TC Electronic TC 1140 Parametric EQ/Preamp

Like every other parametric eq. It is a bit difficult to understand at first but when you get used to it you can predict the tone changes.

First let me say that i am a guitar player. I am not into recording, mixing or djing. I got this eq with the intention of getting some dime-ish tones (pantera guitar player). In europe it is really difficult to get a hold on these furmans and someone recommended this so without a second thought i grabbed it. My best mate has a pq-4 imported from the us with a step up transformer. I really liked how close he could setup his old randall to dime's tone. So i got mine and we put them side by side. We set them at the exact dime's settings (you can find them in forums) and no wonder the pq sounded really dime-ish while this was not even close. Only then did i understand that the furmans were used to add gain to the poor old randall. So it was impossible to get dime's sound with this because it didn't add gain through the input gain knob in the way the furman did. It was a huge disappointment. I sold it after two endless weeks of incessant knob twisting and now i am waiting for my furman from the u.s.! :-) . If you are after a dime sound this thing won't get you even close. I know it is a lot more expensive to import any of those furmans but from my experience it is absolutely worth it.

Apart from pots needing some cleaning it seemed durable

How could i know? This unit is out for production for a long time i think

I can't say about other applications but for guitar applications you better get a furman i say

Very easy to use. Perhaps the number of numbers and dots on the front panel may put some people off, it is very accurate. Just turn the knobs to 20 Khz and it will actually affect, just 20 kHZ nothing else. Pretty straightforward. On some other units, it can be a Pain in the butt to get exactly right and left channel settings, but not on this one. You set it right perfectly on the first shot.

Well, for anti-feedback and sizzling highs without artifacts, this unit is it. Greatest use is when doing live PA gigs at the front of the house. It has no side effects, I can do a steep cutoff or even 12 DB plus on any frequency without affecting neighboring frequencies. In studio, it almost have the same quality as a NEVE Eq modul from a NEVE desk (almost!). With recording drum cymbals, I always use this EQ for imitating an ECM recording sound. ECM records (and their studio) are famous for capturing drums and cymbals without any phase errors and sizzling highs. For guitar, I can get non-active and vintage sound on a strat equipped with EMG pickups, if you put in in front of everything else (amps, effects). Most and best use for it though, is actually a fixed EQ setting in a live PA rig, leveling out uneveness in any speaker system. I also use this unit instead of an exciter sometimes.

Well, if you leave it in the rack with a set EQ setting for years, the pots turns cracky and needs to be turned up full and down until the noisy cracks in sound disappears. This can be a quite tedious job running through every knob. Other than that the knobs green "hubcaps" tends to fall off after, well say, 10 years. But it works still. Otherwise built like a tank.

Never had to deal with them.

Music technical engineering, live PA rigs. Any kind of music and recording. Playing for 30 years. Helps me make a decent sound that one can listen to without being fatigued for hours and hours. This is the only EQ I'll ever use in recording. The EQs on any desk I'll leave at 0. I do not use any EQ at all really, but if I have to, I'll stick to the TC 1140. If it aint a NEVE desk, of course. I bought mine used. I bought mine extremely cheap (a bargain!) so for that value it is very nice.

If you are into Parametrics, This is the model to buy. TC Electronics have always made great units and this is no different. But if you are not into parametrics it will be an education. It is different than a graphic EQ. But once you worked with it you will love the unit. All parametrics are to be learned and this is not different. I give it a 10 for parametric users and a 8 for non-users

Excellent sound quality. Its the unit to buy. Clean as a parametric can get. A very useful unit and I recommend this unit for live and studio work.It is clean and not noisy, All the bands work well and are accurate. I use a Eden 500 Bass amp with a 410XLT Cab and it works great with it.

This unit is built to last. I would not try to break it to find out. Mine is in a rack and I take care of my rack. But it is built very well as with all TC Electronic units. If you buy one you will know what I mean.

Never needed to call.

I bought this unit used. I was crazy a few years back because I sold it to buy a very expensive bass and needed the money. I sold it for 250.00. I was so hurt I did that. But I was always on the prowl to find another and I did and ordered it immediately. I Love the unit. I will not sell this one. It is a wonderful EQ and I recommend this unit to all players. Especially if you are looking for a clean sound. I mean you can overdrive anything but it is so clean and accurate as far as the eq's go. If you see one or can get your hands on one BUY IT.

I use a '91 Gibson Les Paul Studio, a A '97 Fender Mex Strat, and an Ibanez RX20 for sliding and it works great with all guitars exept the gibson. If you turn it to the old "Metallica Setting" (Mid 0, Low/bass and high/treble 10) this baby kicks ass but if you use the Gibson with the metallica setting, it kills the tone.I f you play in a basement or near a tv or VCR, you pick up so much noise. Even though I still might get a Mesa/Boogie Triaxis preamp and a peavy 5150 cabinet for power purposes, I'd unscrew the amp head off of the Frontman and use it as a rack!!!

I play all kinds of rock and jazz and this amp could handle just about anything! It has 2 channels. A clean and an overdrive. The overdrive is very flexible. I bought it with the amp pack so I got a foot switch and some heavy duty headphones with it. I giged with this many times and I half to say, other than a coffee stain, this amp could take anything!

It's pretty dependable. I've giged with it with no back up. The Input one broke down on me because of an idiot of a friend tipped over the amp while a patch cord was inside and the nut popped off. But if you don't have a friend like mine (I kicked your ass good for that gary!!) then this amp should last you till when you pass it down to your kids.

Never dealt with them. I have a 2 year warranty.

I've been playing for 1.5 years and have a Digitech RP6, A Vox wah, DOD Deathmetal, and love this amp! If it were stolen, I'd find the guy and rip his heart out and show it to him so he can see how black it is before he dies! Love my little amp to death! Hate the sound it makes near TVs. If it's any practice amp that you'll get, GET THIS ONE!!!!