https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:47:50 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-361419 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 05:04:04 +0000
But you sort of have to play with them. Try them out, see what you like.

I'm in a band that's recently started gigging. We stay mostly in one style, sort of punk-esque rock. On bass, I literally do not touch the amp, or any effects while playing, though I change the knobs on my instrument between songs.

On guitar, I just use the volume knob. Playing through a set up for relatively heavy distortion, I play it wide open for rock rhythm- roll back on the volume for cleaner.

The other guitarist has a three channel foot switch, so he has three different effects channels- dirty distortion, hot lead, and clean.

Some people do a lot more, using different pedals, changing settings on the fly...you have to try it out and see what works for you. I'd do it in three stages though- at home, try out ALL the settings on all your gear. Decide which ones you like best. Then try those that you like best in rehearsal and see how they fit into the mix with the other guys.

Take the best sounds again. When you're gigging, it's cool to have variety, but remember you're there to play the guitar, not the settings. For me, the fewer changes you have to make WHILE playing, the better off you are.

If you're doing a huge variety of styles, though, and need widely different sounds, I might recommend something programable, like a digital multi-effects pedal.

Best,
ANde]]> Guitar Players Discussion Ande https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-361419 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-361398 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:50:32 +0000
If you are playing all your own songs, then you'll have everything set up for your signature sound.
If you're doing a lot of covers of vastly different bands, then TR's suggestion of a modeling pedal/amp with different EQ settings (and FX and amp models) for each song is the ultimate way to go.
If you're playing mostly the same style, then there is probably a setting that you can use 99% of the time.

Or you could just find something you like, and use it for everything... until you want to change for your own reasons.

I've got a sorta bluesy sound that I like with my gear, and I just leave it there. Mostly.]]> Guitar Players Discussion kent_eh https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-361398 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-361369 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 09:23:28 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion TRGuitar https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-361369 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-40355 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:30:10 +0000
Long-time lurker, first-time poster (first-time poster to anything in fact, never been much of one for forums). Great site, gotten lots of good tips and advice!

I'm going to go ahead and get off on the wrong foot by asking a few of those vague, likely impossible to answer questions (yeah, i know :roll:). And yes, I KNOW tone comes from the fingers, I'm working on it, but there are other variables.

Until I started playing in a band, I stuck strictly to acoustic. Pick it up and strum, sounds great. Elec is awesome but there are too many knobs and bells and whistles. You've got the tone knobs on the guitar, the pickup selection, tone knobs on pedals, EQ on amp--it's too much, and I can't seem to figure out how it all interacts and what has the most effect, and I can't ever get what I want.

So I'm curious, especially for those of you who play in bands that do covers--how much do you vary your amp EQ settings from song to song? I guess I'm wondering if guitar/amp combos have certain "sweet spots" or if I should be experimenting more. Also, what do you adjust first when you're searching for a tone, or what is the sequence of things you mess with?

My amp EQ pretty much stays in the same place for everything (roll back the bass a little bit, turn the highs up a bit, and turn the mids a bit higher than the highs). For different sounds I just mess with pickup selection switch and the tone knobs on my guitar, and/or add effects. Is this "normal?"

My rig = standard strat - Boss tuning pedal - Crybaby Wah - Ibanez Tubescreamer - Egnator Rebel 30 head/cab with a Boss DD-7 delay in the loop.

I just got the Egnator recently. 'Til then, I'd never played on any other amp besides my old Peavey Express 112 that I've had for years. When I first played the Egnator, it was a real "wow" factor compared to how my Strat sounded through the old Peavey. Loved it. Now, though, it's been a couple weeks and I'm back to being frustrated. Still have trouble getting it to do what I want (same prob I had with the old one, I thought the new one would fix that!).]]> Guitar Players Discussion Wolf Nipplechips https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/too-many-eqs/#post-40355