Line 6

[OrangeChannel]

Boogie = Overrated and Overstated...most of them to me are fizzboxes...sammething with marshall....as far as real tube amps go my tastes lie somewhere in the booteak...hahaha.

 

[brettlingle]

Orangechannel,
They maybe overrated but I have played many,many amps over the years and I just keep coming back to Mesa the old Mesa's I might add. They sound the best to me. I tried the Marshalls JCM 800,900 and the JMP1 had the Line 6, had Crate and had Carvin,the Johnson Millenium 150 combo, tried Soldano,Rivera you name it I tried it. You are right about most of the new Mesa's especially the Rectifiers the sound is real buzzy. None of these amps sound as good to me as the old Boogies the Mark series 1,2,3. But overall its all a matter of taste. Hey Koogie you are right that Splawn has got me intrigued the sound clips I heard were pretty good.
Brett Lingle

 

[OrangeChannel]

Just voicing an opion after owning pretty much every modern mesa...I do however like the older ones...I stil think the Mark IV is probably the best Mesa out there at this point...I generally dig the Bogners, VHTs, THDs, Diezels, engls of the world...Soldanos are pretty tight too...but mostly I use a Pod XT Pro through a tube power amp...and into s CAA cabs, essentially a small but powerful setup...I combine it with some buffers and pedals and such...

 

[koogie2k]

Orangechannel,
They maybe overrated but I have played many,many amps over the years and I just keep coming back to Mesa the old Mesa's I might add. They sound the best to me. I tried the Marshalls JCM 800,900 and the JMP1 had the Line 6, had Crate and had Carvin,the Johnson Millenium 150 combo, tried Soldano,Rivera you name it I tried it. You are right about most of the new Mesa's especially the Rectifiers the sound is real buzzy. None of these amps sound as good to me as the old Boogies the Mark series 1,2,3. But overall its all a matter of taste. Hey Koogie you are right that Splawn has got me intrigued the sound clips I heard were pretty good.
Brett Lingle

Yeah, those are some cool amps. I tried out a few once. The shop is up the road my my bud's house, so I went there once to check them out. Definitely a great amp that is not over the top in price. I think Shredder75 got one.......certainly worth checking out for all you tube heads. OC had a nice Koch at one point that was pretty smokin' as well........He likes those boo-teaks...hehehe....

 

[OrangeChannel]

Those Koch's are sweet...poorman's Bogner...take pedals REALLY well.

 

[beej]

IMHO, the Line6 stuff is excellent. The PodXT is a tremendous piece of gear. The big problem: it really matters what you play through.

Through a full range amp (I generally use a Keybd amp or PA) it sounds fantastic- cleans, higher gain sounds, etc. Through guitar amps (fx return) it's not bad, but needs to be EQ'd to suit. Through the input of a guitar amp, generally pretty lousy. YMMV.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Well everybody is entitled to their own opinions. The clean tones are amazing on it but the distorted tones are just a giant wall of mush where you can't even tell if you hit a bad note. I prefer the old Boogie sound myself where you can still hear every note when you hit a chord. I already mentioned the lead tone on Line 6. You put a 100% tube amp rig right next to a Line 6 and tell me what sounds better. You don't get the same kind of sweet harmonic overtones and warmth you get with a 100% tube amp setup. You get some cheap artificial version. If Line 6 was so great everybody would be using them in my opinion. Far as I know people are still recording with tube amps why do you think that is??? Cus they kick ass!!!
Brett Lingle

I started using this forum back in August and a quote used in a reply to one of my threads (thanks fsmith) was "Opinions are like a$$holes, everybody has one"

Most of the gigs I play are small venues pubs, clubs. The Marshall 50 just about copes and if needs be, I can always mic it up through the PA. I did this when I played my largest venue with 2500 people. I got fed up playing the part of a tap dancer and started to rely less and less on pedals. This made the Marshall limited in what it could do for me, and I was seriously thinking of selling it. For me, I have always gone back to Marshalls having started with one, then an IMPACT 60 , H&H when they first came out, Laney, Burmann but always came back to a Marshall.
The XT does everything I need.... I can play like I'm going through a Fender or through a Hiwatt. I can have different volume settings, reverb, digi delay just about everything I need. I get the sound that I am happy with without carrying around a rack the size of a wardrobe, and without becoming Fred Astaire having to tapdance across the pedals.
A lot of the time the sound is within "you". I have heard people play through my set up and I think "Sh*t why can't I sound like that" I have also had people come up to me and say "How come when you play my ****** guitar it seems to sound better?"

Paul Kossoff just had a Les Paul into a Marshall Stack and boy that guy would make you weep with his great sound.

As to who has used XT's for recording? An old British band called XTC use pods in their recording facillities -they no longer feel the need to mic up amps in their studio.

This of course is just some old A*seho*es opinion, and thats what makes forums such an interesting place.

If your happy with your sound - stick with it 'cos I am (as soon as I get that dammned AL I ordered, ha !!!!)

 

[brettlingle]

Well not to beat a dead horse but my new Mesa Boogie Quad Preamp,Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp setup stomps the beJesus out of my old Line 6 PODXT Pro set up. It is so much fatter and warmer and none if that annoying fizzyness I got from the Line 6. I'm not saying it was all bad like I said the cleans are amazing top notch. The dirty channels or all the heavy amp models were ok for Nu Metal for rythms but for leads totally lame. Very artificial sounding to me. I might add it felt different too if that makes any sense at all. I love the way a tube amp breaths,it feels different to me as well. I am totally happy with the way my new rig sounds. I didn't have that with the Line 6. With the Line 6 I was constantly tweaking and messing with it. Since I have had the 100% all tube Mesa setup I have found what I like and haven't had to mess with anything. But like I said its all a matter of opinion.Not to be a smartass to anyone but all the killer guitar tone you have ever heard through the years has been through tube amps.Thinkk about it Stevie Ray Vaughn,George Lynch,John Petrucci,Metallica. Seems like to me all pro the guys who have killer tone still play tube amps. There is a reason for this they sound the best!!!Dimebag also switched to a tube Krank amp I believe before he was killed.
Brett Lingle

 

[koogie2k]

Dime did get an endorsement with Krank....but, rumor has it (seems like there is always one of those around), he still favored his Randalls. Kinda like the Washburn and Dimebucker....endorsed, never used. But, it is a rumor. Shame he died the way he did. RIP Dime!

Tweak time on Line 6 can be time consuming....that is for sure. But, I have several channels programmed in that I get instant access to it without having to dial in something new. Pros and cons with both.

I have some great VH tones that have some of my buds wondering how I got it.

I have some great Mesa tones....but, they do lack some warmth as you might say, but, when cranked, sound good to me.

Believe me, I am a big fan of tube amps.......I just have the Line 6 bug.....I have had it for awhile now.

Again, my opinion. I am sure happy with it, just like brett is happy with the tube amps.

 

[LasagneFTW]

i played through a Vetta II in Austin while i was out for the hurricane vacation (i had good luck, mine didnt feel like an evacuation )...and ive FINALLY found great sounding highgain sounds out of a Line6. ive played through every other amp they have out...flextone III came really close with the lower gain sounds, but the heavy ones didnt cut it too well. but that vetta...was nice.

for versatility...i think its one of the best.

But, for 1600$ for the combo...for just alittle more (okay not alittle but just some) i could get a roadking...hmm...ill definatly have to think on it if i keep that kind of change in my pocket without spending it too soon.

-Ross

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

One thing you have to bear in mind is maintaining a valve amp. I do on average 3 gigs a week, and you have to budget for a re-valve every 6 months or so, plus the fact valves microphonic randomly. Plus valve amps tend to be very heavy and dont do you back any favours!

Sure if I had roadies and money was no object I would have a wall of classic valve amps. But for me, Line 6 is the perfect compromise.

Just my 2p!

 

[Junior Luke]

Hey man.

Turn off the cab simulation. You do this by pressing in the model knobs, and taking the red light to 12 o'clock. Sounds way better like this!

Can i ask you what you meen about pressing in the model knobs....... I`ve tried that, but a green light poping up on some other sound selection. Shall i keep holding it there for a couple of sec, or?? (Line 6 Flextone III XL, 2 X 12)

Jr Luke

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Can i ask you what you meen about pressing in the model knobs....... I`ve tried that, but a green light poping up on some other sound selection. Shall i keep holding it there for a couple of sec, or?? (Line 6 Flextone III XL, 2 X 12)

Jr Luke

ON the Flextone 3XL, you push in the model knob, and the colour of the light round the knob turns red. Whilst holding it in, turn it to 12 o'clock, to Line 6 clean I think it is. That turns off the cab sim, and opens the whole amp up.

 

[Junior Luke]

Thanx

ON the Flextone 3XL, you push in the model knob, and the colour of the light round the knob turns red. Whilst holding it in, turn it to 12 o'clock, to Line 6 clean I think it is. That turns off the cab sim, and opens the whole amp up.

Thanx man If i understands yu right just push in the knob and turn it to 12 o`clock. which means, the amp get more powerfull.... ??I can still switch between the diferent sounds/effects on the amp, which i have on the kneeboard?? etc.

Jr. Luke

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Thanx man If i understands yu right just push in the knob and turn it to 12 o`clock. which means, the amp get more powerfull.... ??I can still switch between the diferent sounds/effects on the amp, which i have on the kneeboard?? etc.

Jr. Luke

Not so much more powerful, just less processed and with a bit more welly!

 

[Junior Luke]

ok

Not so much more powerful, just less processed and with a bit more welly!

I see, i shall try to do that man, thanx again. If i want to turn it back to the cab sim again, how do i do that then...??

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I see, i shall try to do that man, thanx again. If i want to turn it back to the cab sim again, how do i do that then...??

ummmmm not sure.. check the manual!

 

[Junior Luke]

thanx a million

ummmmm not sure.. check the manual!

Thanx so much one more time "Timmo" I let you know have it went later.

Jr. Luke

 

[Spudmurphy]

One thing you have to bear in mind is maintaining a valve amp. I do on average 3 gigs a week, and you have to budget for a re-valve every 6 months or so, plus the fact valves microphonic randomly. Plus valve amps tend to be very heavy and dont do you back any favours!

Sure if I had roadies and money was no object I would have a wall of classic valve amps. But for me, Line 6 is the perfect compromise.

Just my 2p!

mmmmmm! Think I ought to change mine.............
....... they are still the original '87 tubes !!!!!

 

[Pundix]

It's all in your ears, hands and guitar. Plenty of people sound great playing through solid state Crate amps, and plenty of people sound horrible playing through expensive tube amps. I'm very much of the opinion that you can dial in good sounds on just about anything if your ears are good at it, and you know the gear.

You know it's funny. I love the sound of tube amps and play a mesa almost exclusively, but one of the best guitar players I ever heard was (believe it or not) playing a 20 buck POC guitar through an old Peavey Backstage 10. The little solid state practice amp that sells for about 5 bucks. It had very little to do with the amp, but every note he played was so perfect that it made no difference what he played through he sounded fantastic. It made me extremely jealous....