Graphic EQ Settings - question

[Mr_Martin]

None of both. The bass is a Precision? If so I would aim for low mids, leaving the eq flat and just lower the low freq just a but....

Which low freq? 80hz and below?

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

Which low freq? 80hz and below?

Even 100hz and below.

 

[GMC]

What is the better setting for a (in my example) more middy sound.

Is it better to boost (red) or to cut (green) frequencies ??

Is one of them better or worse?

View attachment 514255

The difference between the two is purely gain. They both have the same EQ, just at different volume levels. On a simple 3 band EQ, a bass and treble cut is the same thing as a mid boost but at a lower gain level. Everything centres around the mid line on a graphic. If the whole shape is boosted over the line, it's an increase in gain. If you lower the curve under the 0db line then it's the same EQ curve but at a lower gain. Again, in a 3 band EQ context...if you boost bass, it's the same as cutting mids and treble but adding some gain.

 

[GMC]

Which low freq? 80hz and below?

No, a bass control for bass guitar is usually between the 40hz to 120hz band. I tend to fine any thing below 80 hz as a little too subby and not really "bass". The 80-100 hz has the most pronounced effect on bass and the 100-120hz adds bass boom but doesn't seem to effect the amp's clipping. I belive this is because the bass guitar is quite unique as an instrument in that it's strongest harmonic isn't the fundaments but the 2nd harmonic, (low E of approx 40hz > 1 st harmonic is double at 80hz).
Treble is usualy anything over the 2Khz spot on bass. Anything over 4khz usually adds "brilliance" or very very high treble. Mids are anything between those points, so between 140hz - 2Khz. I generally think that low mids and high mids hand over at around 750-800 Hz. But the problem with all this is the Q value of the filter. Too wide and one knob slopes and effects the next. Too narrow a Q and the control doens't do much. Bartolini Mid sweeps tend to effect bass and treble at the same time, which points to the Q being too wide, unless one is looking for that kind of mid centred tilt feature. Finding a really good bass specific 4 band EQ is quite a challenge and in my opinion this level of control is far better served with a graphic EQ...at least one knows that each band's Q is very tight and narrow and isn't going to effect the next frequency stage.