Opinions wanted.

[Spudmurphy]

I've had a Pod XT since they first came out and I think that it's a fantastic piece of kit.
Why do I like it?
1) It's easy to use out of the box , start reading the manual and digging about on the Line 6 web site and you can start to see what it can really do.
2) Plug it into your computer and just let Line ^ analyse your kit and they recommend firmware upgrades etc etc.
3)I have only used my Pod thtough my valve Marshall. I don't think no amount of amp emulation will truly match an old tube amp. But let me tell ya- it has brought what was already a damn good Marshall amp into the modern day - I can get it to sound like so much better.
4)wanna lug a pedal board the size of a suitcase around with you? Fine ok that's your bag, but something as small as the Pod xt will do one hell of a lot for ya!
5)In my circumstances - someone who had not played for a long time, had my enthusiasm stirred by the sounds I got out of the Pod - it led me to get my Albert Lee which is why I'm here.

So a Podxt will provide you with a hell of a lot of options(even more so if you get the FB pedalboard). and in my case introduce you to EB guitars and this great forum.

 

[Pundix]

I have owned POD, POD XT, POD PRO, and I love the amount of sound you can get with them they are very versatile. Unfortunatelly I thougth they sounded sterile, for lack of a better word.

The Black Box I did not think sounded as good as the POD XT, but you know I was just so dang happy to be playing some of these new guitars that I did not really concentrate on the sound I was getting.

I am really into tube amps now and wanted something that I could use for direct recording without breaking the bank. The one processor I found that I like was the Vox Tone Lab. It has a bit more dynamics than the any of my PODs use to. It does not have as many models as the POD XT. but I really liked the way it sounded.

I hope this helps some.

100% Agreement. I really wanted something to do some direct pc recording a while back and went and tried out about everything I could find. I loved the idea that the PodXT had a direct usb out, but after listening to it for a couple of hours I hated the sound. I ended up buying a Vox Tonelab SE and an M-Audio fast-track to get the signal into the pc. The sound there is not bad at all, the models actually sound like an amp rather than the tinny imitations of some processors. The truth is though that I get a better direct sound by sticking an SM57 in front of my old Boogie MKIV and pumping that into the Fast-Track. It seems that no matter what you do or what you spend there is no substitute for simply plugging your guitar into an amp.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Glenn why not try the Boss GT-6 or GT-8? I could send you some audio clips if you like? I use one and it's great... You can kind of see it here

Your GT-6 sure has nice boots!

 

[Astrofreq]

Your GT-6 sure has nice boots!

I'll never afford one of those.

 

[beej]

The right tool for the right job, IMHO.

For practicing and recording, the Pod is excellent. In a small setting it's great too. I find for louder playing in a band context it's missing ... feel (and really depends on what amp model you're using).

 

[fsmith]

Fred,

I'm so glad you posted this!!!
I may not have my EBMM just yet but I do have an amp that I bought on a whim when I was shopping guitar brands. The amp sucks and don't plan to keep it. Though I was wondering if I should buy effects or Tonelab or something. I know I love the tube amps (since that's what I was trying out EBMMs with in the stores) but don't need a 100Watt amp for my little room. I don't see myself jamming that much. I'm also glad to hear your comments on the MESA. It sounds perfect!!!
What kinds of music are you playing through the Stiletto Ace? I've never tried one so am wondering how versatile the sounds are.

Foggie,
I play anything from country to heavy metal. It depends on the day and the mood. For me the Ace covers all the bases. It's only 50 watts, but it can scream with the big boys. I bought the head version along with a 2x12 Avatar cabinet. I did some looking around and that seemed like the best bang for the buck. IT sounds great with this amp.

I love the cleans on this thing. I've heard people say they're not as good as the Lone Star, which doesn't surprise me since that's what that amp is known for. But they sound really nice to my tin ears. Also the new Roadster supposedly has the same cleans as the LS. Frank can chip in on this, he just bought one a few months ago.

The real reason I went with the Ace is that it's EL34 based vs. 6L6. I've always had a soft spot for that old Marshally crunch and this one delivers the goods in that category. I'm pretty sure you can swap out the 6L6's in the Roadster and the Roadkings have both. I didn't want or need the complexity and overkill for my needs of the Roadking. It ended up being a choice of the Roadster or the Ace.

After playing both it came down to what I said in my first post. The Ace gave me "that" tone that I've heard in my head but was never able to quite duplicate with everything else I had bought and sold. It really was one of those fur raising moments. One big fat E chord and it was all over.

It's not for everyone because everyone has a different idea of what "that" tone is. That's why I recommended that Glenn play a bunch until it happened to him. At that point you buy the amp.

I'm not really against all of the newer technology, it all has it's place, but there's something intangible about a nice tube amp.

And I really can play this one at bedroom levels and have the tone that I want. I did buy a THD Hotplate, but I could probably get away without it.

Good luck in your search. For me I found it and it makes me smile everytime I power it up.

fred

 

[fogman]

Fred,

Thanks for typing all that out. It's very helpful!
I've never played on a Mesa as of yet. I'm probably afraid to like it too much and have my wallet take a huge hit!!!
One of the dealers carries them and I will be sure to do a test. Especially after the Dargie gets here.

Thanks again!

 

[fsmith]

Foggie,
No problem bud. I figure I needed to explain a little bit since I've gone through so much gear in a short amount of time.

Play 'em all until you find the one for you. I just couldn't find what I was looking for in anything that emulated a tube amp.

later!

 

[Colin]

Thanx Colin, looks a lot like the Floor POD XT. Does it have a headphone jack?

By the way who's the blonde?

Glenn |B)

Headphone jack? it sure does. the gt-8 is very good too. That blonde is Fiona my wife.

 

[GWDavis28]

Beej, thanx for the offer I'll let you know man. See the thing is I'm just really learning to play, I play when my kids are asleep and I pretty much just practice for me, so I'm not really worried about a band setting, it's gonna be a very, very long time before I'm at that point.

I know that if you get a POD that later on I can get an Atomic Amp for the playing out purposes, but that's no where in the near future.

Glenn |B)

 

[GWDavis28]

Headphone jack? it sure does. the gt-8 is very good too. That blonde is Fiona my wife.

Colin, thanx and congrat, very pretty lady.

Glenn |B)

 

[Spudmurphy]

Beej, thanx for the offer I'll let you know man. See the thing is I'm just really learning to play, I play when my kids are asleep and I pretty much just practice for me, so I'm not really worried about a band setting, it's gonna be a very, very long time before I'm at that point.

I know that if you get a POD that later on I can get an Atomic Amp for the playing out purposes, but that's no where in the near future.

Glenn |B)

Glenn - see if you can try the "kidney" shaped pod xt through the return loop of your amp. The Pod Live doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the XT.
If it floats your boat get a second hand one - you can get some great prices on second hand xt's.
Take it for what it is and you won't be disapointed.

 

[GWDavis28]

Fred, thanx for both of the write ups, they are very much appreciated. I'm kind of short on $, so a big buck amp for me is way out of the question. Like I said I like the Little Lanilei, but I just wish it was cleaner I guess. Tris suggested that I change the tubes to 12au7's, I've been looking on EvilBay, but tubes seem like the kind of thing that people get taken on a lot and I really can't drop any big cash.

I found a website that covers tubes and the sound you'll get out of them, I've been looking for a set of Mullard 12au7's.

Guitar Tubes

I'm sure that someday when I have some $ to throw around I'll go on that great search for my sound. Then when I find it whether it be digital or tube, i'll make the plunge, but for now I just need something small that is cheap and I'm going to be happy with until that time.

Also, as far as the POD XT goes, I already have the FVB Shortboard, I kept that when I sold the Spider 2. I had a Flextone 3 and OC, told me not to sell it, but I thought that it was too much amp and it was kind of big, I had the Flextone 3 1X12. I liked the amp very much, if it had been smaller, I probably would still have it, but I got it for a deal and made $ on it when I sold it so, I can't complain. OC man you were 100% right, I regret selling, I wish you had lived closer so you could have given me a slap so I wouldn't have sold it.

Thanx, Glenn |B)

 

[Spudmurphy]

Also, as far as the POD XT goes, I already have the FVB Shortboard,

Thanx, Glenn |B)

That's it then - POD XT - it has to be !

 

[fogman]

Headphone jack? it sure does. the gt-8 is very good too. That blonde is Fiona my wife.

Colin are you sh-tting us???
No offense, I got the impression you were older!?

 

[GWDavis28]

Glenn - see if you can try the "kidney" shaped pod xt through the return loop of your amp. The Pod Live doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the XT.
If it floats your boat get a second hand one - you can get some great prices on second hand xt's.
Take it for what it is and you won't be disapointed.

Spud man that was the plan. I'm in no hurry to buy one, what I've got will hold me over since I just really starting to learn to play. I've been keeping my eyes out and if one shows up and the timing is right I'll probably leap on it.

Yah the Pod XT "Kidney" shaped one is what I was thinking about. I've been chatting with OC, and it's what he has and recommended to me.

I reason I asked about the M-Audio GuitarBox or BlackBox is that's what it looks like EBMM was using at there booth at NAMM this year. I bought my Pandora since that what the booths used when we were at the Open House and I thought they sounded pretty good for the $.

Thanx, Glenn |B)

 

[Dizzy]

That blonde is Fiona my wife.

You SURE Col ??!!??

 

[Spudmurphy]

Spud man that was the plan. I'm in no hurry to buy one, what I've got will hold me over since I just really starting to learn to play. I've been keeping my eyes out and if one shows up and the timing is right I'll probably leap on it.

Yah the Pod XT "Kidney" shaped one is what I was thinking about. I've been chatting with OC, and it's what he has and recommended to me.

I reason I asked about the M-Audio GuitarBox or BlackBox is that's what it looks like EBMM was using at there booth at NAMM this year. I bought my Pandora since that what the booths used when we were at the Open House and I thought they sounded pretty good for the $.

Thanx, Glenn |B)

Hey Glen man - I'll tell ya what though - if you want an inexpensive pedal to either boost the volume for solos or give you some more gain the Boss BD2 blues pedal is awesome! - I hope I'm not gonna start a "nah get a rat/expandora/tube screamer" debate but all I can say about the boss is WOW!

 

[robelinda2]

boss super overdrive is great too, i think its more smooth than the Blues driver.

 

[Colin]

You SURE Col ??!!??

Ok, the girl on the left is the stage manager of the Surfers Paradise mall on the Gold Coast, the guy in the middle is the sound guy (I don't know why because it's my PA system?) and the girl on the right is definitely my wife.I'm taking the photo. Foggy I'm 36 going on 16 and no it wasn't rat that night. I think the special of the day was hepatitis...