When it comes to mixing electric guitars, EQ is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Recently, I watched an excellent video by Sara Carter on this very topic. While some of the principles—like cutting lows, taming highs, and boosting mids—are familiar territory, Sara’s approach offered a refreshingly quick and effective way to get guitars sitting perfectly in a mix.

Key EQ Techniques for Electric Guitar

Here’s a simple starting point for shaping your guitar tone using any channel strip:

• High-Pass Filter: Roll off frequencies below 100Hz to remove unnecessary low-end rumble.
• Cut at 250Hz: Scoop out some of the muddiness often found in this range.
• Boost at 1.4kHz or 2.8kHz: These frequencies help bring clarity and presence to the guitar.

These adjustments can help carve out space for the guitar between other instruments like bass, drums, and vocals.

Experimenting with Channel Strips

I tested this method with several plugins, including:

• UA SSL 4000 E
• BX SSL 4000 E
• BX 4000 G
• BX 9000 J
• BX Amek 9099
• BX Console N
• UA Neve 1073
• UA API Vision
• UA Helios 69

For the track I was working on, the UA SSL 4K, BX Amek 9099, and Helios stood out as favorites. Each brought its own character to the mix: the SSL added punch, the Amek offered smoothness, and the Helios delivered warmth.

Why This Works

These EQ moves are not rigid rules but excellent starting points. They allow you to quickly shape your guitar tone so it complements other elements in your mix. By cutting unnecessary lows and taming problematic mids, you create space for clarity. Boosting key midrange frequencies ensures the guitar cuts through without being harsh.