Why most guitar amps don´t use parametric eq?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JuliánFernández
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JuliánFernández

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Well, that´s basically it... Why guitar players don´t ask for that feature on their amps?! I know that you can use an external eq, but that´s no the point (I guess)...

Any comments, experience? :)
 
JuliánFernández said:
Well, that´s basically it... Why guitar players don´t ask for that feature on their amps?! I know that you can use an external eq, but that´s no the point (I guess)...

Any comments, experience? :)
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Because about 99% of the possible settings would sound like crap??

Parameteric is more about fine tuning the tone, fitting it into the mix... as an adjustment on the overall sound of the amp, tone controls or graphics are probably better suited
 
cuz you would have to put it right next to the volume knob in order for them to see it , he he he:p
 
Because the vast majority of players would just look at it, scratch their head, and say: "Which one's the treble and which one's the bass?"

.
 
Daisy said:
Because the vast majority of players would just look at it, scratch their head, and say: "Which one's the treble and which one's the bass?"

.
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jajajaj, that´s seems to be true! I still think that I would be a good idea... :o
 
I have 4 1970 and 1971 Ampegs which are still my favorite amps although they weigh so much I rarely gig with them anymore.
And one of the things I like about them so much is that they have a switch that let's you choose between three different freqs for the midrange control ..... sort of a very crude parametric.
But, in general you choose guitar amps because you like the voicing the designer chose and part of that voicing is his decisions about tone control freqs.
I do love those old Ampegs though.
 
JuliánFernández said:
Well, that´s basically it... Why guitar players don´t ask for that feature on their amps?! I know that you can use an external eq, but that´s no the point (I guess)...

Any comments, experience? :)
Click to expand...

A great sounding amp doesn't need parametric EQs. Some of the sweetest sounding amps I played were vintage tweeds with only a volume and tone control.
 
Gallien Krueger - discontinued but still on eBay. I paid $1000 Canadian for this little beast about 25 years ago. I toured with it for a couple years with a 2X12 cabinet. It still works great but I use it rarely now that I have a Marshall...:D
 

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putting the use issue by guitarists aside for the moment...

the biggest issue is that it would require much more electronics as it's an active circuit where the existing tone controlls are passive and simple as hell to implement...


IIRC bob moog had somethoing to do with the Lab Series amps (when norlin owned the synth co) and they had parametrics on some models.... ever get a chance to pick one up??? do so... i've worked on a few... and a buddy owned an L5 and L9.... i think they're great amps solid stae amps...
 
dementedchord said:
IIRC bob moog had somethoing to do with the Lab Series amps (when norlin owned the synth co) and they had parametrics on some models.... ever get a chance to pick one up??? do so... i've worked on a few... and a buddy owned an L5 and L9.... i think they're great amps solid stae amps...
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They were good SS amps ..... hell, just good amps period. Had a sustain and singing quality much like a tubed amp. I saw a bass player using a Lab head the other night.
Two other SS amps that I liked were Dean Markleys and Traynor made a couple that really rocked out.
 
used to have a peavey bandit and the parametrics worked well on that one...

plenty of bass amps have parametrics...no problem....but thats because they have to deal with breaking down the dominant room resonances at low frequency..

i think parametrics do not appeal to guitarists .....they are still looking for the knob that goes to eleven.:)
 
I'm a fan of parametrics in guitar rigs...bass rigs too. Someone early on pointed out that they're great for cleaning up. I like them for sweeping out noise, sometimes rooms have a weird sound that bugs me, sometimes pedals making weird noises and such. Nothing wrong with them, but in the hands of the inexperienced...too many knobs.
 
why?

because most people would use it to DESTROY their tone.
+, if the amp is made right, it should not need parametric eq.
 
giraffe said:
+, if the amp is made right, it should not need parametric eq.
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or any tone controlls for that matter right??? how about a gain knob??? master volume??? surely we dont need reverb do we????
 
dementedchord said:
or any tone controlls for that matter right??? how about a gain knob??? master volume??? surely we dont need reverb do we????
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Hey...I think you're on to something:
 

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I've seen quite a lot of bass amps with them... Laney and Ashdown and I think a Fender with sweepable midrange at least, certainly.

Andrew.
 
giraffe said:
because most people would use it to DESTROY their tone.
+, if the amp is made right, it should not need parametric eq.
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??....i think you must have stumbled here by mistake...this is the home recording.....not hifi forum.;)
 
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