Bass ParaEq

Bass EQ

The Empress Bass ParaEq brings the full control and transparency of the ParaEq MKIIDeluxe to a pedal designed specifically for bassists. As the only parametric EQ pedal built exclusively for bass, it gives players tone-shaping power that no other pedal offers. With bass-tuned frequencies, a dynamic low shelf, and features built for both electric and upright players, it offers the kind of tone-shaping flexibility usually reserved for studio racks.

Following the success of the Empress Bass Compressor—and the popularity of the ParaEq MKII Deluxe among bassists—Empress recognized the need for an EQ pedal made specifically for low-end instruments. The Bass ParaEq adapts everything that made the Deluxe great, but optimizes the experience for bass. The result is an EQ/boost pedal that feels less like an adaptation and more like an essential part of a bassist’s rig.

Three bands of parametric EQ, each with fully sweepable Q controls, allow for broad tone shaping or surgical precision. A newly designed dynamic low shelf adjusts its range depending on how much boost or cut is applied, offering intuitive control over the foundation of a bass tone. The high- and low-pass filters help remove unwanted low-end rumble or harsh upper frequencies, while the clean boost section delivers up to +30dB of gain—ideal for solos, make-up gain, or hitting the front end of an amp harder. The 10MΩ high-impedance input makes the Bass ParaEq a great match for upright basses with piezo pickups, maintaining clarity and low-end response. An auto-detecting balanced output makes it easy to send a clean signal over long cable runs without tone loss or extra gear.

With 27V of internal headroom, a low-noise signal path, and Empress’s signature transparent EQ circuitry, the Bass ParaEq brings studio-quality tone-shaping to the pedalboard—purpose-built for bass.

The Q setting controls the width of the frequency range affected by each EQ band, from broad and smooth to narrow and precise. 

Narrow Q : Knob fully clockwise. This setting is best for attacking problems. For example, if an acoustic instrument is feeding back, a narrow Q allows you to cut the offending frequency without affecting frequencies around it. 

Medium Q : Knob at 12 o’clock. This is great for general tone shaping. Most equalizers in instrument amplifiers are medium Q. Try this setting and cut in the 300Hz - 400Hz range if your amp sounds a little muddy, or boost in the 1kHz - 5kHz range to help your bass cut through a mix. 

Wide Q : Knob fully counter-clockwise. Wide settings are best for transparent changes to the signal. With a wide Q, boosting around 100Hz can add warmth and boosting in the 3kHz range can add definition, all while retaining your instrument’s tone.

High-pass and low-pass filters are used to remove specific bands of frequencies from the sonic spectrum. These bands are determined by the filter shape and the cutoff frequency at which the filter is set. 

High-Pass Filter : The high-pass filter attenuates frequencies below the cutoff frequency set by the knob, which ranges from 10Hz to 200Hz, by 12dB/octave. 

Low-Pass Filter : The low-pass filter attenuates frequencies above the cutoff frequency set by the knob, which ranges from 215Hz to 22kHz, by 12dB/octave (yeah, that’s right–215Hz!).

We have added the option to enable a high impedance (“hi-Z”) 10MΩ input mode for instruments with high-impedance outputs (such as piezo-equipped instruments). This increases the low end response of such instruments. For all other sound sources, use the 1MΩ input mode (enabled by default). This standard impedance works fine with most passive and active pickups, keyboards, and line-level signals.

Low Shelf Filter : A modified Baxandall filter designed for musical and responsive bass control. Unlike a standard shelving EQ, the break frequency dynamically shifts as you boost or cut. This means that larger adjustments affect a wider range of low frequencies. For example, at 1 o’clock, the filter targets lows below 75Hz, while fully clockwise (max boost), it extends up to 400Hz (see the graph below for reference). This allows for natural, balanced low-end adjustments without introducing unwanted muddiness. 

High Shelf Filter : Traditional fixed-frequency Boost Cut 75Hz 400Hz 4 Baxandall filter with a gentle slope that boosts or attenuates frequencies above 1kHz by up to 15dB, depending on the knob position.

Balanced Output detection : The Bass ParaEq automatically detects the presence of a balanced connection and will configure the output accordingly (such as a TRS cable connected between the output of the Bass ParaEq and an audio device with a balanced input). When in balanced output mode, +6dB is applied to the output signal. If no balanced connection is detected, the Bass ParaEq will default to a standard unbalanced output. Auto-detection occurs at startup or when a cable is inserted into the output of the Bass ParaEq, indicated by the hi-Z LED flashing during the auto-detection process. The LED will remain ON for balanced output and OFF for unbalanced.

Advanced Configuration : These options let you adjust the input impedance and boost behavior of your Bass ParaEq. 

To enter advanced configuration, hold both footswitches on power-up. The boost and bypass LEDs will flash to confirm entry. 

Modifying the advanced configuration: To toggle between standard and high-impedance inputs, use the bypass footswitch. The bypass and hi-Z LEDs will display which mode you are in: 

Bypass & hi-Z LEDs off = 1MΩ input enabled (default)

Bypass & hi-Z LEDs on = hi-Z 10MΩ input enabled 

To toggle between normal bypass mode and independent bypass mode, use the boost footswitch. With independent mode you can apply boost without having the equalization engaged. This makes it almost like having a separate EQ and boost pedal, each with their own bypass switch. 

Boost LED off = normal (default) Boost LED on = independent To exit, hold both footswitches again. The LEDs will flash to confirm changes.