Hertz (Hz) and EQ - I don't get it.

[SnorLars]

Hi

I'm looking into EQ:ing some more after reading some very interesting threads about the importance of EQ in here.
Found the frequency for an EADG bass to be (from loose E1 all the way to the G3 on the 12 fret of the G-string:

E1 41.20
F1 43.65
F#1/Gb1 46.25
G1 49.00
G#1/Ab1 51.91
A1 55.00
A#1/Bb1 58.27
B1 61.74
C2 65.41
C#2/Db2 69.30
D2 73.42
D#2/Eb2 77.78
E2 82.41
F2 87.31
F#2/Gb2 92.50
G2 98.00
G#2/Ab2 103.83
A2 110.00
A#2/Bb2 116.54
B2 123.47
C3 130.81
C#3/Db3 138.59
D3 146.83
D#3/Eb3 155.56
E3 164.81
F3 174.61
F#3/Gb3 185.00
G3 196.00

So basically I can play with frequencies ranging from 41.20 up to 196 (+ some frets more)
But the EQ on my Ashdown MAG C410T-300 Combo specs says
Bass +/-15dB @ 100Hz
Lo Mid +/-15dB @ 220Hz
Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz
Hi Mid +/-15dB @ 1.6kHz
Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving
Deep +8dB @ 50Hz
Bright +10dB @ 10kHz

I'm really new to this hertz thingy but I suspect that each note, for instance E1 have a base-tone which is E1, also produces tones ranging the hole frequency scale.
Am I close?
If my guess is right then isn't a basic EQ like on my combo very poor? Wouldn't it be best with an EQ with settings for many different frequency bands?

Thanks

[superbassman2000]

i don't know a whle lot about it, but when you pluck an open E, the E is the fundamental tone, however there are a lot of other frequencies going on, like you said, in the rest of the frequency spectrum, so an EQ accentuates certain frequencies over the rest, so that say you play an open E with the hi-mid turned up, the frequency 1.6kHz is boosted. When the E is plucked, you still hear the fundamental E, but you also hear the 1.6Khz brought out, so it will sound a little more hi-middy

that may not be the best way to explain it, but it's the best way i can think of saying it--either way, your EQ is just fine. These amp businesses hire a special group of people (R&D) to find what the most effective EQ points are for bass players, and put those on because more people want simplicity. 3-6 knobs are better than 100 knobs for the majority. If you feel that you don't have enough control over the frequency spectrum, i'd suggest into looking at a 31 band graphic EQ, or a parametric EQ.

[Dragonlord]

What superbassman said. When you play a note, you're not listening to just the fundamental, mainly you're listening to harmonics that cover a much bigger spectrum. The sound of the fundamental only is a thin, one dimensional "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz".

[lemur821]

I wouldn't refer to the fundamental as thin (it's a fat low pitched sine wave), but it's true that it's not what you're trying to EQ. Normally one doesn't try to EQ individual notes. You use your EQ to shape the overall tone. If your very low notes are too boomy or your higher notes are too quiet then you'll want to play with your two lowest knobs. All the knobs above those affect just the overtones of your notes, whose balance you can alter to your liking.

EDIT: I've found the old "cut; don't boost" advice to be very true. Boosting tends to sound harsher than cutting everything else and turning the amp up a bit.