EQ pedal

[Fred Rogan]

MXR makes a 10 band EQ pedal for just over $100. I've thought about an EQ pedal to help minimize tonal differences between amps and just to be able to dial in better than the usual treble, middle and bass on amps.
Could you share your experience with EQ pedals?
thanks much

[Larry Dering]

For me they are handy and I have used them as you stated. I have a Boss 7 band, a Joyo like the Boss, and a tech 21 that has a mid sweep. Also for acoustic guitar a Baggs DI pedal. They can be useful tools more so to cut rather than boost.

[Fred Rogan]

Thanks Larry - I didn't realize Boss makes an EQ pedal. I'll check that out as well.

[Bill Rowlett]

Fred,

I have used one of the MXR 10 band EQ models and can say that it is a well built quality device. I like the build better than the Boss unit and the 10 bands are more useful than the six bands. My experience was that the range and center frequencies of tone controls on the Peavey parametric amps adequately covered my needs and I don't carry the MXR EQ anymore. One of my bass player likes to use one and he has awesome tone.

Bill

[Fred Rogan]

Thanks Bill - good point about the 10 band versus 6 bands. I also like the fact that you can come out of the MXR and go into two different amps, a feature the Boss does not have.

[Larry Dering]

Fred, I've read that the MXR is quiet and some say Boss is noisy. I don't find mine noisy but the extra eq bands is a plus. I also agree on Peavey having mid sweep takes care of your equipment needs.

[Len Amaral]

If you have an SS amp with an effects loop, put a 10 band MXR EQ or equivalent in loop and you will expand the character of the amp dramatically. You can then turn the EQ on/off to A/B the results.

[Thomas Stone]

If you play a 10-string in standard E9 tuning, your low B is tuned to 123.75 Hz. So the bottom two sliders on the MXR 10-band EQ are not really useful, having center frequencies of 31.25 and 62.5 Hz. Still a good tool, but better to think of it as an 8-band EQ.

[Larry Dering]

I look for a mid band control. High mids and low mids seem to have more to do with pedal steel tone control. Most eq pedals help but miss those critical frequencies. Some of the pricy eq like the Empress parametric equalizer does a better job.

[Stu Forman]

I also saw some comments online about the Boss pedal being noisy/hissy, and the MXR being quieter, so I went with the MXR. I'm very impressed with it. I bought it because I was hoping I'd be able to play my Telecaster through my Nashville 400 without changing the settings on the amp. It works perfectly! Using the pedal, I was able to bump up the volume to match the volume of the steel, and dial in an EQ that sounds great. Like night and day. It's now the foundation for my latest pedalboard.

[Pete Nicholls]

I have a 10-band equalizer and the EHX Knockout pedal. For $68, do yourself a favor and get one. As they say, it will make your strat sound like a les paul of a les paul sound like a strat. Much simpler than a 10-band equalizer. I have two of them as I would sure hate to be caught without one!
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifi ... US&cur=USD

[Fred Rogan]

Great feedback - thanks
I have ordered the MXR over the Boss. The MXR appears to be the quietest by a long shot based on your feedback and other reviews. Also, I like the 2 output jacks on the MXR - that will really mess me up trying to get two amps dialed in but offers up lots of tonal possibilities.
Once I get the MXR and do my eq-ing from there, any suggestions on how to set the amp? Leave as is; all straight up; all turned down; etc.
thanks

[Larry Dering]

Fred, I would dial my amp in to its best tone and then try the eq. Of course running it through the effects loop is far better. There is no set in stone formula so you have to experiment a bit. That includes trying with the amp dials straight up. Like others stated. I use mine to feed a Telecaster in without changing my steel amp settings, so it's different based on your needs. I may try that Harmonix pedal that Pete mentioned at 68.00, just to see how it works on my tone.

[John McClung]

I have a Source Audio EQ pedal I like, includes saving 4 presets, so I have a Mooney preset and others.

[Benjamin Davidson]

MXR makes a 10 band EQ pedal for just over $100. I've thought about an EQ pedal to help minimize tonal differences between amps and just to be able to dial in better than the usual treble, middle and bass on amps.
Could you share your experience with EQ pedals?
thanks much

I run the older single output MXR 10 Band EQ with some success for steel guitar. I drop the first two sliders (31.25 and 62.5Hz) all the way down to help cut back the hum of the single coil Mullen pickup I have in the Justice right now. I really just slightly push the mids and upper mids and trim the upper frequencies to taste. I keep the gain and volume sliders below unity, this pedal (as all EQs really have) has some noise when you add gain to any specific frequency, or with a global slider.

I recommend not pushing any particular slider further than +/-6db, the way these graphic EQs actually manipulate frequencies can really peak at those sliders and sound really uneven when sliding and curtain pulls on steel. Its a function of how a specific frequency is manipulated, think of each of those sliders has a peak/valley where the slider sits in the frequency band and the base of that remains at the 0 mark and widens as the Boost/Cut is pushed.

Thanks Bill - good point about the 10 band versus 6 bands. I also like the fact that you can come out of the MXR and go into two different amps, a feature the Boss does not have.

Be mindful of running two amps of this or any other non-isolated pedal outs. This isn't limited to the MXR pedal, but any non-transformer-isolated split to a guitar signal from a pedal. You will experience either phase relation issues, or ground loop related hiss/hum using this pedal as your split, as that second output isn't ground isolated from the first. I run a wet/dry setup with the ability to run stereo out of my board, getting an transformer isolation device (for me a GigRig Humdinger, ground isolated 2nd out and the ability to flip phase on that second output). There are a bunch of work arounds, but this is the proper way to deal with the situation of ground loops running 2 amps.

If you play a 10-string in standard E9 tuning, your low B is tuned to 123.75 Hz. So the bottom two sliders on the MXR 10-band EQ are not really useful, having center frequencies of 31.25 and 62.5 Hz. Still a good tool, but better to think of it as an 8-band EQ.

Don't underestimate the effectiveness of taking the first two sliders (31.25 and 62.5Hz) completely down to help cut back the hum of the single coil pickups.

[Fred Rogan]

Excellent suggestions - thank you

[Jack Hanson]

some say Boss is noisy

The one I had was definitely noisy.

[Thomas Stone]

"Don't underestimate the effectiveness of taking the first two sliders (31.25 and 62.5Hz) completely down to help cut back the hum of the single coil pickups."

Excellent point.

[Jeffery Mercer]

Get Yourself a Danelectro “Fish & Chips” one of the best kept secrets and also one of the best EQ’s available under $50 used...

[Tony Prior]

Thanks Larry - I didn't realize Boss makes an EQ pedal.

Fred you gotta get out more !

As stated, an EQ pedal on the front end can be our best friend to make up for what that amp we just paid big bucks for can't do !

I have 1 amp in particular, a Carvin Nomad, 50 watter, 4 x EL84 amp, S-12. It's clean, and has excellent headroom but it lacks bottom end big time. A 7-band EQ resolves that.

Also, an LR BAGGS Venue is an excellent multi-tasking alternative.

[Richard Sinkler]

Well, I have tried the Boss, MXR 10 band, Danelectro, and Source audio. I had to stop using them because they all affected the tone of my guitar. 🤣

But seriously, I have never found the need for one other than for dobro simulation. I still use the Danelectro for that.

I still have the Source Audio EQ that I will be using on my electric mandolin. The mandolin sounds good acoustically, but electrically it SUCKS.

But, I did use a rack mount EQ (don't remember the brand) in the 70's when using an original Session 400 (silver knobs), and could not get a decent tone to save my life. This was with 2 different ZBs and a Kline guitars. Don't think lack of tone was the guitar, as they sounded great with a Webb.

[Fred Rogan]

Tony you are right I gotta get out more!
All the guitar mags review is distortion pedals and I just never thought until recently about an EQ pedal existing. Many decades ago I used to sell stereos and I think it was Marantz that made a nice stereo unit with over 10 bands (can't remember how many) but it made a nice difference in sound.
I know a pedal is not going to have that effect but we'll see. The MXR pedals are still back-ordered at Sweetwater.

[Steve Mueller]

Just got the MXR 10 band. Excellent product, quiet, does just what I wanted.

[ajm]

I'll second the Danelectro Fish and Chips.

Boss GE-7 noise: I understand that the old/early ones may have this issue. The old beat up on I got off of Craigslist for $12 did. I changed three op amps inside to a better version and it fixed the problem.

I use both my Boss and my Dano, but in a way that most probably don't. In my six string way too may effects set up, I use them to TAKE OUT obnoxious frequencies witha couple of specific "problem" pedals.

I have a Univibe type pedal. I also have an MXR Micro Flanger that I use for a Leslie type effect.
Both of these pedals, especially the MXR, can generate "peaks" that can be annoying and ear piercing. Another side effect is that if you're recording they can sneak through frequencies periodically that can ruin your recording levels and clip things.

I put a GEQ pedal after each effect and adjust out any problem frequencies that might be coming through.

[Charley Paul]

I'll second the Danelectro Fish and Chips.

Boss GE-7 noise: I understand that the old/early ones may have this issue. The old beat up on I got off of Craigslist for $12 did. I changed three op amps inside to a better version and it fixed the problem.

I use both my Boss and my Dano, but in a way that most probably don't. In my six string way too may effects set up, I use them to TAKE OUT obnoxious frequencies witha couple of specific "problem" pedals.

I have a Univibe type pedal. I also have an MXR Micro Flanger that I use for a Leslie type effect.
Both of these pedals, especially the MXR, can generate "peaks" that can be annoying and ear piercing. Another side effect is that if you're recording they can sneak through frequencies periodically that can ruin your recording levels and clip things.

I put a GEQ pedal after each effect and adjust out any problem frequencies that might be coming through.

I’m pretty sure that Analogman mods the Boss EQ pedals to make them way quieter and extend the eq range. Might be worth checking out?