John Scofield's Pedalboard - Explain that EQ setting

[artdecade]

I don't own an EQ, but I get the gist of what they do. I am trying to figure out what Sco is going for with that setting. To me, its looks like he is going for a faux-treble boost. Can someone lend me a hand? Thanks!

image removed

 

[lefty73]

My educated guess is he's eliminating as much EQ as possible from his humbucker-equipped guitars that would compete with bass or keyboards, while at the same time boosting the upper mids to keep his instrument "up" fairly high in the mix.

I'll wager he doesn't sound thin at all because the amp he's playing through will naturally create bass because of volume, or at least the perceived impression there's bass - the GE-7 helps reduce the "mud" that the amp might translate into overly boomy or flatulent low end and low mids.

 

[artdecade]

I could have sworn that he played through a Mesa Mark I (or something). I figured that he would have did the majority of the EQ work from there and this setting was more of an "effect", but what you are saying does make a lot of sense.

 

[tjalla]

He also plays through AC30s, the cut knob could play a part here too.

 

[Dr. Pants]

I could have sworn that he played through a Mesa Mark I

Most recent interview he mentioned Vox AC's
and Two Rock.

 

[jazztele]

I'm guessing it's a boost for solos...less about volume, and more about stepping out and occupying some new tonal space.

If that's correct, there's a lesson here for a lot of guitar players.

 

[artdecade]

^ I was thinking that it was something like this too. Mainly because he keeps it in loop to be activated as needed. If it was an on-all-the-time kinda pedal, I dunno that he would have looped it.

 

[dalandan]

I'm 100% sure he uses that as a sort of filter to add treble. He uses it for funk playing. I've heard him do it live and he says so here:

go to 6:04

 

[artdecade]

I will check that tonight! Thanks a lot, mate!

 

[nic'o'caster]

Pretty extreme setting for an EQ ! Difficult to not cut through a band with that
Thank for the link dalandan.

 

[teleNtweed]

Pretty extreme setting for an EQ ! Difficult to not cut through a band with that
Thank for the link dalandan.

No kidding! I can't move the sliders on my GE7 more than an 1/8th of an inch they are so dang sensitive. That setting would put me off playing guitar for good! Actually I always wondered why they did not have a finer adjustment but apparently, people use the whole range.

 

[robt57]

Really, maybe the pic was taken when he was using a bass cab or something....

 

[artdecade]

I listened to that clip last night and it really makes those 'buckers cut through. I am pretty sure if you tried that setting with a telecaster that you could kill the first few rows of audience.

 

[superlightweigh]

I just think its cool that he has a digital clock on there! What a great idea. I'm getting one today

 

[dalandan]

Glad you like it, brotha.

Scofield blew my mind when I saw a free concert he had here in Manila. Even went to the clinic he had earlier then got front row seats for the concert. Had to do all the research I could about him.

 

[Piotr]

I just think its cool that he has a digital clock on there! What a great idea. I'm getting one today

Gotta consider where in the signal chain it should be, though

 

[lefty73]

Gotta consider where in the signal chain it should be, though

Damn! You beat me to it, Piotr.

Myself, I prefer a nice analog clock as opposed to one of these fancy new digital models. The quality of the seconds that pass is so much better.

 

[artdecade]

^ Its considered a time based effect, so I would put it at the end of the chain but before reverb.