EQ - 5, 6, 7, 10, more???

[Aceman]

So, I have never really owned an EQ pedal. I have three knobs on an amp, one to three more on a dirt box, and a tone on a guitar. And of course, I have had EQ in multi-fx units. I also use a 7 band on Bass. I like EQ for Bass! I have used a few a few here and there at jams over the years.

But

How many bands do you REALLY need?
Mooer - 5
MXR - 6
Boss - 7
MXR - 10

And do you need an overall Level? Not all have them. I'd say hell yes, but obviously everyone doesn't think so.

Where do you fall in this mess?

 

[Mincer]

If you are happy with your sound, you don't really need one.

 

[Mikelamury]

I've only used the boss 7 band EQ after my distortion and overdrive for tone shaping and a always on volume boost. Master Level a must for me!

 

[Aceman]

If you are happy with your sound, you don't really need one.

I don't need a bit crusher either, but I want one.

 

[Top-L]

On an amp, I trust that the amp designer knows more about the needs of live playing than I do, so I generally coax the best sounds using the on board EQ and let my ears adjust to what its giving. Guitar pickup adjustments are fair game and won't put an amp outside its operating range of good taste. Also a boost pedals tone knob generally keeps things in bounds.

With an EQ pedal, its easy to sculpt something that sounds good played at home at a lower volume, or played solo, but played with others it may not cut, or it may be too trebly/middy sounding (this is why my ears usually do when I mess with EQ pedal.)

When playing direct, that is where EQ sculpting is fair game. Using an MFX processor, I find a recorded tone and use it as a reference and use the EQ to "tone match". This way it will generally sit in the mix and work with whatever I'm playing over. EQ pedal could be useful here if your IR loader / MFX doesnt have a comprehensive EQ.

 

[jeremy]

28 bands or i dont want it

 

[Securb]

For the win!

.

 

[Liam1963]

I run two (2) BOSS GE7's, one for overall EQ, and one set for certain guitar parts songs that have a different EQ setting (i.e. listen to the primary guitar on The Hollies "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress", very midrange, hardly any low end).

 

[LLL]

You need 1/3 octave for surgical precision in a graphic.

 

[Aceman]

On an amp, I trust that the amp designer knows more about the needs of live playing than I do, so I generally coax the best sounds using the on board EQ and let my ears adjust to what its giving. Guitar pickup adjustments are fair game and won't put an amp outside its operating range of good taste. Also a boost pedals tone knob generally keeps things in bounds.

With an EQ pedal, its easy to sculpt something that sounds good played at home at a lower volume, or played solo, but played with others it may not cut, or it may be too trebly/middy sounding (this is why my ears usually do when I mess with EQ pedal.)

When playing direct, that is where EQ sculpting is fair game. Using an MFX processor, I find a recorded tone and use it as a reference and use the EQ to "tone match". This way it will generally sit in the mix and work with whatever I'm playing over. EQ pedal could be useful here if your IR loader / MFX doesnt have a comprehensive EQ.

I'm not gonna even...

 

[Aceman]

You need 1/3 octave for surgical precision in a graphic.

No doubt there is a time and a place for that...I'm not talking about those times or places.

I did have 3b rack unit around for a while that was kinda fun, but it wasn't mine. And I have used one in software.

Really focussed on basic floor pedal

 

[Securb]

You need 1/3 octave for surgical precision in a graphic.

The was a very popular Boston band called The Tears. The guitarist used a 1/3 octave into his Hiwatt halfstack he sounded amazing.

 

[beaubrummels]

It's more important to figure out what frequencies you typically have problems with and get an EQ that is able to address those specific frequencies, regardless of how many bands it has. I would recommend a parametric EQ before a graphic EQ. That way you choose the frequencies, Q and depth and can deal with any issues accurately.

 

[LLL]

Another concept is the pre/post EQ thing.

pre EQ before the amp, boost the frequencies the guitar likes (midrange). generally speaking, a "frown" curve.

then post EQ after the amp (various ways to do so and not just in the studio). generally speaking, a "smile" curve.


If I were doing so live, I'd do say an MXR 6 band in front of amp, then load amp down, then line out into say an MXR 10 band.

Or, MXR 6 band in front, with MXR 10 band in amp FX loop if it has one and you don't want to bother with re-amping the signal.

 

[Securb]

This the part of the thread where I tell Aceman he needs an Eventide H9

 

[PFDarkside]

I’m into the Mesa Boogie 5 band.

1. This is the same EQ that they’ve been using and people have loved since the MKII in the 80’s.
2. Look at the frequencies, they aren’t just even multiples of a base frequency, they were chosen specifically because they each are located at “important” frequency points, and I assume Randall Smith’s ears are more fine tuned than mine.
3. Since there are only 5 bands you get to a good sound faster, theoretically.

I’m sure you can get the same results with a huge parametric EQ, but this is certainly easier.

 

[PFDarkside]

Ok, maybe they are evenly spaced, but whatever.

 

[Mincer]

I don't need a bit crusher either, but I want one.

Yeah, but an EQ can do more damage to the sound if not set right (or not needed at all).

 

[dave74]

And if you go parametric, beware of mis-labeled products that lack any kind of Q control, or have it just in one or two bands. An EQ that gives you control over the center frequency but not over Q is more correctly called semiparametric.

(Q is related to the width of a parametric filter. Subjectively, the higher the Q, the more the filter is focused on the center frequency, the sharper and more narrow the cut or boost in the frequency domain, the more selective. Lower Q is usually perceived as wider bandwidth, gentler, more gradual in selectivity.)

VFE Rocket EQ had full control. I wish a good brand would do a clone of it.

 

[JamesPaul]

I vote 7, as my GE-7 is one of my pedals that has seen regular use. But it was in my acoustic guitar gig, and may or may not be applicable to Aceman's question.