M
mixn4him
Active member
IF your going for 80's metal, Metallica
, than yea you have to have the EQ. Otherwise it is great sounding just has a different flavor and totally usable without the built in graphic...

I know this, I'm asking Dave to elaborate on his statement.The built in EQ is in a different spot in the circuit than the effects loop, so placing an EQ in the loop is placing it further down the signal path and the results are different.
The said, you can definitely get decent results with an EQ in the loop - that goes for any amp, really- but it is indeed not the same as the built-in EQ.
The flatter speakers can only do so much. Whether you use a non-EQ or EQ model with it disengaged there’ll be this huge mid hump, which isn’t at all a bad thing in and of itself, but it’s the kind of midrange that’s not aggressive or growly like the British midrange like a good Marshall. Old American amps (and pretty all vintage American gear in general, even a Dumble) have a hollow/laid-back/smooth/airy quality to the midrange and with those c+’s your getting that type of midrange but it’s super present, which is kinda weird, and it’s just not an agreeable sound to many guys, but turn the Graph EQ on with a V shape and you get a killer heavy tone that imo just sound right. The non-eq sound can be cool though for fusion, shred or some instrumental type stuffMaybe the non EQ models sound better with the flatter response speakers many Marks originally came with like Altec, and later EVM12L? Those are not as mid heavy as Celestions.
Without the GEQ, I find all of the Mark 2’s and beyond sound honkey with too much mid range. For me it’s not even fun to play clean without the GEQ. Speakers didn’t matter either. I have EV’s Eminence MS-12’s, and all Celestion speakers.I gotta ask why...
I just noticed it. hahahahaI knew it was a clerical error lol....
very cool custom 2-banger eq.Without the GEQ, I find all of the Mark 2’s and beyond sound honkey with too much mid range. For me it’s not even fun to play clean without the GEQ. Speakers didn’t matter either. I have EV’s Eminence MS-12’s, and all Celestion speakers.
Having owned the custom stereo GEQ made by Mike B (as well as having the studio PFE modded to isolate the GEQ) I tried bypassing the onboard GEQ and adding one back into the loop. It made the amp a bit mushy and never had that throaty sound.
Here is a pic of my old rack with the GEQ
View attachment 90566
Yeah, by a mile. Made the rig sound insane. Then I added depth controls to each side of the power amp. It was crushing. Both triaxis units were modded for gain as well.very cool custom 2-banger eq.
that had to have sounded better in the loop of the tri vs. the dynamic voice option.
Hetfield rig??Yeah, by a mile. Made the rig sound insane. Then I added depth controls to each side of the power amp. It was crushing. Both triaxis units were modded for gain as well.