Any word on onboard EQs for guitar?

C

Chistopher

malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
I've been browsing active preamps with 3-band EQs, but they are generally geared for bass, so the frequency bands aren't 100% perfect.

Does anyone know of any preamps advertised for guitars or with frequency centers that line up reasonably? Bartolini has 50,500,and 6k hz based on vintage Fender tone stacks or 30, 250/800, and 10k hz with a more modern design. Aguilar has 40, 400/800, 6.5k. EMG has some cool stuff, but nothing as simple as what I want.

Any recs?
 
You might want to do some research into Zappa's yellow Strat it had a builtin parametric EQ, IIRC he had an SG with a similar setup

“The trimpots are identical parametric filter circuits,” Zappa’s tech, Midget Sloatman, told GP in 1995. “One trimpot is dedicated to bass frequencies from about 50Hz to 2kHz, and the other one affects the top-end frequencies from about 500Hz up to 20kHz.

"The filters also featured a variable resonant frequency [or ‘Q’] knob that allowed Frank to control the feedback characteristics of his rig in any hall. He could basically tune his guitar to the room, determine how the room responded to the amplifier, and then use the Q control to elicit the feedback he wanted.

“Frank also used the active filters to emphasize the highs in the 4k-to-8k range in order to bring out the nuances of the strings."
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not completely on subject, I don't like the idea of on board eq, too complex to use while playing, but I once used a Fender Eric Clapton signature strat and that mid boost is kind of weird but definitely has a personality
 
Yeah, I usually don't care for adding more controls to my instruments, but I care for the traditional les paul control scheme even less.
 
I think an EQ with a preset boost would be cool. Maybe if you used that for solo boosts, or for two different sounds.

But I certainly would not want a "B/M/T" or parametric or even sliders to deal with on my guitar.

But you do you.
 
It works fine on bass at least. I generally take my approach on active tone controls differently than I do passive. I dial in the sound I want during sound check and then never touch it again
 
Honestly I may try a volume and a TBX for each. I like the TBX but don't like it as a master tone control. I think it may work better so I can roll the bass off the neck and the treble off the bridge.
 
I have active basses with BMT controls but I would never put an active preamp in a guitar (and I have 2 guitars with EMG pickups).
It makes sense in a bass as we sometime go Bass -> DI box -> FOH, so no amp involved and we can have control of the tone directly on the bass. If your are planning on Guitar -> DI box -> FOH only for clean tones than it makes sense. Otherwise you can use an EQ pedal as your first pedal on your pedaboard and it'll be easier to deal with.
 
I guess that makes sense. I'm not too big a fan of touching my amp or the knobs on my pedals during a show though. On board controls I'll bump now and then.
 
Yeah, I agree. It was my impression the whole active EQ on bass was for bassists who like to go direct.

I have a bass with an EMG active EQ that I disconnected. I never used it as I hated the sound of bass going direct to FOH, personally. I'm OK on going DI after some sort of preamp ala a SansAmp or Darkglass... but going direct from the bass? No amount of EQ could get the bass sounding like I'd like going like that, personally.

I understand the appeal of having an inbuilt EQ in your guitar if you're someone who values versatility... but at the same time, would it be any better than having an EQ pedal on the floor that you can stomp on when you want the EQ change?

Plus IMO, it would just end up looking like one of those Gibson Moog guitars from the 70's or a BC Rich with the silly amount of knobs from the 80's/90's. Super dated at worst and very niche-looking at best if you're into those sort of things.
 
Chistopher said:
I guess that makes sense. I'm not too big a fan of touching my amp or the knobs on my pedals during a show though. On board controls I'll bump now and then.
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You can get a programmable EQ with different presets so that you don't have to touch any knobs. Source Audio makes one. Boss too.
 
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The guys at Bartolini got back to me and they say that the NTMB preamp can easily be modified for guitar with a few capacitors. I'm still debating whether or not to do it, I'll get back to this when I've made a decision
 
All of the emg bass eq systems will work for guitars. The frequency bands are wide enough to cover both.

They have one that uses 3 holes too. 1 for volume, and 2 stacked for eq. 1 does bass and treble, the other is for mids and mid frequency center.

I plan on doing this to the guitar I install my 57/66tws in. It makes for more versatility with actives. Not sure id do it with passives
 
donaldr said:
I have active basses with BMT controls but I would never put an active preamp in a guitar (and I have 2 guitars with EMG pickups).
It makes sense in a bass as we sometime go Bass -> DI box -> FOH, so no amp involved and we can have control of the tone directly on the bass. If your are planning on Guitar -> DI box -> FOH only for clean tones than it makes sense. Otherwise you can use an EQ pedal as your first pedal on your pedaboard and it'll be easier to deal with.
Click to expand...

I think this nails it.
 
Ooh, so that's just a clean amplifier? I may just try to do something myself, in which case I'll probably opt for a simple pair of dedicated volumes and a knob to boost/cut the treble. I probably don't really need onboard mids or bass to be honest.
 
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