Pultec Equalizers are some of the rarest and most sought after studio
tools in the industry today. Engineers lucky enough to be able to work
with them find their musicality and warm tonality extremely important to
their studio's "sound." The simple beauty of these EQs is unsurpassed!
The original Pultec equalizers were tools developed to deal with the
limitations of recorded music. Limitations that most often manifest
themselves in the highest and lowest frequencies of the program
material. Pultecs were designed to bring back the life and musicality
lost in the recording. Whether by accident or genius, nothing has been
able to do it better. The interaction of the passive boosting and
attenuating shelving eqs (not relying on negative feedback), as well as
the transformers, tubes and other amplification circuitry all add to the
incredibly musical character of the product. Working engineers try
other types of equalizers, but always end up coming back to the Pultec
as the equalizer of choice for those final touches.
Mercury Recording Equipment Co. is committed to recreating every magical nuance of the original in a modern production. The goal was that the Mercury EQ-P1 Program Equalizer
would add that magic touch to music like the original, we achieved that
goal. Mercury has tried to keep all elements in line with the original
designer's ideas with only minor improvements. Adding a couple of extra
frequencies for more flexibility and we use DC on the heaters (of the
tubes) rather than AC for better performance as well as a new very quiet
and stable power supply.
The Mercury EQ-P1 Program Equalizer has transformer balanced
input and output, with a fully balanced (push-pull) gain make up
amplifier. Our new Mercury production utilizes only the highest quality
passive components, while remaining true to the original production.
Interstage Transformer In/Out Switch The only modernization
feature on the unit is a user switchable (in/out) interstage
transformer. In the original Pultec EQP this transformer was always in
the signal path, however, realizing that some of today's engineers might
want to remove it with the Mercury EQ-P1 Program Equalizer it is
possible to do so with I.S.T. (Interstage Input Transformer) in/out
switch, below the EQ in/out switch on the front panel. This takes the
middle (interstage) transformer out of the circuit. Down, in the "in"
position, it is more "vintage" like the original Pultec. Up, in the
"out" position, it is a little more "open" and "airy" on the top. Either
way, the input and output transformers are always in the circuit.
Frequencies
Low Frequency Select (CPS): 20, 30, 60, 100, 200 Hz
Low Frequency Boost Control: Shelf Boost, 0dB to +13dB
Low Frequency Attenuate Control: Shelf Atten. 0dB to -17dB
High Frequency Bandwidth Control: Sharp to Broad
High Frequency Select (KCS): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16k
High Frequency Boost Control: Shelf Boost, 0dB to +18dB
High Frequency Shelf Attenuate Select: 5, 10, & 20k
High Frequency Attenuate Control: Shelf Attenuate, 0dB to +16dB
Mercury EQ-P1 Vs. EQ-H1. What's the difference?
The Mercury EQ-H1 has a different amplifier than the Mercury EQ-P1 thus
it has a different tone. Meaning the EQ-H1 and EQ-P1 sound different on
the same application.
The key to the tone of the Pultec circuit is the amplifier, being that the EQ section is passive.
The EQ-H1 is more punchy and robust and the EQ-P1 is more open and
silky. Although both sound amazing on any application and they are both
multi-purpose tools (equalizers) in the studio, if you had both you
could then pick and choose between applications. The Mercury EQ-H1 is
warm and fluid but a bit "thicker" than the EQ-P1, thus the EQ-H1 shines
on Thickening vocals, Bass, Kick, Snare, and Guitar etc... The Mercury
EQ-P1 is great for Shaping vocals, Acoustic instruments, Guitar, Piano
etc...
Mercury Recording Equipment Co. has gone to great lengths to recreate
the pride and passion of the past, both sonically and aesthetically,
while offering the reliability of a present day production. The choices
made in looks, layout, functionality, features and build quality all
answer back to one question: How would "they" have done it today?
Mercury Recording Equipment Co. products are hand wired and/or assembled
using silver solder and no-compromise parts. All Mercury products are
transformer balanced, inputs and outputs and there are no I.C.s (chips)
in the signal path. The chassis and front panels have a very distinctive
"vintage" look with custom powder coating finish. They look as good as
they sound!
Original Manufacturers Description
Technical Documents
Specifications
Brochure
Product Manual
Recall Sheet
User Testimonials
"I
used the EQ-P1 and EQ-H1 extensively in mixing scenarios, and they performed
like
champs. I was able to dial in silky top-end on vocals and acousticguitars and
beefy lows on kick drums and mic'ed basscabinets with truly 'pro' results.
There were many times
when i hit upon a certain setting and found it was 'that sound' I had heard
for years on 'that famous record' that didn't seem possible to get with 'othergear'.
These EQs are so perfectly geared to music that- even with extreme settings
-
it's hard to get bad results with them." Pete Weiss, TapeOp Magazine
#49
"I
heard about Mercury gear about 7 years ago from a bass player friend, Dan Schwartz.
He told me about this
guy was making tube Equalizers that would kill
Pultecs. I was skeptical. He was half correct. Nothing
sounds quite like an old Pultec but Mercury EQs are
one of the best sounding tube Equalizers on the
planet.
The Mercury EQs (EQH1 & EQP1) are a quite original.
All the tone of a classic tube Equalizer but without
the noise and much more power.
Mercury Recording Equipment is ... Full of Tone!" Joe Chiccarelli
Grammy Award winning producer & engineer Joe Chiccarelli's credits include: White Stripes,
Elton John, Beck, U2, Rufus Wainwright and Bon Jovi
"I called to set up a demo of the Mercury M66 Leveling Amplifier and they suggested I listen to the 2 Mercury EQs (Mercury EQH and EQP) as well. I was doing a mix at the time and thought it was a great time to listen in a "real" environment. Although I was not in the market for EQs I thought it would not hurt to listen to them. The EQs were flawless... I compared them to the two "vintage" Pultecs I had side by side... YOU COULD NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE. Listening with different instrumentation going through them and comparing them both at the same frequency settings side by side, the "vintage" units and the MERCURY EQs sounded EXACTLY THE SAME. I had not intended on purchasing the EQs but after listening too them on the mix I was doing... I purchased both of them!
Bottom line... You will have to hear it to believe
it." - Scott Humphrey
Producer/Engineer/Mix Engineer Scott Humphrey's credits include: Korn, Rob Zombie,
Bon Jovi and Monster Magnet. The
Chop Shop
"Dave's Mercury gear is insane! He provides amazing build quality, a beautiful aesthetic and impeccable
accuracy. I cannot imagine a better version of what he manufacturers. I am quite certain that Mercury will be the dominant force in our industry for years to come." Note: Brian owns 2x Mercury EQH1s
Brian Garcia
Producer/Mixer/Engineer Brian Garcia's clients include: Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Our
Lady Peace, King's X, Dizmas.
Brian's briangarcia.net.
"Since
the days of working at The Power Station and Media Sound in New York, I have
longed for that Pultec sound and vibe. The Mercury EQ-H Equalizer gives me just
that. David Marquette's dedication to sonic greatness is reflected in the unit.
I love it! Now I just need four more!" - Benjy King
"From
the first day i tried the Mercury EQ-H1's, I knew I had to have them... it
was just the sound they made....... amazing!!! So, Dave Piechura and Vintage
King helped me out, and now the Mercury's never leave my mix buss. You gotta
hear them, they're just incredible!!!!!" Jim DeBlanc
Engineer (Alison Krauss)
