Anyone Using A Graphic EQ When Playing?

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 19 Oct 2005 10:13 am

I have been trying to get rid of some of the highs on my steel. My lows and mids sound fine to me but the highs are at times too shrill. I have tried different amp settings that have not satisfied my ears. My question is do any of you guys and gals use an EQ with your rig while playing? Would an EQ help on getting the highs to a satisfactory setting for me? If so what would you recommend and what price range would I be looking at? I also use a Matchbox and I get the same problem with or without the Matchbox. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 19 Oct 2005 11:30 am

Try the Boss Graphic EQ, I think it's called the GE-7. This is pretty versatile, and it will work as a clean boost pedal, too. I think they're about $80 (?). I've heard that people use these pedals to get a Dobro-like tone from a pedal steel guitar, though I've not tired it. For sure you can use it to shelf your highs.[This message was edited by Cliff Kane on 19 October 2005 at 12:33 PM.]

mtulbert · Post by **mtulbert** » 19 Oct 2005 12:09 pm

Paul,

If your highs are shrill you could be having a zing problem with your high strings. This will add shrillness to those higher notes...Do a couple of searches on the forum ( I believe that there is a recent post about this). Make sure that this is not the problem before going the eq route.

Just another thing to check out....sigh

regards,

Mark T.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 19 Oct 2005 1:49 pm

Mark, I did a search and I did not find anything about a zing problem. Can you tell me what it is you are referring too?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 19 Oct 2005 2:14 pm

Before you go to great expense, try using a very long (20' or more), cheap guitar cord from your volume pedal to your amp. Low quality cords have enough capacitance to act as a low-pass filter. They bleed off the high frequencies that are annoying you.

By the way, the purpose of a Matchbox is to preserve the high frequencies by lowering the impedence. Sounds like you don't need it at all.

Are you using an active volume pedal? If so, you might consider switching to a pot pedal for a more mellow sound.[This message was edited by b0b on 19 October 2005 at 03:19 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 19 Oct 2005 2:16 pm

What amp are you using? And do you have any effects in line between the guitar and amp?

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 19 Oct 2005 5:52 pm

I have a GE7 on my pedal board, in front of the volume pedal (along with a brobox) for any little tweaks I need depending on the room. Sometimes it's in, sometimes not, but really nice to have... I put it and the bro before the volume pedal cause they are both a bit noisy

.

James Marlowe · Post by **James Marlowe** » 19 Oct 2005 6:30 pm

I have a GE7 in my set up. I found that by cutting all the eq's back except for the middle one (I forget which band that is) and you can get somewhat of a Dobro effect. Makes an interesting sound.
james

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 19 Oct 2005 6:40 pm

I use a Nashville 112 amp and an Alesis Quadraverb. I have taken the matchbox out of play and it helps but the highs are still too bright. I think the EQ would help and I am leaning that way. Someone mentioned something about a zing but I have no idea what they were talking about. At any rate I will have to do something to solve the problem.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 19 Oct 2005 10:16 pm

Add a little capacitor across the output jack of your guitar.

Mark Fasbender · Post by **Mark Fasbender** » 19 Oct 2005 10:41 pm

Try picking more on the sides of the fingerpicks. This helps fatten my tone.

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Got Twang ?

Mark

Kevin Ruddell · Post by **Kevin Ruddell** » 20 Oct 2005 2:05 am

I have this shrill treble problem also and used to use a Boss or Urei Graphic but the better solution was a Tech 21 Acoustic DI. It's an active 3 band EQ direct box w/ sweepable mid boost/cut that was designed by a musician and is made in the USA. It has a built in effects loop and XLR direct out and runs forever on a nine volt batterry. I also used to use it to great effect with an piezo pickup equipped acoustic bass . Also works well w/ mandolin , gtr, dobro etc. I back my volume knob off some too as a treble cut off sorts

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Oct 2005 2:12 am

I can't imagine not being able to get the highs out with that amp. I can make my Franklin sound all bassy if I want to.

If you can't get it out with the EQ in the amp, I don't see where an outboard EQ will.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Oct 2005 3:08 am

I have a Boss GE-7, a similar DOD FX40 that I got for $25 on the forum, and a stereo 15-band EQ in my rack rig, and they are very helpful to me. Amplifier tone controls each affect a fairly wide range of the spectrum, while a GE lets you zero in on the specific frequencies that you want to cut or enhance. I also use the little stompbox EQ's to tame and control the sounds of other effects - if you put one either before or after an overdrive, you gain a much greater amount of control over it, and putting one before a wah-wah lets you shape the curve of the frequencies and cut off the high end shriek without having to reset your amp. An EQ will do exactly what you're looking for as far as taming the high end, I think.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Oct 2005 6:35 am

A couple of other thoughts.

1. Could it be the pickup in the guitar? Some pickups, such as the Lawrence 710, if it's too close to the strings can lost body and have a lot of highs. A defective pickup could also have similar characteristics.

2. Have you tried connecting the guitar directly to the amp - no volume pedal, matchbox, effects, etc.

And, what kind of guitar and pickup is this?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Oct 2005 7:45 am

I'm with Jack on this one. Just turn the treble control down a couple of numbers and play the thing! (If the amp has a "mid" control, turn that down as well.)

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 20 Oct 2005 8:08 am

I have a Dan-Electro stomp-box e-q in my board, like David said , to mainly control, and tame the effects. I can usually compensate for over-all tone in different rooms with the highs, and mids on my amp though.

Larry[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 20 October 2005 at 09:10 AM.]

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 20 Oct 2005 8:29 am

I have one of these "Fishman Pro EQ Platinum Acoustic Preamp, EQ and DI" units for my acoustic: http://www.zzounds.com/item--FSMPEQP
I was going to pick up a GE-7, but will give this thing a try.
Reason... I recently picked up a '79 Deluxe that is really bright for steel, and with only treble and bass knobs, I thought an EQ would make a nice addition to tonal variation possibilities.
Anyone use a Fishman like this with steel?
Any technical reasons why it would work better or worse than a GE-7?
I'll try it on a gig tomorrow night.
Maybe I can save myself 79 bucks.

[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 20 October 2005 at 09:30 AM.]

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 20 Oct 2005 11:01 am

Here's another thought, if you record yourself, preferably with a band, you may find that the highs are not really that shrill. At home alone, I like much fewer highs, but with a group it will not cut through that way.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Oct 2005 1:57 pm

The sound of the aluminum cone in a JBL speaker could be considered shrill by some people. Others love that sound. What speaker are you using?

I don't like adding components to solve a systemic problem. If some component is producing a tone you don't like, you should replace that component instead of adding another component to counter the effect.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Oct 2005 2:28 pm

b0b, He hasn't said what speaker but he's using a Nashville 112 and unless he says something different I would assume it's the stock Blue Marvel speaker.

Trying to fix what is actually wrong rather than adding something to compensate for a problem is my view too and the reason for my comments.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 20 Oct 2005 3:45 pm

I have used a Nashville 400 and the Nashville 112 and the highs were just too bright on both amps. If I adjust the highs on the amp it affects everything else. I use the George L cables you just put in the jack and tighten the screw down. Today I went back to the Belden cable I used for years and there was definitely a difference in the sound. With the George L cables there was a cleaner and brighter sound. I visited today with the man that had our local music store and he confirmed the George L cables would make a difference is the highs. He suggested a 31 band EQ instead of a 7 band. He says with a 7 band you are still cutting in other areas beside the highs. His recommendation was there is not that much of a difference in price. What would guys recommend for an EQ in a rack mount unit and what price range would it be in? I sure appreciate all the comments and advice you have given me. This forum is a wealth of information and just a bunch of great guys and gals willing to help each other out.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 20 Oct 2005 3:56 pm

I recommend try before you buy.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 20 Oct 2005 9:33 pm

Paul,
How long have you been playing steel and how many hours a day do you practice ? I'm sorry if I'm on the wrong track but I just don't don't know any guys that play steel on a serious level that have the problem you are talking about. You may just need a couple pointers on how to control your tone with your picking. Or maybe don't point the amp at your head or something simple like that. To buy a gizmo to correct a tecnique problem is a big waste of time and money.

Bob

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 20 Oct 2005 9:49 pm

I too have a Boss as mentioned above. I run a pretty full tone but when I want to have that '65 Emmons P/P sound, that little dynamite box delivers that sharp sound of the '60s.