Tech 21 Q\Strip Review

This Tech 21 Q strip review entails my personal experience with the product. It will help you get to know this model from a user’s perspective.
One thing that made me look at my church differently was the change in music. I visited the hall one day with my dad and noticed that the whole environment had changed. People were more enthusiastic, and everyone's face lit up when the music filled the great halls. This music, I later realized, had been recorded using an EQ instrument.

I inquired about it because I wanted to get something to use with my guitar too. The Q strip has the 60’s and 70’s vibe to it and offers professional quality results. I used some of the most intense Bass tones with these units and was completely mesmerized with the results. I also found it very portable as I could carry it with me for live gigs and performances.

Things to Consider before Buying

There is a range of EQ instruments available in the market, but the issue with most of these products is that they don't offer good alteration for the frequency response. This defeats the purpose of investing in such a model. I got the Q strip for myself because I loved the durability that the device offered. It was made with a solid construction material that ensured greater strength.

It comes with a full analog circuitry that provides a better girth and warmth to your music. Moreover, you get access to larger than life tones that will remind you of the loud church music wherever you go. I was also able to achieve much better control over the mix by adding the bands for equalization.

There were four pro-audio quality equalization bands, two of which were parametric and two consisted of high and low shelving filters. Together, these four bands helped enhance customization. Moreover, the presence of LPF and HPF also allowed me to exercise more control over the frequency spectrum. This will occur regardless of whether you are going direct with the guitar or you are using vocals.

But before you move further and make the ultimate choice, you need to step back and ask yourself these simple questions.

• Do I take my product everywhere?
• Can I afford it?
• Will it work for smaller and larger audiences both?

I was willing to wait a while until I had a full answer to all of my questions. This knowledge helped me make a much better judgment. I also knew that I had only one shot at getting this right; hence I evaluated both the model's durability and efficiency and only purchased the Q strip once I was fully convinced of its excellent quality.

Presenting the Product

There is so much competition in the market that one could easily get confused between different products. The best way to keep your sanity intact while also getting a good value on your money is to read a great and unbiased review such as this one. I used the model for myself and only wrote what I experienced. The HPF of the unit cuts the numble that is generally associated with instruments such as guitars. The LPF, on the other hand, will roll off any unwanted frequencies, thus ensuring good quality. Moreover, you can use this small device as a speaker simulator and further diversify your music. Not just that, but you can also use it in combination with other EQ sections and recreate many different curves and achieve the right level of pedaling effect.

Pros

• Can decrease distortions when you go direct
• The high impedance will accommodate low impedance sources
• Is a strong and durable recording console design
• Can be used for large events and small gigs
• Offer a diverse range of channel strips

Cons

• Repairing costs are high

Features & Benefits

Q strip has certainly revolutionized the way people look at such instruments. It is both powerful and offers unmatched durability. You get a combination of HPF and LPF that allows you to get boosted and uninterrupted frequencies. The model is also relatively cheaper than many other units in the market. There are also a plethora of other benefits to the product’s name. Let’s look at all of these individually.

Balanced output

The best thing about the Q strip is that it offers a very balanced output. Since this model is specifically made for recording basses and guitar, a smooth output comes in handy in many instances. This also allows the model to be used as both a direct feed for a power amp or a DI box. It can also be used as a parallel input jack that can enhance the splitting effect. All this allows you to feed a PA system and any level of the amp at the same time.

Diverse mode of operations

Another thing I loved about the unit was that it offered diversity in modes of operation. You can make use of the XLR output and get the phantom power. You can also use the alkaline battery that produces a standard 9V. The third option is for you to use the power supply. Together, these help make Q  strip a smooth action custom actuator.

4 bands - Tech 21 QStrip Review

The Q strip will also offer you 4 different bands of desk style equalization. This comprises of both low and high shelf filters. You also get two additional bands, including the sweepable Mids. These provide a frequency between 40Hz and 6 kHz. Since you get fully separable high and low filters, you can keep the frequency spectrum within a desirable range. Moreover, the inclusion of low pass filters also allows you to use the unit as an emulation filter.

Benefits of Tech 21 Q strip

• The XLR can drive the power amps and accommodate different leveled inputs easily
• The quarter-inch output offers a boost on tap and ensures a +10dB range
• Can be used to drive any power amp and hence push the drive tubes into an overdrive mode
• Provide three different levels of operations including the phantom power, the standard 9V, and the optional power supply
• The balanced output stage will allow the unit to be used as a direct feed for amp or as a DI box

Reference: http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/effects/q-strip/

Social Proof

The only people who blindly trust everything they read on the internet are the ones who aren’t passionate about their purchase. They are willing to take a chance. Luckily, I wasn’t one of them. I looked hard and long to see whether anyone was saying something very negative about the product. To my delight, there were no such reviews. People loved the Q strip because it offered them good adjustments which made them feel more in control.

and,

Alternatives - Tech 21 QStrip Review

Great quality, sounds, and versatility come together in the making of this product. Q strip is also relatively cheaper and comes in a lightweight body. However, all these features don’t always stand out when we draw comparisons with other similar models. Hence, I looked for features that will always stand out for me, regardless of what other options I had.

I didn’t want to write all the possible features of the four products and then make comparisons. I knew this would be too time consuming and would not help me reach any substantial conclusion. So instead, I only wrote the most prominent pros for each model and one or two major cons. I then had a quick look at them to see whether I was missing out on a relatively better product. Luckily, I wasn’t.

Here is the overview that helped me through the process.

Source Audio EQ2 

Wampler EQuator Advanced

L.R. Baggs Align Equalizer 

Conclusion

Sometimes the only reason you are not progressing in your career or personal life is that you aren't willing to go the extra mile. I was so confident that my guitar sound was enough that I never really thought of investing in a game-changer such as Q strip.

When I saw how drastically the church music had changed with the inclusion of this unit, I decided to go for it. This gave a boost to the bass and allowed the vocals to be amplified to a large degree.

Moreover, the excellent filters helped eliminate any distortions in music that I experienced before.

So if you are willing to push your creativity and achieve new heights of success, then you too should invest in this model.