Electro-Harmonix Knock Out Attack Equalizer

The Knockout Attack EQ is fairly straightforward - it's cased in the EHX XO chassis and just has three controls:
Low - low/bass frequencies
Dry - dry signal
High - high/treble frequencies

You simply use these three controls to shape the sort of sound you want. It takes a while to find the settings most suitable to you set up but it's a fairly simple process.

The good thing about this pedal (unlike many of EHX's other pedals) is that it takes a standard barrel power input (like Boss) which means it can be run from your Voodoo Labs Pedal Power or whatever you are using to power your set up. You can run this from battery, although it does not last as long as you think it should do.

This pedal is a good, flexible parametric style EQ. It's very quiet and in my experience of it, doesn't add any unecessary distortion or noise to your sound.

The controls are quite different from your standard graphic EQ - they are definitely more 'musical'. You can add fat amounts of bass to your signal or really crank up the treble whilst adding more or less output from your guitar via the dry control.

As the EHX literature suggests, it is possible to get your humbucking guitar to sound more like a single coil and vice versa. I use a Gibson ES345 as my main guitar - on one song I use it to get a more Telecaster style sound for the song intro where the original recording used a Tele.

The only a couple snags with this pedal:

I've found it reacts in a very different way depending on where you place it in your set up.

There can be significant signal drop if you don't have the dry control set high enough which means you have to be careful about bringing it in and out in order to avoid sudden drops/increases in signal.

It seems to be fairly sturdy - the XO series always feels more like a well made boutique pedal and less delicate than say my EHX POG or EHX Wiggler which you wouldn't want to stamp on too hard!

I haven't had the need to deal with EHX.

I've been playing for 16 years and have a serious obsession with effects pedals and tone so this pedal was an attractive addition to my set up, so much so I bought it without trying (although I knew the pedal's specs and reputation beforehand). For me, having a range of different effects, sounds, tones, overdrives is essential so this really fulfills my additional tone needs.

This isn't going to be to everybodies taste and many players might find no use for it, but I like it (plus I'm a fan of EHX and the way they never produce anything subtle). For me I find it works best for when I want to add lots of bass or when I want to emulate other guitar tones.

It would be better if there was a forth volume control on it so that you could increase/decrease signal strength to compensate for some settings, although I should imagine it wouldn't be too hard to mod thee pedal for this.

After reading the short manual, it was easy to get the desired sound.

I was always wondering how to use the neck pickup in any humbucking LP-style guitar. You either have two amps (one for the neck, one for the bridge PU), or you just don't use the neck PU as it is just muddy, overly loud and has no attack.
This box does exactly what it says on the tin: It makes a humbucker sound like a single coil. And depending on thesettings, it is a modern or a vintage SC. Just plain brilliant!
My favourite setup is now PRS SE Custom -> EHX LPB-1 (always on with bridge PU) -> EHX Knockout (always on with neck PU) -> Boss PW-10 -> Laney AOR Top into Laney 2x12 cabinet.

Those two EHX boxes make everything so much more musical, and threedimensional.

Cannot comment really.

Would definitely get another one. With 69Euro fairly cheap...

there was no manual with the pedal when i got it. its got a couple of good settings on it that i found pleasing. it has a on/off switch, in and out, volume blend tone and a heavy duty foot switch. i replaced the original knobs with others that are easier to turn with my foot.

1964 fender mustang or a 1969 gibson sg w/ p90's into a bruno wau wau machine;rat dist.;rx overdrive; eh knock out eq; eh deluxe memory man delay into a old bogen amp head and a mini marshall lead 12 head into a 412 marshall slant w/ celestion lead 80's. i leave the knock out eq so when its activated it gives me a deep scooped sound. its almost like having a boogie 50 cal. amp waiting in the wings. it can get a little weak when adjusting the blend knob. it only works with distortion in certian ranges. when playing clean you can get a very fat boosted signal or a really crisp and snappy high end bite, depending again on the tone knob and blend range. great for all styles of music. the volume knob is a bit tricky to set(matching levels with my rat and rx overdrive when playing at studio volume.

sometimes you have to press the switch really hard to engage it. i dont want to replace it yet(periodic lube job helps). the on/off switch is kinda hard to get used to(remebering to turn it off even after removing cables). i would use it without a backup all thought none of my other devices can give me that sound.

i dont use it that much, but if it breaks i will try to fix it myself first. then mabey call mike.

i play anything from heavy rock, surf,to fusion. i've been playing for 16 years. i have owned gretsch, gibson, fender and other makes of guitars. Fender, marshall and gibson amps are my favorites. it would be hard to find another one like it. i definatly wouldnt get the same good deal. it helps me obtain that bowel shaking sound of a cranked stack. when i found that special range of sound it opened up new pathways in my music and playing style. it made me work harder to nail certian parts of songs. i try not to rely on effects to much but sometimes its hard to turn it off. it really gives you other dimensions in you personal sound. i use a pick but most of the time i use my fingers and still get a great sound.