Do EMG High Freq. DIP Switches Really Do Anything?

[Zooberwerx]

The title question says it all. My EMG electronics have a pair of DIP switches which allows you to center the high freq. response @ either 2 khz, 3 khz, 4 khz, or 7 khz (or something close anyway). You can then use your treble control to either cut or boost the selected frequency (not sure how wide the Q is). Anyway, I don't hear any significant difference amongst the different settings.

Am I going deaf or just wasting my time?

Oooooh....that would make a great song lyric!

Riis

[JackANSI]

I noticed a difference in tone between the settings. To really hear it I had to disable the EQ in my amp, then the difference was night and day. Then once I had an idea of what 'colors' I was looking for I could hear it with the EQ and especially when I re-recorded a few tracks that I did before adding it. Try that.

Then I had to have more control and pitched the EMG for something I created, but thats a longer story.

[stingray69]

It's been my experience that these changes are subtle, but definitely noticeable. I've found the differences easiest to hear on studio recordings or through studio monitors for sure. I'm not sure either of how wide the fixed center frequency "Q" is between each EQ setting. Granted - through a bass cab at fairly low volumes, it can sound pretty subtle, unless you have an uber-modern, studio-flat cabinet. Playing at gig-volume, the subtle differences in the dip-switch settings become a whole lot easier to notice. But in most normal/lower volume situations, as you cut or boost the treble knob after choosing different dip-switch settings, you can hear the differences fairly easily if you have a trained ear from a lot of past EQ tweaking (but again, still subtle).
Recording a short sound sample before/after each setting is a great idea as well. FWIW, I find that the default 5Khz setting is right about where I prefer it anyways, for that more modern sparkle on the top end. Although I have kicked it down a notch or two on some studio recordings to better suite the style of song. In short, I find it most useful (and noticeable) when at stage volume & a real nice option to have when doing studio work. Hope this helps.

[mikezimmerman]

My recollection is that they do make a difference, but how obvious that difference is will depend a whole lot on how much high end you're getting in those ranges to begin with. For extreme examples, if you have old dead nickel flats on the bass rather than zingy new steels, or if your cab is a 15 with the tweeter turned all the way down, or if you've spent the last 20 years play hard rock at ear-bleeding volumes ( ), you probably won't hear much in that frequency range to help you distinguish the different settings.

Mike

[Luis Fabara]

Going Deaf!

The changes are very audible to me. But it really depends on what you are using for amplification.

On a Tweeter/Horn equipped amp you will hear it right away. (of course boost or cut some highs, you wont hear any difference if it is centered.) But on a system without any high freq driver, it might not be that apparent.

The biggest difference you can feel is when you push it to the limit, with each setting. You will hear different characters on the same instrument.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

My recollection is that they do make a difference, but how obvious that difference is will depend a whole lot on how much high end you're getting in those ranges to begin with. For extreme examples, if you have old dead nickel flats on the bass rather than zingy new steels, or if your cab is a 15 with the tweeter turned all the way down, or if you've spent the last 20 years play hard rock at ear-bleeding volumes ( ), you probably won't hear much in that frequency range to help you distinguish the different settings.

Mike

Thanks Mike, and everyone for that fact. The EMGs are in a certain David King 5 (36", zebrawood) and there's plenty of high end, so much that I have to cut by 30-50%. I'm trying to cut some of the more obnoxious high freqs while still maintaining the more pleasant finger-style definition.

Think what I'll do is boost the treble and switch thru the various DIP settings until I find the culprit.

Riis