I got so many EQ's in the chain......which to use?

Damani311 · #1 10-13-2008, 01:22 PM

Or just use them all? Not including things like FOH or other effects, I have an active preamp with three knobs on the bass, then I have my multieffects pedal which offers as much EQ as needed again, and then the controls on the amp.....should I set two flat and control it with the rest, or use them all a bit, or what?

What I'm doing is setting the amp flat, a bit of bass boost on the effects pedal, and using the controls on the bass for the majority.

I'm confused, thanks.

stflbn · #2 10-13-2008, 01:26 PM

I use my amp EQ to essentially get me close to the equivalent of how my basses sound direct into a recording device. Essentially my 'core' sound that all other options are built on. I feel this is as or more important than all others. If everything else failed and I had to go Bass to Amp I'd still like this sound

Then I use my different preamps or pedals to give me distinct tonal options for different needs. (Two VT-bass pedals currently, but soon adding a MXR M-80 or something other)

Then I use the 3-band preamp on my basses to tweak each distinct sound as needed for each specific sound. (One Aguilar OBP-3 on one bass, and a stock Seymour Duncan 3-band on another)

"To me" each different level of EQ is a narrowing route of control over my sound going from broadest to narrowest.

.

Swift713 · #3 10-13-2008, 01:33 PM

I try to set my amp's eq to compensate for / compliment the speaker(s) and the room. I try to use the bass' eq to get different tones from my instrument. I'm not currently using a multi effect but the tone knobs on my board are for tweaking individual effects and that was how I used the eq on my multi when I was using it.

SteveC · #4 10-13-2008, 01:33 PM

If you aren't going through a PA, you can make changes wherever you want.
If you are, you need to make sure that changes you make for your own monitoring on stage aren't sent to the FOH.

I have an active, 3 band EQ bass. I find a setting (basically flat with a little bump in the mids for growl and cut) and leave it. I then send that signal to the PA so they can EQ as needed for the room. I make any changes I need for my stage sound on the amp so I won't effect the FOH mix.

almix12 · #5 10-13-2008, 01:41 PM

i'd say generally put the best one last and use that... so you have the most control

**bassman314** · #6 10-13-2008, 01:46 PM

I have a 3-band on all three of my basses. I have a 3-band tube EQ on the amp, and a 9-band graphic EQ on the amp.

What I did is to set the bass and tube eq first to taste with my graphic flat. Then boosted the mids on the graphic EQ (classic upside-down smiley) to help cut through the mix.

When I am playing, I adjust the EQ on my bass for taste, depending on the song. I leave the amp EQ alone.

bongomania · #7 10-13-2008, 01:53 PM

For me: EQ on bass = tone. EQ on effects = only if necessary to retain tone. EQ on amp = correcting boomy/weak spots for each room.

Damani311 · #8 10-13-2008, 02:01 PM

Hell yeah everyone thanks for the solid responses!

OriginalCrash · #9 10-13-2008, 02:03 PM

I'd say use the eq on the amp as minimally as possible, more to compensate for the room or to tweak your sound just a bit to get you to a good "starting point" tonewise. As for the eq on your multi-fx unit, it depends on several things... Do you use different sounds on it? If so, the eq could help custom tailor each sound. Is it decent quality (or more importantly, do YOU like its sound and quality)? If so, and if the eq is competent, use it all you want. If it were me, most of my "song to song" eq would come from the active preamp on the bass. It's already right there where your hands are to make for quick, on the fly adjustments... you don't have to kneel down and get all close to the amp (if your pedals are near the amp, that is), only to find it sounds completely different when you stand back up and step away. But again, a lot of it depends on what sounds best to you. Take some time to play around with each eq control on each part of your rig. They most likely have different center frequencies, q widths, and even qualities. Find which bands you like to adjust and then use 'em.

Brian

P.S. I'll tell you about my setup... We just started doing a contemporary worship service at my church, and I recently got a Markbass LMII (but no cab for it yet). So right now I'm running into the Markbass and then straight into the board from there, using the stage monitors to provide me with my monitor sound (which is just plain nowhere NEAR loud enough for me to have any kind of playing dynamics... so I'm looking into getting a simple two-channel headphone amp where I can mix my signal with the monitor signal and create my own, reasonable in-ear monitor system... but that another story). Anyway, going direct like that (and with sound guys that are far more concerned with volume than with tone), I sound pretty thin, sterile, and overly bright... So beyond using the VLE filter on the amp to get "my sound" I'm gonna try using the eq (since the LMII's direct out is post-eq) to "fix" the sound going out to the house... round it out and warm it up a bit. That frees me up to then use the eq/tone controls on my pedals and bass (especially with the addition of a hopefully soon-to-be-added Audere preamp) to tailor my sound for each song.

**DosiYanarchy** · #10 10-13-2008, 03:34 PM

+1 to what most have been saying, two of my basses have extensive tonal options (Fender Jaguar bass and a MIA Fender deluxe active Jazz) but i tend to keep these flat/to a preferred sound, i tend not to vary the tone one these basses unless needed (ie: tweaking eq on the fly) I also use a VTbass which provides my 'amp tone' and usually bypass my amps preamp, but will happily use the amp's pre for tweaking my amp to the room (the EQ section is larger than on the basses and the VT - but i prefer the VT)

to Damani311: when you say FOH, do you mean Front of House? as in: you have a separate EQ'd signal for DI purposes? Can you explain to me how you eq the signal coz i've been on a similar train of though as im worried about my fuzzes sounding too harsh though a DI, even tho i love it out of my amp (1x15 cab)

Chris V. · #11 10-13-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

For me: EQ on bass = tone. EQ on effects = only if necessary to retain tone. EQ on amp = correcting boomy/weak spots for each room.

That's the way to go. The onboard EQ should be for the tone while the amp should preferably be kept flat unless you need to EQ for the room.

Obviously IMO and IME.

newbold · #12 10-13-2008, 09:30 PM

Unless you're spending huge money on EQ gear, it's always better to CUT frequencies with the EQ and to BOOST overall level.

Maybe you guys like the sound of your gear when you boost mids, but your gear will work more in your favour if you turn down some frequencies and turn up your amp.

I for one find that bass players around the world love any excuse they can get to turn their amps up. Do it. Find a way for your gear to push you more instead of you having to push your gear.

If you trust me on this and try it, you'll find great ways to get the same tones you love and more tones you will grow to.

+1 on using your bass and FX EQs to shape your tone while using your amp to get the overall push and response of how you want your rig to sit with the rest of the band.

Have fun and get bigger tone.