Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

[SoCalSteve]

Do you find something like a 10 band EQ gives you more tonal shaping possibilities than just your amp's tone knobs or do they not make alot of difference as strictly a tone shaping device?

I've found I don't really need a distortion pedal on my amp-the gain channel sounds good but wonder if it's worth investing in an EQ to further refine it.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I think depends on you and your amp/setup/opinion. Some guys are Guitar->Amp and think that any effects color thier sound. Even an EQ will introduce some phase issues between different frequencies. However, an EQ can be a very helpful tool to refine your sound, both before the amp as well as in the effects loop. A little tone shaping before can change the distortion characteristics and in the loop you can boost and cut those frequencies that either stick out or will allow your sound to cut through a mix.

I don't own one, and if I bought one I'd do some research on which to get. It would have to be silent, be able to be used in the loop with no issues, and sound "good". I think an ideal EQ will sound exactly the same turned on and off with all the sliders at unity gain. I guess there is a modified Boss eq that someone on the internet does that is supposed to be really good...

 

[Funky P]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

It makes a huge difference. I've got the MXR and through the effects loops it really thickens up the tone, or adds presence and a bunch of other things. There are certain frequencies in there that 3 bands obviously dont have, and you can tweek those to how ever you want.

In front of the amp, it doenst have as much of an effect, it acts more like an overdrive that can also boost some frequencies aswell.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

IMO, EQ's on amps are bandaids. Get a killer sounding amp from plugging in straight, or with as limited effects or box's as possible.

 

[Amateur]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I don't have an 10 band EQ, but one of my buddies does. To me, EQ is good at cutting frequencies, if you try to boost a certain frequency, you add noise to it. A guitar does not have a high frequency range although it does give out harmonics, but if you boost the harmonics, you really change the tone of your guitar. When my buddy uses the EQ, he pretty much just cut out the frequencies he doesn't want, if he tries to boost them, the sound turns out to be muddy at times. I personally don't see the need of a EQ. I usually play clean or with minimum distortion.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

IMO, EQ's on amps are bandaids. Get a killer sounding amp from plugging in straight, or with as limited effects or box's as possible.

I tend to agree. I have a Boss GE-7, but I only use it as a solo boost. I guess you can use an EQ to allow you to change your basic tone quickly without having to tweak the amp during a gig, but personally I've never found the need to do that.

There was an article I read somewhere on the net where a guy put forward the case for having about four stages of EQ, and claimed your rig would sound crap if you didn't. But it was a seriously complex rig he was proposing. There are too many guys getting great tones with guitar -> cord -> amp for me to buy into that.

 

[dingdongbell070]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I have the boss GE-7 and I got the sniper mod kit online and installed it myself. It made a world of difference and if you can soldier than it only costs $25 for the mod
http://tone-jam.com/Mod_Shop.html

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I was thinking earlier after reading that Slash uses one for a lead boost that it might be nice to set the amp for a nice rhythm tone and use the EQ with boosted mids or whatever for a lead tone. Or I probably don't even need one....but toys are fun!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I'm thinking it would be good for a single channel amp, roll back the volume for cleans, full volume for rhythm and kick in the EQ (mid hump, overall boost to hit the preamp harder) for solo.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I was thinking earlier after reading that Slash uses one for a lead boost that it might be nice to set the amp for a nice rhythm tone and use the EQ with boosted mids or whatever for a lead tone. Or I probably don't even need one....but toys are fun!

I think Slash uses (or has used) the GE-7 in the effects loop of the amp. That way you can get a BIG volume increase when you step on it. Alternatively, if you put it before the amp, it works like an overdrive with the gain low and the volume high - allows you to hit the pre-amp with a boosted signal and overdrive it more. Either way you can also shape the tone - boosted mids or whatever. I don't always use mine but it's certainly a fun toy to have around.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

I'm thinking it would be good for a single channel amp, roll back the volume for cleans, full volume for rhythm and kick in the EQ (mid hump, overall boost to hit the preamp harder) for solo.

That's exactly what I was doing with mine when I was trying out the JMP 2204 the other night. :banana:

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Do EQ's give you added flexibility or are they overkill?

Those are some good suggestions guys, thanks!