Rack Equalizer in an Amp Rig?

[travishatcher]

Hi folks,

I've done some reading and I want to get some opinions. I have a GK 1001RB head and 410 can. It's got a wonderful stand alone tone. I've out the head and a tuner in a case.

When I initially thought of doing this my plan was I have a graphic eq (rack, likely a 31 band or something) in there too. I used an MXR 10 band now with my pedals but I was going to swap to have less at my feet.

So - I like a graphic EQ because I can see things, and I have some "presets" I use on my 10 band that I could transfer over easily enough.

But I've heard some people say that given the options in that head (compared to my last) its unnecessary to have. And given I have a 10 band pedal I can tweak from there if I need to.

Has anyone done this?
Experiences?
Thoughts?
How would I hook an EQ up to the head?
Is it worth it?

I'm not going to buy something just to fill an empty space in my rack I it doesn't were a useful purpose.

 

[Hactar]

I used to have a 15-band EQ in my amp rack.
My advice, my opinion: don't. Find a parametric EQ.
Why? Because having to fiddle with 15 or 31 itsy bitsy sliders takes far too much time, and most of the frequency bands are unnecessary.

A parametric EQ gives you far more flexibility, and is faster to tweak and more musical.

That said, if you really like a graphic EQ, go for it. Perhaps start with a cheap GEQ (a decent Peavey GEQ can be had used for ~$100).
To connect a GEQ to your amp, use the FX send/return jacks.
Who knows, maybe it works for you.

 

[travishatcher]

Thanks, any recommendations on a parametric EQ? O should I just stick with what's in the amp and my 10 band (which I've gotten good at tweaking on the fly)?

 

[Tuned]

Rent first. 31 band EQ's subject the signal to a lot of circuitry, costs some life out of the sound even with it set flat. Start by comparing bypass with a flat graph at a gig with the band playing as well. Even with no EQ adjustment, bypass cuts through better.

The Presonus EQ3B is decent parametric EQ, and you really want the Q control, to make the frequency selection wider or narrower.

 

[Dave W]

I don't really see the point of having a GEQ in the rack if you like the standalone tone of your head.

Pedal form is a little different as you can switch between 2 settings easily.

 

[travishatcher]

I don't really see the point of having a GEQ in the rack if you like the standalone tone of your head.

Pedal form is a little different as you can switch between 2 settings easily.

That true, I was more so thinking if when I had to switch it up by genre. When I session and play as a hired gun some folks want specific sounds/tones they want me to aim for. I found with a broad dial in from the head I could colour it with the pedal and get what they needed. I was thinking rack since I have a gator case it'll all fit in instead (and I could just bypass it when Im jammin at home)

It's more if an idea I was toying with, if I can grab a second hand one used (I see them up from time to time) then I'd make it happen, but if its totally not worth it Id put the idea out my head.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Has anyone done this?
Experiences?

Probably everyone with a GEQ has tried it, but the amount of units in use may tell You something .

I've always been a straight in, straight out, tube head and a cab kind of a guy.
I judge a rigs worthiness for me by its ability to get the simple tones I want without any additional gimmickry.

A distortion would be the only piece of FX I'd even consider.

So, as You can tell, I wasn't very impressed with the results. Didn't really need it anyway, so that kind of conclusion was expected.
That was about 15 years ago though, but I haven't really felt the need for a re-try .

How would I hook an EQ up to the head?

I'd feed both channels of a 2*31 from the FX out, through a AB/through box to FX in.

Thoughts?

The same with any EQ, unless You have something very special in Your rack is to always cut, NEVER boost.

Is it worth it?

A bit stupid reply I know, but IMHO only You can decide whether it's worth it or not.
OTOH, You already feel a need to use a EQ, so more likely than not, it could be worth to You.

Regards
Sam

 

[Zooberwerx]

Rent first. 31 band EQ's subject the signal to a lot of circuitry, costs some life out of the sound even with it set flat. Start by comparing bypass with a flat graph at a gig with the band playing as well. Even with no EQ adjustment, bypass cuts through better.

The Presonus EQ3B is decent parametric EQ, and you really want the Q control, to make the frequency selection wider or narrower.

Yes it is but a bear to work with. I sold mine as it was overkill but, then again, I'm using some pre's that are voiced nicely as-is. The knobs and graphics on the Presonus are absolutely tiny and tough to see & set on the fly. I've been just as happy with a decent para EQ (single band), some type of HPF, and compressor. Yes, a decent compressor properly-adjusted can embellish your desired EQ profile.

Riis

 

[bongomania]

I've used a lot of different rack EQ's and processors in a variety of amp rigs. It is usually much more inconvenient than you'd think, and the resulting sound quality is usually not amazing.

On top of that, when you mention different artist bosses having specific sounds they want to you aim for, how often do they say "a little more 800 Hz please", or "could you cut a notch around 1.5 KHz?" I'm betting instead they say "a more modern tone", "a more vintage wooly tone", "funkier", "less boomy", or "more acoustic". Something like that. And while it is possible to tweak an EQ to help in those regards, it is not ideal, and it is very clumsy and tricky to dial in on the spot.

Instead I would recommend getting one or two good preamp pedals with more tone shaping than just EQ. Or a three-channel one like the VT Deluxe, that can toggle between three completely different tones. You can either bypass the preamp in your current amp head, or set that preamp for your most clean, neutral sound, and let the pedal(s) take on the job of tone/EQ shaping for specific songs/styles.

 

[craig.p]

I like rack EQs. I think they can be helpful. I agree with Zoober that paras can be a bear to get the sound you want nailed down, especially when it comes to filter Q. I'm a big fan of the ART EQ351. 31 bands, includes a continuously variable high-pass filter (which will pay for itself with the first driver whose Xlim you don't hit), and the price is right, especially when you figure in not having to buy a separate subsonic filter.