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I'll take mine sauteed in garlic butter please

I've been looking for an amp for late night practice for awhile now. I was looking into low watt tube amps, old Marshall SolidStates (Lead12), current Marshall MG/AVTs,etc. I've not been a fan of modelers that I've tried.

I'd also been looking for something to record/do some clips with. But didn't want to get into the whole mic/mixer/and god knows whatever else I need.

So on a whim I decided to get a Line6 PODXT Live as I knew I could run it through the front of the Riveras clean channel on the low gain input, use headphones if need be, and also record direct to my PC.

The first night I totally dismissed it as I have all other line 6 products I've owned or tried. It sounded sterile, thin, just horrid. I boxed it back up. 2 days later I decided to pull it out again, and this time I really started dialing it in, and trying to learn how it works.

I dialed in the quot;tone controlsquot; that are used to match it to whatever amp you are using (meaning they are filters used to get the best tone out of your regular amp using the XTL). This helped quite a bit in getting a less sterile sound. I found plugging into the front of the amp vs. in the loop to use just the power amp sounds best, which surprised me.

cntd

I basically have been working with 3 amp models. The JTM45, The JCM 800 and the variations of the Plexi (variac'ed, normal, and jumped), as these are the sounds/amps I know and have the most experience with. I've been using my Strat and my Firebird.

Another key is fooling around with cab models. Since I'm trying to replicate recorded tones vs getting a good quot;livequot; sound for a gig, I've been using the cab models quite a bit. For Marshalls it gives you basically 4 choices, 20w GBs, 25w GBs, 75 watt celestions, and V30s. The V30's sound awful, and don't match with what I hear w/ real v30s. The 75s are way too midrangey for vintage sounds, IMO. The GBs are where its at.

The JTM45 is a REALLY good simulation. When used with the 20wGBs, this can go from bluesbreaker to Deep Purple (My Woman from Tokyo sounds quite authentic on the Strat), up to dead ringer for early Angus Young w/ the Bird. Once I got her all tweaked up, I even named the pre-set JTM STING because it totally nails Angus' biting lead tones

The Plexi's all are disappointing to me. Not one of the models has the quot;ballsquot; of a real Plexi (at least any I've played). I fiddled and fiddled with cabs, and tweaks, and I still cannot get this to where it's on the same level of quot;goodquot; as the JTM. The Jumped version is probably the best. The other two are too midrangey, lack clarity, and again have no low end. With the 25W GB cab selected, the JTM actually does a more authentic Plexi tone that the Plexi models do

The 800 is another stellar model. First thing I'd suggest is don't go w/ the quot;normalquot; 75w cab, go with GBs, and I prefer the 20's. This model def sounds very close to a real 800. It can go from a slightly crunchy Thin Lizzy to mid crunchy April Wine/Rainbow era Blackmore, To the first 5 Maiden albums to very crunchy Jake E Lee Ozzy sounds and beyond with the amount of extra gain Line6 provides on tap.

The dynamics and such are not bad either, considering it's a $400 digital amp. The models clean up better than the Vox for sure. And are not nearly as fuzzy or harsh as the Vox, and (except in the case of the L6 plexi models) have appropriate voicing (Vox is way off with their Marshall EQ)

The stomp box models are quite good too..especially the TS9, Rat, CE1, and various echos. The Leslie, ADA Flanger and MXR90 I've had a bit of difficulty getting tweaked for the sounds I quot;knowquot; from these (And I've been A/B ing the MXR model against my real MXR EVH with script button engaged)

There are some things I don't like. I *do* get some wierd digital quot;ghost tonesquot; which appear at random times, and not related to anything I can point out as obvious (certain volume levels, drive levels, etc). For serious recording or live use, this would bug me to to no end, but for what I need, I can deal.

It's also not terribly intuitive or easy to tweak outside of the actual quot;ampquot; controls.

Coming from a hardcore tube amp guy, I gotta admit Line6 got something right for the most part with the XTL. I basically only have used the Marshall models and the stomps, but for me personally being able to get a pretty darn authentic cranked Marshall Stack sound at low volumes is worth the price!

Bottom Line is, if ya wanna try one, spend some quality time tweaking it. Foolin around for 20 min at your local store with it is prolly not going to be very satisfying.

I'll try and get some clips up soon (thats a whole 'nother ball of wax).


Originally Posted by JeffBBottom Line is, if ya wanna try one, spend some quality time tweaking it. Foolin around for 20 min at your local store with it is prolly not going to be very satisfying.

This is basically what I've been telling people about Line 6 stuff for three years and counting...

We grew up in a time when there was great tube amps and terrible SS amps. It took me awhile to accept modeling amps, and it was only because I didn't focus on what I heard at the store when trying them. Factory presets always suck, and 1/2 an hour isn't enough time to get to know a modeling amp.

I've become pretty dependent on my Valvetronix AD60 head on Bogner 2-12. I wanted a Tonelab or POD XT at first, but then realized I also wanted to use it as my practice amp, so I opted for the head. If I use the line out for recording, I simply add a bit of board EQ, to get my recorded tone to sound like the Bogner cab on the other side of the room.

Sometimes, I'm ashamed of myself for not micing my tube amps for demos, but I have volume restrictions where I live, and my tube amps are usually at a rehearsal space.

I'm with Gearjoneser on this and had been the same way. I still don't totally accept modeling amps but I did get a chance to mess with a POD xt and was pretty surprised with it. I don't own one but I think it would be cool for practice/headphone use. I don't see myself using it with my high volume rig.

But in the end, if you could only have one or the other, would you take the POD or the real thing?

I admit I am a tube lover but I don't discount the possibility -- even probability -- that they may someday come out with a digital/modeling amp that really and truly does duplicate not only the sound the but feel and dynamics of a great tube amp.

But for now...it's the real thing.


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunBut in the end, if you could only have one or the other, would you take the POD or the real thing?

I admit I am a tube lover but I don't discount the possibility -- even probability -- that they may someday come out with a digital/modeling amp that really and truly does duplicate not only the sound the but feel and dynamics of a great tube amp.

But for now...it's the real thing.

The real thing. No question. I don't care if it'll carry my gear for me. Gotta have the real thing.

I want one to just try, I dont know how they'd be for getting an extremely high-gain marshall tone tho.


Originally Posted by MephisI want one to just try, I dont know how they'd be for getting an extremely high-gain marshall tone tho.

Excellent!

I LOVE my guitarport.

I was a tube snob for a while, but now, I run a GT-8 as my preamp (with a Mesa power section) and I can honestly say that this rig trumps any of my previous ones for versatility, volume, and, yes ladies amp; gentlemen, tone.

The future is upon us.

For live use what some guys are doing is getting the Atomic amp.
This amp is designed to be used with a pod, v-amp, valvetronics
and any other modeling station.
The Atomic is tube.
So, this helps get those dynamics and responses back that some feel is missing with
a stand alone modeling unit.

Personally, I'm quite happy with my Flex III XL as it is.
But, I don't go in there trying to replicate other amps.
I just look for sounds I like and tweak them to my preference.
I use the Jubilee, Line 6 clean, and XTC for my main rhythm, clean, and lead tones.
I've used the Flex a couple times for live shows now.
It's held it own very well.
I had no problem getting a good stage volume.
Cut through just fine.
One sound guy even complimented me on my tones.

Kent

Hey JeffB, I felt the same way about the Plexi when I had my XT Live,until I came across some patches put together by AZ (Institute of Noise). He has one in particular named SexyPlexi that really sounds great. You can get patches at the Line 6 forum or www.instituteofnoise.com

I still feel Line 6 fx units sound their best thru a Keyboard amp.... Oneday i want to buy a Keyboard amp just to use various digital modelers thru... When you have an FULL RANGE amp and speaker that are in keyboard amps then the Line 6 and like products work great.. Most keyboards are soundbanks and the amps used with keyboards are meant to process a clean and loud signal so the true sound of the soundbank can be reproduced.... LINE 6 stuff is like keyboard soundbanks.... Try a Keyboard amp with a POD and watch the huge difference it makes over playing thru a guitar amp...

WhoFan

JeffB,

One thing I did notice (at least with the flex) is that the marshall models are very bass heavy.
So a little bass goes a long way.

Just take your time, use your ears not your eyes to tweak your tones.

Side note:
I find a lot of guys will V the eq to the max (Bass 10, Mid 3, Treble 10), then complain L6 gear sounds like crap.

As I believe you mentioned Jeff, one needs to read the Pilot book and learn how the L6 controls mimic the actual amp it's modeling.
Some of the amp explanations will describe the actual amp they used for the modeling.
Giving you a little insight to that certain head or combo that was used.

Kent

I used the Roland GP-100 for years and recently, the Boss GT-Pro in my rack. For gigging and recording, I have no problem recommending them or the PODxt. For players like me that aren't satisfied with 1 or 2 basic sounds, all I need is a powered speaker and my modeling device.
I am not really after creating classic sounds, though. And, I really love tweaking.


Originally Posted by MincerI used the Roland GP-100 for years and recently, the Boss GT-Pro in my rack. For gigging and recording, I have no problem recommending them or the PODxt. For players like me that aren't satisfied with 1 or 2 basic sounds, all I need is a powered speaker and my modeling device.
I am not really after creating classic sounds, though. And, I really love tweaking.

I just bought a GP-100 in working order with a broken FC 100 footboard for $20 Canadian at a Garage sale...... It;s pretty good sounding but that second delay when changing patches is not so good by modern standards....

WhoFan

Really? I dont have that delay with switching from the Behringer midi pedal I use...

I spent some time with a couple more models...more gainy stuff (I *am* and old school metalhead after all )

The Boogie MKIIc model is just not that great...I really cannot dial this thing in to the tones I know of that amp.

The Soldano model actually does a better MKII/MKIII than the Mesa model I dialed in John Sykes and early Brad Gillis/Geoff Watson tones without much issue.

The HiWatt model sounds friggin phenomenal with my Les Paul, but the firebird with it's middier 498 bridge pup didn't fare so well.

The Rectifier is pretty good. Not as buzzy/fizzy as the VOX version, and similar to the way I actually have dialed the real thing in at the shop.

No way, in it's current incarnation this XTL could replace tubes for tone in the general sense. I A/B it alot against my Rivera, and the clarity, warmth, dynamics are just not there in the Line 6. However, that doesn't mean the XTL is bad. It's MUCH better than my Valvetronix, and a very nice sounding unit. For my purposes (hobbyist, occasional jams with friends), it's quite good, and I've even thought about selling the Rivera. Not because the Rivera sounds worse, but just that the L6 is more practical for my needs. I'm trying to shrink my collection of gear as it is both for practicalities sake as well as well a sfinancially so...we'll see

regardless...cool product. Spyder's are still horrid though

Welcome to the dark side!

I picked up my gp100 about 10 years ago and have never looked back-
When recording there is no way that I could afford the diversity of sounds and for live I replaced a 50w 1/2 stack and a Labseries L5 with one unit that 1/10 as much and gave me 50* the flexibility-

While I'm on the GP100, Whofan are you sure you have the final PROM? Do a GEEP search as there are some good sites out there that make sure you are up to date and I never have any delay at all-

Last word on modeling, about 2 weeks ago it was raining and I was heading to a little jam session with no intentions of taking my full rig- Usually I would grab the princton, but I also have a little pathfinder that feeds the PA already over there and I didn't want anythign gettign wet- So I thoguth, WTF, I'll just grab my yamaha magic stmop that I've really only used for accoustic effects-

Luckily, I had tweaked some gtr models through my home recording set up, and the second I put that little box in front of that little patchfinder, it sounded like a very nice twin had jumped pntp stage- Up one stomp up was a nicely overdriven marshal with light chorus and one down was a somewhat overdriven A class sound with a bit of verb-

And that was the start of an awesome night of sounds I had always wanted but never had before- Just 3 patches and the variety of settings on my much modded nitefly gave me everything I could have possibly wanted that night- At 32 bits, the magic stomp's much brighter than the old geep, so I had to roll off some trebble, and of course it has none of the Geeps midi control, but it didn't mater. I was gettign sounds out of my fingers that I'd never had before and it was just one of those, I can't beleive how good this is moments-

And I paid $125 for that puppy.. new

All you out there under about 30, have no idea how much harder it was in the old days


Originally Posted by MincerReally? I dont have that delay with switching from the Behringer midi pedal I use...

Ya i heard that was a good Midi pedal..... My GP100 has a little blip when switching from bank to bank... it is not huge and is hardly noticeable but it is there.... I may send this unit in to have a tech look at it anyway as i notice if i pump the EQ's bass up it distorts a bit... But for $20 it works extremely well... the guy i bought it from said it was new in 1989 so it is getting up there. And it has been used a fair bit!

What is the best amp type to run a GP 100 thru.... Power amp? Front end of a guitar amp?

WhoFan