Guitar Preamp
What does the equalizer in a guitar preamp do?
What do they mean when they say the preamp has a "4 band equalizer"? Is that desirable?
An equalizer can boost or cut your sounds different frequencies. For instance, the Hi/Mid/Low aka Treble/Mid/Bass knobs on your amp - those are equalizer aka EQ controls.
Each band represents a range of frequencies. More bands = more control over your sound.
For instance, let's say you have a muddy low end and want to pull it down a bit, or your treble is a little too shrieky. A three or four band control (like the knobs or that 4 band EQ on the amp) may be just the thing to make a general tonal correction like that. If, however, you want to just scoop out your sound from 300-600 hz and leave everything else, then most likely you will need more control than 4 bands - usually closer to 7 or 10, or possibly even more.
What many players don't realize is how subtle and how powerful EQ can be, especially when you start talking high-gain high-distortion. Let's say you pickups have too much bass, and its causing your sound to be muddy and fuzzy. You could buy a new amp, or buy new pickups.... or you could just use an EQ pedal to cut some of that bass and maybe add some treble, etc to balance out the sound.
I see a lot of players go from one piece of equipment to another to another.... the guy with six distortion pedals, complaining that none of them gave him the sound he wanted.... huh? Seriously? Putting an EQ after a distortion pedal is one of the best ways to get new life out of it... you can take a Danelectro Fab Tone (a cheapo distortion fuzz pedal), slap an EQ pedal after it, and get tones that approximate a Boss Metal Zone (i've done it).
Anyways, EQ can be a very good thing, especially when your sound is *almost-but-not-quite* right.
What EQ cannot do, though, is make a Squier sound like a Gibson. So if the basic tone of the amp blows, then no amount of EQ can correct that.
Good luck - play before you buy!
Saul
The most recent Ebay auctions for Guitar Preamp are listed below. You can now search through the results and find great low prices on Guitar Preamp.
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 4 Band EQ Pre Amp Piezo plus Pickup for Acoustic Guitar US $.90 |
 LR Baggs StagePro Anthem Onboard Guitar Pickup System w Preamp US $299.00 |
 DigiTech GSP7 Guitar Processor Preamp Works US $10.49 |
 4 Band EQ Pre Amp Piezo plus Pickup for Acoustic Guitar all mount screw Battery US $.01 |
 4 Band EQ PreAmp Equalizer w Pickup for Acoustic Guitar US $5.99 |
 USA made Martin Acoustic Electic Guitar with a Fishman Classic 4 pre amp US $1,100.00 |
 3day great Acoustic Guitar Fishman Presys Blend Preamp EQ Pickups US $68.00 |
 New Acoustic Guitar EQ 7545R Piezo Pickup Preamp System US $5.99 |
 Shadow Acoustic Guitar AC Jack Active Preamp Come With Piezo All Necessory NEW US $19.99 |
 4 Band EQ 7545R Pre Amp Piezo Pickup Acoustic Guitar US $.99 |
 Guitar lead or bass or violin Pre Amp Passive to Active Pickup Converter US $19.99 |
 OSCAR SCHMIDT STUDENT 3 4 TRAVEL GUITAR W PICKUP PREAMP BACK PACKER GUITAR US $350.00 |
 tweak head technology tone freq guitar pre amp buffer string resonanace adjuster US $25.00 |
 CARVER PM175 MAGNETIC FIELD POWER AMPLIFIER PA GUITAR STEREO PREAMP VTG US $120.00 |
 Solid Cedar Top Cutaway Acoustic Eletric Guitar w Fishman Active Preamp Tuner US $219.95 |
 Xotic BB preamp overdrive guitar pedal orange glitter limited run US $102.50 |
 Mesa Boogie Triaxis guitar tube preamp excellent US $899.99 |
 Mesa Boogie TRIAXIS guitar preamp midi tube pre amp early model no phat mod US $1,085.00 |
 Fender T Bucket 300CE Acoustic Electric GuitarFlame Maple TopFender Preamp 3CS US $299.99 |
 Set of Acoustic Guitar Preamp 5 Band EQ Pickup Balance Output US $9.99 |
 Fishman Presys 501T Classic Acoustic Guitar Preamp Pickups EQ fits Washburn WD US $69.99 |
 Fender CE 301 Acoustic Guitar Preamp Pickups Piezo 3 Band EQ to Sonoran CD100CE US $39.00 |
 New Fishman Presys Blend Blender Acoustic Guitar Pickup Preamp Y002 US $58.99 |
 10Acoustic Guitar Piezo Pickup Passive Preamp System US $55.80 |
 New EQ 2 Band Acoustic Guitar Pickup Piezo Passive PreAmp Guitar parts223112 US $7.98 |
 Rare 80s Collectors Guitar Hondo Set Neck BEAST factory pre amp US $2,000.00 |
 4 Band Acoustic Guitar Preamp Amplifier EQ 7545R Pickup US $8.99 |
 LC 4 Bands Acoustic Guitar Preamp EQ Pickup Tuner Piezo US $15.99 |
 B Band A5TY 22R Slider 4 Band EQ Acoustic Guitar Preamp US $179.99 |
 AMT BC 1 Bass guitar preamp US $279.00 |
 AMT B1 B 1 Distortion guitar pedal Bogner preamp US $129.00 |
 SBK 3 Active Preamp 3 Band Equalizer EQ Harness DIY Guitar Bass 9 18V 12dB US $29.95 |
 SBK 3A Active Preamp 3 Band Parametric EQ Guitar Bass Harness 9 18V 12dB US $34.95 |
 SBK 3AD Active Preamp 3 Band Parametric EQ Guitar Bass Harness 9 18V 12dB US $39.95 |
 FISHMAN ELLIPSE VT ACOUSTIC GUITAR PREAMP SOUND HOLE ELECTRIC PICKUP SYSTEM US $89.00 |
 Acoustic Guitar Preamp Equalizer EQ Piezo Pickup Digtial Processing Tuner 4T US $25.99 |
 2 Band Acoustic Guitar EQ Pickup Piezo Passive PreAmp VT201 US $9.99 |
 4 Band Acoustic Guitar EQ Pickup Piezo Passive PreAmp E 4 US $13.99 |
 Fishman B II Acoustic or Electric Bass Guitar Preamp EQ B2 Volume Bass Treble US $59.95 |
 New JOYO JE 33 Folk Guitar 4 Band EQ Preamp Tuner Pickup LCD Free Shipping US $23.79 |
 Fishman Aura Spectrum Guitar Pedal Preamp EQ DI w Tuner FREE 910R AC Adapter US $329.95 |
 Fishman G II Belt clip Guitar Instrument Preamp EQ G2 Volume Bass Treble NEW US $59.95 |
 Acoustic Guitar EQ Fishman Presys Blend Pre Amp MIC US $68.99 |
 Takamine DSP Acoustic Steelstring Guitar Onboard Preamp US $225.00 |
 Acoustic Guitar Preamp EQ Piezo Pickup Tuner Phase A06 US $26.99 |
 Acoustic Guitar Preamp 5 Band EQ Pickup Balance Output US $42.99 |
 Fishman ISYS EQ Preamp System for Acoustic Guitar ISY 101 US $31.99 |
 AMT Electronics Tube Series SS 20 Guitar Preamp NEW US $349.95 |
 AMT Electronics Tube Series SS 11B Guitar Preamp NEW US $399.00 |
 PRE AMP EQUALIZER KIT AND PICKUP FOR GUITAR EQ8030 US $28.00 |
 LR Baggs Gigpro Acoustic Guitar Preamp US $78.29 |
 Lawrence A 300 Acoustic Guitar Pickup Includes SignalFlex Preamp US $35.00 |
 Roland GP 100 Guitar Preamp Processor US $100.00 |
 Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend Guitar Undersaddle Pickup w Preamp and Mic 125 US $239.95 |
 LUNA Fauna Phoenix acoustic electric guitar NEW w CASE Black BBand preamp US $399.00 |
 Seymour Duncan Blackouts Modular Electric Guitar Preamp Standard Shaft US $54.95 |
 Ovation CK047 Koa Guitar w iDea Preamp OP20 Preamp Hard Case Near Mint US $575.00 |
 Schatten UST 1A Active Under saddle Coaxial Steel Nylon Guitar Pickup w Preamp US $111.96 |
 4 Band EQ Pre Amp plus Pickup for Acoustic Guitar 7545R US $6.99 |
 JFET Pre amp for Guitar Piano etc Field effect transistor valve emulation US $18.96 |
 Yamaha PG 1 Guitar Instrument Preamplifier w Footswitch Parametric EQ NR US $150.00 |
 Jackson Guitar Preamp JE 1000 Gain Booster wired board US $50.00 |
 Tech 21 Sansamp PSA1 Preamp Guitar Bass Overdrive Rack Processor US $435.00 |
 XOTIC BB PLUS Preamp Overdrive Guitar Pedal US $165.00 |
 New Acoustic Guitar Preamp EQ Pickup Fishman Presys US $49.99 |
 Acoustic Guitar 5 Bands Preamp EQ Pickup Tuner JE 307 US $30.99 |
 USB GUITAR 2 PC INTERFACE CABLE LINK AUDIO ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC PRE AMP AMPLIFIER US $21.99 |
 BOSS VF 1 Guitar preamp Effects processor US $179.00 |
