What do with an equalizer?

[EmptyDevils]

Through a friend of my dad I recently got a DOD R-431 Graphic Equalizer for free. Thing is, I dunno what to do with it.

All it came with is a power cable. The back has four jacks: Balanced/Unbalanced In, Unbalanced In, Balanced/Unbalanced Out, Balanced Out.

I've only been playing for two months, so all I have is a little 12 inch combo amp, a bass guitar, and an amp cable.

I dunno what to do with it. I don't think I can use it without either extra equipment (which is fine) or a different amp (or maybe a bass head?). I play in a band with my friend who's a guitarist (we still need a drummer), but we're just starting out. Should I just sell it?

 

[line6man]

First off, if you don't know what it is/does, you don't need it, and shouldn't be using it.

Second, the use EQ should be avoided as much as possible, unless needed, and you should only use the smallest amount of boost/cut necessary.
EQ is a tool that must be used sparingly...

 

[walterw]

you should hang on to it until you start jamming with other people; at some point, you'll be playing in a garage or whatever, and there will be a crappy little PA system to sing through. that EQ can be used on the PA to fix mic feedback and make things sound a little better.

 

[testing1two]

A 31-band EQ isn't something you need in a bass rig. There are some touring players with extensive racks of equipment that will incorporate it (check out Doug Pinnick's rig of King's X...it's ridiculous) but in your case it will just complicate things.

To expand on what line6man said, in a perfect world you would use the least amount of EQ possible to get the sound you want. But sometimes your gear doesn't sound all that great and EQ is the only tool at your disposal to fix it. At the end of the day "if it sounds good, it is good." Hopefully as you progress in your playing, you will start to develop "your sound" and buy the gear that gets you that sound with the least amount of processing.