eastman 371 VS godin kingpin (I) - review

**D.G.** · 01-01-2014, 05:17 PM

The more EQ in recording you add the more noise you introduce into the signal chain. The fewer items you have between the origin of the signal and its final destination -- the fewer gain stages you introduce -- the lower the noise floor. If you increase the high end via an EQ stage, you also ramp up the noise floor, i.e. hiss. However, if you start with a fairly bright sound and then decrease the high end with EQ you also lower the noise floor.

Start with the best, most pristine sound you can get from the original source (in this case, the guitar/amp system), then use the best, most pristine mic (that has the desired sound) you have, with the cleanest, quietest preamp you can get, then use mic positioning to shape the sound as much as is possible. Only after you have exhausted these options should the EQ on the board (or the outboard unit or plugin) be touched.

Now, if you want a heavily effected sound, then by all means, go nuts. A telephone filter is one of my favorite fx to use in a mix

But if you're using EQ to "fix" the mix, you've probably recorded it wrong to begin with. It's not a cardinal sin, but it should be avoided if possible.

**jorgemg1984** · 01-01-2014, 05:27 PM

Hmm I am not the most experienced guy on studio but I use active eq all the time to boost mids on my Mambo, Shape EQ, BYOC parametric eq... I also boost the bass on the Mambo sometimes. No noise at all... Boosting the treble can be a little more problematic. Some eqs are not very good and induce hiss but these ones are all set with OPA2134 and work very well with no noise. Boosting mids can be a really life safer in terms of band mix...

**Groooooove** · 01-03-2014, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Hmm I am not the most experienced guy on studio but I use active eq all the time to boost mids on my Mambo, Shape EQ, BYOC parametric eq... I also boost the bass on the Mambo sometimes. No noise at all... Boosting the treble can be a little more problematic. Some eqs are not very good and induce hiss but these ones are all set with OPA2134 and work very well with no noise. Boosting mids can be a really life safer in terms of band mix...

i had to take a recording technology class for my music education degree. the most valuable piece of information i learned in that class was about how to EQ- which was something i'd heard/understood before but never really did. always use EQ to subtract rather than add. take away what there's too much of, don't boost what there's not enough of. it results in a much more organic sound.

weather that handy tip works or not for you is irrelevant for this thread- who cares about how we all record!

still playing and loving my kingpin, and thats what matters. i want to hear it with flats, but it works so well with rounds i fear i'llbe taking away versatility. perhaps it's versatility i dont need though, since i only want it to be a jazz guitar..

**Tom Karol** · 01-03-2014, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by D.G.

...But if you're using EQ to "fix" the mix, you've probably recorded it wrong to begin with.

Yes! Then again, recording and playing live are two different animals.

Oh, and I'm glad you love your Kingpin! I love my Montreal Premiere and my AR403ce (but I wouldn't mind trying out a 5th Avenue Composer)!