I got 5 dials for EQ with settings of +12 and -12 on the amp.

1. 50hz
2. 200hz
3. 800hz
4. 3.2hz
5. 12hz

And the filter dial

50hz to 200hz

What am I looking at?

 

The filter dial lets you set your cutoff frequency (low pass or hi pass). there should be something to let you select low pass, hi pass, and bypass (filter defeat). The -12 to +12 stand for dB (decibels), which sets your gain at various frequencies. Basically, the higher you set it for that particular frequency, the louder that notes at that frequency will be. If you set your gain to +12dB at 50Hz and -12dB at 12KHz, then you'll hear tons of bass and almost no treble. Adjust them to how you like to hear your music. Some people like a lot of bass, some like treble, some like vocals, all of which occur at different frequencies. HTH.

 

So it is fair to say 50Hz is "base" and 12KHz is "treble?" Then what would be in between? Am I looking at this all wrong.

Or

How it works is that any sound that falls within that range can be increase or decrease. And it affects all sounds that are in that range. But generally, base, treble, and vocals for example generally fall within a certain range. So in effect, the dials seems like it's controling certain sound functions.

Am I getting close to understading this?

 

Well, bass and treble are words we use to represent the different frequencies we hear. The human ear can only hear from 20Hz to 20kHz...tho most people can't hear the extremes that well anyways. Low frequencies are considered bass (like 90Hz and below or something like that) and higher frequencies are treble. The mid frequencies are usually just called midrange or something. Most vocals fall in the midrange frequencies. The frequency you see on the amp is probably the center frequency at which the gain will occur. Frequencies around it, up to a point, will also experience some gain, but the full gain you set (+3dB, +6dB, +12dB, whatever you set it at) will be at the center frequency. So, if you set a gain of +8dB at 800Hz, the signal will be amplified by +8dB at the 800Hz frequency. Frequencies surrounding 800Hz like 750Hz and 850Hz will also experience some gain, but may not have the full +8dB. Play around with it while a favorite song is on and see how you like things sounding. The simplest way to think of it is that lower frequencies are Bass, higher frequencies are Treble, and the mid ones are usually vocals and other instruments (snare drums, whatever). Happy tuning!