Artec Parametric EQ

To people using a mixing desk at even a modest level of ambition the absence of parametric eq would be unthinkable.
However, when it comes to guitar pedals the offerings of parametric eq is quite sparse and the few you can find are often excessively priced as if parametric eq is a highly scientific implementation.
A lot of distortion pedals f.ex. are compromised by static tone controls. You can add flexibility to their sonic identity by adding parametric eq both before and after distortion.
So it is nice that Artec are offering a simple pedal that does nothing but one band of parametric eq. It works as intended, is reasonably priced and introduces a great tonal flexibility in your signal chain.
Among other things I use it as first part of a guitar chain. One guitar may sound great with a certain amp setting. Another guitar may sound worse at the same setting. Parametric eq will often fix this.

I have been trying to set up my looper to play backing tracks through a Mackie SRM 350 pa speaker to get enough volume to practice my sax. The volume is fine but the speaker is ridiculously bass heavy and unusable at home.

I have tried taming the bass with a small Behringer mixer which helps a bit, but it's not hitting the right frequencies and it's a cumbersome solution. I had thought about a graphic eq pedal but had doubts that it would be effective because of my experiences with the Behringer. Then I discovered the Artec Parametric EQ and decided to take a risk with it because of its potential ability to target the frequencies I want to control.

It works! It does exactly what I need and is very effective. It's very simple to operate - you can set a boost or cut and then turn the frequency knob until you hit the offending frequency. Then you can alter the Q setting to adjust the range of frequencies you want to modify.

The build quality is good, at least for what I need. I do agree with other reviewers that having tiny frequency and q control knobs with an even tinier black on black centre point marker is a very poor design. It was ok at home where I could hold it up to a bright light to see, but using it live to adjust the tone would be a challenge to say the least.

The sound quality is good and I didn't detect any noise or impairment of the signal going to the speaker. It works well with the supplied battery it is a much tidier solution than a mixer with an external power supply. I don't know what the battery life is yet.

So, in summary, for my very specific requirement it is an excellent solution and the Artec is a fraction of the price of other parametric eq pedals.

Cheap and pretty decent pedal.
Gain and Q-factor are a bit difficult to read (They won't be knocked/turned easily into another position, but I like to have a fast visual in case somewhere, something in the fx chain went wrong and you have to sort it out quickly.)
It is a bit noisy on the higher settings and a little wide (especially with side mounted jacks).
I find the Artec pedal to have nice ergonomics overall but the bottom is one of the most difficult pedals to get some velcro onto (ribbed anti skate plate and battery compartiment).
The range of the controls is fine, but I would have liked the overall level to be able to deliver a couple of dB more.
Overall, this is a fine pedal if you are wondering if parametric eq-ing is something you can benefit from, and you want to try it out.
It sure did for me when I wanted to make some solo's pop out, by either boosting the mid's/highs, or by cutting low freqs and raising the overall level. It also works to drive a freq dependent overdrive harder/softer without an overall volume drop or boost.
BTW, buy 2 and put them after and before your (buffer independant) fuzz and be surprised what a single fuzz pedal is capable of, without having to buy tons of them (like I did).

I've seen people getting parametric EQs because they have read silly articles on the internet claiming parametric gives you more control than graphic EQ. Needles to say, most of them get very disappointed.
Well, this is NOT a replacement for a graphic EQ. This is a special use tool which will let you attenuate (or amplify) one specific frequency band. Basically an active band-rejection filter.
As for this pedal, well, it does its job and it's the only parametric EQ in a really affordable price range, but it's definitely not professional as it claims to be.
The box is sturdy metal, but the button, pots, and especially the battery door look very cheaply made. The frequency knob is marked 1 to 10 instead of real frequency values and this is quite dumb. The width and gain knobs are super tiny and impossible to grip, let alone read their values. Why didn't they make 4 normal size knobs is beyond my understanding.
All in all for such a price its a good deal, I can't complain. Compared to other parametric EQs this one is dirt cheap and it's a no brainer to give it a go. It's interesting to combine with distortion pedals, you can make humbuckers sound like singles and you can get some wah-y sounds too.