There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on your individual preferences and the specific sound you are trying to achieve. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you decide.
EQ before preamp:
- Pros:
- You can use EQ to shape the sound of your guitar before it is processed by the preamp. This can give you more control over the overall tone of your sound.
- You can use EQ to compensate for any deficiencies in your guitar or amp. For example, if your guitar has a lot of high end, you can use EQ to reduce the high end.
- Cons:
- You may have to use more EQ to achieve the desired sound, as the preamp may also be adding its own EQ characteristics.
- You may not be able to get the same level of saturation from the preamp if you use EQ before it.
EQ after preamp:
- Pros:
- You can use EQ to fine-tune the sound of your guitar after it has been processed by the preamp. This can help you to achieve a more balanced and polished sound.
- You can use EQ to add more saturation to your sound by pushing the preamp harder.
- Cons:
- You may not have as much control over the overall tone of your sound as if you used EQ before the preamp.
- You may not be able to compensate for any deficiencies in your guitar or amp as easily.
Which one should you choose?
If you are new to using EQ, it is generally recommended to use EQ after the preamp. This will give you a more balanced and polished sound, and it will also be easier to achieve the desired tone.
However, as you become more experienced with using EQ, you may want to experiment with using EQ before the preamp. This can give you more control over the overall tone of your sound, and it can also help you to compensate for any deficiencies in your guitar or amp.
Ultimately, the best way to decide which order to use EQ is to experiment and see what sounds best to you.
Here are some additional tips:
- If you are using EQ before the preamp, try to use a gentle touch. You don’t want to make too many drastic changes, as this can make your sound sound unnatural.
- If you are using EQ after the preamp, you can be more aggressive with your EQing. You can use EQ to add more saturation to your sound, or to fine-tune the overall tone of your sound.
- It is also important to consider the type of preamp you are using. Some preamps have built-in EQ, so you may not need to use EQ outside of the preamp.
Experiment with different EQ settings and order of operation until you find what sounds best to you.
Here are some specific examples of when you might want to use EQ before or after the preamp:
- If you are using a guitar with a lot of high end, you might want to use EQ before the preamp to reduce the high end. This will help to prevent the preamp from adding too much of its own high end.
- If you are using a preamp that has a lot of gain, you might want to use EQ after the preamp to tame the high end. This will help to prevent the high end from becoming too harsh.
- If you are using a preamp that has a lot of distortion, you might want to use EQ before the preamp to shape the overall tone of your sound. This will help to create a more balanced and controlled sound.
Ultimately, the best way to decide where to place your EQ is to experiment and see what sounds best to you.