That Joyo Band Controller is a solid clean EQ. And the lack of skill on how to use an EQ is why people buy so many of the same pedal looking for a certain "sound". After some learning on what each bandwith does, you can use an EQ and create your own tone.
@@larryhall2805 Set up a tone that you like on your amp. Set the Eq pedal dead flat. Make sure it is solidly on the "detents" in the middle. Stay on one pickup and full volume and tone. Take one of the sliders and jack it all the way down and up while playing. Play and just listen. What do you hear? What spot do you like the best? Is there a place as you slide it that it starts changing to something you like better? dial it into that spot. Do it again with the next slider and repeat. Does this work for you? If so, keep it. Slam them all to the top and take a few of them and drop them. Listen. I think you'll really start to understand what it's doing if you just play with it and listen carefully.
@@eltorpedo8844 Thank you, El Torpedo! When I played bass, my SWR-SM 400 has a 5 band eq. I didn't systematically set it has you describe, but should have. I mostly went with a slight 'California Smile.'
I am designing a guitar amp for myself. It will not have tone controls (bass, mid, treble), but it will have a 6 band graphic EQ. I was researching existing circuit topologies when this video popped up. One of those strange coincidences...
@Paul Lifewood Solid state all the way! I play clean, so I don't need distortion, and that makes the valves an overkill. Plus I want it to be battery powered, because I don't want to mess with outlets and transformers. The amp will be modular, so it will be easy to replace or add sections. The power section is done: it is built around a 60W Class D chip (TPA3220). Now I am working on the EQ section. Then I am adding reverb and chorus with an FV-1 chip. Fun times ahead! :)
EQ can also be used to switch between two guitars on the same gig. A tele and Les Paul will have different pickup outputs, and EQ pedal can even those differences out. Example the LP can play straight into the rig but the tele might be a little to shrill and need an overall boost.
This is a great point. I used to use one in my live rig to be able to swap guitars and still be able to play both clean and dirty. The OD settings are _far_ more flexible on a swap from a Fender single coil to a Gibson PAF with an EQ before the OD.
I have a Les Paul and a Strat and definitely need to get one. Just want something simple and quiet. I haven’t bought the Boss. Have heard there’s noise issues.
Great Video Rhett. I’m an audio engineer and use eq all day, but for some reason it still didn’t click on why I would need an eq pedal. Using it as an overdrive and a cocked wha is genius. So simple but so effective.
Rhett, don't sleep on an EQ pedal in the amp's FX loop. 1. More powerful master EQ to dial your full rig's sound in to fit the mix of a band or to tune your rig to the room or a different cab/speaker combination. Sound techs and your band mates will love you for this. 2. A cheaper attenuator option - pull all the levels, including the input gain and output level, all the way down. Get your amp in the sweet spot then attenuate the preamp signal running into the power amp. This gives more control than most attenuators in controlling your amp's output volume. Great video on an underappreciated utility pedal with versatile uses.
The Source Audio EQ2 is seriously amazing. It can do a lot. But the main thing about it that not everyone gets is that it's actually two EQ pedals in one box. With its dual ins and outs you can use it in two spots of your pedal chain at the same time (e.g. before drives and after drives) and create different presets for each one. The tone shaping possibilities are endless, specially if you have a midi rig.
@@reacherstudio Sure. You can do this without midi, but you'll probably need the Neuro app to set it this way, as two parallel eqs. In my case I go guitar>input1>output 1>drives and amp>input2>output 2>amp return. This way I have independent pre-gain EQ and post-gain EQ. It works really well.
So you can have two separate settings running threw each in and out? Or is it stuck at the same setting for both.(EX… can I I have the gain running high threw in out 1 but in its second placement in the chain have it cutting lows or whatever else I’d want?)
I’ve had a $20 Behringer EQ700 Clone of the Boss GE-7 for years that is actually quieter than the Boss pedal it’s based on. EQ is the cheapest way to sculpt your tone and compensate for deficiencies in pickups. The Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster is also worth mentioning as a comprehensive “fixer” for whatever ails your rig.
Interesting that its quieter than the Boss. My one issue with buying a cheaper EQ was the assumption that they would be noisy. I also need a power supply, can't daisy chain more the 4-5 pedals without having noise/other issues.
Good video Rhett! I use an EQ pedal as a clean channel when going into an overdriven single channel small tube amp, such as a marshall class 5, my regular tone is just overdriven amp, and I lover the level on eq pedal, when I engage it, its like I turn down my guitar volume but have more control and its under my feet. Another use is to use almost as an attenuator for a bigger amp, in the fx loop, again lowering volume and tweaking the tone as I want, to achieve a more bedroom friendly sound.
You sir really know your stuff. I know tone is one of the most important parts in playing guitar but I’ve always kinda just adjust them to whatever sounds good without really understanding what I was changing. This helped give me an understanding how it works a lot more, thank you!
Ideally I like to have an EQ near the beginning of the chain after the guitar, and a second one at the last possible position, in the FX loop. Pre gain EQ stacks and post gain EQ stacks are different animals and both have uses. The traditional Fender amp design places EQ before gain and Marshall places it after gain. So it's kind of similar to what happens when you use a pre gain boost pedal vs a post gain boost pedal (where the first way overdrives the circuit more, and the second way just boosts the volume more). But with EQ pedals instead of boost pedals, in the pre-gain setup you can overdrive *certain frequencies* without boosting the overall volume... and in the post gain setup, you can boost the volume of certain already-driven frequencies without overdriving them more - this is why the bass will stay tighter on a Marshall than a Fender, and a Fender will be more flubby and fuzz-like in the low end.
My first e.q. was an MXR 6 band back in the early 80's, it didn't even have an on/off switch, it was always on. It made my 15 watt solid state Crate amp sound so much better! Lol. Now I run them through the effects loop of my tube amps for extra tone options. I don't like them on a pedal board because it's too easy to accidentally hit a slider with my big foot and mess up a setting. That's why I prefer digital ones, you can set up presets and scroll through them quicker.
This is great advice. Rhett never mentioned the fact that an EQ also allows you to adjust to the sonic quirks of different gig venues. I put a Boss EQ200 on my board a couple years back, and it is never coming off. The EQ200 can be as mindless or as complicated as you like. It has 4 presets plus a manual setting, and if you wanted you could set different EQ profiles for each of two stereo channels to adjust for different amps (useful in a wet-dry setup) or different loops
You can't go wrong with a simple Boss GE7 - i have one on my acoustic and electric guitar boards. You can pick them up cheap and secondhand. If Tim Pierce and Tom Bukovac use them that's good enough for me. I do like the idea of a preset EQ pedal - very useful.
I’m pretty sure in Tom B’s rig rundown he recommends you get them modded because they are noisy stock. I took his advice and bought one from analogman. If you want to do the same be aware that boss pedals produced in the last year do not allow for mods so you will have to buy an older used one and send to analogman man for the mod.
Absolutely without a doubt the #1 best shaping peddle on my board and affordable to boot. Shaped my amp alone, but shapes the overall sounds/tones/frequencies of all the peddles in the chain. Mine is last in the chain and through my effects loop. I have had the Joyo for a year so far and no complaints. My favorite peddle no doubt !
The Boss EQ-200 is amazing. Having two separate 10 band EQs in one pedal is incredibly powerful. I use the channel A EQ setting before the effects loop, and I use the channel B EQ after. It gives you so much tone shaping abilities. You can also adjust the range of frequencies adjusted with the 10 bands, and can save hundreds of presets for use with different guitars, amps, or specific songs. Amazing.
i had a Boss GE-21 ( old 21 band Half Rack ) .it actually turned a Rockman, a clean PA amp, and a PA speaker into my guitar rig back then...i mean that sort of what cabinet emulation is. i only used 13 or 12 of the bands, ( the rest i left bottomed ) ....but i could pretty much make my guitar sound just how i wanted to.
Amazing example of the low cut benefits of using the EQ, with that baritone. As someone suggested, below...sick chops RS. You are on a roll, if I may say so.
I have the MXR 10 band EQ. It's the most important pedal on my board. There are two sliders that make it so wonderful: the volume and the gain. The ability to boost/cut those two critical parameters is the secret sauce. And it runs on 18v so the effect is very strong.
Ooooh how so? I have the Epiphone Riviera P93, which I love, but I get feedback from both the semi-hollow and the P90s. I considered a noise gate, but have read too much about how it can affect the tone to trust that. So an EQ solution could be awesome!
@@calliopeshif7581 You would first need to familiarize yourself with the different frequencies and what notes on your guitar fall into those frequencies. That sometimes comes with the experience of using an EQ pedal in different environments or by experimenting at home. The latter of course being the better way. When you play a specific note or notes on your guitar and get feedback you will then have a good idea as to which band(s) on the EQ pedal need to go down. It doesn’t normally need to be a drastic adjustment. It is a fine balance of getting your feedback reduced while not sacrificing too much of your tone.
@@benabbottguitar thank you for the response!! Hm, I'll try playing around with that as soon as I get an EQ pedal! It was going to be my next purchase anyway, it's just impossible for me to pick which one to buy lol
@@benabbottguitar ooooh okay cool, thank you again for the response! I'll definitely look into getting that, looks really interesting and full-featured :) Choosing guitar pedals is an expensive decision so I really appreciate the help, haha
I put an MXR 10 band into the effects loop of my Blackstar HT5R and it changed my life! Not only the EQ but the i/o level adjustments lets me dial in where the breakup is.
I use a Boss GE-7 in front of my Marshall DSL20 amp as a clean boost to get a great crunch overdrive on the clean "classic gain" channel. Of course it offers the possibility to shape the tone then as well, so it's almost like adding an extra channel to the amp with it's own EQ. Absolutely brilliant
My first pedal was a JHS Bender and my second was an EQ. I put the EQ in front of my fuzz and use it to shape the tone and bring the level down so it pretty much turns the fuzz into a really thick yet articulate overdrive.
I've had a Boss graphic EQ in my pedal board for 30 years. If have the amp at the edge of distortion, I can boost the EQ output and kick it in to drive my amp into full overdrive, or I'll have the output down and kick it in for clean sound. Or I'll adjust the low end for when I switch from single coils to humbuckers. Endless uses . . .
No one ever mentions the Wampler EQuator, a 7 knob eq ... (no sliders) in a standard Boss size pedal. It does the trick for me. Every frequency can be dialed in, it's dead quiet and has a volume knob that gives a great boost too. Mine is set and always on and I won't play without it.
Great video! Watched one last year from Josh of JHS, and I immediately got a Boss GE-7. I could not believe how useful that thing has been! I have been considering buying one or two more to set differently. I was unaware of programmable EQ pedals. I may look into which would be more cost effective, plus that would also be more board friendly than having 2-3 EQ pedals. Awesome!
Super informative video, Rhett. I have that same Joyo and love it. One super useful way I like to use it that you didn't mention is to use it to "tune the room" from venue to venue or stage to stage. Some places are very dry and some very boomy-sounding. I've found it to be an invaluable tool to make being on different stages more enjoyable to my ears. ..which is the most important part for me.
Back in the day, my main rig was an ADA rack full stack, with MP-1, B200S power amp, 4 x 2x12 vertical split stack cabs; the main tones were from the MP-1 preamp, with effects from an Alesis QuadraVerb; I added the ADA MQ-1 stereo rack equalizer, and it was amazing. I was able to use fewer preamp patches and apply different EQ patches to each to get different sounds. Eventually, I replaced the MP-1 + MQ-1 with the MP-2, each patch had an optional additional 5-band graphic eq, which freed up a 1U rack space. EQ has been essential ever since. edit: I still have my #1 MP-2, and it still works and sounds great. Sold the rest of it, including the backups.
After playing for years i got my first eq pedal last week. It might sound exaggerating but an eq pedal really changes the whole dynamic range of your rig. I personally use mine to bring down the mids and volume of my P90 guitar. Instead of adjusting the volume of every pedal on my board i just bring the volume a bit down on my eq pedal. I also use to add more bass to my tele. Btw that baritone sounds really sick Rhett.
I play bass in some old, classic styles of music. The only pedal, bought without thinking, that I have used for years was a cheap graphic EQ. Life saver, joy giver... In different spaces where we had gigs, very often only voice was going thru PA, this pedal was very, very helpful.
I have the MXR Ten Band 18v. Second in the Chain between a KORG PitchBlack Custom Tuner and BOSS CS-3 Compression Sustainer. I'm thinking Shape the Tone directly after the guitar, plus I can Boost lower output pickups or in contrast drop down input from my higher output/powered ones. You made me put it back on from this reasoning and your vid. I ran out of cables and some other excuses. Thanks Rhett! I was overlooking this for a bit now.
It’s a great pedal. I have mine after all my drives, but before delays and modulation. I keep meaning to experiment with putting it earlier in the chain, but haven’t gotten around to it.
@@erikwilliamsen2830 Really depends on where you want to shape your tone or boost a little from what I see. I got mine from a local guitar store from the used rack. It was earlier on in getting into this and I explained that to the guy. He was insistent in the aspect of not only needing it, but also the added value after understanding the frequencies and how to shape better. Smart dude. Early 20's, knew his stuff, and very correct imho.
Having an EQ in front of a Hi-Gain amp is a great way to change how the distortion behaves. In my setup, I have a Joyo 6-band running into my Joyo Zombie. The bass is scooped, mids are left in the middle, and the treble frequencies are boosted. I have it set up this way as an attempt to get the Mesa Mark amp sound on a budget.
Tho things to add, about EQ: 1. If you cut/lower a freq, that is a passive filter and does not affect signal quality. If you boost/raise a freq, you are introducing an amplifier; with possible addition of distortion/ tone degradation. 2. Even tho guitar has a limited freq range, I tell people to get a 10 Band EQ. With 7 Band pedals, the Freq 'Swath' is to wide; much easier to shape good tone, with 10 Band. It's 1st pedal , in my chain.
I've been preaching this for quite a while. My favorite pedal ever is the Walrus EB-10. When you're not using it you realize how much you miss it, even with the eq set flat. It truly is like taking the blanket off of your amp's tone.
I totally agree. When I used to play with my Zoom multieffect into my small Marshall Mg10G it was not too bad. I've made some really good sounding presets. Then I started adding EQ to effects chain and suddenly every patch I made sounded much more like a "real" amp.
I have the source audio eq v1 on my acoustic board and it makes a world of difference for each guitar I use. Makes the sound hole pickups sound much closer to the real acoustic tone while sill being feedback resistant and I have it programmed for my different acoustics (steel string, nylon, 12 string etc)
I've been using a Mxr 6 band to add mid hump to certain pedals, and a Joyo American Sound to add bass to certain pedals. Takes 8 pedals and makes them 24 tones without turning a knob
I was running a Boss 10 Band graphic 40 years ago, through a Musicman 4x10, coming back to using a graphic again, probably buy the Joyo 12 band to clear up the muddy bottom of my 63 335 through a Fender Concert. Thanks Rhett always awesome videos and your playing, "Tip my hat to you Sir"
I gig with a Boss Katana. It's a brilliant amp for me. However, one of the challenges with it (and other programmable devices) is that when you get to the gig and find the presets you made at home aren't working as well at that venue as you'd hoped they would, you're kind of stuck with what you've got. Going in and modifying each preset at the gig isn't a practical option (particularly as the Katana's knobs know their physical position, not the position of that control in the preset, so if your preset has its mids set to 2 o'clock but the physical knob is sitting at 9 o'clock, the moment you move the knob the mids jump to 9 o'clock and you've lost your point of reference from which to tweak). The Katana does have a global EQ function, but you can only access it from the Tone Studio software, and even if I was prepared to take a laptop to the gig, in most cases the first song of the night acts as the sound check, so messing with a laptop between songs isn't an option. For this reason, I've been thinking of putting a graphic EQ pedal into the effects loop. That's easy to tweak between songs and shouldn't need changing for the rest of the gig. I have an old Boss GE-7 but it's one of the noisy ones and the cost of modding it would be about the same as one of those Joyo R-12s, so thanks for showing that pedal.
I was like you and ignored EQ pedals for years. I picked up a budget one like the Joyo you show. It's a 10 band graphic EQ from Caline with a separate gain slider just like the Joyo. I originally used it primarily on plugged in acoustic work but now it is a permanent installment on my home studio pedal setup. I keep it on a desk where I can reach the sliders while playing. You do want to look at reviews and check out the budget brands since they may all have the same basic functionality, but many introduce a lot of noise. The Caline I am using is similar to a MXR EQ I had tried once with relatively low noise.
I would add one often-overlooked uses for an EQ that I don't usually hear people mention would be putting it first in your chain to basically shape your pickups. This was my first use for an EQ pedal because when I started playing guitar I liked a lot of detuned heavy death metal stuff, but my only guitar was not meant for that. It would get very muddy and bassy. So I'd use an EQ to cut those low lows from my pickups before they hit my amp or anything else. With a 10-band EQ can really give you a LOT more variety out of the same guitar by essentially EQing your pickups to better suit what you need. Similar to EQing certain things in mixing first if a certain frequency range needs to be tamed before something like a compressor, so that that frequency isn't hitting your compressor too much and thus causing the comp to trigger more than you want/need it to.
I too avoided the EQ pedals in naively dismissing how much a difference one can actually make. I just recently got one and kick myself in the rear for not having gotten one years ago. Their ability to make dramatic tonal differences on practically any amp, solid state or tube is amazing.
Hi Rhett, great video! I also find that, sometimes, the difference between an expensive EQ and an affordable one is noise. I tested the modern MXR 10 Band EQ against the previous version (the black one) and the difference was astonishing. The modern one was super quiet even when boosting 18 dBs while the older one introduced quite a lot of hiss.
The old school MXR eq’s are largely based on their old designs from the 70’s and 80’s. It’s no doubt more modern digital options have a MUCH lower noise floor than previous iterations. Still works just fine, but for some (including myself), the noise is just way too much most of the time and digital stuff just does the job in a much cleaner way.
I bought a guitar used off Facebook marketplace earlier this year, and the guy who sold it to me threw in strings, a nice cable and the Boss EQ pedal. At the time I had no idea how helpful the EQ pedal would be, only that it was a good deal because pedals are expensive and I was happy that he threw it in as an extra. Then I got my Orange Micro Dark Terror, and for fun one day I threw the EQ pedal in the chain before the amp to use it as you suggested- a boost. OMG. It was a huge breakthrough. I have a HX Effects too, so I throw the EQ pedal in the chain before the HX, and the tone is KILLER.
Where the eq goes in the chain can have different effect as well. On amps with an effects loop, I like to use the eq at the very end of the time-based effects chain.
I’m almost a little ashamed that I’ve neglected using an EQ properly, in spite of being a Pro guitarist for 40 yrs 😂😂😂 This vid and the Tom Bukowack vid on the topic has changed My mind… Thank you!
I have a Caitlinbread Naga Viper (treble boost) which pretty much solves it for me.
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7:26 the boomer bends 😂 On a serious note, guys, get the the tone course Rhett offers. It's great in it's regular price. It's even greater that it is 30% off. I got it and I love it.
Rhett - have you heard of the Fletcher-Munson Curve? If so, I'd love to see video talking about it. That concept *REALLY* made a difference for my tone in live vs. livingroom contexts. The TH-cam videos I've seen all discuss it in the context of mixing and recording but it's so important for electric guitar in a live setting.
I had a mxr 10 band eq that I sold about 30 years back due to lack of interest in it. I found multi-pedal setups that I use today. I set my board for multi-fuss or multi-chorus or multi-envelop filter combos per each set or each song. I have so many tones to choose from that I only use that stuff for gigs and practice for that job when they came up. Today I'm building my own guitars and play with the 'BB' and that's it. You are young and you play really good and I'm 64 and do not need to prove or improve anything to anyone anymore.
MXR 10 band here, love it. I will check out the joyo for my other pedal board Eq has been in my line up forever, very useful If you have multiple guitars, amps etc super convenient
I've had a Boss GE-7 for many years, and though it is a very useful pedal, the inability to save Presets rendered it almost useless for me. That problem was solved when I started using Modelers, which include software EQ's and the ability to save and recall settings. If I was going to get a dedicated EQ pedal, I'd get a programmable one that can save Presets, as I don't like wasting my time trying to recreate my favorite settings for different pieces of gear.
![5 Ways To Use EQ Pedals | Too Afraid To Ask [Boss EQ-200]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rA17mta5kq4/mqdefault.jpg)
You deliver lessons like a great teacher and yet, you’re a musician at heart. Thank you for the professionalism.
That Joyo Band Controller is a solid clean EQ. And the lack of skill on how to use an EQ is why people buy so many of the same pedal looking for a certain "sound". After some learning on what each bandwith does, you can use an EQ and create your own tone.
I'm guilty as charged! I would love to learn how to use an equalizer.
@@larryhall2805 Set up a tone that you like on your amp. Set the Eq pedal dead flat. Make sure it is solidly on the "detents" in the middle. Stay on one pickup and full volume and tone. Take one of the sliders and jack it all the way down and up while playing. Play and just listen. What do you hear? What spot do you like the best? Is there a place as you slide it that it starts changing to something you like better? dial it into that spot. Do it again with the next slider and repeat. Does this work for you? If so, keep it. Slam them all to the top and take a few of them and drop them. Listen. I think you'll really start to understand what it's doing if you just play with it and listen carefully.
@@eltorpedo8844 Thank you, El Torpedo! When I played bass, my SWR-SM 400 has a 5 band eq. I didn't systematically set it has you describe, but should have. I mostly went with a slight 'California Smile.'
This comment is bang on !!!!
Exaclt! Y approach is, except for the level slider and amp eq, turn them all up and back off where you don't like. Good starting point
My MXR 10 band has lived in the fx loop of my Mark V since I've had the amp. I could not live without it.
I am designing a guitar amp for myself. It will not have tone controls (bass, mid, treble), but it will have a 6 band graphic EQ. I was researching existing circuit topologies when this video popped up. One of those strange coincidences...
That sounds like a challenging, fun and terrifying project!
@Paul Lifewood Solid state all the way! I play clean, so I don't need distortion, and that makes the valves an overkill. Plus I want it to be battery powered, because I don't want to mess with outlets and transformers. The amp will be modular, so it will be easy to replace or add sections. The power section is done: it is built around a 60W Class D chip (TPA3220). Now I am working on the EQ section. Then I am adding reverb and chorus with an FV-1 chip. Fun times ahead! :)
Like a mesa boogie?
@@PlaneTShakeRo I am thinking more like an acoustic amp, but without the microphone channel
I bought a GE-7 2 weeks ago. Timing is great here too.
EQ can also be used to switch between two guitars on the same gig. A tele and Les Paul will have different pickup outputs, and EQ pedal can even those differences out. Example the LP can play straight into the rig but the tele might be a little to shrill and need an overall boost.
This is a great point. I used to use one in my live rig to be able to swap guitars and still be able to play both clean and dirty. The OD settings are _far_ more flexible on a swap from a Fender single coil to a Gibson PAF with an EQ before the OD.
That is exactly what he says in the video.
I have a Les Paul and a Strat and definitely need to get one. Just want something simple and quiet. I haven’t bought the Boss. Have heard there’s noise issues.
Great Video Rhett. I’m an audio engineer and use eq all day, but for some reason it still didn’t click on why I would need an eq pedal. Using it as an overdrive and a cocked wha is genius. So simple but so effective.
Rhett, don't sleep on an EQ pedal in the amp's FX loop.
1. More powerful master EQ to dial your full rig's sound in to fit the mix of a band or to tune your rig to the room or a different cab/speaker combination. Sound techs and your band mates will love you for this.
2. A cheaper attenuator option - pull all the levels, including the input gain and output level, all the way down. Get your amp in the sweet spot then attenuate the preamp signal running into the power amp. This gives more control than most attenuators in controlling your amp's output volume.
Great video on an underappreciated utility pedal with versatile uses.
Picked up an MXR 10 band eq a few years ago for my studio and it gets used all the time.
Been using the MXR 10 Band EQ for a few years now. Works like a charm!
The Source Audio EQ2 is seriously amazing. It can do a lot. But the main thing about it that not everyone gets is that it's actually two EQ pedals in one box. With its dual ins and outs you can use it in two spots of your pedal chain at the same time (e.g. before drives and after drives) and create different presets for each one. The tone shaping possibilities are endless, specially if you have a midi rig.
Can you explain this more? Can it be done without midi? I have a EQ2 and would love the ability to do pre and post amp sim
@@reacherstudio Sure. You can do this without midi, but you'll probably need the Neuro app to set it this way, as two parallel eqs. In my case I go guitar>input1>output 1>drives and amp>input2>output 2>amp return. This way I have independent pre-gain EQ and post-gain EQ. It works really well.
So you can have two separate settings running threw each in and out? Or is it stuck at the same setting for both.(EX… can I I have the gain running high threw in out 1 but in its second placement in the chain have it cutting lows or whatever else I’d want?)
@@paulillingworth90 yes you can have separate settings, it's fully flexible.
Whoa!
I’ve had a $20 Behringer EQ700 Clone of the Boss GE-7 for years that is actually quieter than the Boss pedal it’s based on. EQ is the cheapest way to sculpt your tone and compensate for deficiencies in pickups. The Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster is also worth mentioning as a comprehensive “fixer” for whatever ails your rig.
Interesting that its quieter than the Boss. My one issue with buying a cheaper EQ was the assumption that they would be noisy. I also need a power supply, can't daisy chain more the 4-5 pedals without having noise/other issues.
Good video Rhett! I use an EQ pedal as a clean channel when going into an overdriven single channel small tube amp, such as a marshall class 5, my regular tone is just overdriven amp, and I lover the level on eq pedal, when I engage it, its like I turn down my guitar volume but have more control and its under my feet. Another use is to use almost as an attenuator for a bigger amp, in the fx loop, again lowering volume and tweaking the tone as I want, to achieve a more bedroom friendly sound.
You sir really know your stuff. I know tone is one of the most important parts in playing guitar but I’ve always kinda just adjust them to whatever sounds good without really understanding what I was changing. This helped give me an understanding how it works a lot more, thank you!
You are so generous with your knowledge, I'm learning a lot from your channel, thanks a lot Rhett.
my katana has a built in eq, it's in boss tone studio along with the built in air-fryer and blender I make my morning smoothies with
Ideally I like to have an EQ near the beginning of the chain after the guitar, and a second one at the last possible position, in the FX loop. Pre gain EQ stacks and post gain EQ stacks are different animals and both have uses. The traditional Fender amp design places EQ before gain and Marshall places it after gain. So it's kind of similar to what happens when you use a pre gain boost pedal vs a post gain boost pedal (where the first way overdrives the circuit more, and the second way just boosts the volume more). But with EQ pedals instead of boost pedals, in the pre-gain setup you can overdrive *certain frequencies* without boosting the overall volume... and in the post gain setup, you can boost the volume of certain already-driven frequencies without overdriving them more - this is why the bass will stay tighter on a Marshall than a Fender, and a Fender will be more flubby and fuzz-like in the low end.
The MXR 10 band is my work horse for years .... agree completely
Half cocked was always my favorite part of the curve 🥳
My first e.q. was an MXR 6 band back in the early 80's, it didn't even have an on/off switch, it was always on. It made my 15 watt solid state Crate amp sound so much better! Lol. Now I run them through the effects loop of my tube amps for extra tone options. I don't like them on a pedal board because it's too easy to accidentally hit a slider with my big foot and mess up a setting. That's why I prefer digital ones, you can set up presets and scroll through them quicker.
I still have that 80's MXR battery eq. I hadn't seen it in years, recently dug it out and it still does a decent job.
This is great advice. Rhett never mentioned the fact that an EQ also allows you to adjust to the sonic quirks of different gig venues. I put a Boss EQ200 on my board a couple years back, and it is never coming off. The EQ200 can be as mindless or as complicated as you like. It has 4 presets plus a manual setting, and if you wanted you could set different EQ profiles for each of two stereo channels to adjust for different amps (useful in a wet-dry setup) or different loops
You can't go wrong with a simple Boss GE7 - i have one on my acoustic and electric guitar boards. You can pick them up cheap and secondhand. If Tim Pierce and Tom Bukovac use them that's good enough for me. I do like the idea of a preset EQ pedal - very useful.
keith young - Buk says it's the most simple, yet most effective "boost pedal" he uses. Kick it on for a solo and BOOM!!
Both of theirs are Analogman modded pedals.
@@weschilton Interesting - I wonder what is added. Do you know...?
@@keithyoung4290 If I recall correctly the mods have something to do with reducing hiss/noise, not the functionality
I’m pretty sure in Tom B’s rig rundown he recommends you get them modded because they are noisy stock. I took his advice and bought one from analogman. If you want to do the same be aware that boss pedals produced in the last year do not allow for mods so you will have to buy an older used one and send to analogman man for the mod.
Literally just bought that same Joyo one. It’s easily the best value EQ on the market.
Uncle Larry told me to get a eq pedal a while back on Homeskoolin’ so I got one. It’s one of my most used pedals.
I have two EQ pedals and ordering another soon! The next step!!!! I'm going to start using one. Thanks Rhett
An EQ pedal is next on my shopping list. Thanks for your demo I appreciate it.
My two Boss GE-7 EQ pedals are my workhorses. One for tonal adjustment for solo tones with a slight boost and the other for additional clean boost.
Absolutely without a doubt the #1 best shaping peddle on my board and affordable to boot. Shaped my amp alone, but shapes the overall sounds/tones/frequencies of all the peddles in the chain. Mine is last in the chain and through my effects loop. I have had the Joyo for a year so far and no complaints. My favorite peddle no doubt !
Love my MXR 10 band. I use it as a mid and treble boost to get me into the Brian May ballpark.
The Boss EQ-200 is amazing. Having two separate 10 band EQs in one pedal is incredibly powerful. I use the channel A EQ setting before the effects loop, and I use the channel B EQ after. It gives you so much tone shaping abilities. You can also adjust the range of frequencies adjusted with the 10 bands, and can save hundreds of presets for use with different guitars, amps, or specific songs. Amazing.
Yep. Agreed.
i had a Boss GE-21 ( old 21 band Half Rack ) .it actually turned a Rockman, a clean PA amp, and a PA speaker into my guitar rig back then...i mean that sort of what cabinet emulation is.
i only used 13 or 12 of the bands, ( the rest i left bottomed ) ....but i could pretty much make my guitar sound just how i wanted to.
I always have used eq pedals,
Love it on the end of my chain for a clean boost also!
Just order my first EQ thanks to you and your reviews. Blessings
I’ve been using a GE7 for years upon years. When i was playing shows it was the fastest way to get my tone dialed in on stage depending on the venue.
Amazing example of the low cut benefits of using the EQ, with that baritone. As someone suggested, below...sick chops RS. You are on a roll, if I may say so.
I have the MXR 10 band EQ. It's the most important pedal on my board. There are two sliders that make it so wonderful: the volume and the gain. The ability to boost/cut those two critical parameters is the secret sauce. And it runs on 18v so the effect is very strong.
Rhett, I thought your description of EQ and the graphic style guitar pedals was excellent. Keep up the great work!
My EQ Pedals have always been very fun!
✌️😎🎸🎶🎵🎶
EQ pedals can also be used to notch out feedback on an acoustic or hollow body
Ooooh how so? I have the Epiphone Riviera P93, which I love, but I get feedback from both the semi-hollow and the P90s. I considered a noise gate, but have read too much about how it can affect the tone to trust that. So an EQ solution could be awesome!
@@calliopeshif7581 You would first need to familiarize yourself with the different frequencies and what notes on your guitar fall into those frequencies. That sometimes comes with the experience of using an EQ pedal in different environments or by experimenting at home. The latter of course being the better way. When you play a specific note or notes on your guitar and get feedback you will then have a good idea as to which band(s) on the EQ pedal need to go down. It doesn’t normally need to be a drastic adjustment. It is a fine balance of getting your feedback reduced while not sacrificing too much of your tone.
@@benabbottguitar thank you for the response!! Hm, I'll try playing around with that as soon as I get an EQ pedal!
It was going to be my next purchase anyway, it's just impossible for me to pick which one to buy lol
@@calliopeshif7581 I’ve had many and now have the source audio EQ2. By far the best one I’ve owned. Worth the price imo.
@@benabbottguitar ooooh okay cool, thank you again for the response! I'll definitely look into getting that, looks really interesting and full-featured :)
Choosing guitar pedals is an expensive decision so I really appreciate the help, haha
I put an MXR 10 band into the effects loop of my Blackstar HT5R and it changed my life! Not only the EQ but the i/o level adjustments lets me dial in where the breakup is.
I use a Boss GE-7 in front of my Marshall DSL20 amp as a clean boost to get a great crunch overdrive on the clean "classic gain" channel. Of course it offers the possibility to shape the tone then as well, so it's almost like adding an extra channel to the amp with it's own EQ. Absolutely brilliant
The tones circa 8:13 are just pristine Rock. Approaching the Unicorn of pushed tube-tone.
My first pedal was a JHS Bender and my second was an EQ. I put the EQ in front of my fuzz and use it to shape the tone and bring the level down so it pretty much turns the fuzz into a really thick yet articulate overdrive.
What an awesome first pedal to own. The JHS Bender is a beast!
I was gonna buy a boost pedal for my first board im trying to put together. This changed my mind completely. Thanks for the advice
I've had a Boss graphic EQ in my pedal board for 30 years. If have the amp at the edge of distortion, I can boost the EQ output and kick it in to drive my amp into full overdrive, or I'll have the output down and kick it in for clean sound. Or I'll adjust the low end for when I switch from single coils to humbuckers. Endless uses . . .
I just bought my first EQ, the Boss Ge-7 and it is coming in a couple of days I can't wait!
No one ever mentions the Wampler EQuator, a 7 knob eq ... (no sliders) in a standard Boss size pedal. It does the trick for me. Every frequency can be dialed in, it's dead quiet and has a volume knob that gives a great boost too. Mine is set and always on and I won't play without it.
I am HUGE faN of Wampler…a superb builder. I after reading your post, I am regretting my sale of my EQuator;)
Update:Just bought one back on Reverb!
If you're playing through an amp the speaker is also technically an EQ because it has a specific frequency profile
Great video! Watched one last year from Josh of JHS, and I immediately got a Boss GE-7. I could not believe how useful that thing has been! I have been considering buying one or two more to set differently. I was unaware of programmable EQ pedals. I may look into which would be more cost effective, plus that would also be more board friendly than having 2-3 EQ pedals. Awesome!
One of your best videos yet. Not just another demo. One of the best in depth eq pedal "How to" I have ever seen. Great job.
Super informative video, Rhett. I have that same Joyo and love it. One super useful way I like to use it that you didn't mention is to use it to "tune the room" from venue to venue or stage to stage. Some places are very dry and some very boomy-sounding. I've found it to be an invaluable tool to make being on different stages more enjoyable to my ears. ..which is the most important part for me.
The eq on the fryette pitbull ultra leads are wonderful
I've recently dug out my eq pedal and stuck it on my board, don't anticipate taking it off any time soon!
Back in the day, my main rig was an ADA rack full stack, with MP-1, B200S power amp, 4 x 2x12 vertical split stack cabs; the main tones were from the MP-1 preamp, with effects from an Alesis QuadraVerb; I added the ADA MQ-1 stereo rack equalizer, and it was amazing. I was able to use fewer preamp patches and apply different EQ patches to each to get different sounds.
Eventually, I replaced the MP-1 + MQ-1 with the MP-2, each patch had an optional additional 5-band graphic eq, which freed up a 1U rack space.
EQ has been essential ever since.
edit: I still have my #1 MP-2, and it still works and sounds great. Sold the rest of it, including the backups.
Yup, been thinking about an EQ pedal for a while, love the "create different presets" for different occasions...very helpful video...thanks!!!
After playing for years i got my first eq pedal last week. It might sound exaggerating but an eq pedal really changes the whole dynamic range of your rig. I personally use mine to bring down the mids and volume of my P90 guitar. Instead of adjusting the volume of every pedal on my board i just bring the volume a bit down on my eq pedal. I also use to add more bass to my tele.
Btw that baritone sounds really sick Rhett.
I play bass in some old, classic styles of music. The only pedal, bought without thinking, that I have used for years was a cheap graphic EQ. Life saver, joy giver... In different spaces where we had gigs, very often only voice was going thru PA, this pedal was very, very helpful.
EQ is next on my Wish List…! Great timing..👍🏼
I have the MXR Ten Band 18v. Second in the Chain between a KORG PitchBlack Custom Tuner and BOSS CS-3 Compression Sustainer. I'm thinking Shape the Tone directly after the guitar, plus I can Boost lower output pickups or in contrast drop down input from my higher output/powered ones. You made me put it back on from this reasoning and your vid. I ran out of cables and some other excuses. Thanks Rhett! I was overlooking this for a bit now.
It’s a great pedal. I have mine after all my drives, but before delays and modulation. I keep meaning to experiment with putting it earlier in the chain, but haven’t gotten around to it.
@@erikwilliamsen2830 Really depends on where you want to shape your tone or boost a little from what I see. I got mine from a local guitar store from the used rack. It was earlier on in getting into this and I explained that to the guy. He was insistent in the aspect of not only needing it, but also the added value after understanding the frequencies and how to shape better. Smart dude. Early 20's, knew his stuff, and very correct imho.
Great video. Clean recorded takes are almost half of the mixing.
Yes sir. I was looking at this pedal used in GC… I will own one soon!!! Your videos are awesome…
Having an EQ in front of a Hi-Gain amp is a great way to change how the distortion behaves. In my setup, I have a Joyo 6-band running into my Joyo Zombie. The bass is scooped, mids are left in the middle, and the treble frequencies are boosted. I have it set up this way as an attempt to get the Mesa Mark amp sound on a budget.
There a pain until you figure them out. Then you'll start using it more often.
I have a 6 band joyo EQ and it is legit. Really lets you fill out or thin down your sound as you want.
Tho things to add, about EQ:
1. If you cut/lower a freq, that is a passive filter and does not affect signal quality. If you boost/raise a freq, you are introducing an amplifier; with possible addition of distortion/ tone degradation.
2. Even tho guitar has a limited freq range, I tell people to get a 10 Band EQ. With 7 Band pedals, the Freq 'Swath' is to wide; much easier to shape good tone, with 10 Band. It's 1st pedal , in my chain.
I've been preaching this for quite a while. My favorite pedal ever is the Walrus EB-10. When you're not using it you realize how much you miss it, even with the eq set flat. It truly is like taking the blanket off of your amp's tone.
I totally agree. When I used to play with my Zoom multieffect into my small Marshall Mg10G it was not too bad. I've made some really good sounding presets. Then I started adding EQ to effects chain and suddenly every patch I made sounded much more like a "real" amp.
Following your vid, I bought the MXR 10 band EQ and my overall tone hasn't been the same since... Thank you Rhett!
MXR ten band for the win!
I have the source audio eq v1 on my acoustic board and it makes a world of difference for each guitar I use. Makes the sound hole pickups sound much closer to the real acoustic tone while sill being feedback resistant and I have it programmed for my different acoustics (steel string, nylon, 12 string etc)
GREAT PRESENTATION CLEAR AND SMOOTH
I've been using a Mxr 6 band to add mid hump to certain pedals, and a Joyo American Sound to add bass to certain pedals. Takes 8 pedals and makes them 24 tones without turning a knob
Great video. I'm one of the multi effects users. I totally overlooked this. Totally inspired to use the EQ now...
Yes sir Mr Shull! I'll get right on that!
I was running a Boss 10 Band graphic 40 years ago, through a Musicman 4x10, coming back to using a graphic again, probably buy the Joyo 12 band to clear up the muddy bottom of my 63 335 through a Fender Concert. Thanks Rhett always awesome videos and your playing, "Tip my hat to you Sir"
I gig with a Boss Katana. It's a brilliant amp for me. However, one of the challenges with it (and other programmable devices) is that when you get to the gig and find the presets you made at home aren't working as well at that venue as you'd hoped they would, you're kind of stuck with what you've got. Going in and modifying each preset at the gig isn't a practical option (particularly as the Katana's knobs know their physical position, not the position of that control in the preset, so if your preset has its mids set to 2 o'clock but the physical knob is sitting at 9 o'clock, the moment you move the knob the mids jump to 9 o'clock and you've lost your point of reference from which to tweak). The Katana does have a global EQ function, but you can only access it from the Tone Studio software, and even if I was prepared to take a laptop to the gig, in most cases the first song of the night acts as the sound check, so messing with a laptop between songs isn't an option. For this reason, I've been thinking of putting a graphic EQ pedal into the effects loop. That's easy to tweak between songs and shouldn't need changing for the rest of the gig. I have an old Boss GE-7 but it's one of the noisy ones and the cost of modding it would be about the same as one of those Joyo R-12s, so thanks for showing that pedal.
I was like you and ignored EQ pedals for years. I picked up a budget one like the Joyo you show. It's a 10 band graphic EQ from Caline with a separate gain slider just like the Joyo. I originally used it primarily on plugged in acoustic work but now it is a permanent installment on my home studio pedal setup. I keep it on a desk where I can reach the sliders while playing. You do want to look at reviews and check out the budget brands since they may all have the same basic functionality, but many introduce a lot of noise. The Caline I am using is similar to a MXR EQ I had tried once with relatively low noise.
I would add one often-overlooked uses for an EQ that I don't usually hear people mention would be putting it first in your chain to basically shape your pickups. This was my first use for an EQ pedal because when I started playing guitar I liked a lot of detuned heavy death metal stuff, but my only guitar was not meant for that. It would get very muddy and bassy. So I'd use an EQ to cut those low lows from my pickups before they hit my amp or anything else. With a 10-band EQ can really give you a LOT more variety out of the same guitar by essentially EQing your pickups to better suit what you need. Similar to EQing certain things in mixing first if a certain frequency range needs to be tamed before something like a compressor, so that that frequency isn't hitting your compressor too much and thus causing the comp to trigger more than you want/need it to.
A big fan of your show.l learn a lot . The best paul
For 10+ years I've been using a boss ge-7 through the fx loop as a solo boost
I too avoided the EQ pedals in naively dismissing how much a difference one can actually make. I just recently got one and kick myself in the rear for not having gotten one years ago. Their ability to make dramatic tonal differences on practically any amp, solid state or tube is amazing.
Great content. Even better if you demo with vs without eq on the baritone
Try using one in your FX loop just for an overall “shaper”
Hi Rhett, great video! I also find that, sometimes, the difference between an expensive EQ and an affordable one is noise. I tested the modern MXR 10 Band EQ against the previous version (the black one) and the difference was astonishing. The modern one was super quiet even when boosting 18 dBs while the older one introduced quite a lot of hiss.
The old school MXR eq’s are largely based on their old designs from the 70’s and 80’s. It’s no doubt more modern digital options have a MUCH lower noise floor than previous iterations. Still works just fine, but for some (including myself), the noise is just way too much most of the time and digital stuff just does the job in a much cleaner way.
Empress ParaEQ is one of the best pedals period ever.
My first experience with an EQ pedal was with the DOD American Metal...and its still worthwhile.
I have a Boss EQ-200 in my board and it's the best of two worlds when you need physical EQ bands and also presets on your pedal.
I bought a guitar used off Facebook marketplace earlier this year, and the guy who sold it to me threw in strings, a nice cable and the Boss EQ pedal. At the time I had no idea how helpful the EQ pedal would be, only that it was a good deal because pedals are expensive and I was happy that he threw it in as an extra. Then I got my Orange Micro Dark Terror, and for fun one day I threw the EQ pedal in the chain before the amp to use it as you suggested- a boost. OMG. It was a huge breakthrough. I have a HX Effects too, so I throw the EQ pedal in the chain before the HX, and the tone is KILLER.
Absolutely. I have a Boss graphic EQ and an Artec parametric. And sometimes I fire up one of them. Thanks Rhett!
Cheers, Renee
Provided that an eq pedal is the same price as the overdrive, I'll just be getting the eq. Thanks for the info.
Where the eq goes in the chain can have different effect as well. On amps with an effects loop, I like to use the eq at the very end of the time-based effects chain.
I’m almost a little ashamed that I’ve neglected using an EQ properly, in spite of being a Pro guitarist for 40 yrs 😂😂😂 This vid and the Tom Bukowack vid on the topic has changed My mind… Thank you!
Furthermore you can use the EQ2 with an expression pedal as Wah or Volume-pedal. Additional it is MIDI-enabled.
I have a Caitlinbread Naga Viper (treble boost) which pretty much solves it for me.
7:26 the boomer bends 😂
On a serious note, guys, get the the tone course Rhett offers. It's great in it's regular price. It's even greater that it is 30% off. I got it and I love it.
Rhett - have you heard of the Fletcher-Munson Curve? If so, I'd love to see video talking about it. That concept *REALLY* made a difference for my tone in live vs. livingroom contexts.
The TH-cam videos I've seen all discuss it in the context of mixing and recording but it's so important for electric guitar in a live setting.
I put mine before my preamp (Digitech rp500) and into the JCM 800. Added boost and clarity. My sound is surgical now.
This is brilliantly informative, thanks 🙏
Great for tweaking tone!
Thanks for the explanation Rhett
That Mondata makes me happy I got mine 😍
I had a mxr 10 band eq that I sold about 30 years back due to lack of interest in it. I found multi-pedal setups that I use today. I set my board for multi-fuss or multi-chorus or multi-envelop filter combos per each set or each song. I have so many tones to choose from that I only use that stuff for gigs and practice for that job when they came up. Today I'm building my own guitars and play with the 'BB' and that's it. You are young and you play really good and I'm 64 and do not need to prove or improve anything to anyone anymore.
MXR 10 band here, love it.
I will check out the joyo for my other pedal board
Eq has been in my line up forever, very useful
If you have multiple guitars, amps etc super convenient
I've had a Boss GE-7 for many years, and though it is a very useful pedal, the inability to save Presets rendered it almost useless for me. That problem was solved when I started using Modelers, which include software EQ's and the ability to save and recall settings. If I was going to get a dedicated EQ pedal, I'd get a programmable one that can save Presets, as I don't like wasting my time trying to recreate my favorite settings for different pieces of gear.