The Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ is a Free The Tone eq pedal, currently around $350. Close alternatives include the Free The Tone PA-1QG 10 Band Analog EQ and the DigiTech DSP 256XL. It pairs well with the Dumble Steel String Singer and the Fender Prosonic.
Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ
Free The Tone · pedal
The Free The Tone PA-1QA is a programmable analog 10-band EQ specifically tuned for acoustic guitar, with frequency bands at 31, 62, 125, 250, 500 Hz, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 kHz, each offering ±12dB of boost or cut. It uses a hybrid architecture: fully analog signal processing paired with a digital control section that can precisely store and recall EQ presets and process parameters digitally, including real-time control via MIDI, while keeping the actual audio path analog.
What stands out
“with frequency bands at 31”
— from the listing
“fully analog signal processing paired with a digital control section that can precisely store and recall eq presets and process parameters digitally”
— from the listing
“including real-time control via midi”
— from the listing
“it uses a hybrid architecture”
— from the listing
“Valued for offering acoustic-specific frequency tuning, extending lower (31Hz) and higher (16kHz) than guitar-focused EQ pedals, matching the broader frequency range acoustic instruments occupy”
— from the community notes
- frequency
- digital
- midi
- hybrid
- precise preset recallable tone
- eq
- boost
- cut
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
Amps that pair well with the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Into the Steel String Singer's liquid, organic Dumble tone, the PA-1QA's hybrid, programmable EQ has real headroom to shape precisely.
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
The Prosonic's warm, professional Fender overdrive gives the PA-1QA's precise digital EQ shaping something real to sculpt.
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange Terror Bass leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Orange Little Bass Thing after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Gibson GA-50 answers back warm
Victory Amplifiers V50 The Earl
amplifier
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Victory Amplifiers V50 The Earl's warm balances out the bright tone
Pedals that stack with the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The Fable's glitchy granular reverb gives the PA-1QA's hybrid, programmable EQ somewhere strange to shape into. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
The PA-1QA's hybrid, programmable EQ shapes the SFT's thick, compressed British drive with real precision instead of guesswork.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Run Greer Mizuki blue after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Comes earlier in the signal chain
T-Rex Junior Roomate
T Rex
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
T-Rex Junior Roomate's warm voice goes after Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ's own pristine character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Black Rabbit Little Earthquakes
Black Rabbit
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Black Rabbit Little Earthquakes after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
NuX 6ixty5ive Overdrive Effektpedal
Nux
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
NuX 6ixty5ive Overdrive Effektpedal's warm balances out the bright tone
Cheaper alternatives
Similar character
See all alternatives to the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ?+
The closest matches in character are the Free The Tone PA-1QG 10 Band Analog EQ, the DigiTech DSP 256XL, the GFI System Enieqma Equalizer. Budget picks: Source Audio Spectrum, Dr. Scientist Dusk.
What pairs well with the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Dumble Steel String Singer, Fender Prosonic, Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W — Into the Steel String Singer's liquid, organic Dumble tone, the PA-1QA's hybrid, programmable EQ has real headroom to shape precisely..
How much does the Free The Tone PA-1QA Programmable 10 Band EQ cost?+
Around $350 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).