Programmable EQ... before the amp or in the loop?

  • Thread starter Thread starter El Chiguete
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El Chiguete

El Chiguete

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Say you would have a Programmable EQ (maybe this one http://www.sourceaudio.net/products/too ... ble_eq.php) where would you put it:

1) right after the guitar
2) just before the amp
3) in the amps loop

I think it depends if you would like to 1) change the tone of the guitar change the tone of the pedals, 3) change the tone of the amp... but I would like your opinions.

PS:
Option 1 is what Billy Gibbons does live to make all the different guitars he uses on stage sound like his original '59 LP. Check it out around the 8:40 mark on the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6DrxfrbbF8 .
 
I usually do a fixed EQ before the preamp and the MIDI EQ in the loop or after the preamp before the power amp. Digitech MEQ-14 is a great stereo MIDI EQ. The TC1128 is a good unit as well, but I can't find a MIDI reference for it and it does weird things with my All Access.
 
I've got one of those pedals, my only beef is the analogue to digital conversion of the signal compared to an all analogue circuit. For the convenience of the presents it's a toss up.
I've got mine after my compressor but before my drive pedal.
Hope it helps!
 
which amp? and, is you goal to sound like billy gibbons? an eq in the loop of most any amp will make a substantial improvement in overall tone and response. no experience with the one you are using though.

steve
 
I boost mids in front of the amp right before the amp.

I reduce muddy lows, increase useable lows, and boost mids in the FXLoop with a programmable EQ.

They both work great and are somewhat different with regards to how they interact with the entire rig.

The front of the amp mid boost is great for leads, or if you are a power trio and use the volume on your guitar to shape your tone, you can leave it on all the time, but it is nice to be able to just push a button to take out the boost if necessary.

The programmable one is great for overall tone shaping. What is nice about this feature, depending on your rig, is that you can create usable patches that have significant EQ shifts that are appropriate for what you are doing and at the same time can control it with midi while using delay, chorus and whatever else is in your rig.

Hope this helps.
 
steve_k":1n7jlat9 said:
which amp?
Click to expand...

I have an ADA MP-1 as a preamp.

steve_k":1n7jlat9 said:
is you goal to sound like billy gibbons?
Click to expand...

jeje no, I just posted that because I'm sure people will find it interesting.
 
I have an Aphex 109 and it is most useable in the loop. Before the amp just eq's the guitar and is more subtle.
 
I play mostly high gain, so programmable EQ works best for me in the loop. I agree with rocknrolla, EQ changes can be very subtle on the guitar. My solution was EQ after pedals, into amp, and another in the loop. As far as good EQ, I use lexicon G2, which allows me to route both into the amp and in the loop with one box!
Excellent EQ can be found in the Rocktron multi-effects, like Intellifex and Replifex.
 
It all depends on what you want it to do

  • If you are trying to get something into the amp that you aren't getting out of your guitar, put it out in front
  • If you're trying to tame something coming out of the amp, put it in the loop

If you can articulate what it is you are trying to fix, it should make it pretty obvious where it should go.

If you find yourself thinking "My tone sounds thin." You'll probably get more mileage boosting the mids on an EQ going into the amp. The clean signal of the guitar itself is going to be much more agreeable to moderate EQ boosts. If you trued to do the same thing in the loop after it's been compressed and distorted, you're going to be boosting distortion, not really tone.

If you find yourself thinking "My amp sounds harsh.' You'll want to put it in the loop because the harsheness wouldn't resolve by cutting those frequencies before the preamp stage. A graphic EQ (I use the MXR) works wonders on a high gain amp to just lop off a little of the fizz and tame some of the mud at the bottom.

I am not sure where in the circuit the graphic EQ is in my Mark V, it's very musical, you can add lot of bass and treble with it and it still sounds great. I haven't been able to pull that off sticking an EQ in the loop of any of my amps.

That being said, there are no rules and it would take you 30 minutes to try both exhaustively. In the end, if it sounds good to you, it sounds good. If it doesn't sound good, focus on what doesn't sound good and figure out where it's coming from.
 
steve_k":1dr8hazk said:
an eq in the loop of most any amp will make a substantial improvement in overall tone and response.

steve
Click to expand...

Are you serious ?
 
I have one of those and it works best for me in the loop-ampwise im talkin bogner,diezel, badcat,mesa,splawn, etc.
 
Both. Pre and post distortion eq will allow,you to bend your voicing, feel and sound at will. Anything becomes possible. I vote both.
 
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