if they are my tones that I tracked, I generally know exactly what I need to do to get the tones I want. I high pass almost always around 65-70hz, not higher. People all seem to wanna cut the low end on guitars up to like 100-120 hz for some reason. I’m not sure exactly why, the low end on heavy distorted guitars that low in the low end isn’t the problem: it’s everywhere above that up to 250hz or so in my experience.
The filter is critical though, for me it’s almost always an SSL style filter, usually the E channel, which is an 18db octave slope. This takes care of the super sub lows that you don’t want, but then maintains the 70-80hz range where important resonant frequencies are on guitars. From there it’s usually a nice little low shelf around 240-250hz, abound 1-2db is often all you need, depending on the tone. This one is REALLY powerful, and alittle goes a long way. Again, ssl style low shelf. You’ll be surprised what 1db of attenuation will do here, it’s often more than enough for me.
From there I listen to the low mids. 330hz there about is often a problem frequency, and I’ll slice alittle of that out with a much more narrow Q, usually something like a pro q 3 or the SSL again. Not always, but definitely with certain amps ( rectos come to mind). This isn’t low end, but then a nice 1-1.5 db wide Q(1.0 or so) cut at 500hz thereabout takes care of the bloat and haze of the midrange and opens up the tone more for me.
Depending on the track or music etc, then of course alittle multiband is your friend. Pro mb is fantastic of course, so is the waves c4. I’ll generally just listen, and watch the graph and see what’s poppin up out of control and do some very slight multiband in that general area. Forget the Andy sneap settings crap. That’s All garbage. It worked for Andy on a very specific song or a very specific track or Whatever. Again, alittle goes a long way here. If it was tracked right you should only need a slight tickle in that certain range to keep it under control. You don’t wanna neuter it.
For me if I can’t solve it with some or all of the above, something is way wrong before it even got in the box.
Edit: also… I completely disagree this is something done in mastering. These problems are solved in a mix, getting it right at the track level, not on the mixbuss. Sure, multiband has its place on the mixbuss, but if you are having problems on a specific instrument, fix it on that instrument instead of ruining your entire mix with multiband that didn’t need it.