GEAR REVIEWS
T ech 21 ’ s new Q \ Strip pedal is a fantastic tone-shaping device that aims to bring classic recording studio console tone to your direct sound , whether you ’ re playing guitar , bass , or vintage keyboards . The redcolored , aluminum knobs are a great design choice given that this is indeed a Swiss army pedal , and we see the Q \ Strip as a must-have utility box for many different players .
The design impetus here came from highly coveted mixing boards that were designed for big studio use in the ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s , and using traditional MOSFET transistor technology . Tech 21 has managed to cram a classic studio console channel strip into a compact pedal ( sans compressor ). Many classic records were made with guitars and basses plugged directly into the mixing board , and the Q \ Strip brings that capability to your home studio , though it ’ s also fantastic when used in a live sound DI capacity . The only challenge is deciding who this pedal is best for — there are so many great uses for this pedal that you ’ re bound to find many ways to utilize it .
With acoustic guitars or electric guitars with Piezo-acoustic output , the Q \ Strip makes an ideal direct box . Playing one of our Taylor acoustics ( with internal Expression pickup system ) through the Q \ Strip into a large P . A . system gave us a wide range of useful acoustic tones without feedback . It was easy to pull out the boominess that sometimes happens when amplifying larger dreadnaught acoustics , and it was also easy to dial in some high-end brilliance without ever getting harsh .
Another treat was running the Piezo acoustic output from our Music Man JP-series electric guitar through the Q \ Strip . We were able to make this premium rock guitar ’ s Piezo output sound significantly more acoustic . And for fun guitar effect , using the high- and lo-pass filters in combination with the parametric EQ bands enabled us to get creative with squashed , narrow-band guitar sounds that ranged from a cocked wah pedal tone to retro , lo-fi stuff .
Guitar players love guitar amplifiers — whether tube , solid-state , or modeled . But if you ’ re seeking to capture some of that classic disco vibe , you may want to try the unimaginable and record your guitar direct without an amp . Running a Fender Stratocaster through the Q \ Strip , subtle adjustments of the EQ and engaging the high-pass filter delivered classic Motown magic , with that great chicken-picking kind of funky clean .
For bass players who are more accustomed to recording direct in the studio , or gigging bassists who simply wish to leave the amp at home , the Q \ Strip makes a great choice for obtaining classic studio tone outside of the studio . We plugged an NS Design WAV4 Radius bass straight in and were able to dial up a wide range of useful bass tones . For jazz and pop music in particular , the Q \ Strip makes a fine choice if you want to leave the big rig at home ,
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER DIGITAL EDITION GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER 61