I would never call a g series channel strip colored. In fact they are quite boring sounding to me, especially the g console preamps too. The g series is based more on transperancy and functionality, not coloration of the sound. The E series (the predecessor to the g) eq is certainly more colored and unique sounding to me. However that does not make it better, both are great eqs to me. Now the g series BUS comp has a bit a of color to it, but it varies greatly on how you set the compressor...the attack and release controls are VITAL on this comp. The e series are certainly a bit warmer...but mainly have a different eq curves than the g giving them a different sound. For example the E eq has a "bell" button in the Low frequencies which can allow for some more subtle bumps in the bottom end, where the g has a low shelving eq with LMF /3 button which divides the low frequency selected by 3 for a bit more options in the low end. So think of it this way...G is boring and transparent, but very functional. E is a bit more colored with some different low end options and some different eq curves. The g series channel compressors sound very similar to a dbx 160 to me as well so keep that in mind.
Also there is two different E series eqs, the brown and black series. The original brown series has no bypassable high and low filters in the eq. The filters are always on and cut a little bit of bandwidth from the overall signal. In the 80s an engineer complained about the bandwidth cut and they created the black eq which has a fully bypassable hi and lo shelf on the channel. You can tell them apart by the brown or black LF knobs, OR by the detented LF or HF controls. The black has the detented controls.
