Arion SPE-1

Very easy to use and very simple knobs to turn don.t need a manual for it

Sounds is amazing you can change your tone in different ways and always obstain a great result, you want more low end easy to accomplish, you want forever sustain you can get it, this is another thing that some others eq does not have

It never gave me a problem but i take care of my things this is a plastic box, nade in Japan with good components anyway it is a pedal htta you press in and out it is not to for a ride so do not intent to seat on it, just use it as a great eq pedal that you don't have to be getting carzy to find your tone or someone else

Well it is a vintage pedal but analogoman.com will give some detail, never dealing with Arion, i did not need, good pedal

I play heavy metal and old metal this pedal can give you anything you want for clean to heavy stuff and will shape your tone that will be amazed
What i love about it is that is a pedal and you can turn it off and on whenever you want, if got lost i will look for another one really fast and the price is affordable, and it is a vintage that use a 9 volt battery or a 9 volt dc power s.

The sound is completely transparent. It's best to be used in front of an overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal. It could also help you obtain tones from different amplifiers. You have to use your ears to understand it's use. The manual explains Gain which is for Boosting the output; Bandwidth which is to Thicken or Thinning the guitar's tonal output and the frequency which is used as a notch filter, thus shelving the tonality and it will do it more precisely; better than your Wah pedal. Think Warm or Smooth sounds.

Parametric Equalizing is mostly used in Studio situations; but you can have your own personalized studio sound anywhere with this effect. It's not noisy; keep in mind that it has a total gain output of 12 dbm. It has a consistent sound to it but it's weak construction makes it hard to maintain. It has several uses for example; You could copy the sounds of a Vintage Amplifier or any other with different tubes inside; or try to obtain sounds similar to your favorite artists of course that is a subjective thing; since talent and the exact equipment are required.

For example and simple setup is to use it alone with any Vintage or Reissue Fender amplifiers or any other tube amp. You could use it to get the sound of other amplifiers; when used only alone. By tweeking the bandwidth and the frequency output.

When in used with effects. It will give a more pronounced lead sound; more personlized and unique when in use in front of distortion/overdrive or fuzz effect pedal.

In live situations I always use it. My setup is simple A Fender HotRod Deluxe or a Peavy Delta Blues Classic or an Epiphone Galaxie 25 depending on the size of the room. My effects chain are an MXR Phase 90, an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-808, the Arion Sustain Parametric Eq and a Vox Wah 847 model. The arion is reliable enough to go live but keep in mind it has a construction made of plastic. Good care is required. Yes I would use in the studio or Live since it sounds better than the T.C. Electronics Sustain Parametric Equalizer pedal, this pedal has noise gate and compressor built into it affecting the tone your stratocaster dramatically.

You need to search on the web for the manufacturers mailing address. I do not know who the distributor is. Finding an authorized repair center for these great effects is difficult. Maybe try Analogman.com. Maintaining good care when not in use is always good. And playing live with these Arion effect pedals will make you sound great!. Try them!.

Equalizer pedals have always been good to obtain a very personalized sound. Your unique tone. Whatever style of music you play or whether you play guitar or bass this effect pedal is it. But keep in mind that this pedal sounds best with Stratocasters and graphic equalizers sound best with Les Pauls or any other humbucker equiped electric guitar. Yes Basses too!. Is no longer in production so you must contact Arion about this. For what the pedal does is great; and to keep production cost low, plastic materials have been used. The Arion pedals today will more expensive since the price of the US Dollar has dropped against the Yen most recently.

It is easy to use if you know what you are going to do with it. This pedal is completely analog and matches very well with other analog pedals in front of warm or hot amp. It does specific tone shelving, pickup boosting, notch filtering work and it works best with single coils.

It has three Tone control buttons. This pedal has Boost meaning Gain; total output is at 12db's. Next is the Bandwidth this is important for the thinning or thickening of tone; dry or wetter tonality to your guitar's natural tone; converting output with more precise control. And last is the Frequency range; this use is more like a notch filter but for the output of your stratocaster; it has a distinctive higher or lower output sound when use alone or adding any of the devices mentioned; it will enhance the gain sonically. Frequency range could could be determined if you want a more smooth/soft/spongy tone or a more warm/crunchy/hot tone. Many guitarists use a wah pedal at notched position (fixed) for cutting, pick tone. This effect pedal will do it more precisely and will enhance the output from your guitar dramatically.

Once again be advised this pedal works best after your overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal effect chain preferrably between any of those pedals mentioned and a wah pedal. A parametric equalizer can also enhance the tonality of your wah pedal.

This box is transparent enough to enhance or erase the natural tone of your stratocaster and it is completely analog. Be sure to read the manual and you will have an understading of it's use for specific more precised equaliazing.

Guitar sounds are subjective. If you like to play at full gain; it will enhance the output from the amp or the distortion device you are using. I will not discuss my equipment. If you are seeking sound quality this pedal will do it. It's not noisy as other Arion Effect pedals. It's an equalizer pedal; the tone is reliable. It can be used with any amp regarding; the sound you are seeking. But it's use is best when your looking for a more personalized sound. In the formula explained above; you can apply it towards amplifier tones. This means if you are trying to copy or get sounds of different ampifiers. The Parametric Bandwith control button would help in this regard.

This brand is manufactured in Japan and electronic designing and construction options were left of to cover low costs. This item is reliable and you can depend on it. But keep in mind that its mantainence requires a lot of care since it has a plastic cover. And this will be affect its use under different cold or humid temperatures; so keep it inside a traveling case.

It is reliable enough to be used without a backup but always use a strong Duracell battery. It's adapter can be applied also but keep in mind to always unplugged the effect when not in use; since the chips inside would be prone to burn out if left plugged into electricity for long periods of time.

This brand is manufactured in Korea now and distributed under a different US distributor. Arion is still operational and all you can do is to reach them ask them whether this particular effect will comeback into production again. It is a very professional company but hard to reach since nobody knows who is the US distributor. So keep trying. It would be difficult to determined or find an authorized repair center.

To play Blues you probabley won't need this effect. However if you are after The Hendrix sound this effect; will help you tremendously. If you play Harder Rock/Heavy Metal/other heavy sound; I would recommend this pedal. Remember to keep in mind that humbuckers have a more defined warm sound (thicker). So a graphic effects pedal would enhance a better sound. But the parametric eq and specially this one enhances Single coils for a much better focus sound. Think Boos/Cut in the tonality of the sound you want to enhance from your instrument but apply amplification tone as well!.

A little tricky to figure out when there was no battery cover to it, and no manual either. after i figured out which side was what, it was easy to figure out. Sounds great with my Samick Bass. i keep the band wide for a nice fat muddy sound, keep the frequency low if your playing it with a bass.

Once again, because im playin this with a bass it might sound strange.. the peddle is silent when off, gives a small hum when on, doesn't like being last in my FX loop (sreeches) sounds best when the frequency is low to mid.

reliable little bastard peddle. one of knobs fell off, but that is because i pulled it off so i could give this thing a paint job other than than the standard arion black. battery cover was non-existent when i bought it.

Never broke, never upgraded. who needs a battery cover with duct tape.

yes, i'd by it again. i love the low end of it, but i would like to drop it lower. im a low frequency kinda guy. I did compare it with some dod peddles, and i use a Metal X as well. doesn't get in the way, i think it makes me sound a little richer.