MXR M109 6 Band Graphic EQ

The M-109 is a 6 band graphic EQ pedal from MXR. The pedal has 6 sliders that can cut or boost that frequency by 18dB. The bands available are 100, 200, 400, 800 1.6k, and 3.2k.The pedal can be powered by 9 volt batter or external AC adapter. Dimensions of the pedal are 2.5" x 5.5" x 4.5" and it weighs about a pound. A mono input and a mono output are available.

UTILIZATION

This pedal is built extremely well like most MXR pedals. The housing is made of all metal and the bypass switch is very rugged. It has “positive feel” sliders that hold the settings very well, even if bumped, and are illuminated so the settings can be read on a dark stage during a gig. I wish they had included an overall volume slider like the Boss GE-7, but I don’t really miss the added high end frequency slider.

SOUND QUALITY

The M109 is what I use to get a muffled low fi tone in my rig, but it can do just about anything you need it to. It will remove quack from a mid heavy guitar, unmuffle the distortion in an amp, or boost a solo just to name a few. It lets you craft your sound to the exact frequencies you hear in your head. It works very well in the loop of amps to help shape the overall tone or as an overall signal boost if you run through a lot of pedals. The pedal makes a great solo boost because you can boost the frequencies that really let your guitar cut through a dense mix and stand out like a solo should. There is no change in my tone when using this pedal and there isn’t an annoying hiss like there is when using a Boss GE-7.

OVERALL OPINION

I like this EQ pedal a lot. I really thought that extra frequency slider would be missed, but I really just miss the volume slider I had on my previous 7 band EQs (Dano and Boss). This pedal is built for touring, so I don’t worry about reliability. The lighted sliders are great at gigs and the switch feels really solid with a nice click when you engage the pedal. It’s nice and small so it doesn’t take up much space on my board. Whether I need a solo boost, an EQ adjustment, match input signals on different guitars, or a Lo Fi tone like I usually use it for, it’s always there for me. Steer clear of the Boss and go for the MXR

- 6 bands of graphic EQ

- LED lit sliders

- Compact

- Sturdy MXR enclosure

- Powered by 9v battery or adapter

- Solid components, jack, switch etc

- True bypass

UTILIZATION

Beautifully simple to use. This is the little brother of the MXR 10 band, and is actually an improvement in some ways. To be honest, for a live EQ pedal, all you really need is 6 bands. This gives you the control you need without the extras. The compact enclosure is a lot easier to fit on a pedalboard, and the standard 9v power is much more convenient.

Run it in front of the amp as a guitar EQ or boost, run it in the amp effects loop as a third channel EQ. Very low noise, reliable, sturdy, and powerful. It can totally pull the blanket off of your setup.

I've found that the LED sliders on these can start to dim over time which is a little annoying. Otherwise they are great for a dark stage, and just look cool.

This one doesn't have volume/gain sliders, so if that is something you want out of it, I'd look into the 10 band.

SOUND QUALITY

Its difficult to judge the sound of an EQ pedal independently, but this one is really great. Dead silent, which can be unusual in this price range, and can really transform your sound. Six bands is really all you need to fine tune your tone, anything from a mild boost to a total revision or third channel.



OVERALL OPINION

This is, without a doubt, a killer little EQ pedal. Don't let its size fool you, it will probably become the most powerful tool in your arsenal. That said, EQ is probably the most overused/misused pedal among guitarists. I've seen a lot of people pick one of these up because "I might as well, everyone needs one." If you actually feel that your setup could benefit from some fine tuning, this is a great option. It also works really well as a boost, and can clean up some mediocre DIST pedals like the Boss MT2. I'd also recommend looking into a parametric EQ, they aren't quite as widely used but can be a very solid option.