The answer to this question depends on your specific needs and preferences. There are pros and cons to both approaches, so it’s important to experiment to see what sounds best to you.
EQ before power amp:
- Pros:
- You can use EQ to shape the sound of your guitar before it is amplified. 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 power amp may also be adding its own EQ characteristics.
- You may not be able to get the same level of saturation from the power amp if you use EQ before it.
EQ after power amp:
- Pros:
- You can use EQ to fine-tune the sound of your guitar after it has been amplified. 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 power amp harder.
- Cons:
- You may not have as much control over the overall tone of your sound as if you used EQ before the power amp.
- 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 power amp. 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 power amp. 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 power amp, 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 power amp, 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 power amp you are using. Some power amps have built-in EQ, so you may not need to use EQ outside of the power amp.
