juicy” (compression with a fixed mix of signals) modes.
Price: €242
ThorpyFX Fat General Parallel Compr.242 €Buy
Jackson Audio Bloom
The Jackson Audio Bloom V2 is a versatile pedal combining an optical compressor, an active 3-band equalizer and a boost, offering complete dynamic control.
It features 6 compression modes, a “Blend” setting for mixing dry and compressed signal , and an adjustable “Bloom” function for sustain and boost. The Bloom V2 is equipped with MIDI connectivity, allowing all parameters to be controlled and saved presets to be recalled.
Price : 354 €
So, have you found what you’re looking for among our selection of the best EQ pedals currently on the market? Of course, this is just a small selection, as there are many other pedals worth checking out! Don’t hesitate to share your favorites with us in the comments!
