Furman PQ3 parametric EQ

Really easy to use bread and butter parametric eq. It didn't come with a manual when I got it and you won't need one since it's really easy to figure out.

I've used the PQ-3 with some humbucker equipped guitars and several
guitar amps like Engl Fireball, 2 Marshall Jmp 2203s, Marshall Jcm 900, Mesa Mark IV, Laney Gh 100L, Peavey classic 60 poweramp with Tech 21's sans amp preamp, Rocktron pro GAP and ADA Mp-1.

I compared the PQ-3 to a few other eqs like Rane ME-30, Rane GE-27, Behringer PEQ 2200 and my funny little green Danelectro Fish and Chips eq.

I must say the PQ-3 beat all those rack units when used with guitar gear but it didn't sound as good as the little Danelectro.

The reason for that is obvious because none of these rack units was originally designed to be uesd with guitars and amps unlike the Danelectro which besides is a pretty good guitar eq.

I put the PQ-3 both in front of my amps and into each of their effects loops.
The Pq-3 is pretty much a tonesucker when used in front of an amp. I recommend putting it in an effects loop. That were I used it and that is the sound im commenting on.

Noise is low with the PQ-3 but it adds some odd low end and makes the sound a bit darker both in bypass and in a neutral setting with all knobs at noon.
Sadly not in a fashion that adds warmth or punch but makes the sound slightly boomy. Not the best base to start from, but a nice piece of gear nevertheless.

This unit was built in 83 or 84 I think. Its the blackface version with the red knobs and a bypass button instead of the little toggle switch.
I own it since 2003 and never had a problem with it.

The bypass button is a little used up needs to be pressed a bit harder but thats the only weak spot.
But lets be honest, after 25 or 26 years of constand use you can't call that a weak spot really.

The jacks on this thing are INSANE! I never came a cross such strong jacks. I have to hold my rack with one hand and an pull the plug with the other, otherwise i could drag the rack around the room hahaha.

I can definitely depend on the PQ-3 and would gig with it without a backup, it's a tank!

Customer support with Furman was quite good. I wrote them a mail and asked for some details and they replied quickly and even send me the manual for both the PQ 3 and 4 as pdf files.

I ve been playing for 15 years and play mostly hard rock and metal music with a lot of lead guitar. The PQ-3 does a good job dipping out some mids and adding punch to get really heavy sounds.

I'm enthusiastic about collecting old school gear that's not considered vintage yet, so its too much to list.

If the PQ-3 was stolen or lost I would not buy another one, because of the dimebag hype the prices on these things skyrocketed...

I bought my PQ-3 in 2002 or 2003, anyway it was before Dimebag was shot. Nobody gave a damn about Dime's gear at that time and so I got the PQ-3 for around 70 bucks shipping included.

Lets face it, Hammett and Dimebag probably just got their hands on this because this was a standard affordable eq at its time. Just like a G-major is an average unit today. Nohing special, it just does its job.
The hype about the PQ-3 and 4 is absolutely ridiculous. You can get more or less the same sounds with any eq, be it parametric or graphic, that works well with guitars.

I'm not using the PQ-3 anymore but I'm keeping it because it's such a classic piece of gear. Kirk Hammett used it on MoP (theres a pic of him using a PQ-3 which is sitting on the top of his amplifier stack in the Garage Inc booklet) and Dimebag used it a ton. So I can feel cool to own one and i can laugh at all the kids paying 300-400 bucks for an PQ-3 the get the dimebag sound. I know Im mean...

three bands, boost and cut, blah blah blah.... It's a parametric EQ, you know what it does. Oh, you can also plug into the front of this unit and use it as a preamp.

I originally bought this to put in the effects loop of my marshall head, to cut out some mids and get a more modern sound, it did the job well; I could even get a Metallica "Ride the Lightening" sound easily. I bought a tremoverb and LOVED the distortion, but when I added the PQ3 in the effects loop, it sounded insane, REALLY REALLY heavy. It has a direct input in the front, which can prove useful. I always bring this unit with me whenever I have to play though an amp that isnt mine, it will almost always get me a tone I can be content with. I recently plugged directly into the front of this unit and through a power amp (Guitar->SansampGT2->furmanPQ3->mesa simul 2:90->recto 4x12) and it sounded great. It's a VERY useful unit, I use it constantly.

so far no problems

n/a

of all the effects; including stomp boxes, this is the only thing I constantly use. The PQ3 and a polychorus is all i ever use anymore. I'm definitely getting use out of this. Its like my secret weapon. I have this 5 space rack, with a Mesa 2:90, a sansamp PSA-1, a sonic maximizer and the PQ3. I havent used this rig since I got my tremoverb, but it was amazing. I used this rig through an old orange cabinet and it sounded incredible! Anyway, buy the PQ3.

I bought this unit for my ballsy tone,after hearing darrell from pantera,and other pros. during the 1980s using this eq for a pre-amp dist.After hooking it up for the first time I had to expirament for a while to get that great tone that I was looking for.I found by setting the freqs.close to each other(400-600-800)and turning the db levels up to abuot 18plus,then cutting the mids on my amp gave me the smoothest dist.I have ever had

The tone that this unit is capable of can make a bad amp sound good,it is a little noisy but no more than say a stomp box.I use a rocktron hush behind it and no more noise!I run these units through an effects loop in my digitech 2112 so I can go from dirty to clean,since the furman is not progamable,then into two marshall jcm 800 halfstacks.My tone sounds incredable! I always have people ask how I get my tone when playing out live,And I have turned alot of other local players onto the pq3,its the one piece of gear I could not live without!

I have owned this unit for 15 years and never had a problem.I dont see the need for a backup

dont know never had a problem

I play classic/blues rock this eq gives me warm,smooth overdrive/dist.With great sustian,and without fuzz or hiss that most pedals are famous for.I do wish it was programmable,then I could get rid of the 2112!I love the look with the dark green front and red knobs,it dosent look like one of those digital units!I would have to buy another one if lost or stolen,its still my favorite piece of gear!

It's an EQ, so you have to know how to use one. The manual basically explains frequencies and how to EQ them. It's not just a "turn the mids down" EQ, like a graphic, because it'll turn your tone to crap, so you have to understand how the unit works as a whole. The manual gives you a good visual of what happens when you start turnin knobs though.

The unit isn't noisy at all. I use it in my Randall Cyclone effects loop. The detailing of EQ is extremely useful in fine tuning your own sound. I'm a big fan of Dime and this thing would help any amp get his tone more easily.

This rack unit seems very dependable. I'd use it without a back up, but I need a few more since it only has three bands to work out of.

I've never dealt with the company.

I play metal music. This thing works great for me, but I think it'll work great with anybody. This is so much better than any graphic EQ, in my opinion. I'd buy another immediatly if my rack were stolen. To be honest, it'd be the first thing that I'd buy out of a Hush, Exciter, Delay, Tuner, or conditioner. I like the fact that it isn't a digital lookin thing. It's an "ugly as hell" green, with red knobs and I love it. It's good that in has high and low input and outputs for almost any situation. I compared it to a lot of graphic equalizers, and I just love this one a lot more. You can detail your sound better than a graphic eq, because there's frequencies that are in between the numbers on any graphic EQ, and this can get to them without trying. I wish it had more bands to play with. You only 3 basic bands to tune to. Extreme low to low-mid, low-mid to mid high, and high mid frequencies to the ones that would make dogs start barkin!

Incredible unit! tweak the EQ from light to monster crunch.. Its really all in the EQ. Nice range and if you can train your ears to be receptive to EQ frequencies the better you will be able to dial in the correct settings for your rig. It took me a few weeks but it was worth it!! Programming this is as easy as using a stomp pedal.

Excellent sound for the money!! No line noise and nice clarity!
I have used it on several of my amps: Mesa Boogie MKIV, Crate Blue VooDoo, Peavey 5150. It does the job for live performances!

I bought it new at Guitar Center about 1 1/2 years ago. Never have had any problems!!

I have been in and used the PQ 3 in only metal atmospheres. We have a christian metal band that plays originals similar to Metallica, Pantera, Satriani and van Halen. the first time I hooked this up in my rack I was in awe. It really added what was missing. My main live rig cosists of a Mesa Boogie Strategy 500, Digitech Valve FX(the best Distortion) BBE, Alesis compressor 3630, Eventide H3000D/SX, via midi.
This PQ3 really got me closer to the tone I was trying to get!!
The Only thing that could make it better is if it was midi controllable with at least 5 memory settings!!

You really must know the specifics of equalization in order to get the most out of this unit. There are only three bands to use anyway, so once you mess around enough with it, you'll figure it out.

I use this in the effects loop of my ADA MP-1 and it makes all the difference in the world. I can get all kinds of sounds with this combination, but the real test for me was to be able to get an incredible metal/hardcore crunch...I got it. This combo with a bbe sonic maximizer and you're in heaven. I wish it were programmable though, but for $200 what do you want?

No problems at all with this thing.

never had to deal with them

For the price, you really can't beat it. It does the job and does it well. It literally gave me a whole new sound. It is kind of ugly to look at though, it's shit green in color with red knobs(what the hell were they thinking?!?!) Anyway, I'm sure you can get a better unit for more money, but this one's just fine.