Put a plugin model of a Pultec into Plugin Doctor, boost and cut the low frequency side and see what happens. It becomes quite a bit more obvious when you can see and hear the results in realtime.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Equalization for bass
- Thread starter crguti
- Start date
My all time favorite EQ for bass was used on the Peavey and Trace Elliott amps, the EQ points were precisely where they need to be IMHO. Peavey started using that EQ on the Combo 300 also on the Bass MKVI , MAX Bass Head and the ProBass 1000 preamp. The Bass MKVI is interesting because it also incorporates a bass/treble shelving control. These are also useful as there are Punch and Brite switches.
My other is the Sholtz Instrument EQ.
I would buy a pedal that covered either of these EQ circuits.
My other is the Sholtz Instrument EQ.
I would buy a pedal that covered either of these EQ circuits.
The EQ I use for my pedalboards (I have 2) is a Source Audio EQ2 - It can be a graphic or a parametric EQ, you can have hi pass and lo pass filters running at the same time, and it stores a few settings (which I use for different instruments). Having worked with that, I wouldn't ever use a less capable EQ - it's really useful.
If you're trying to sell a bunch of these, that's your competition - you either gotta one up that, or you gotta provide a decent percentage of its capability for significantly less.
If you're trying to sell a bunch of these, that's your competition - you either gotta one up that, or you gotta provide a decent percentage of its capability for significantly less.
Not sure what you expect for $299 MAP. The unit is fairly well reviewed, so apparently a lot of people think its worth the cost.
You can spend more. The Warm Audio EQP-WA runs $799.
If you are interested, here's a comparison review: High on Technology: REVIEW WARM AUDIO EQP-WA vs KLARK TEKNIK EQP-KT, PULTEC-STYLE TUBE EQ SHOOTOUT
You can also spend a lot more. Pultech EQP-1A runs about $4500 and the Manley Enhanced Stereo Pultec EQ runs about $5000.
...or spend even more and buy an authentic vintage Pultech.
I sometimes consider the Klark Teknik to play around with. Would it be a waste, perhaps, but I would have a bit of fun with it doinking around in my basement. I can't, or more precisely won't justify spending more.
It's pretty magical. Honestly I don't think I could work without one for kick drums (especially most virtual instrument kicks that always come default with crazy lows baked in). Can be great on bass too of course, and heck, full mixes for that matter.
Equalization is already a pretty maxed out area of electronics. Can’t really think of anything that isn’t fairly commonplace considering the number of readily available choices on the market. My preferred flavor for bass is a Baxandall type EQ. But I’ve also used graphic, parametric, tilt, and shelving type EQs. There’s no real “best.” It really all depends on the situation and what you’re trying to accomplish.
Are you doing this primarily for a learning experience or are you looking to come up with something genuinely unique?
Last edited:
So if I had an ideal EQ it would be 5-band and 2 filters
1. HPF with an option for a resonant frequency boost at the HPF setting (look at the Broughton Resonant Filter EQ). Adjustable frequency point and slope.
2. Shelving bass control with a selectable frequency from 30hz to 150hz
3. 3 mid range options with variable Q and frequency
4. Shelving table control with selectable frequency.
5. LPF with adjustable frequency.
If you REALLY want to shut up and take my money, figure out a way to load cab-sim IRS into it and then make them exportable to load in to pedals that can load IRs.
1. HPF with an option for a resonant frequency boost at the HPF setting (look at the Broughton Resonant Filter EQ). Adjustable frequency point and slope.
2. Shelving bass control with a selectable frequency from 30hz to 150hz
3. 3 mid range options with variable Q and frequency
4. Shelving table control with selectable frequency.
5. LPF with adjustable frequency.
If you REALLY want to shut up and take my money, figure out a way to load cab-sim IRS into it and then make them exportable to load in to pedals that can load IRs.
Perhaps some type of dynamic EQ with various EQ changing with attack and level. Every other type of passive EQ has likely already been explored.
Pairing a resonant HPF with a resonant LPF is an incredibly powerful tone shaping tool on a variety of sources. In many cases I could get by with just that when doing studio work.
How about a 10 band EQ offering more lower frequency control. Logarithmic increases too fast, resulting in only a few of the lowest bands of a typical EQ in the bass guitar's fundamental range. I propose bands centered at bass guitar's notes:
41 Hz (E)
55 Hz (A)
73 Hz (D)
98 Hz (G)
131 Hz (C)
175 Hz (F)
233 Hz
311 Hz
415 Hz
554 Hz
(probably ought to double check those frequencies)
Of course, control of higher frequencies is important, but precise control generally isn't needed. The addition of a parametric mid control around 1kHz and a high control around 3kHz would be enough for me.
41 Hz (E)
55 Hz (A)
73 Hz (D)
98 Hz (G)
131 Hz (C)
175 Hz (F)
233 Hz
311 Hz
415 Hz
554 Hz
(probably ought to double check those frequencies)
Of course, control of higher frequencies is important, but precise control generally isn't needed. The addition of a parametric mid control around 1kHz and a high control around 3kHz would be enough for me.
Yes. I had a Peavey head with graphic eq.
I think Peavey MkIV 50, 100, 250, 500, 1k, 3k. Really useful to be able to set the 50 Hz lower than the 100 and 250 Hz to get things less muddy. The 500 is a good spot to poke a hole for scoop. And 1 and 3 for growl.
Parmetric fuzzy wuzzy
Be pretty slick to place fuzz within a few hundred harmonic frequencies
Be pretty slick to place fuzz within a few hundred harmonic frequencies
Last edited:
This was going to be my answer, something wholly original (or at least not popular that I'm not aware of) kind of like a reverse-comp/filter but without resonance. Threshold control and two sets of active EQ controls; once you set the threshold, everything with greater attack is EQ'd one way and vice versa. Would be a pretty cool pedal for slappers, I'd imagine.
I've mentioned before, that I think it would be interesting to have a tilt EQ, with a semi parametric cut / boost either side of the "pivot" frequency.
Re. Pultec. Given that @tech21nyc have used analogue circuits to model mic'd cabinets, and the various stages of classic tube amps, in to medium format pedals for decades; I'm surprised nobody that I'm aware of has done the same to model the effect of simply engaging a Pultec, with the EQ flat.
Marry that to a boost with a broad Q, and a cut with a narrow Q, at selectable 20Hz / 30Hz / 60Hz / 100Hz, and it ought to be in the ballpark.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,054
- 45,947
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I'm finding that I like the fixed resonance HPF/Bax bass control combo in conjunction with a resonant LPF a whole lot these days. Still haven't gotten a resonant HPF format that I'm fully happy with worked up, but it's in the rather long work queue.
A resonant HPF is a tool I like in the studio for simultaneously removing bass where it clashes with the kick and providing a boost to the bass just above the kick to not have the bottom end feel wimpy when only one is playing. Admittedly, if I had to pick just one resonant filter, it would be the LPF over the HPF.
