Why You Need an EQ Pedal

Today I show you how a simple EQ can change your entire sound with five of my favorite tricks I use with EQ. The power within a simple graphic EQ is not to be understated, and I think those skeptical of its uses will be inspired to try out some of the drastic tone transformations you can achieve with these simple sliders. In the comments below tell me about some acoustic bluegrass, Americana, and roots music that you like!

Gear in this video:
0:34 Massive FX Pedals DallasDevilsPlay
0:45 Massive FX Pedals G.O.A.F.
2:00 Boss GE-7
4:06 Earthquaker Devices Westwood
9:17 Old Blood Noise Endeavors EQ + Buffer
9:31 Boss GEB-7
9:56 Mooer Graphic G
10:01 Danelectro Fish & Chips
10:06 Behringer EQ700
10:15 EXAR GE-02
10:18 Yamaha GE-10M II
10:20 Ibanez GE10
10:26 Arion MEQ-1
10:35 Boss EQ-20
11:05 Free The Tone PA-10G
11:23 Guyatone PS-111
11:23 Guyatone PS-105
11:49 Arion SPE-1
11:49 Guyatone PS-022
12:58 JHS Pedals Clover

Record Time:
Mandolin Orange - Such Jubilee

Josh’s record player is by U-Turn Audio:

#jhs #thejhsshow #eqpedals

[JeremyKolassa]

"My guitar may be out of tune, can you forgive me?"

Only if you do a 20 minute episode on tuner pedals.

[richardw]

A top tip for using an EQ to shape your tone:

To avoid noise, rather than boosting certain frequencies, try cutting the alternative frequencies slightly.

[patricksommer]

EQs are just easy to use. You want a mid boost? Boost mids!
Want less bass? Cut bass!
You dont know what ya want? Boost random frequencies!
Do what you want!

[enriquedelima]

I just love how JHS doesn't mind using and praising other brands

[chrisharrington]

Today's lesson - "All EQ's are equal, but some EQ's are more equal than others."

[joshs.]

EQs can be a huge asset when you're playing in a live band. If you know how to use it, you can clean up your entire band's sound and make your guitar cut through the mix. In a studio, when the producer is mixing the instruments, they will change the EQ settings of certain instruments to ensure they "stay out of each other's way." This is accomplished by cutting frequencies out of certain instruments, and/or boosting them in others.

For instance: If the main frequency of the snare drum sound happens to fall around 500hz, the producer will probably lower that frequency on the other instruments, particularly the guitar. The result is: the snare cuts through at 500hz. Even when the guitar is playing at its absolutely loudest, you can still hear the snare drum. Also, almost any producer will remove the very high end (10-12khz and up) and very low end (sub-100hz) from the guitar, because these aren't really relevant frequencies. They don't contribute to the "tone" of the guitar, they're just hiss and mud, respectively. These cuts clean up the cymbals and the bass. Many more cuts like this can be made, as well as boosts to ranges that are guitar-specific. The result is a cleaner overall sound, in which you can clearly hear every instrument doing its thing and not drowning anything else out.

This isn't really something that can be accomplished with a guitar amp's EQ knobs. At most, you're going to have Low, Low-mid, High-mid, and High. Most of the time, the mids will be one knob. These boosts and cuts are way too broad to do any sort of specific cutting/boosting, like you would have in a studio. But, with a decent 7 or 10 band EQ, these cuts/boosts become possible.

[thalesb]

I love how honest and true you are about other brands, even though they might be your competition. That's really embracing a mindset of community, and that's amazing. Also, you're doing us a favor for bringing forward some of the more hidden pieces of modern music history, and for that we are thankful. And for all of that I am really thankful. I just wish you sometimes would speak a little bit more about JHS, i thin we all would appreciate that. As always, wishing you all the best, Josh, you deserve it.

[ZackSeifMusic]

I can’t get over how perfect his personality and presentation is for a pedal based channel. Love JHS

[allanwilson]

I think many people spend a fortune on pedals looking for the effect a single eq pedal would give them.

Thanks for another great vid.

[dindinbre]

In 80s and 90s there was a folk band in then Yugoslavia that completely reshaped music. Their producer and writer was also their bass player. He had very special bass tone, and he got it with insane eq settings. And EVERYONE tried to copy it, buying the same 69 Jazz Bass and Trace Elliot amp with no luck. It was all about that eq he had.

[weschilton]

Another huge use for an EQ pedal is cleaning up nasty frequencies in different rooms.... gigging in a cave where the bass frequencies just BOOM and being able to notch that out is gold!

[dennisdewinter]

I realize this video is 4 years old but I just discovered EQ pedals and thoroughly appreciate your video. Thanks so much. This was super informative and helpful!

[mikebrooks]

I want a "sometimes guitar needs to sound crappy" shirt

[bobadreadofficial]

On the Russian one under the first slider is written:
Level
Frequency

Under the last slider:
LEL' ep
Equalizer parametric

If you really want to read it, not just understand, here is a transcription:
Urov'en'
Chastota
(lel' ep sounds nearly the same)
Ekvalaizer Parametricheskiy

Thanks for another great video, Josh!

[dylanchen]

Haven't even gotten past the intro yet but just wanna say I always always look forward to a new episode of this delightfulfulness

[MarcusRobertsonTwo]

My mxr 10 band EQ is the best pedal I've ever bought. Hands down.

[michaelvladimirov]

Regarding the Russian pedal, the writing from top to bottom is:

Level
Frequency
Lel’-zp (brand, model name, I’m assuming)
Equalizer parametric

The sliders are for frequency peaks. The knobs are for boosts or cuts of up to +/-12 dB.

[seinhand]

I am still amazed at how many competitors pedals he hypes in his videos. You got class, Josh.

[FuTRfantasy]

Tip for the lofi! Throw on a tremolo after the EQ and offt 😍

[gabrielferreira]

The entire time I was thinking "If only I had presets". Then he showed the eq-20. I am the person who needs it. Thanks.