If there a reason we don't get Q adjustment on amps

[agedhorse]

Others more qualified than me have already stated that it has been done and have articulated why it hasn’t been done more often, so I will just add that some Peavey TKO and TNT combos from the ‘80s did have fully parametric mid controls, and probably aren’t too hard to track down (at least in North America) if you wanted to try it on the cheap. I think the Demeter preamp I had ages ago had one as well (not 100% certain which model I had, and someone stole it 16 years ago), and I found “my sound” with the parametric mid control on that; so I certainly understand the desire to try it, but I would opt for a pedal if I felt the need to try it now.

I’ve never seen a TKO or TNT with a Q control.

 

[Rody]

The Yamaha PB-1 has a parametric EQ (1 band).

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I'm in the market for an amp and like that some are now offering sweepable mids, but why not take the next step and go to a fully parametric midrange ?

An ideal eq for me would be

Hi pass filters
Lows center point
Lows volume
Mids volume
Mids frequency
Mids Q
Highs volume
Highs filter frequency (high shelf)
Low pass filter with resonace control (optional)

But at the very least I'd like full control over mids frequency width and that seems unheard of. It's just a basic parametric eq section. It csnr be overly difficult to incorporate...

Almost all of the old Eden WT amps have those. With the exception of the WT405 (also the 330 and 390 versions of that amp), they have a Bass shelving EQ set at 30Hz, then three semi-parametric controls covering 30Hz up to 12KHz, with overlapping frequencies between the 1st and 2nd semi-parametric, and the 2nd and 3rd semi-parametric control. The Treble control is also a shelving unit typically controlling everything above 2KHZ. Below is a shot of the frequency controls of the semi-parametric with the smaller filled-in numbers in between the large pre-printed numbers being an approximate frequencies at the hash marks:

The boost/cut controls are located directly below each of these and will boost or cut up to 15db.

You can use that Bass EQ as a sort of built-in HPF although a dedicated one is more useful. Or you can set that first semi-parametric to a frequency you want to cut or perhaps add back to the sound after dropping the Bass Shelving EQ. Still, that's not really an HPF, but I've had no trouble with it. How useful an HPF is depends more on the cabs you use with it than anything else.

The Eden TN-series of amps are class D amps that are better in my opinion that the original Eden Class D WTX amps. Trick is finding them now. Although Eden is still in business, Marshall handles the manufacturing for them and they are often out of stock on items for 6 months or more.

Here's my TN-226 which is just 225-watts into 4Ω. I bought it expressly to match with an Eden EX-112 cab for a small brewpub where we played over 40 Fridays per year. It sounds really good, has too semi-parametric controls for the frequencies between 30Hz and 2KHz. Mine weighs 4.7-lbs and the 500-watt version weighs 5.2-lbs. They sound just as warm as my big Eden amp with its tube in the preamp and they have a better auto-compressor works wonderfully well - very musical, whereas the one in my WT500/800 is pretty harsh.

Used is about the only way to go right now as Gear4Music.com, who owns Eden, is out of almost everything now, waiting for Marshall to produce the amps and cabs. If considering the older Eden WT class AB amps (weighing typically 16-lbs to 21-lbs) look at either the WT550 for a single powerblock amp or the WT800C which has two power channels that can be bridged together into 4Ω for up to 1100-watts rms of power. The WT800C is like having two of the WT550 amps in one.

For something new that is currently available, you should look at the Mesa offerings. They offer a lot depending upon the features you want.

The simplest one would be the Subway D-800+. It has low-mid and high-mid parametric frequency selector covering 30Hz to 5Khz between them AND it has an adjustable HPF. Nice, 800-watt amp, that can handle a 2Ω load if you need it. Looks like price on it is $1099.

They also offer a D-800 that does not have the HPF or the parametric controls and is smaller than the D-800+. Price on it is $999

Then there's the WD-800 which has three parametric controls covering 80Hz to 5KHz but giving you more fine adjustments because it's spread over three controls. Still has the adjustable HPF and it has the tube warmth that the Walk-About series had. Price on it is $1199.

And then there is the TT-800 (TT=Tri-Tube architecture). It has two channels, one using the older Mesa Boogie sound and the other the Subway sound. So, two preamps in one. Has a single parametric control for the mids. Channels can be controlled by footswitch and of course has the adjustable HPF that all the Mesa Bass amps feature now. Price on that is $1399.

Anyhow, they have LOTS of different options depending on what floats your boat and most of them have the adjustable HPF. The D-350 does not, nor does the D-800. All of their 800-watt amps can handle 2Ω with a flip of a toggle on the back of the amp. I don't believe their 350-watt D-350 has a 4Ω minimum load though.

Another real plus for Mesa is that the fellow who designed all these amps is @agedhorse, who is very active here and very helpful. He can give you more particulars if you have questions about them.

 

[Engle]

I'm in the market for an amp and like that some are now offering sweepable mids, but why not take the next step and go to a fully parametric midrange ?

An ideal eq for me would be

Hi pass filters
Lows center point
Lows volume
Mids volume
Mids frequency
Mids Q
Highs volume
Highs filter frequency (high shelf)
Low pass filter with resonace control (optional)

But at the very least I'd like full control over mids frequency width and that seems unheard of. It's just a basic parametric eq section. It csnr be overly difficult to incorporate...

The Peavey Centurion I bought in 1979 has that on one channel. I found it useful.

 

[agedhorse]

Note that when the term parametric is used with regard to bass amps, it references sweepable frequency not variable Q.

 

[Wasnex]

Note that when the term parametric is used with regard to bass amps, it references sweepable frequency not variable Q.

While this is true, I would say it's about as accurate as using the term biamp when you mean multi-amp.

I prefer the terms "sweepable mids" or "semi-parametric."

 

[ole Jason]

Why would I ever need more than this

View attachment 5411180

lol I was reading through this thread thinking "Euphonic Audio amps had the perfect EQ section" and was planning on posting a pic and then saw your reply. It's such a simple, yet intuitive, setup I'm surprised other manufacturers haven't directly copied it. The presets are also very useful IMO.

 

[agedhorse]

lol I was reading through this thread thinking "Euphonic Audio amps had the perfect EQ section" and was planning on posting a pic and then saw your reply. It's such a simple, yet intuitive, setup I'm surprised other manufacturers haven't directly copied it. The presets are also very useful IMO.

Because most players have voted with their own purchases. How many of these amps are still in production?

 

[brianrost]

Peavey had fully parametric midrange control on one channel of the 1979 Centurion 130W head as well as the 1979 Combo MkIII single channel combo amp. The “mode” knob was the midrange gain. Notice the switchable DDT compressor/limiter.

 

[brianrost]

How many of these amps are still in production?

None, since EA closed their doors about two years ago. They were aimed mainly at upright players who really benefitted from the complex EQ section.

 

[lunarpollen]

Although it would be nice to have such a thing built in to a head, Ibanez now makes a five-band EQ pedal that retails new for about $130 that has controls for frequency, level, and Q for each band... PTEQ | PENTATONE | EFFECTS | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

 

[40Hz]

Probably because it adds a layer of complexity to an instrument amp that most people don’t need or want to pay for.

Those who do - or think they do - can always get themselves a preamp, an outboard parametric EQ, and any other filters they feel they need along with a power amp and create their own head like the rack gear crowd did back in the 80s.

 

[David A. Davis]

Bergantino b|amp or Super Pre?

 

[BuddhaFingas]

Although it would be nice to have such a thing built in to a head, Ibanez now makes a five-band EQ pedal that retails new for about $130 that has controls for frequency, level, and Q for each band... PTEQ | PENTATONE | EFFECTS | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

...and if you try it and find you dont like it, you dont have to replace your amp to have something different. Which is the joy of modularity.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Bergantino b|amp or Super Pre?

Bergantino Super Pre has a super flexible and quiet EQ.

It would benefit from having a Q width indicator above each of the four bands. Adjustments for width and center frequency are in two different menus which is sub-optimal, making tonal exploration and on-the-fly adjustments tricky. The less twiddling, the better.

Where a few added graphics on an amp's EQ section might help in problem solving, they'd be welcomed.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Source Audio EQ2

• 10 Adjustable Bands: Each of the 10 bands can be set anywhere on the frequency spectrum between 20Hz and 20kHz.
• Adjustable Q Factor (Bandwidth): Each band’s Q (bandwidth) can be made to be wider or up to 10 times narrower for ultimate tone-sculpting.

EDIT: I'm not endorsing it. I've never tried it. I just posted to show the OVERKILL available!

 

[HolmeBass]

Almost all of the old Eden WT amps have those. With the exception of the WT405 (also the 330 and 390 versions of that amp), they have a Bass shelving EQ set at 30Hz, then three semi-parametric controls covering 30Hz up to 12KHz, with overlapping frequencies between the 1st and 2nd semi-parametric, and the 2nd and 3rd semi-parametric control. The Treble control is also a shelving unit typically controlling everything above 2KHZ. Below is a shot of the frequency controls of the semi-parametric with the smaller filled-in numbers in between the large pre-printed numbers being an approximate frequencies at the hash marks:

View attachment 5411185

The boost/cut controls are located directly below each of these and will boost or cut up to 15db.

You can use that Bass EQ as a sort of built-in HPF although a dedicated one is more useful. Or you can set that first semi-parametric to a frequency you want to cut or perhaps add back to the sound after dropping the Bass Shelving EQ. Still, that's not really an HPF, but I've had no trouble with it. How useful an HPF is depends more on the cabs you use with it than anything else.

The Eden TN-series of amps are class D amps that are better in my opinion that the original Eden Class D WTX amps. Trick is finding them now. Although Eden is still in business, Marshall handles the manufacturing for them and they are often out of stock on items for 6 months or more.

Here's my TN-226 which is just 225-watts into 4Ω. I bought it expressly to match with an Eden EX-112 cab for a small brewpub where we played over 40 Fridays per year. It sounds really good, has too semi-parametric controls for the frequencies between 30Hz and 2KHz. Mine weighs 4.7-lbs and the 500-watt version weighs 5.2-lbs. They sound just as warm as my big Eden amp with its tube in the preamp and they have a better auto-compressor works wonderfully well - very musical, whereas the one in my WT500/800 is pretty harsh.

Used is about the only way to go right now as Gear4Music.com, who owns Eden, is out of almost everything now, waiting for Marshall to produce the amps and cabs. If considering the older Eden WT class AB amps (weighing typically 16-lbs to 21-lbs) look at either the WT550 for a single powerblock amp or the WT800C which has two power channels that can be bridged together into 4Ω for up to 1100-watts rms of power. The WT800C is like having two of the WT550 amps in one.

For something new that is currently available, you should look at the Mesa offerings. They offer a lot depending upon the features you want.

The simplest one would be the Subway D-800+. It has low-mid and high-mid parametric frequency selector covering 30Hz to 5Khz between them AND it has an adjustable HPF. Nice, 800-watt amp, that can handle a 2Ω load if you need it. Looks like price on it is $1099.

They also offer a D-800 that does not have the HPF or the parametric controls and is smaller than the D-800+. Price on it is $999

Then there's the WD-800 which has three parametric controls covering 80Hz to 5KHz but giving you more fine adjustments because it's spread over three controls. Still has the adjustable HPF and it has the tube warmth that the Walk-About series had. Price on it is $1199.

And then there is the TT-800 (TT=Tri-Tube architecture). It has two channels, one using the older Mesa Boogie sound and the other the Subway sound. So, two preamps in one. Has a single parametric control for the mids. Channels can be controlled by footswitch and of course has the adjustable HPF that all the Mesa Bass amps feature now. Price on that is $1399.

Anyhow, they have LOTS of different options depending on what floats your boat and most of them have the adjustable HPF. The D-350 does not, nor does the D-800. All of their 800-watt amps can handle 2Ω with a flip of a toggle on the back of the amp. I don't believe their 350-watt D-350 has a 4Ω minimum load though.

Another real plus for Mesa is that the fellow who designed all these amps is @agedhorse, who is very active here and very helpful. He can give you more particulars if you have questions about them.

I think that’s the graphic I made, oh so long ago on the Eden forum.

 

[HolmeBass]

So slightly off-topic, in that I get why fully parametric EQs are a lot harder to use than semi-parametric, and I am glad my amps use semi-parametric EQs, I still have a question.

What is the Q in modern semi-parametric EQs? What is it on my Eden Metro, and what is it on my D-800+?

Is it variable with frequency? Any info, or even just links, appreciated.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I think that’s the graphic I made, oh so long ago on the Eden forum.

YES! Yeah Stewart (Stuart?). I couldn't remember who posted it, but I kept a copy of it. It's a great reference. Thanks for putting it together!

 

[Lowbrow]

I often blab about the Yamaha B500H and as someone who wants a lot of tonal control I go to town with its power to let me set each of the EQ knobs to control the frequency of my choice. But it’s the single band peq that lets me dip any offending freq from the cab’s profile before I even dial in the instrument.