High pass and low pass filter for distorted guitars?

[adamqlw]

Howdy folks. It's been quiet around these parts for awhile, thought I'd throw a question out there and see what's shakin'

I was working on some new tones tonight with the Modern SOD, Mark 2 lead and SLO Drive channels, all going through a V30 4x12 cab with the ribbon 121.

At first I was finding things too boomy, so I engaged a low pass filter. But after a couple of hours of playing, I started to feel that things were a little on the shrill side, and no amount of amp knob twisting seemed to get rid of it, so I tried turning on the low pass filter and that really seemed to hit the spot! I find that a high pass filter somewhere between 80~120 hz and a low pass filter around 8~12k (depending on the amp), but at 6 dB, really helped clean up the fizz and muck.

So what EQ/HPF/LPF do you guys have up your sleeves?

[derker]

I'm often using both HPF and LPF going direct to PA (2x15 tops, 2x18 subs). The 4x12 cabs can have a lot of low end happening, and I find the HPF to be the easiest way of getting rid of excessive thumping. Sometimes I'll have it up as high as 150hz with a softer slope, or a little lower with a more extreme slope. I also use the LPF to get rid of excess sizzle. Sometimes I'll scoop out some of the lower mids around 350hz to get rid of mud, boost around 1k to add cut, cut around 3-4k to get rid of some screechiness.. it's all totally situational and depends on what I've got in the signal chain, but the ParaEQ gets used more often than not, on my live patches.

[Ralf_T]

It depends on the guitar and amp combination (and the tuning), but in general these settings are good starting points for EQing, at least for real amps/cabs. Most guitar speakers have a frequency range of about 80-5000 Hz (it depends on the speakers), not meaning that they end abruptly, instead they slowly roll-off below 80hz and above 5000hz.

But generally speaking you will not find anything of importance below 80hz (unless you tune to C standard ) and above 10k Hz, and most mixing tutorials recommend rolling off at about 80hz and 10k Hz. I think it is a good bet to also apply those EQ points for modelers.

I am still trying to make sense of the HPF and the LPF on the PEQ in the 11R. Why are Q and Gain active when I e.g. select a HPF6? I mean HP6 means 6db per octave, but I can even go to -24db when selecting the HP6 type ...? Am I missing something?

[brianiac5150]

Originally Posted by Ralf_T

I am still trying to make sense of the HPF and the LPF on the PEQ in the 11R. Why are Q and Gain active when I e.g. select a HPF6? I mean HP6 means 6db per octave, but I can even go to -24db when selecting the HP6 type ...? Am I missing something?

This is also something I've quarreled within myself about. Obviously, I've just been setting it to function/taste (probably should put the latter first), but would love to hear from "the team" about this.

Regardless...along with the Bogner amp sims, the PEQ is one of the best things about the ERXP, IMO.

[dmock66]

Originally Posted by derker

I'm often using both HPF and LPF going direct to PA (2x15 tops, 2x18 subs). The 4x12 cabs can have a lot of low end happening, and I find the HPF to be the easiest way of getting rid of excessive thumping. Sometimes I'll have it up as high as 150hz with a softer slope, or a little lower with a more extreme slope. I also use the LPF to get rid of excess sizzle. Sometimes I'll scoop out some of the lower mids around 350hz to get rid of mud, boost around 1k to add cut, cut around 3-4k to get rid of some screechiness.. it's all totally situational and depends on what I've got in the signal chain, but the ParaEQ gets used more often than not, on my live patches.

I used a variation of this tonight at my band practice with a Plexi patch I have. The amp itself is slightly overdriven then I had the Tube Screamer with the Gain at 5, Tone at 4 and Level at 6.5. I then used the Para-EQ post amp/cab set with the HP6 @ 105Hz, 3db cut with a narrow Q at 200Hz, 3db boost with a narrow Q at 1K and LP6 at 6Khz. This was probably the best overall gain tone I've had in some time. Very fun night! I wouldn't have thought to put all these EQ points together until reading this post - so thank you!

I've received a lot of good advice from knowledgeable people and misapplied a lot of things - but for me, the above EQ set up with the way the amp EQ was set, as well as the cab/mic option, all worked.

[singtall]

with the eq settings you are using i see that i was correct in assuming that your PA is eq'd rather smiley faced or scooped mids. that happens alot. whatever it takes to get the tone right, do it.

[dmock66]

Originally Posted by singtall

with the eq settings you are using i see that i was correct in assuming that your PA is eq'd rather smiley faced or scooped mids. that happens alot. whatever it takes to get the tone right, do it.

Hey Ross!

That's the weird thing here... I have checked with my sound guy. I have no EQ applied to my channel as well as monitor send. I should have a totally flat platform. I also checked the practice PA last night - flat EQ... so I don't totally get what's going on.

What I do know is that by using the above settings with the Plexi model set at a slight overdrive with the Tube Screamer added I got a very pleasing tone. Go figure... I wouldn't have expected that to be the "winner" - but it was.

[mikefont]

I usually start off doing the "fizzy frequency removal" thing that you can read about HERE, then I adjust the high/low pass filters to suit the tone that I'm after.

For me, the PEQ is the best tool the 11R has! It is indispensable!


.

[fly_with_v]

Mike, thanks for the link to that easy to understand article. Great stuff.

[mikefont]

Originally Posted by fly_with_v

Mike, thanks for the link to that easy to understand article. Great stuff.

Your welcome sir!

.