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Pultec EQP-1A Tube Program Equalizer

1-channel, 2-band Tube Equalizer with Switchable Frequency Selection and Variable Bandwidth
$4,495.00

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Pultec EQP-1A Tube Program Equalizer
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This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

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The Legendary EQ is Back

Walk into any world-class control room and you'll see one or more classic tube Pultecs — it's as true now as it was in 1978! The Pultec EQP-1A two-band equalizer, the modern-day re-creation of the legendary tube EQ, can give your tracks the massive bass, silky air, and addictive warmth that made the original a studio standard. Pulse Techniques is back, hand-crafting their classic EQs without compromise or "enhancement" to the original designs. New Pultecs like the EQP-1A contain only original-spec components and are dead ringers for their vintage ancestors. It may sound like magic, but it's time-tested and proven — the Pultec EQP-1A equalizer can make any track sound better.

Boost, cut, or both — it all sounds great

Take a look at the Pultec EQP-1A and you'll see it's not designed like your typical equalizer. The two-band design basically gives you flexible low shelving, along with broad-bandwidth midrange peak control. Because the boost and attenuate controls work independently you can use an old trick to add weight to the bass region while also notching a bit above the cutoff point, by boosting and attenuating at the same time (try it on kick drum and you'll never look back). On the high-frequency side, you can set separate ranges for the boost and attenuation. Said another way, you can boost at 12kHz and cut at 5k, adding "air" to a track without increasing presence.

Fortify your rack with "True Blue"

You've heard them on countless hits. The 3-rackspace blue Pultec EQP-1A was originally made from 1961 until 1971, when it was replaced by the 2U silver-faced EQP-1A3. While the EQP-1A3 was functionally identical to the EQP-1A, many engineers and studio owners swear by the original 3U "true-blue" unit. This inspired design places a tube-driven, push-pull gain-makeup stage after the EQ section to eliminate the gain insertion losses typical of passive filters. Intended for broad program EQ, the EQP-1A gives you four low boost/cut frequencies, three high-cut frequencies, and your choice of seven HF boost points, along with a bandwidth control for shaping high-boost Q.

Juice your tracks with the stuff of legend

At Sweetwater, the name Pultec commands reverence. Magical tools revered for their ability to improve the sound of audio simply by passing signal through them, Pultec equalizers like the EQP-1A are the stuff of legend. They're all over many of your favorite records. Rare vintage units cost a pretty penny — if you can find one in good working order. So naturally, there have been many hardware and software "re-creations" over the years. Well, now you can grace your recordings with the sweet sound of the EQP-1A: a genuine Pultec EQ.

Pultec EQP-1A Two-band Equalizer Features:

  • Single-channel, 2-band equalizer built exactly like the original, legendary Pultec units
  • Combines the vintage character of original Pultecs with the reliability of modern design
  • Incredibly low noise floor for a pure sound
  • Bandwidth control lets you decide how wide a range you're sculpting
  • Separate boost and cut controls provide additional creative potential

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Tube: ECC82, ECC83, 6X4
  • Number of Bands: 2 (dedicated Boost/Cut controls)
  • Boost/Cut Range: Low Boost +13.5dB, Low Cut -17.5dB, High Boost +18dB, High Cut -16dB
  • Inputs: 1 x XLR
  • Outputs: 1 x XLR
  • Rack Spaces: 3U
  • Height: 5.25"
  • Width: 19"
  • Manufacturer Part Number: EQP-1A

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

It does NOT disappoint!

I have been wanted one of these forever so when I saw a demo unit I finally pulled the trigger.

I have a pair of Eqp 500x which are also incredible in their own right, but when I ran a vocal through the EQP 1a today it was on a whole other level. Has a way of lifting and smoothing out the high end and making the low end huge while simultaneously cutting out the mud like nothing else will. It's just pure bliss and sounds just like the vintage unit I had the pleasure to work with years ago. It's a Pultec!
If you can afford one just pull the trigger, you will Not regret it!
Only problem is that now I have to buy another and I can't afford that!

Also as always Sweetwater was awesome and thanks to Josh Lively for helping with my order and finding that demo unit for me! You're the best!
Rated 5/5

On my two bus and never leaving

There is not much I can say about the magic the Pultec EQs bring to a mix bus. I have two that I mix into, and let me tell you; they are out of this world. You don't realize how much of the heavy (and beautiful) lifting they are doing until you bypass them. The mix, while balanced, loses ALL of its lushness and bigness.

I use them on my mix bus and never touch them. I have them set as a "set it and forget it" mentality and never second-guess anything, as I now sound much closer to the big pro sound. These, paired with the NgBusComp, are my go-to chain for mixing.

If you are on the fence, get them. The clones all sound great and have their place, but for mix bus duties, do not bother with anything other than the originals.
Music background: Mixing and mastering engineer
Rated 5/5

Magic

Worth every penny, very well made and adds the magic you would expect. This EQ brings the 3d!
It's hard to review it because the unit is absolutely perfect.
Rated 4.5/5

The one....The Only...EQP-1A!

The EQP-1A is the LA-2A of equalizers. It's full of tubes and simple to use. Yes, that rhyme was intentional.

Every professional recording studio has at least one of these in their racks! It's one of those pieces of gear that can add the secret sauce to a track or mix. Many famous engineers have a pair sitting on their 2-buss for good reason.

It can do subtle, just adding "something" (little bit of highs and lows) to a track when a signal is sent through it without touching any of the knobs. And it can do extreme, when for instance a kick drum sounds weak or a guitar needs a lot more sparkle. You can really push the EQP-1A's high band without it becoming brittle. That's what separates the real deal from the clones and plugins.

As great as the EQP-1A is, it is not a workhorse equalizer. It is a tone shaper, much like the controls on a guitar amp. But it is among the best tone shapers around and it deserves a place in your rack if you are looking to deliver the best audio records.
Music background: Audio Engineer, Video Producer
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