Eq-yes Or No?

I was curious to everyone's opinions on using EQ above and beyond your standard amp/guitar tone controls. Such as rack mounted or pedals.
Do you find it necessary to your own playing? Or do you see it as just a nice option but not important?

Just looking for opinions here.

Question About Distortion/overdrive Pedals

I have a Peavey Valveking 112 which I absolutely love. The tone is great, and I get plenty of gain from it when I need it.

But, I would like to add a bit more grunt to my sound on occasion, and so have been looking at various pedals.

Now, my problem is, distortion pedals. When I have my gain up on the amp, and I use a distortion pedal, it just gets insanely noisy and messy. Yet, I've read plenty of interviews/gear talks where guitarists say they use a Boss Metal Distortion(just as example) for that extra push when they need it.

So my question is how do I use a distortion pedal properly to get that extra bit or should I just use an overdrive?

Hi :)

Hi, you can call me Duck(long story). I live in Missouri, in the middle of the United States for those who don't know. I've been noodling with a guitar for about 15 years, never really getting serious about it until a few years ago. Then, had an accident at work and severed my thumb, so that put a halt to that.

Recently, regained enough use of my hand to pick up a guitar again and now, I want to make up for lost time.

My favorite guitarists are Zakk Wylde, Slash, Billy Gibbons, John Mayer, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley.

I love all styles of music and would love to be able to incorporate that into my playing.