EQ in a guitarrack. Before and after preamp-usage?

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HeimBrent

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Figured out that I wanted to try having an EQ in my rack again, so I pulled my EQ out of the "studio/storage"-rack and put it into my guitarrack again, with one channel between the pedalboard and the amp, and the other channel in the loop... I'm pretty sure there are other guys here as well using an EQ this way, so I'm just curious as to how you set it, and what you use it for?
 
Depending on the music style, of course :D

I think I read that several 80's guitar bands used the pre-preamp eq for boosting certain mid-frequencies to tighten the gain, and the post-preamp eq to sculpt (scoop:D) some of the honkiness out again.
 
Exactly how I use my dual channel EQ. Up the mids going in and tame them a bit coming out.
 
Try a healthy bass cut below 300 and treble cut above 2k before the preamp. Shelving if possible. Then restore the bass and treble you have removed with the eq section on the amplifier and the power amp controls.

Use the eq after the preamp for tweaking the frequencies that the amplifier can't . Also if heavy sounds are your thing try a healthy scoop centered at 400 hz width to taste post preamp.

This is what I do with my own rig. It allows more distortion to happen in the fundamental mid frequencies. It also keeps the bass tight and the highs from getting too harsh.
 
What kind of EQ? I wouldn't use a graphic one in a guitar rig (at least not a transistor based one).
 
It's a big-ass oldschool Roland-unit. One of theese.

20101013213322192168124.jpg
 
Im using a parametric vfe pedal rocket eq plus boost in front and the g major 2 eq in the loop.
 
I use a LOT of EQ... pre, loop, and post. I figure, it's my tone, I'm gonna make it exactly like I want it...

Recently, I've swapped out the pre EQ for the BBE MaxCom, I use the TC1128 in the loop (and for Spectrum Analysis), and the MEQ14 for post EQ. Pre EQ is pretty much simple mid-boosted "frown" curve. Loop EQ is "to taste," shaping what happens as the signal passes through the preamp stage. Post-EQ is intended to remove unwanted added frequencies, or add wanted yet removed frequencies. It's tedious and you have to put in the time to tweak, but the results can be great.

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Some prevalent tips from the web are:

The 125Hz frequency is one of the most important for guitar. This frequency is what will give you a nice OOMPH, much like cranking the bass knob on an old Marshall JCM800 head.

The 1KHz is a touchy, but necessary frequency that brings out the upper mids. It's a necessary evil, because if it's too high, this frequency is very shrill sounding.

The 1.4KHz slider is also a necessary evil. Totally cut, it leaves something lacking, but boost it too high and it could kill a mouse!

You have to "know your preamp" because some preamps have cutoff filters that don't allow frequencies above a certain threshold, so it doesn't do any good boosting them, because they don't exist, so all you're adding is noise.

Cheers,
 
I used an ADA MQ-1 after my MP-1. I ran the rig stereo, so my eq was post preamp. I had several eq curves that I would reuse with different presets in my MP-1 to mix and match. The MQ-1 is MIDI, so I would just link different eq presets with different preamp presets. When I got the MP-2, it had an internal eq stage post preamp, so I could do the same thing without needing an outboard eq.
 
I had one, but I've since ditch all my rack equipment and now I carry a crappy Boss GE-7 and toss that in the loop of my Ampeg VH140C. I keep fresh batteries around and don't even bother with a pedalboard, and keep a handheld Korg tuner in my guitar case. I want to keep things simple for right now, but I'm sure I'll eventually buy something else to get my blood pumping to put together a big rig.
 
mmolteratx":2rewjq9g said:
Explain the tone suck please.
Click to expand...

Well you are splitting your guitar signal into 15-30 different bands (depending on EQ) and sending each through a transistorized circuit and then summing them all back together and hoping all of the tolerances don't effect the phase or other things. There's a reason you don't see graphic EQ's in studios. They are handy live in sound systems if you are having feedback problems as it's easy to spot the band and fix it. I wouldn't use one in a guitar rig. Use a parametric or at least a non-active/boosting graphic eq.
 
Okay then! I present to you, a test. I can't hear any difference, but then again... My hearing ain't that good.

Gibson Les Paul Studio -> Channel A of the EQ -> JCM900 with Channel B of the EQ in the loop -> Marshal Lead 1960 cab -> Sennheiser e906 -> Apogee Duet -> Macbook -> Garageband. All knobs at 12 'clock on the amp(except for the master volume, that is), and all faders at 0dB on the EQ. Nothing done to the tracks other then recording and exporting them.

It's two different parts, each recorded three times with nothing in the signalpath, and three times with the EQ in the signalpath. Moved each recording around afterwards.
 

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