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adjusting EQ according to guitarist eq

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by nickname, Dec 7, 2005.

  1. Dec 7, 2005 #1
    nickname

    nickname

    Jan 22, 2005
    i am looking for some advice on appropriatley setting my EQ on my SVT4 to not fight with my guitarists eq.

    how can i adjust mine, by looking at what his eq is at? or is this just a nonesense idea?

    should i lower frequencies on ones that he has boosted and raise them ones he has lowered?
     
  2. Dec 7, 2005 #2
    MuzikMan

    MuzikMan

    Feb 21, 2004
    Bristol, Connecticut, USA
    When he's not looking turn his bass knob down and you'll be fine! :D

    But seriously, although your idea of boosting where he is cutting is good it is not pactical because it ignores cab frequency response.

    You may get some mileage out of it though. It seems that studios use a similar approach.
     
  3. Dec 7, 2005 #3
    IvanMike

    IvanMike TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free. Supporting Member

    Nov 10, 2002
    Middletown CT, USA
    check out the eq thread in the faqq sticky at the top of amps for some ideas.

    anyhow, the first thing to do is to train yourself to know what each frequency range sounds like. not as hard as it sounds, but it takes some work. after a while you'll be able to analyze tones to tell what they're made of.

    next, realize that bass and guitar often fight in the midrange. many times in the low mids. Many times i'ev dialed in a tone with a lot of high mids when my gp has a low mid heavy tone. Other times a gp may use a "scooped" tone with a lot of highs and lows. In that case i can boost mids overall to mesh with them.

    It's not crazy to adjust your tone to fit in with a gp's tone. soundmen and studios do it all the time. It's called "frequency slotting". Giving each instrument a place to "live" in the sonic spectrum, without making any of them sounding too artificial.

    As you've probably already found, the tone that sounds great when you play alone does not do all that well in a full band. When every instrument sounds "awesome" soloed, the net result is usually mud. A bit of eq tweaking (but don't go overboard) can help you all mesh together in a very pleasing way.
     
  4. Dec 8, 2005 #4
    Cristo

    Cristo

    Jun 10, 2005
    South Carolina, USA
    It's also helpful if you have a guitarist who is willing to work with you, and realizes that guitar is primarily a midrange instrument.
    So many of them want to use the "awesome" mid scoop tone which is chopping out all the mids. The bass boost sounds great on guitatr when there is no bass and drums, but bring in the band and you've got instant crap.
     
  5. Dec 8, 2005 #5
    nickname

    nickname

    Jan 22, 2005
    im not sure if it will help, but can you guys have a listen to some stuff we've recorded, and listen to the guitar. can you recommend what type of equing i should do. dont pay attention to the bass recorded.

    i know that doesnt sound logical or ideal, but any help would be good. his guitar tone sounds pretty much the same live.

    ive got a gig tonight and wotn be able to adjust anything till we are setting up, so its risky business.
     
  6. Dec 8, 2005 #6
    Kael

    Kael

    Dec 26, 2004
    Oklahoma City
    Sometimes it is neccesary to butcher your tone in order to make a mix work. Rather than my EQ, I try to adjust my gigs based on guitarists tone. If they can't grasp that they need to keep out of the low end freq's, then chances are they aren't someone I need to waste my time with.