To EQ or Not To EQ? What a question, huh?

[UMT]

Anyhow, about a year ago, I decided I wanted to EQ my guitar with a 10 band MXR.. I run directly into the EQ and then to the amp. I think it sounds much better with the EQ than without although the 'without' isn't bad at all.

Last nite, I had several people come up to the stage and tell me how my guitar really sounded hot! This was our first gig at a new place and had a packed house and alot going on, etc...

So, I had to use my tuner in between a song and I noticed that, with all the stuff going on with a first gig, that I hadn't even plugged my guitar into the EQ, I had plugged it directly into the amp.

So, I'm wondering: although the EQ adds alot of nice coloring to tone, is it also making it not project (or maybe 'cut thru the mix') as well? Sounds good up front but muddy out in the crowd? Maybe I should run direct into the amp and be a little more precise when dialing in the tone controls on the amp?

Anybody have any similiar types of experiences and/or thoughts on EQ'ing things?

[walterw]

it all depends on how you're EQing it, of course. if you're scooping out the mids and boosting the bass and treble, then yes, that sound will seem better to you by itself but get lost with the band.

in general, if the amp's kicking ass without one, don't bother. a pedal or effect should "earn its keep".

[jcarpenter]

I try to avoid them by making the right choices via speakers and pickups. If you got the right rig that suits your sound hopefully you can avoid the EQ pedal. Sounds like you do. Don't force it if it sounds good without it leave it out.

[Tone_Terrific]

Imo, your basic sound should require no eq outside of the amp.
There are, however, lots of eq applications and one of them might be fixing the shortcomings of an amp. But, it is an amp problem, nonetheless.

[UMT]

Well, I've pulled the EQ off the front of the amp. I found that if I made SMALL adjustments to the treble,mid,bass controls that I could get virtually the same sound but the amp still seems to project a bit better. I'm playing with the EQ thru the FX Loop and using it as a 'clean' boost and I kinda like that. Also trying my Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal the same way thru the FX loop and that sounds real good also. So, I'm going to try 'em both at different practices and gigs and see what kind of responses I get.

Just thought I'ld post my findings and I appreciate everyone elses thoughts also.

[rob2001]

I used EQ's for a while and found them not needed unless I wanted extreme sounds.

[walterw]

I'm playing with the EQ thru the FX Loop and using it as a 'clean' boost and I kinda like that. Also trying my Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal the same way thru the FX loop and that sounds real good also.
so it's a crunchy master volume amp with an effects loop? then yes, that EQ in the loop is a perfect way to get a real volume boost for solos. the loop is after the preamp distortion, so the pedal will actually make the amp louder for leads, instead of just making the preamp distort more. you can then EQ yourself a nice lead tone with a mid-boost and maybe a low-end cut as well.