Very good explanation and totally correct. I reduce bass in my preamp and use an active eq in the efx loop to do the final shaping and reduce flub in the gain stage.
Hendrix, Duane Allman, and Cream era Clapton, etc. set Marshall amp EQ's at 10. This might explain why. This is the best explanation on presence and passive tone controls I've seen (or read). Farrington Studios Rocks!
It makes a lot of sense. I never really understood why people dialed in their amps at 5. It just seems way simpler to max the settings and cut whichever areas you prefer. Plus you're not stuck with the decision of cutting one frequency or "boosting" another.
Excellent video. I run a 10 band eq pedal in the loop and am constantly messing with it. This helped a lot, understanding how it's active nature works in tandem with the passive three (4 with presence) eq on my amps.
Thank you so much for this video! I was frustrated that I couldn’t get the tones that I wanted, but flipping my thinking in regards to the eq curve flat response starting point, I can get my cheap little mooer ge250 to sound as convincing as my Kemper! Each AMP model is now a joy to explore. Chuffed isn’t the word!
Fantastic video - i had no clear understanding of what "presence" was - totally confusing knob. Thanks so much! I'm curious: you mentioned you built a JCM800 - sounds like a great project - any chance you can point me in the direction of some good plans?
Most amps feature a recovery stage for their passive eq, and have the preamp circuit optimized to present a "flat" setting with everything at noon. This is why high-gain amps can sound like garbage with all the dials maxed. Lower-gain amps (like old Marshalls) get their mojo from the volume being cranked, and the eq knobs can be used to help push the power stage.
This is what I’ve always understood. Also many amps have an EQ that basically acts like there is no EQ with mids on 10, bass and treble on zero. The other thing is that just because passive EQ can only cut, doesn’t mean that the designer didn’t voice the amp for his subjective idea of neutral at 5-5-5.
@@TheMasonator777 interesting and confusing ! Have to check 10s on my H&K Tubemeister 20... and then check my graphic eq in the fx loop for an active eq, maybe i'll get better results (?) Funny that there is no "neutral" guitar tone in the end, not with amps at least, from what you say, the only way to hear the true tone of our guitars would be through a direct box... is that right ?
I think this vid maybe got it wrong that Presence is perhaps taking signal thru high pass then phase canceling and adding back into signal thus increasing (boosting) high end? Not subtracting. Thoughts?
I wouldn't really consider the presence to be part of the equalizer since it's a completely different circuit at a different point in the signal chain.
Nice. I think this actually might come in to play most when buying an amp. To really get the sound of it putting the EQ to 10 and scaling back. I use the 5 setting at home because I need more play from my volume knob being in an apartment
Great video. Do you know if preamp modelers like the mooer micro amps or other amp simulators follow this logic. Are their was flat at 10 or do they make them active and flat at 5?
Between the stopping every 2 words and the mic muting every time he stopped this was fucking brutal. I watched 20 mins and couldn't focus on what he was saying
Salutations! I enjoyed this, thanx for the new ‘n’ easier way to find a desired tone! Q: **I have a solid state 2x12 Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 Guitar amplifier which is Euro based (220 or more currently 230/240v) and I am in the States (120 or more currently 140v)** I have low vision so a Variak (sp) would be a bit tricky for me to say the least. LiteFuze 1500 step down converter is what was recommended in a video I found. Any recommendations to what exactly I should buy in order to safely power up my Warp 7 amplifier while getting a decent tone that’s not much quieter due to the voltage being lower pretty much cut in half. Would the step down converter give me what I need to power her (My amplifier)? I want to avoid messing up with the electricity in my apartment and any potentially hazards (sparks and all bringing July 4th earlier as it’s May 5th now). I greatly appreciate any advice you may be willing to provide! I look forward to getting the sound that’s more appropriately suited for playing Metal. Currently using what I have other than the awaiting Fire breathing Warp 7 which is a 5watt Pignose 7-100. I have grown to enjoy this portable amplifier that Legends have used but I need my Warp 7 up and running!!!!!! Joyous Blessings of balanced positivity to you and your Loved ones!!! ☯️
I’ve gotten great sounds on Marshalls with all the knobs around one or two. Just sayin’. Many amps are built to acts like there is no EQ in the circuit with mids on 10, bass and treble on zero, Fenders for example. The other thing is that just because passive EQ can only cut, doesn’t mean that a given designer didn’t voice the amp for his subjective idea of neutral at 5-5-5.
Typically the bright switch will change the treble frequency in the EQ circuit, for instance with the bright in/off the treble frequency may be around 6k and with it out/on it may be 8k.
So technically, setting all eq knobs at 10 and setting all at 3 (for example) are completely different things, and not only in terms of volume. In the sense that with all at 3 I am equally reducing the frequencies about the nominal frequecies of Bass Middle and Treble, but some frequencies are still passing since not affected by Bass Middle and Treble controls. So, I can imagine with all at 10, a flat spectrum. But with all at 3, I shall expect the flat spectrum with 3 “valleys” around the 3 nominal frequencies of the 3 controls. Am I right?
@@stefanobellantonio1169 sì forse ho semplificato troppo il discorso... Il senso di quello che volevo dire è che se tengo Bass Middle e Treble a 10, l'amplificatore diciamo che dà il suo suono "più naturale", che comunque colora il suono (altrimenti tutti gli ampli suonerebbero uguali!). Ma se invece li setto tutti a 3 non ottengo lo stesso suono semplicemente a volume più basso, ma ottengo una colorazione di suono diversa perché dipende su quali frequenze sono centrati i tre setting di Bass, Middle e Treble. Può essere così?
Was always wondering why Zakk wylde said everything on 10 and just take away cuz 10 is flat. ( I was thinkin..10s not flat. Whatever dude).It's because he worked with marshall to build his own amp and they most likely told him how the eq works
Lots of snake oil being sold in the guitar busine$$. It's amazes me how gullible in search of tone we can be. Tone wood being the most outlandish of them all. Then pickups.... Looking for a vintage clean tone only to distort the heck out of it. Makes no sense. Play guitar and enjoy it like when we were kids. Peace
This was by far the best explananation on this subject thanks! Does this also count for modelling amplifiers? With the way they create sound, it may work differently. Could you shed some light on this?
