A good EQ pedal could
be the missing link in
your rig. No player takes
the stage without their
favorite overdrive, fuzz,
or delay, but an EQ pedal
can help you squeeze the
most out of your rig, and
fix some of the trouble
spots you come across
during live performances
and recording sessions.
First of all, let’s talk
about EQ. What is it,
and what does it do? EQ
refers to equalization,
or the adjusting of
frequencies occurring in
your guitar signal. When
an amplifier has treble,
middle, and bass controls,
this is often referred to as
a three-band EQ. You can
accentuate or attenuate
each of those frequencies
to find your sweet spot,
and that sweet spot
may change based on
a number of variables
including your guitar’s
pickups, the size of the
venue you’re gigging at,
or the speaker cabinet
you happen to be using
at the time. I remember
the first gig I ever played
performing my own
material; it was at the
Boise State University
student union building,
and I had assembled a
ragtag band featuring
one guy I kind of knew
and two guys I didn’t
know at all. We practiced
a couple times and called
it good. Our set actually
turned out ok, but I’ll
never forget the sound
guy covering his ears and
telling me to turn down
the treble on my amp.
I was playing a Telecaster
on the bridge pickup
through the clean channel
of a Fender Prosonic
amplifier on the 60-watt
setting. It was a piercing,
unfriendly tone, and
I wasn’t sure what to
do, because it sounded
so different at a low
volume in my apartment.
Little did I know, an EQ
pedal was just what I
needed, and I suspect
many guitarists have
found themselves in a
similar position. A good
EQ pedal can soften
your tone by taming
wild treble frequencies,
beef it up by enhancing
midrange, or give you
scooped metal tones
by removing midrange
altogether and enhancing
bass and treble. It can
breathe new life into
your dirt boxes and
amplifiers, and it may
be the one thing you’ve
never actually considered
purchasing. That’s about
to change. Here are some
sweet EQ pedals that can
help you get the most out
of your rig.
ToneReport.com
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