EQ pedal

[Mr. C]

I'm looking at getting an eq pedal and I'm leaning towards the MXR 10 band eq. I found that they also make a 6 band eq. I wouldn't mind getting the 6 band, but for some stupid reason I feel like I'd be missing out on something if I didn't get the 10 band. Is it really necessary? Or would the 6 band do just fine? Just in case this info is needed: I play a strat through a Boss ME50 into a Classic 30. Mainly classic rock.

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by Mr. C

I'm looking at getting an eq pedal and I'm leaning towards the MXR 10 band eq. I found that they also make a 6 band eq. I wouldn't mind getting the 6 band, but for some stupid reason I feel like I'd be missing out on something if I didn't get the 10 band. Is it really necessary? Or would the 6 band do just fine? Just in case this info is needed: I play a strat through a Boss ME50 into a Classic 30. Mainly classic rock.

What are you trying to achieve?

If you think about it (and there's another thread going on around here about EQ pedals in general--not just this one) but if you think about it, there's a lot of EQ tone controls in your rig already. On your guitar, on your amp, in your ME50.

But they all boost or cut a rather broad swath of freqency, and in a nice gentle slope. My point is this: the value of an EQ pedal for a guitar is to grab a frequency that your other more general tone controls aren't letting you get to--and then boosting or cutting that. So the narrower the frequencies (e.g. the more on the pedal) the more specific you can get.

I've got tone controls out the wazoo--much like you do--and yet I still have and love my EQ pedal. And it's the MXR 10 band. I use it add a fairly midrange boost for leads on a couple of my guitars. The boost is more targeted than I get w/the tone controls on the amp--and I don't have to re-dial the amp when I switch to a guitar with which I don't use that boost.

I've also used it to make a bridge pickup sound more like a neck pickup. (I loved the bridge pup, not so much with the neck on this one guitar). Simply using the guitar's tone was too broad--it just muffled everything. But I was able to carve out a nice smooth sound and kill the brittle bridge bit with the 10 band EQ.

[Mr. C]

Hey Whitestrat, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I always think about all the knobs we have to tweak especially when everyone talks about tone. I can get pretty much what I'm looking for with what I have (although I'm not always 100% happy w/the ME50 and not sure why...) Anyways I would like to fine tune things and what you said about the 10 band is exactly what I thought. Well we'll see if I end up getting it...trying to get the wife to buy it for Christmas. Actually she almost bought a used one on ebay, but was outbid.

[WhiteStrat]

Originally Posted by Mr. C

Hey Whitestrat, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I always think about all the knobs we have to tweak especially when everyone talks about tone. I can get pretty much what I'm looking for with what I have (although I'm not always 100% happy w/the ME50 and not sure why...) Anyways I would like to fine tune things and what you said about the 10 band is exactly what I thought. Well we'll see if I end up getting it...trying to get the wife to buy it for Christmas. Actually she almost bought a used one on ebay, but was outbid.

Well good luck. Let's hope Mrs. Santa does right by you!

[stevieb]

I never use my EQ pedal on my electric guitar rig, feeling like I have enough to keep up with with the guitar's, amp's, and Tube screamer's tone controls. I only use mine as a pre-amp (and, well, yes, an EQ) when running my acoustic to the board.

[Minion]

I use a cheapo alto 15 Band Rack mount eq , I built it right into my Guitar amp , But man does it ever help you shape your tone , without it my amps sounds thin and sterile but with it it sounds Fat and it screams.....