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Does anybody not like onboard EQs?

#61
I used to be all about eq on everything, but then without even realizing it, I ended up using a bass with only a volume, and an amp that has three eq knobs. If it sounds good to begin with, I don't need to screw with it. So yeah, they just get in the way now.
 
#64
I like the sound (and yes, the feel, it's there) of a combination of Nordstrand pups and preamps with my Fender Jazz and Precision. The Nord preamps just happen to come with 2-band EQ that I never use. When I use an amp, I do all the EQ-ing there. If I"m strictly in-ears, I happen to like what I'm getting with no EQ. Hopefully, a REDDI is going to help that sound in the near future.

I've used a bit of highs with the preamp when a set of strings went flat (tone, not pitch) during a gig and I didn't want to change strings during the gig. It helped some.
 
#65
I don't like them. I'm old school and I like a clean natural sound coming off the bass and I hate messing with so many knobs. I have 3 basses - 2 passive and one active, a Lakland 55-02 that I run passive. I have everything on my basses full open and control everything from a good amp except for occasional tweaking of the tone control on my AStandard J-5. Done. I like to hear my bass, and I like to play, not mess with knobs.
 
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#68
I love my active 5ers. But in a P or a J (or my trusty P/J) the tone is enough. I love the P-retro preamp, and I'd like to get another one if they ever start making them again, but every time I'd find a great tone, I'd kick it back to passive and it was perfect so I ripped it out.

There have been a few times where they (the sound crew) insisted on taking a direct dry signale from my P-bass, pre-everything, that I'd have loved to have a preamp onboard. You can't go pre- that.
 
#70
FatboyJ115 said:
Just like the title says... Does anybody not not like onboard EQs? I feel its more annoying than it helps. like even when considering basses I try to avoid ones with 3 band EQs built in. I guess I just hate having so many options. Just, Too many knobs for me, I even took all the knobs off my sr300 except for a volume. I prefer the simple lay out of a P-Bass.

I'm really not sure how to explain this anymore but I'm just making sure I'm not alone on this. :bag:
Click to expand...

I agree, I hate having too many options on the bass, in fact if I built my own it wouldn't even have a tone knob, or even a volume, just an on/off switch and I also don't care for active's, I want my bass to sound as close to unplugged as possible and use the amp/pedals to get "my sound", so no, your not alone with this!!
 
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#73
Can't stand onboard pre's at all. I have never played an active bass that sounded satisfactory. There's just something smoother about passive systems to my ears. My G&L L2500 stays in passive mode all the time.
 
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#74
I have two passive basses, a Mustang RI and a Roscoe Beck V. All the rest are active, most with 3-band EQ, some with 4-band EQ and one with 3-band EQ with semi-parametric mid. I like the versatility of tone available. I know some guys can get any tone they want out of a P bass with just a volume knob ("it's all in the hands") but I'm just not that adept. Of course the only tone they want is that of a P bass with flats and a tort 'guard.
 
#79
I bought an LTD B-4E because I wanted to try active electronics, and I liked the way it looks and I got a really good deal, but mostly to try active electronics. I love everything about this bass except how it sounds. Mostly, I miss the passive tone control. I'm going to take everything out and put Seymour Duncan pickups and volume, blend, tone control with no preamp.
 
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