Why I don't like onboard EQ

KingRazor · #1 04-03-2011, 10:00 PM

I really, really don't like onboard equalizers on bass. I don't mind preamps themselves so much, but I just don't like the EQ controls.

Why?

Reason #1: Most onboard EQ is very limited. Most preamps have shelving EQ. You turn the bass knob up and ALL the bass frequencies get louder. You turn it down and they ALL get quieter. Same goes for treble. I like to control exactly which groups of frequencies get louder/quieter and by how much. You could just say "why not bypass the EQ?" This may come as a surprise to some of you, but most active basses out there don't have bypass switches. Also, while you can just run them flat, you can't always do so very easily.

An example would be the "style sweeper" on the Ibanez 300 series soundgears. It either scoops the mids (pretty severely) when set to "slap", or, it boosts them slightly when set to "finger". In order to set it "flat", you have to turn the knob to about "3". Which brings me to my next point:

Reason #2: I, personally, do not ever use EQ knobs on a bass in an "inbetween" setting. Meaning, I either have them at 0/1 or 10. Why? Because I don't want them to get moved when I've found the best spot for them. Let's say I really liked my bass knob at about six. Then I'm playing and my hand slips or I bump into something and the knob gets spun out of whack. I don't want that to happen! So, I tend to just min/max with EQ knobs on the bass. Also, I don't want to have to remember exactly where to set the knob for it to sound the best.

Reason #3: They change the total output level of your bass. I run sound at my church and it's a pain when the guitar players switch pedals and their volume is different. It just makes mixing that much harder. I like my output level to be the same no matter what. At least from my bass itself. That's why I have my volume knob at 10 all of the time. I don't want my bass to suddenly be louder because I boosted the bass knob. I don't mind if my "end sound", the sound heard by the audience, changes. It's the signal level going to the rest of my equipment that I want to have remain constant.

Reason #4: It's just too complicated. I'm a set it and forget it kind of guy. I find one tone that I like and use it exclusively. Some people like the versatility. That's great for them, but not for me. Give me a bass with one knob, I'm happy.

/end rant

BagelBruin · #2 04-03-2011, 10:03 PM

I set my amp up, and then modify the tone from my bass. It makes switches basses at a gig much easier.

KingRazor · #3 04-04-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BagelBruin

I set my amp up, and then modify the tone from my bass. It makes switches basses at a gig much easier.

I primarily use one bass and have no experience gigging, but I still don't think I'd want to do it this way.

First of all, I'm not someone who changes my tone in the middle of a song. I find the tone I want for the song before it starts and then keep that tone throughout it. But as I said before, I'm a one tone kind of guy.

Any changes to my tone are made at the amp.

Selta · #4 04-04-2011, 12:27 PM

So, you're ranting about something you can very easily avoid? I don't get your point. You don't like EQ on your bass. Don't get a bass with EQ on it. Seems pretty simple to me.

SMILEYSIXX · #5 04-04-2011, 12:34 PM

I'm a knob tweeker, so it usually works for me, though my only reason for using a 3-band is to sculpt a good slap tone (FWIW, my slap EQ is usually bass: 10, mid: 1-2, treble: 8-9), but beyond that, I don't use it for much. They give amps an EQ for a reason. I just like the convenience of great slap tone at my fingertips.

DylanB · #6 04-04-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Reason #4: It's just too complicated. I'm a set it and forget it kind of guy. I find one tone that I like and use it exclusively. Some people like the versatility. That's great for them, but not for me. Give me a bass with one knob, I'm happy.

Surely that trumps them all?

4Mal · #7 04-04-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I primarily use one bass and have no experience gigging, but I still don't think I'd want to do it this way.

First of all, I'm not someone who changes my tone in the middle of a song. I find the tone I want for the song before it starts and then keep that tone throughout it. But as I said before, I'm a one tone kind of guy.

Any changes to my tone are made at the amp.

Your fundamental approach to EQ as outlined in your first post would be one reason that you would not like on board EQ. I'm not real high on Ibanez in general - other than maybe the Geo Benson & Metheny guitars..., haven't played one of their basses tht I liked in years. So it may be that I've missed something critical in their electronics package... but setting the tone controls on either 1 or 10 is guaranteed to sound like crap to me... the only way that on board EQ works for me anyway is find neutral or darned close to it and make minor adjustments from there. otherwise it sounds all electronic'y and synthy and nothing near the way I want my instrument to sound... YMMV of course.

I suggest you get some experience gigging and a few years down the road, get back to us ... over time, all this stuff works its way though your system and as your sense of tone and style evolve, you'll pretty much make a bass sound the way you want it to, regardless of the instrument you're playing (at least within reason*).

FWIW - my solid body electrics are all passive and I certainly consider my self a one tone with subtle variations per night guy. I consider my right hand to be my tone control for the most part.

On my chambered semi-acousitc basses with piezo pickups, it's a whole other planet and the preamp & tone controls are a welcome addition. It is a good system of course ...

slap... gave on board electronics a bad name to begin with...

BigOldHarry · #8 04-04-2011, 12:46 PM

I'm actually the opposite - I'd much rather have all the controls on my bass than my amp. I usually leave my amp dead flat and adjust my bass as the night goes on. The one downer about that is that it's easy to grab the wrong knob mid-set and dork yourself up (yes, I've certainly done that!) - but mid-tune, if I'm not hearing my bass, I just bump my mid-band a bit and I'm good to go.

Rickett Customs · #9 04-04-2011, 12:49 PM

You sound very qualified: To speak for yourself that is............if that works for you, great. My real question is why do you need to post a thread about it? I can understand getting some feedback about what others may discuss.

I for one, like pancakes, but don't like waffles

KingRazor · #10 04-04-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

So, you're ranting about something you can very easily avoid? I don't get your point. You don't like EQ on your bass. Don't get a bass with EQ on it. Seems pretty simple to me.

I see this response all the time on TB and people just don't seem to get it.

I like the bass that has onboard EQ. I like my Ibanez basses. The one thing I don't like is the onboard EQ. Why would I get another bass that I dislike for completely different reasons when one change could make me like everything about my Ibanez?

FunkMetalBass · #11 04-04-2011, 12:53 PM

If they don't work for you, they don't work for you.

In all the time I've ever gigged (and I can get crazy on stage), I've never bumped my knobs. I don't often change EQ in the middle of a song (and if I do, it's with pedals - adjusting 3 knobs accurately and in a matter of seconds is just not feasible), but I do change between songs. This is where volume knobs come in handy.

Typically, my gig setup looks like this:

Set my bass' EQ to the settings I use in the first song.
Turn bass volume knob to 40-60%.
Tune amp to the room and adjust volume
After changing bass EQ settings, turn up/down bass' volume appropriately

Also, FWIW, I don't see many people actually take the time with their pedals to properly EQ or set levels on them well in advance - that's just a sloppiness factor you've unfortunately had to deal with.

KingRazor · #12 04-04-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickett Customs

You sound very qualified: To speak for yourself that is............if that works for you, great. My real question is why do you need to post a thread about it? I can understand getting some feedback about what others may discuss.

I for one, like pancakes, but don't like waffles

I did want some feedback. Since, because of the above reasons, I don't really see why anyone would want onboard EQ for any reason except that they like to change their sound mid-song.

Also, after some of the topics I've seen on this forum...this didn't seem like nearly as much of a waste of space as some of the other threads I've seen...just MO.

Infidelity · #13 04-04-2011, 12:57 PM

One thing about Ibanez preamp is it sucks big time.. There is usable preamp or just a preamp. IMO/IME of course..

Rickett Customs · #14 04-04-2011, 12:58 PM

In that case, I do find myself mid-song making some changes, during gigs, also between songs. It's a fact of life for alot of folks, but not for everone i"m sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I did want some feedback. Since, because of the above reasons, I don't really see why anyone would want onboard EQ for any reason except that they like to change their sound mid-song.

Also, after some of the topics I've seen on this forum...this didn't seem like nearly as much of a waste of space as some of the other threads I've seen...just MO.

Passinwind · #15 04-04-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I did want some feedback. Since, because of the above reasons, I don't really see why anyone would want onboard EQ for any reason except that they like to change their sound mid-song.

It's extremely useful at open mikes or other situations when you have to use a provided backline amp and have little or no time, or permission even, to tweak someone else's amp settings.

FunkMetalBass · #16 04-04-2011, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I see this response all the time on TB and people just don't seem to get it.

I like the bass that has onboard EQ. I like my Ibanez basses. The one thing I don't like is the onboard EQ. Why would I get another bass that I dislike for completely different reasons when one change could make me like everything about my Ibanez?

Why haven't you bypassed the preamp yet? You've been talking about how much you hate it for months.

genericusername · #17 04-04-2011, 01:00 PM

My LTD's EQ and blend pots have an easily recognizable point at which they are set to 5. Also, it's really not that hard to find a bass that doesn't have an active EQ. Just buy a standard P bass or something.

Selta · #18 04-04-2011, 01:00 PM

So set it where you like it and let it go? I know you said you hit your knobs (somehow

), but that's a technique thing you have to clear up - i.e., not the fault of the knobs being there.
Also, doing "all or nothing" with your knobs is a terrible approach to EQ, or any adjustment. Do you do 10 or 0 on your volume? Why or why not? Do you do 10 or 0 on gain? Why or why not?

KingRazor · #19 04-04-2011, 01:01 PM

The first reason I posted is actually a big part of this. A typical 3-band EQ is much too limited for me. If I could I'd have a fully parametric EQ. If I can find one when I have some extra money I'm going to get one. I like to control which frequencies are being boosted/cut and by how much.

Also, I've never said I don't like the tone of preamps. Or even that I dislike preamps. It's the EQ I don't like.

disp · #20 04-04-2011, 01:01 PM

If you're not gigging than sure, you're needs are more limited. But for the versatile, professional musician this doesn't fly:

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

...I find the tone I want for the song before it starts and then keep that tone throughout it.

What if you find you're not sitting well in a mix? Sure, in a perfect world sound check is supposed to avoid this scenario, but fill a bar full of patrons and lo, things suddenly sound very different than they did at sound check.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Any changes to my tone are made at the amp.

That's where most start, but an onboard EQ allows you to tweak from there easily and inconspicuously. A welcome convenience for the performing bassist.