Grateful Dead Music Forum

Does anyone have any information as to where in his signal chain Mr. Weir used a parametric EQ (late '70's/early '80's)? Was it patched in one of the IVP effects loops or after IVP? Any insight is appreciated!

Bobby mainly used the parametic EQ on the IVP, also had the EQ that was in Cowboy. He also used a Furman PQ3, which is a parametric EQ as well, however, I read he only used that when they were doing an Acoustic set in the same night, and ran the acoustic in it.

The information we have is sketchy, at best, and don't believe what you see online.

One thing is for sure: he changed things frequently, so, it's difficult to say he did 'x' or 'y'. It's more likely he did 'x' and 'y'!

I think you need to try all combinations and find what works best for you.

btw.... I have found that simpler is better. Testing the IVP with before and after effects loops and all sorts of effects can consume lots of time and yield only frustration.

mk

Did some work on this yesterday. I patched a 5-band parametric EQ into the 1st effects loop of the IVP. Since this loop is "pre-voice," the idea is to use this EQ to modify the tone of the guitar (as opposed to the amp) and it seems to work very well--I have plenty of headroom on the EQ and slight adjustments in EQ return very audible results. I ended up cutting some of the very high end shrill that is endemic to the Ibanez Artist (especially with the 3rd pickup installed) and boosted a bit of the "bell" frequencies just a hair. I feel like I "got there." In fact, I think I like it even better than Bobby's sound. I'm using a Wampler compressor on the floor and an Ashley SC-50 in the IVP's 2nd effects loop which give me that percussive attack and, post IVP, I switch between a bit of chorus & phaser (I figured out a way to emulate the pedal that Cutler built for Bob) and then some Lexicon reverb. Really sweet sound. Give it a try.

Sound samples please!

btw... are you trying to replicate a specific year?

mk

I'll try to post some tonight or tomorrow. Going for '77-'83.

Definitely looking forward to hearing this and trying to figure out if I can emulate it!

Sorry for the delay in posting some sound samples. Trying to solve a ground loop issue that emerged yesterday. I have a feeling it's the IVP (I think I read a post about someone else having this issue and solving it with a 3-2 converter). I'll try that and, once it's clean, I'll post some samples. I have to go out of town for a few days so I'll work on this early next week.

Yea, my IVP is the one that came up with an insane ground loop issue. It was fixed by using the 3-2 converter plug. Also, which output are you using? I finally printed out my manual, and had been using the main output...which come to find out, is more for speaker driving and such. I read that if you use the -10db output, that is designed for use with regular guitar and bass amps. I tried it, and it is quite a difference, and much quieter, though I still use the converter plug as well.

As for EQ, you hit the nail on the head. I had a reproduction ibanez eq board made, same as Bobby had in his Cowboy. I took that, along with the pots and everything to spec, and had Gary Brawer make me a custom pedal with it. MK made a pedal along the same lines as well. Anyway, I can control Mid, Bass and Treble as well as gain. I set it directly after my guitar, but before the IVP. Ive had some great results with it!

The EQ is important. You need to reduce lows & highs.

mk

OK, here's a brief clip of the sound I've got. Please forgive the crappy playing---I just did this down and dirty and there's a few glitches but you'll get the idea:

https://soundcloud.com/jdb30/lost-sailo ... pt/s-99w2p