Peavey 5150 intermittent problem.

[Enzo]

What Chuck said.

"Cutting through" is not usually so much about being loud as it is having a tone profile that works for the mix. If three things all try to occupy the same portion of the sound spectrum, none will stand out. Like watching a parade, if you all stand right behind one another, only the first guy sees. If you each lean a little to one side or the other, then everyone sees.

And mids are the body of the sound.

[Chuck H]

I was a Vnotch wanker for a long time. Then one day when I was auditioning for a band the DRUMMER walked up and said "Do you mind if I change your amp settings... Just the EQ." Being as I was in someone elses crib I reluctantly said "sure". He turned down the bass and treble three digits each and bumped the mids five digits. At first I didn't like it. But as the session went on I started to come around. I still Vnotch for effect when wanking at home or when I want that lone giant icon guitar sound on a recording. But I'm definitely a mid convert. What cemented it for me was reading about how the pros set up their amps. Almost all the greats go heavy on the mids.

EDIT: More to the point that Enzo was making... If the bass player is using up all the 100hz to 200hz range and the vocalist is slipping in at 600hz then you need to try to get in at 400hz for the fat end of your tone. Likewise with the top end. If the bass players is bumping at 2khz and the vocalist is at 4khz then you want to get in at 3khz. So, in this scenario you want to bump at 400hz and 3khz (or as near as possible). The very lean version is to give each band member a mid frequency to occupy. Like bass to 300hz, vocals at 800hz and guitar bumped at 1khz. Just try getting everyone in their own frequency space. Your band and audience will thank you. There are a lot of young bands in my area. I see them because I have a young daughter. They're all going for that metal sound and all the guitar and bass tones turn to mush on stage. The kick drum, bass and guitar Vnotch low B tuning thing all occupying the same 70hz to 200hz range. Then the snare, high hat and guitar top end are all occupying the 4khz range at the same time too. Add the cookie monster vocals and it's almost unbearable. Kids these days.