Tone Compensation

• An effects chain is the term for a sequence of effects pedals. Each pedal adds something to the sound, but when using a lot of pedals guitarists experience a phenomenon called "tone suck," where the sheer number of signal processors in use colors the natural tone of the guitar. By placing an equalizer at the end of the signal chain, you can tweak the tonal configuration of all effect pedals before the signal reaches the amplifier.
  
  

Effects Modification

• The equalizer pedal can only influence signals that pass through its circuitry. Any subsequent processing occurs outside of the equalizer's influence. This means you can use the equalizer to draw out specific frequencies before processing that frequency with another pedal. For example, an equalizer pedal set to boost all high frequencies, placed before a distortion will result in all high frequencies being distorted, while lower frequencies pass through the signal chain relatively unaffected.
  
  

Feedback Reduction

• One valuable, practical application for the equalizer is to cut the frequencies that are responsible for feedback. If you're setting up for a show on a very small stage and realize that your proximity to your amp is causing feedback, you can plug in your equalizer to "duck" the frequency that is feeding back. Once plugged in, move each frequency gain dial to zero. When you adjust the frequency band with the problem frequency, it will disappear. Gradually increase the frequency to restore part of the original tone. Stop increasing it when the feedback returns. Continue tweaking in this manner to find the exact setting at which the feedback disappears and returns.
  
  

Effects Loop

• An effects loop is a pair of jacks, connected to a circuit on a tube amplifier. When engaged, the circuit lets you put effects between the power stage of the amp and the speaker, effectively bypassing the preamp stage. This enables you to modify the amplified signal, instead of amplifying the modified signal, preserving more of your guitar's natural tone. So if you wanted to tweak your amplifier's tone, rather than tweaking the tone of the guitar before amplifying it, using the equalizer pedal in an effects loop instead of in a signal chain is the best way of doing so.
  
  

Direct Recording

• When recording direct to a computer or hardware recorder, your guitar can sound quite flat due to the lack of preamp tone. By connecting to the recording device via an equalizer, you can tweak the tone of the guitar before it reaches the computer.