I was correct, the equalizer circuit is completely wrong. I simulated it and found that the transistors are biased wrong and the circuit has almost no output level even though I have the tone control for the lowest frequency at maximum.
The transistor amplifier was non-inverting like an oscillator instead of inverting and I fixed the biasing.
The transistor amplifier was non-inverting like an oscillator instead of inverting and I fixed the biasing.