ANYONE USE AN EQUALIZER PEDAL IN YOUR EFFECTS LOOP?

[ViperDoc]

I've been spending some time on my pedal board, and have seen a lot of parings of boosts/distortion pedals with EQ afterwards into the front of the amp. What about in the effects loop as an overall "final EQ" going into time and space effects? Just thought I'd ask.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

No, I don’t do that now but, I have absolutely done that in the past in one way or another.

Absolutely try it! A good (or even okay) eq pedal can do wonders for your sound. Most guitarist’s that aren’t as adverse towards eq pedals seem to be hessians with the whole scooped mids thing, but everyone has an amp that thinks that it’d be perfect if it weren’t for that one frequency... do that sh!t.

 

[Boogie]

This concept was a secret weapon of Mesa/Boogie’s for years. Those that didn’t get the graphic EQ at the factory used a 5-band in the loop. Either way, it made the MkII/III/IV the most scuptable tone boxes at the time.

 

[elvis]

EQ in the loop is exactly how you can set up how your amp sits in a mix.

 

[markd21]

I did it for years before abandoning the idea. I felt it made the sound too "processed" and polished. When I ditched the extra EQ (pedal and/or rack) I was happier with my sound - it became more raw and aggressive. But, it wasn't a "bad" thing when I WAS using it. Go for it!

 

[Dirty_Boogie]

Yes, exactly like that, 100% of the time. That is where I shape my sound - i.e., my overall sound and not as an effect.

IMO, placing it in front of a distortion or OD pedal allows you to fine-tune what the dist/OD pedal is distorting - i.e., either certain frequencies more/less than others, or just to boost the incoming signal. Of course, placing it directly after the dist/OD allows you to further tweak the distorted signal. Again, quite ok, but I think it would be used more as a specific effect in this way, rather than using the EQ to shape your overall tone in the loop.

Top row - through the effects loop
Bottom row - into the front of the amp

 

[ViperDoc]

Thanks all for your input. The Boss GE7 looks to be the time-tested option. Any other recommendations? Not too many choices out there, it seems. The Earthquaker Tone Job looks a bit too much like any 3 band amp EQ. There are a couple 10-band graphic eq pedals with recent mixed reviews. The Wampler EQuator looks interesting, but I struggle sometimes with parametrics. It’s difficult for me to “see the Q” on those. Any favorites you would recommend?

 

[ViperDoc]

Yes, exactly like that, 100% of the time. That is where I shape my sound - i.e., my overall sound and not as an effect.

IMO, placing it in front of a distortion or OD pedal allows you to fine-tune what the dist/OD pedal is distorting - i.e., either certain frequencies more/less than others, or just to boost the incoming signal. Of course, placing it directly after the dist/OD allows you to further tweak the distorted signal. Again, quite ok, but I think it would be used more as a specific effect in this way, rather than using the EQ to shape your overall tone in the loop.

Top row - through the effects loop
Bottom row - into the front of the amp

Nice board. Do you run this setup with a single channel amp? Ever run into issues with a two channel setup?

 

[ViperDoc]

This concept was a secret weapon of Mesa/Boogie’s for years. Those that didn’t get the graphic EQ at the factory used a 5-band in the loop. Either way, it made the MkII/III/IV the most scuptable tone boxes at the time.

I never looked at the Mesa 5-band this way but it all makes sense. Very interesting.

 

[markd21]

I used to use the MXR 10 band, then I went to an Ibanez PQ-9 parametric (actually, 3 band graphic with swept mids), then to a Furman PEQ-1 parametric rack unit.

 

[Dirty_Boogie]

Nice board. Do you run this setup with a single channel amp? Ever run into issues with a two channel setup?

Thanks Doc. I use it with a 2-channel tube amp (the Blackstar channel switch is on the lower left of the board.) No issues at all - just have to balance things volume-wise across the two channels.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I don't currently, but did until my MXR 10 band developed some noise. I loved it in the loop of my H and Custom 50, because a 4dB cut at 500hz and a couple dB boost at 2K was just what that amp needed, IMHO. Took it from the thick fat smooth amp it is, to more M sounding.

But there are multiple other ways to use an EQ in the loop. To adjust how you sit in the mix, as Elvis said is a good one. Also some use them one of two ways for soloing. Either the set your lead tone with the EQ off, and set a V curve on the EQ to use for Rhythm tones, or vice versa, set your amp for rhythm tones and boost mids/treble for leads. And on and on.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Thanks all for your input. The Boss GE7 looks to be the time-tested option. Any other recommendations? Not too many choices out there, it seems. The Earthquaker Tone Job looks a bit too much like any 3 band amp EQ. There are a couple 10-band graphic eq pedals with recent mixed reviews. The Wampler EQuator looks interesting, but I struggle sometimes with parametrics. It’s difficult for me to “see the Q” on those. Any favorites you would recommend?

Les has been gushing about his Pettyjohn eq pedal, I think it’s more of a parametric eq though which you mentioned you might have issues with.

Mesa makes a pedal version of their 5 band graphic eq. Their eq points (frequencies) seem kinda tailored to the inherent bumps and dips in Mesa amps though, for instance if you’re looking to scoop the mids for metal destruction, I find 400hz is more effective than their 750hz for bringing the mosh.

What are you hoping to accomplish? A drastic resculpting or a subtle finessing of your tone?

 

[ViperDoc]

Les has been gushing about his Pettyjohn eq pedal, I think it’s more of a parametric eq though which you mentioned you might have issues with.

Mesa makes a pedal version of their 5 band graphic eq. Their eq points (frequencies) seem kinda tailored to the inherent bumps and dips in Mesa amps though, for instance if you’re looking to scoop the mids for metal destruction, I find 400hz is more effective than their 750hz for bringing the mosh.

What are you hoping to accomplish? A drastic resculpting or a subtle finessing of your tone?

Just looking for the ability to polish the final sound of my rig. I’ve been swapping out amps and speakers and guitars lately to find my sound at higher volumes. I like to sit somewhere inside the tonal triad of the Mesa crunch channel, a mildly overdriven Dumble and a warm Plexi. I just put a Landry M50V into a Bogner V30 212 and am looking to tame the sparkle a little bit. That’s a 2 + channel 50 watt 6V6 amp that goes anywhere from chimey Fender cleans to balls out Marshall rock tones, it sounds amazing. I fed it my new Special Semi-Hollow and the overall gain was getting Trump’s attention, it was so hot. I’m just trying to land this beast a little lower to the ground and thought an EQ would be a good tool to try. I’ll check that Pettyjohn out. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Thanks all for your input. The Boss GE7 looks to be the time-tested option. Any other recommendations? Not too many choices out there, it seems. The Earthquaker Tone Job looks a bit too much like any 3 band amp EQ. There are a couple 10-band graphic eq pedals with recent mixed reviews. The Wampler EQuator looks interesting, but I struggle sometimes with parametrics. It’s difficult for me to “see the Q” on those. Any favorites you would recommend?

I have one, highly modified, before which I didn’t like it with some amps. The Boss buffers seem to affect tone significantly with some amps and a little at least with almost all amps. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

After posting that, just saw the Wampler you mentioned, and the features look great! Don’t be afraid of para EQs. You’ll get the hang of them. I LOVE them for live mixing.

 

[László]

Just looking for the ability to polish the final sound of my rig.

Since you and Serg mention the Pettyjohn Filter EQ, and I have one that’s almost always “on”, I’ll share my thoughts about it, and add a link to a track I wrote/recorded specifically to experiment with it.

Unlike most pedal EQs, it sounds like a studio EQ, in fact, better than most. The turnover frequencies are very well-chosen for guitar. It adds refinement instead of taking tone away. I think this thing is an instant classic piece of gear; YMMV.

I won’t list the features, as there are plenty of online videos explaining them on the PJ website.

I use it in front of my amp, after distortion and boost pedals, but ahead of compression, modulation, and time-based effects to shape the tone ahead of the amp’s preamp, to refine what’s going in. That’s where I like EQ pedals.

I run it at 18 Volts for headroom. It’ll also run at 9 and 12V. I’ve tried all three.

Since I don’t use effect loops, I can’t speak to what it does there. No idea. You’re on your own with that! Try it both ways if you get one.

Here’s the link to a demo of the pedal (along with modulation and delay) going into the HXDA played just at the edge of breaking up. Both tracks have no dirt pedals, grit’s controlled by guitar volume controls. A clip is worth a million words, so I’ll stfu. But listen on good speakers or headphones to get the detail in the track.

https://soundcloud.com/lschefman/pedaland-4

The Filter EQ is the blue pedal next to the H9s.

 

[ViperDoc]

Since you and Serg mention the Pettyjohn Filter EQ, and I have one that’s almost always “on”, I’ll share my thoughts about it, and add a link to a track I wrote/recorded specifically to experiment with it.

Unlike most pedal EQs, it sounds like a studio EQ, in fact, better than most. The turnover frequencies are very well-chosen for guitar. It adds refinement instead of taking tone away. I think this thing is an instant classic piece of gear; YMMV.

I won’t list the features, as there are plenty of online videos explaining them on the PJ website.

I use it in front of my amp, after distortion and boost pedals, but ahead of compression, modulation, and time-based effects to shape the tone ahead of the amp’s preamp, to refine what’s going in. That’s where I like EQ pedals.

I run it at 18 Volts for headroom. It’ll also run at 9 and 12V. I’ve tried all three.

Since I don’t use effect loops, I can’t speak to what it does there. No idea. You’re on your own with that! Try it both ways if you get one.

Here’s the link to a demo of the pedal (along with modulation and delay) going into the HXDA played just at the edge of breaking up. Both tracks have no dirt pedals, grit’s controlled by guitar volume controls. A clip is worth a million words, so I’ll stfu. But listen on good speakers or headphones to get the detail in the track.

https://soundcloud.com/lschefman/pedaland-4

The Filter EQ is the blue pedal next to the H9s.

Thank you, Schef. Did you throw down for the Deluxe or stick with the Standard?

 

[Callan]

I used to have an EQ7 in the loop of my Mesa Roadster (quite a few years ago now)
And to my ears it sounded unreal.. what I didn't realise I was going was boosting the **** out of the high end and blasting the back of my knee's.
Off-Axis from the speaker is sounded great, but if you were in the beam of those V30's you would have your head ripped off.

That idea lasted about one song. After that I changed it to a more subtle boost for solos.. then just gave up on the idea.

It was a great lesson though - since then I always get my amp/speaker off the ground or somehow facing towards my ears.

 

[László]

Thank you, Schef. Did you throw down for the Deluxe or stick with the Standard?

I got the standard one; I didn’t realize how much I’d use the pedal! But I’m happy with the sound.

They offer the discrete op-amp upgrade for about the difference in price between the two pedals, so you aren’t stuck if you decide to upgrade later.

If you get one and your power supply doesn’t have an 18V outlet, you can get a voltage doubler cable from Vodoo Labs and use two 9V outlets with it. I found that the pedal sounds a little more open at 18V with the added headroom.