Feedback

[moderato assai]

Hi I'm new to the forum. I am thinking about one day getting an ES 175/L 4 something of that nature, and I have never played a hollow bodied guitar in a live setting. I always hear people say that feedback is such an issue, the ES 175 is more useable than the L 4 live because of it's feedback resistance , and people stuffing foam and balloons in their guitars etc. Are these concerns about feedback legitimately for real or is it just whining? I mean seriously- give it to me straight. It seems like people go to some drastic measures to eliminate feedback problems. Is it that much of a problem? I play in a big band setting with a solid body and a Fender Deluxe on 3, which is plenty loud enough to be heard over drums, bass and full brass. I have a hard time believing an L 4 would squeal like a stuck pig under these circumstances -but correct me if I'm wrong if you've tried it. Like I say, I don't have experience playing hollow bodies, or with feedback problems. I can see where feedback would be an issue if you are doing the pee pee dance in front of a triple rectifier Marshall hi gain 100 watt stack at Madison square gardens, but is this a real concern in the real world where a 5 watt amp is as loud as a trumpet? What about people like Chuck Berry, Ted Nugent, and Steve Howe who play in front of mega watt amps with hollow bodies and never seem to have a problem?

[kenbennett]

Feedback is an EQ problem. Any guitar can be made to not feed back using only the graphic equalizer.

[moderato assai]

Thanks for the reply. I'm assuming it just depends on the guitar which frequencies are going to be the resonant one(s).

[kenbennett]

Originally Posted by moderato assai

Thanks for the reply. I'm assuming it just depends on the guitar which frequencies are going to be the resonant one(s).

That's true. As you turn the volume up you'll find one note that feeds back easily. As you turn it up further you'll find higher notes, usually an octave or a fifth above the octave that also feeds back.

You can remove the feedback by cutting at that low frequency. Once that note is fixed, turn the volume up even more. If you find a different note feeding back, cut it on the eq. Do that until you are as loud as you want to be with nothing feeding back.

Since there are usually only one or two notes feeding back, you can use a parametric eq with only 2 or three bands.

For graphic equalizers, the more bands the better. With a 31 band graphic you can specifically pinpoint the offending notes without effecting the tone enough to matter.

It helps to know roughly what the frequencies are. On a flattop acoustic it's common to get the feedback at around C below middle C (A-string, 3rd fret).

Middle C is approximately 250Hz, so the octave below that is 125.

A 440 is the 5th fret on the high E string. So A on fret 2 of the G string is 220. The open A string is 110.

Fix the lowest note first, then crank it a little and find the next highest one, and so on.

[AlsoRan]

Originally Posted by kenbennett

That's true. As you turn the volume up you'll find one note that feeds back easily. As you turn it up further you'll find higher notes, usually an octave or a fifth above the octave that also feeds back.

You can remove the feedback by cutting at that low frequency. Once that note is fixed, turn the volume up even more. If you find a different note feeding back, cut it on the eq. Do that until you are as loud as you want to be with nothing feeding back.

Since there are usually only one or two notes feeding back, you can use a parametric eq with only 2 or three bands.

For graphic equalizers, the more bands the better. With a 31 band graphic you can specifically pinpoint the offending notes without effecting the tone enough to matter.

It helps to know roughly what the frequencies are. On a flattop acoustic it's common to get the feedback at around C below middle C (A-string, 3rd fret).

Middle C is approximately 250Hz, so the octave below that is 125.

A 440 is the 5th fret on the high E string. So A on fret 2 of the G string is 220. The open A string is 110.

Fix the lowest note first, then crank it a little and find the next highest one, and so on.

Awesome. Where else can you get technical analysis like this!

Now I have an excuse to buy that MXR 10-band equalizer I have been wanting!

[AlsoRan]

I received the equalizer pedal yesterday.

Kenbennet was correct. I was able to dial out frequencies and minimize feedback issues with my archtop.

As a bonus, I was also able to dial out some speaker rumble that I had at the lower frequencies. Of course, dialing down a particular frequency changes the sound a little bit, but I can't say I really noticed the change other than the rumble being gone.

It's funny how some of my guitar buddies agonize over their tone, when in the end, it more their problem than it is a problem with the listening audience - especially a drinking listening audience - they can't tell the difference.

[kenbennett]

Excellent! I was hoping it would work, because I do it every week.

The agony over tone baffles me too. I think some players compare their sound to some imaginary standard, perhaps a specific idol, or a conglomeration of all great guitarists. Better to deal with the equipment at hand, the situation at hand, make the best of it, and develop what will eventually become your own great tone. You'll never sound exactly like anybody else anyway.

[blackwingchai]

Originally Posted by kenbennett

Excellent! I was hoping it would work, because I do it every week.

The agony over tone baffles me too. I think some players compare their sound to some imaginary standard, perhaps a specific idol, or a conglomeration of all great guitarists. Better to deal with the equipment at hand, the situation at hand, make the best of it, and develop what will eventually become your own great tone. You'll never sound exactly like anybody else anyway.

EXACTLY.. nice tip.

[ybjazz]

LR Baggs DI/Preamp. Perhaps the best I've ever used, I have a 17" jazz box that never feedsback with that thing.

[kenbennett]

Originally Posted by ybjazz

LR Baggs DI/Preamp. Perhaps the best I've ever used, I have a 17" jazz box that never feedsback with that thing.

Is that the on with the tunable notch filter?

• EQ - Notch: ± 6dB @ 98Hz-247Hz

That's the perfect range. I want one. I play in a duo, two flattop acoustics (and vocals). We plug our guitars directly into the PA. The EQ for feedback is usually required on the monitor more so than the mains (depending on the room and how we set up).

I like the way the Baggs does the EQ in a side chain. Very flexible.

[jorgemg1984]

I have a BBE Acoustimax and really like it.