• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

An EQ pedal?

T

thejoey57

Jan 18, 2006
68
0
#1
I did some searching on the forums for some decent EQ pedals
and I couldn't find a lot of posts about them (maybe i didn't look hard enough)

I currently have the Boss GEB-7
and i want to upgrade (and get another EQ pedal)

Anybody have some suggestions?

I'd be using the first one to lower my volume and EQ from my active into my mammoth, and a second one after the mammoth to add a different sound if needed

Thanks
 
#3
Is the GEB-7 already working for you in front of the mammoth? I never got good results with the EQ first (although my CS-3 worked well... weird) I did like it after, the EQ locations were decent for tweaking the mammoth's sound.

there should be threads if you search with more people's thoughts though... I can't comment on anything more than the PQ-3B (which is great) and the GEB-7 (which you have). I guess it comes down to whether the boss sounds the way you want before/after the mammoth or if yo uwant different frequencies to tweak. Also, I'm not sure I'd say that a second EQ is really the answer (search that issue too... lots of discussion on it) but maybe it is... try it out first though
 
#4
Awesome thanks

I've heard that the MXR had some issues (used to work at guitar center)
and a couple came back

And yes the GEB is working, i just had to lower the overall..everything

PICT0019.jpg

(running 9V battery, not the powerplate you see)
And it's on a loop so i don't get that tone drop when i disengage the mammaoth
 
#5
Why not just roll back the volume of your bass? Instant solution. :p

Also... the MXR 10-band is one of the best on the market if you need a more expansive graphic EQ in a pedal format. Nevermind the few that come back... most pedal shipments are going to have a few duds every now and then, and MXR isn't one of those brands known for failure issues. Beyond a more expansive graphic EQ, you'd either have to go to a rackmount graphic equalizer (not practical for instrument use, IMO... better suited for audio fine-tuning in recording and live systems), or parametric equalizer pedals.

A parametric EQ is VERY different than what you're used to. I don't think I've seen a true parametric EQ pedal, but semi-parametric is pretty common. With a semi-parametric EQ, there are knobs that control the frequency centers of specified bands, and knobs to boost at those centers. Typically, you'll find pedals with a single midrange band (sometimes two) for you to play with. Some people prefer these to graphic EQs, but you're limited on how many frequencies you can boost/cut at a time.

So... you trade the flexibility of picking your own frequency points for controlling less of them. Or, you can get more preset ones (like on your GEB-7).

But EQ discussion aside... If you're having to turn down every slider on your GEB-7, then you're likely going about your dilemma the wrong way, as EQ has nothing to do with it, really!

The problem is either in your Mammoth settings or your instrument's onboard settings. I don't see how an EQ pedal makes any sense if you're simply trying to lower volume going into the Mammoth.

Can you explain why you're trying to do that? Perhaps there's something else you're really trying to do.
 
#7
well i've been lacking some low end on my bass (pedulla rapture with the single soapbar)
so i want to turn that bass EQ knob up some which if i play it like that through the mammoth it sounds all compressed and terrible.

I used the EQ in front of the mammoth to lower that bass boost i added onboard so i can still preserve my low-end when i'm clean, since the mammoth adds a lot of low-end already.
 
#11
thejoey57 said:
I tried just lowering the volume, and it still wasn't working as if i lowered the eq sliders
Click to expand...

It's a different effect - you're cutting at specific frequency points instead of an overall level decrease.

But if low end is your problem... why not solve that at the amp?

Regardless, I don't see an EQ pedal as a good solution to this, but that's just me. I don't see other EQ pedals really solving anything, since you're boosting the bass at the Pedulla.

Solution #1 would be to cut lower frequencies with the EQ pedal. Solution #2 would be to roll back the bass knob on your Pedulla and come up with a different solution to your low end problem (which I suspect is with your amp, realistically speaking). Solution #3 would be another bass altogether...

My apologies if you've already tried some of this, but I'm just trying to better understand what you have and what you've tried. We don't know what your rig is beyond the bass and pedals.
 
#13
Another thought is that if the pedulla works with the bass normally, have you tried cutting the lows back a bit and the level more on the eq before hand? Might be something to try... I know the mammoth is pretty distinct whatever you throw at it, but dropping all the eq points seems drastic... I'd deffinately fiddle around with it to get the minimus of eq-ing.

Also, definately look for some of the possible mammoth solutions that are listed. I think the dragster is one, and there's a couple DIY thoughts listed if thats doable for you. They're finicky though, I've been playing around more and more with effects taht will work in front of it and with my active (piezo though) fretless and it seems strange how it reacts differently to such small changes. I don't know that this'll help, but rolling off the "wool" a little could help... I would think that this could have a similar effect to rolling off your volume/eq a little; I know that it seems to make a huge difference with my actives. Even just to like 3 or 4 o'clock.

edit... well, you beat me too a few of the suggestions 'Boo. Also possible is keeping the pedula flat, then the mammoth, then the bass boost on the EQ. Otherwise, if you just are looking for EQ pedals and don't mind that as an answer, I'd think about a PQ-3B on ebay over the graphic EQ.
 
#14
How about a true bypass loop pedal? Stick the Mammoth and your EQ pedal of choice in the loop, and then you can bring them in or out of your chain simultaneously. Much less hassle overall.

OH, and I just remembered... what you're really up against is a known problem of the Wooly Mammoth - it doesn't play nice with active basses, especially when boosting the onboard EQ. You have an impedance problem to deal with. It's a known reality of the Mammoth that's come up many times before here.

I'm surprised I didn't remember it sooner. :hmm:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back