Acoustic Guitar EQ Frequencies: Body, Boominess & Pick Sheen (80 Hz – 12 kHz)
Recording an acoustic guitar with a condenser microphone often captures excessive soundhole resonance around 110–140 Hz that clashes with bass guitar and vocals. Proper surgical EQ sculpts a transparent, shimmering acoustic bed without losing natural wood warmth.
Direct Acoustic Data & Engineering Fact
Acoustic guitar EQ starts with a 12 dB/oct high-pass filter at 75–85 Hz (below Low E2 at 82.41 Hz) to clear rumble. Cut soundhole boominess at 110–135 Hz and boxy resonance at 380–450 Hz, then apply a gentle +2 dB high-shelf above 10 kHz for studio pick sheen.
Surgical EQ Recommendations Table
| Band / Filter | Frequency | Q Factor | Gain | Acoustic Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass Filter | 80 Hz | 18 dB/oct | 0 dB | Remove stage rumble below the Low E2 string (82.41 Hz). |
| Soundhole De-Boom | 120 Hz | 2.8 | -3.5 dB | Tame resonant acoustic body boominess. |
| Boxiness Scoop | 420 Hz | 2.0 | -2.5 dB | Eliminate hollow wooden boxiness. |
| Pick & String Air | 10.5 kHz | 0.7 | +2.5 dB | Highlight bronze string sparkle and transient detail. |
Mix Engineer Practical Strategy
In dense full-band mixes, high-pass the acoustic guitar up to 100–120 Hz so it acts as a rhythmic mid-high percussion element. In solo singer-songwriter arrangements, keep the 82 Hz fundamental intact and use a dynamic EQ band at 120 Hz to compress boominess only during palm-muted or heavy strumming.
Frequency Masking & Arrangement Clashes
Acoustic guitar strumming between 250 Hz and 600 Hz directly overlaps with lead vocal fundamentals. Carve a 2 dB pocket at 400 Hz on the stereo guitar bus to let center vocals breathe.
Suggested VST DSP Plugins for this Task
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I high-pass an acoustic guitar?
Set your high-pass filter around 75–80 Hz for solo acoustic guitar (preserving Low E2 at 82.4 Hz) or 100–130 Hz in a dense pop/rock mix with bass and kick.
How do I stop acoustic guitar from sounding boxy?
Sweep a medium-Q bell filter between 350 Hz and 500 Hz and cut by 2.5 to 4 dB where the hollow 'cardboard' resonance peaks.
More Acoustic Frequency Guides
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