Members fist Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 I'm usually the kinda guy who just likes to play from guitar straight into an amp, but I was wondering if something like an EQ or compression pedal would give me some more tonal possiblities. I really don't have much experience with compression, and I've always used the EQ on the amp, or even the tone knobs on the guitar to shape my sound; how necessary is an EQ pedal really is. I want the absolute minimum amount of pedals, and for my setup to be as simple as possible without sacrificing too much, so are either of these pedals absolute essentials?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 I'm usually the kinda guy who just likes to play from guitar straight into an amp, but I was wondering if something like an EQ or compression pedal would give me some more tonal possiblities.I really don't have much experience with compression, and I've always used the EQ on the amp, or even the tone knobs on the guitar to shape my sound; how necessary is an EQ pedal really is. I want the absolute minimum amount of pedals, and for my setup to be as simple as possible without sacrificing too much, so are either of these pedals absolute essentials?? I don't see how you can compare the two for 'usefullness.' I find them equally useful, but they have very different effects on a sound wave. How much do you know already about what they do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bowlingshirt Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 I want the absolute minimum amount of pedals If you're happy with guitar > amp, then the answer is zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fist Posted September 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 How much do you know already about what they do? compression- raises low frequencies and brings down high ones so the signal is more compressed. EQ- emphasises certain frequencies..i think. ^^ yea, but sometime you don't know what you're missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 compression- raises low frequencies and brings down high ones so the signal is more compressed.EQ- emphasises certain frequencies..i think.^^ yea, but sometime you don't know what you're missing. http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Compression/ http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Articles/Equalization/ Have you seen these already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members melx Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 I wouldn't say either of these pedals were "absolute essentials" I quite like a compressor on clean sounds, it can make the sound more full sounding and make your guitar seem more alive without adding overdrive. I think if I played clean more I would use one all the time. an eq is a handy thing to have sometimes, but not essential unless you need it for a specific purpose, scooping mids, boosting mids for solo's, cutting a certain frequency...etc. if you are fairly happy with your sound then it isn't essential, but if you play clean a lot I would definatly try a good compressor especially if your guitar lacks a bit of natural sustain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 I wouldn't say either of these pedals were "absolute essentials" I quite like a compressor on clean sounds, it can make the sound more full sounding and make your guitar seem more alive without adding overdrive. I think if I played clean more I would use one all the time.an eq is a handy thing to have sometimes, but not essential unless you need it for a specific purpose, scooping mids, boosting mids for solo's, cutting a certain frequency...etc.if you are fairly happy with your sound then it isn't essential, but if you play clean a lot I would definatly try a good compressor especially if your guitar lacks a bit of natural sustain. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THeLoveGun Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 http://drscientist.ca/pedaldetail.php?pedal_code=clean my latest and most recent purchase. I love how it sparkles my humbuckers. I also bought a Visual Sound Route 66 which is a 2-in-1 OD (w/bass boost) and Compression. I'd use more the compression to clean up my fast strummed out parts while I use the EQ/Boost for more like individual notes or composites, but then again, there's no rules if you know what you're doing. I'm hooking them up with my SHO into a Vox Tube... Anyhow, both effects are for clean (or not so tidy) clean purists, If you're into Country pickin' or Good Ol' Motown sounds, compression can get you good mileage. The EQ isn't as equally essential unless you want to tweak your frequencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DADGADammit Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 i used my compressor a lot more when i still had solid state amps, but now with tube amps, i barely use it anymore. eq pedals are great. i really think everyone should get one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fist Posted September 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 do u use your EQ on your amp in conjunction with an EQ pedal? That sounds complicated.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Snowden Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 As stated before, they both have their own uses. I use my EQ all the time where as I use a compressor only when doing slides so my EQ is more useful. If i were to use the EQ as more of an effect at times and my sound required me to be compressed all the time the compressor would be more useful. So it really depends what you want each to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 do u use your EQ on your amp in conjunction with an EQ pedal? Yes. They shape the tone in different ways. I don't use dirt pedals much. I prefer the natural overdrive coming from the tubes in my amps. EQ and compression are essential for me to get the tones I want, and to avoid clipping in unpleasant frequencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ToneJamFX Posted September 10, 2007 Members Share Posted September 10, 2007 You'd be surprised at just how useful an EQ can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alivegy Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 They're both really two different effects so it's hard to say which would be more important. A good compressor is great for balancing out the volume of your sound, especially if you find you're volume fluctuating too much while you're playing. An eq is also a great pedal to have. An eq will let you tweak more specific frequencies than your amp eq so you can really fine tune your tone. I would highly recommend getting both. I'm not someone who wants a lot of pedals either. But my compressor is almost always on, and I use the eq on my higher gain channel to dial out some of the things that my amp does to the sound that i don't particularly like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Keith SIO Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 I like compression more than EQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 I use both, I tend to use an EQ so that I can stomp on it and have a new sound (makes it easier than having to go to the amp during a show). I use the compressor to get levels even and add a little sheen to the tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members covertmusic724 Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 I just pulled a compressor off of my board because I wasn't using much at all. I would probably tend to use an EQ like a boost though. i just use my semaphore for that now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 I use EQ too boost signal also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 I am currently considering having 2 EQ pedals on my board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 I am currently considering having 2 EQ pedals on my board.U R A like me! As noisy as my gear is, I have to use 2 EQs to filter it out. But thankfully, it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fist Posted September 11, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 hmmm.. sounds like EQ could be useful because of the boost thing...will something cheap like the danelectro fish and chips do the job ok? or am i looking at spending a lot more money for a decent EQ.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 U R A like me! As noisy as my gear is, I have to use 2 EQs to filter it out. But thankfully, it works. No I use one to scoop out mids, and another one too add more mids and give a volume boost. No noise issues in my chain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted September 11, 2007 Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 hmmm.. sounds like EQ could be useful because of the boost thing...will something cheap like the danelectro fish and chips do the job ok? or am i looking at spending a lot more money for a decent EQ.... Should be fine....heck a cheap Behringer unit actualy works....but for how long is the question. I am currently using Boss EQ's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fist Posted September 11, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 11, 2007 so they all perform similarly? is it just a matter of reliability and quality of materials that justifies the price difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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