Mid boost 80s hair metal tone

[CarlosG]

Hi!
I watched an interview with Dann Huff and he has a mid booster on his guitars made by James Tyler, I think.
Kee Marcello also said that some guy modified his Marshall so that he could boost the mids with a footswitch.
I wonder if there are such ready-made mid boosters for guitar wiring.
I'm currently using a Line6 helix and I was wondering if I could get a similar result with some kind of effect. Maybe eq? What frequencies did they boost to make the solo sound fat?

 

[Mincer]

I would think any pedal effect EQ in the Helix would be a good place to start. Go with a graphic EQ into an 80s-style Marshall model, and experiment how the different EQ bands affect the signal. You can also play around with the EQ controls on the amp model, as usually they are a little exaggerated from what the amp can actually do.
Of course, the most classic mid boost is a Tube Screamer pedal into the front of the amp. Turn the gain down and the volume up, and play around with the pedal model's tone control.

 

[Securb]

Keep in mind a lot of these 80s guitarists scooped their mids. So in some cases when using a mid boost they were leveling out the EQ back to normal more than going for a mid-forward tone.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I think the Simple EQ block ought to do the job. I'd set the frequency around 700-1000. That's kinda the vocal kinda midrange that makes solos pop without sounding too harsh. Maybe cut a bit of bass and treble as well.

 

[CarlosG]

Keep in mind a lot of these 80s guitarists scooped their mids. So in some cases when using a mid boost they were leveling out the EQ back to normal more than going for a mid-forward tone.

Yea, Dimebag cut middle on amp, and boost middle with eq pedal - this makes the bass tighter.

 

[idsnowdog]

This is a simple build without buying the kit. It's a fixed position WAH. https://guitarpedalparts.com/produc...rIQ1n5AMMqQB1C1BTr1m-rYvPvzZWuLHHAKcQ7dxWtf9u

 

[Securb]

This is a simple build without buying the kit. It's a fixed position WAH. https://guitarpedalparts.com/produc...rIQ1n5AMMqQB1C1BTr1m-rYvPvzZWuLHHAKcQ7dxWtf9u

That is pretty much what Kerry King uses.

 

[Aceman]

I'd get a parametric for this purpose, but almost anything would work from a mini 5 band like MXR to the Source Audio EQ2 and put it on the floor.


Might be a fun project to put a mini pedal into a control cavity.

 

[donaldr]

The Simple EQ block on your Helix will work.
I always use such an EQ (cutting lows and boosting mids) before the amp block (not on Helix but on Atomic Firebox and Rocktron Voodu Valve), the amp EQ works better IMHO.

 

[Archer250]

Keep in mind a lot of these 80s guitarists scooped their mids. So in some cases when using a mid boost they were leveling out the EQ back to normal more than going for a mid-forward tone.

Did they though?

I mean you were there so you'd know better than me, but putting the mid's knob on a JCM 800 or a (modded) Plexi on 4 or 6 isn't really a "scoop" by colloquial terminology anymore

Heck when you're talking about Mark 2Cs and Soldanos, "scooping" is just making the mids even with the other frequencies :laugh2:

 

[Archer250]

Anyways, I get that kind of "mid boost" (for solos) using a Suhr Koko boost. That thing into a Marshall = instant Out of This Word/Prisoners in Paradise tone\

With a Helix, I'd just use the EQ block in the front of the amp and boost between 200Hz to 1.3k, experimenting with the Q and the frequency​

 

[Securb]

.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Slayer never scooped their mids.

 

[Aceman]

Scooped mids is a Bedroom-tone approach.

In a mix, guitar IS Mids. Listen to some isolated rhythm tracks.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I think if it was forbidden to run an amp's mid knob below noon, many iconic sounds would have never existed. Just sayin'.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I think if it was forbidden to run an amp's mid knob below noon, many iconic sounds would have never existed. Just sayin'.

Dialing mids below noon isn't necessarily scooping. Depends on whether it's late morning, mid-morning, or dawn.

 

[Securb]

My life would not be worth living without mids

 

[Mincer]

My life would not be worth living without mids

Agreed. That's where the fun is.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Scooped mids is a Bedroom-tone approach.

In a mix, guitar IS Mids. Listen to some isolated rhythm tracks.

I'm always surprised when even veteran guitarists don't understand this. I played a short Def Leppard set a couple years ago. At rehearsal, I showed up with a moderately dialled-in Leppard tone, no scooped mids. The other guitarist showed up with your typical smiley-face rock amp setting. We rehearsed "Animal" and he was like, "How come I can't hear myself but I can hear you just fine?" Hmm, let me think. Maybe it's because I didn't chop out the frequency where my instrument can actually be heard...