the answers
Michael, it’s a funny world sometimes. I’ve just been having this conversation with another guitarist and I actually gave a practical presentation in that case. I’ll try and put into words here what I demonstrated in practice…
01 An EQ pedal is a pedal that allows you to craft the frequency range of your sound by cutting or boosting specific frequencies as determined by the pedal designer. They can be very simple, focusing on one frequency category (say, mids only) or they can be more versatile and operate over three frequency bands – bass, mids and treble. If you need more control, some EQ pedals offer 10 or 12 bands of fixed-frequency shaping. Some even go one step further and offer parametric equalisation where you have full control over the frequencies chosen, the gain of those frequencies and the bandwidth of the frequencies adjusted.
An EQ pedal gives you control over your sound in a way that a lot of pedals or amps don’t. The ability to cut or boost the frequencies to taste (as opposed to just cutting them) makes the EQ more powerful than the other tone-shaping elements of your rig, such as the amp or the pedals you have. If your guitar sound is booming in one venue, you can dial down the bass; if you aren’t cutting through the mix, you can accentuate the mids. An EQ pedal allows you to hone what you want to sound like.
02 Some drive pedals have very specific EQ characteristics. For example, the Tube Screamer and Klon Centaur are actually often used as a single-band EQ to accentuate the mids for a guitarist. Often these pedals are used with mid-scooped amps to fill the frequency deficit common with that amp’s design, or they’re used to lift the mids with the aim of giving space in the mix for a solo to shine through. A well-designed EQ can do all of this and more, so it is my personal belief that if you like core-driven sounds, then an EQ pedal is better suited to provide the tonal sculpting you need.
03 In the fixed-frequency EQ category, I recommend the Boss EQ-200, MXR Ten Band EQ or my Team Medic. As for parametric EQs, try Empress Effects’ ParaEq. Hopefully this swift run-through will allow you to get what you need. And if I could recommend one other thing: stick the EQ at the end of your pedalboard. It can then act as a post-EQ for your pedals and a pre-EQ for your amp.