Why tone controls set so low??
- Thread starter Dave Locher
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VinceT
New member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
One thing not mentioned is how players choose bass when playing solo (or at home) and in a band situation. With a bass player alongside, there’s really no reason to have very much bass coming from the guitar amps at all. In fact, reducing bass and boosting mids, while also slightly pulling back gain can do wonders for live tone in a band setting.
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One thing not mentioned is how players choose bass when playing solo (or at home) and in a band situation. With a bass player alongside, there’s really no reason to have very much bass coming from the guitar amps at all. In fact, reducing bass and boosting mids, while also slightly pulling back gain can do wonders for live tone in a band setting.
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Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
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Try explaining that to a guitarist who then says that, with things set like that, that the guitar doesn't sound "full" enough.[emoji21]
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Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
In this video, starting at about 4:00, they describe a method of dialling in an amp by starting with all the EQ knobs at zero then rolling each up to the sweet spot then tweaking from there. I haven't tried it, but I can see how it makes sense if you're encountering a house amp you haven't played before. You're listening to the taper of the control as it rolls up from zero.
In this video, starting at about 4:00, they describe a method of dialling in an amp by starting with all the EQ knobs at zero then rolling each up to the sweet spot then tweaking from there. I haven't tried it, but I can see how it makes sense if you're encountering a house amp you haven't played before. You're listening to the taper of the control as it rolls up from zero.
Gtrjunior
New member
Why tone controls set so low??
The scooped Metallica curse....
even though the guitar tone on all of their albums have plenty of mids present.
The scooped Metallica curse....
even though the guitar tone on all of their albums have plenty of mids present.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
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Yes, the irony being that that guitar sound isn't as scooped as most people think.
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Re: Why tone controls set so low??
I think it is just a case of players using the amp differently than intended by the manufacturer. Marshalls were not initially supposed to be turned up to the point of distortion. Either were Fenders. So the actual players changed the 'rules' in how an amp should be set up. No doubt that would require extreme settings.
I think it is just a case of players using the amp differently than intended by the manufacturer. Marshalls were not initially supposed to be turned up to the point of distortion. Either were Fenders. So the actual players changed the 'rules' in how an amp should be set up. No doubt that would require extreme settings.
Diego
New member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
In my experience, the more volume you have, the less extreme EQ adjustments you need.
At low volumes, I crank the bass and almost go full treble because I want to simulate a loud amp. When actually loud, they sit at 12 o clock.
Settings that sound nice and crisp on their own can be piercing as hell once miked and through the PA.
In my experience, the more volume you have, the less extreme EQ adjustments you need.
At low volumes, I crank the bass and almost go full treble because I want to simulate a loud amp. When actually loud, they sit at 12 o clock.
Settings that sound nice and crisp on their own can be piercing as hell once miked and through the PA.
Coma
Well-known member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
To be fair, a lot of us first come into live settings playing in bands in high school and similar. Whatever small gigs you may have probably won't feature a sound technician, so Noone had ever requested that you alter your tone which has "always worked live" before (and at home) . Of course, the smart ones know to actually listen to the sound tech.
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
I'd say it's so they can run the amp harder. With Fender amps with no mid control, for instance, you can boost the mids by running the bass and treble very low, and cranking the amp more, giving you boosted mids.
I'd say it's so they can run the amp harder. With Fender amps with no mid control, for instance, you can boost the mids by running the bass and treble very low, and cranking the amp more, giving you boosted mids.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
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Yes, but by the time that you hit 50, you should be able to learn different.
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
I've never gotten the "666" settings people use on 5150's. To me, the mids above 4 on any iteration of a 5150 I've tried sound like pure honk.
I've never gotten the "666" settings people use on 5150's. To me, the mids above 4 on any iteration of a 5150 I've tried sound like pure honk.
Jacew
New member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
I've been trying to explain to bassist, that makes half of our songs, that dialing in guitar heavy on lows to make huge boomm along with the bass in every song does not sound good, and gets really annoying after a while.
He doesn't quite get it, complaining I don't use enough bass and gain...
I've been trying to explain to bassist, that makes half of our songs, that dialing in guitar heavy on lows to make huge boomm along with the bass in every song does not sound good, and gets really annoying after a while.
He doesn't quite get it, complaining I don't use enough bass and gain...
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
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Pity that we couldn't trade them.
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oilpit
Active member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
I think there are a lot of people who are overthinking this. The EQ controls are really just specific volume controls if you look at them in the most basic sense. Given the fact that most players like at least a little bit of overdrive in their sound, and unless they are running a non master volume amp, without anything hitting the preamp, chances are they will have the gain higher than it "needs" to be. Since volume is nothing more than turning all the frequencies up equally, with the gain at the level that most players like there will be an excess of the frequencies you want/need in your sound. Therefor, it's almost always better to cut frequencies as opposed to letting them all through.
An amp with a super sensitive EQ like a Boogie Mark series or a Soldano is just an extreme example of this, and usually amps like those are the ones where you find really conservative EQ curve.
With a Plexi or a Tweed things are wayyyyyyyyyyyy less picky and you can generally get away with diming almost everything and still sound pretty damn good.
I think there are a lot of people who are overthinking this. The EQ controls are really just specific volume controls if you look at them in the most basic sense. Given the fact that most players like at least a little bit of overdrive in their sound, and unless they are running a non master volume amp, without anything hitting the preamp, chances are they will have the gain higher than it "needs" to be. Since volume is nothing more than turning all the frequencies up equally, with the gain at the level that most players like there will be an excess of the frequencies you want/need in your sound. Therefor, it's almost always better to cut frequencies as opposed to letting them all through.
An amp with a super sensitive EQ like a Boogie Mark series or a Soldano is just an extreme example of this, and usually amps like those are the ones where you find really conservative EQ curve.
With a Plexi or a Tweed things are wayyyyyyyyyyyy less picky and you can generally get away with diming almost everything and still sound pretty damn good.
LLL
New member
NegativeEase
New member
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
The Magic Six setting on Fenders is real. VERY REAL
The Magic Six setting on Fenders is real. VERY REAL
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Why tone controls set so low??
I have been playing Fenders for years and it doesn't work for me I need more bass and less treble. My EQ curve is definitely a downhill slope
I have been playing Fenders for years and it doesn't work for me I need more bass and less treble. My EQ curve is definitely a downhill slope
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