Lightningdan help me out here... and everyone else for that matter. LOL!

[WAR IN D]

Ok bros (and bro-ettes), since many of you around this joint have more of the Pod knowledge around here than I do.... I'm pickin' you to be the go to peeps for me.

I'm givin' up on my tube amps (well, sort of.. read below).. I know, sad to say, but they just aren't giving me what I'm looking for anymore.. That damn GuitarPort has ruined me I guess..

Next project is going to be going all Line 6, all rack mount with power amp driving straight into either a 2x12 or possibly 4x12 cab depending on what I can find for deals around here locally. Since I've never really been a "rack mount" kind of guy, what do you guys suggest I start with..

I've pretty much got my mind made up on the Pod Pro XT rack mount (w/floorboard)... I would LOVE to get my grubby little mits on something like the Mesa 50/50 that Dan has for the power section.. but they don't really pop up that often in the used market that I've seen.. Same for say the VHT 2150's, which would be another highly considerable thought.. So, I guess I'm possibly not getting totally away from tubes..

Does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative power section that's not going to break the bank, even something solid state.. GASP!

Secondly, do you need to run a power conditioner with this stuff? I know it would probably be a good idea with the tube driven power amps to help smooth out the voltage for better consistency of tone.. but do you need it for solid state? This will pretty much just be used at home, so it's not like I'll be playing clubs and having to deal with all the electrical variance that entails..

This is just in it's infant stages, so any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated... I've even considered a Vetta II if I can find one worth the money.. By the time I buy all this stuff, I might be able to score one of those for the same kind of $$$ I'm probably going to spend on this and just have it all in one.. BUT, I'd kind of like to have the option of maybe going back in later with a good rack mountable tube preamp just in case I get misty and decide to back "old school"..

Thanks in advance, and let the Komments Kommence!

[PacerMedic]

Don't ditch your gear dude, you'll hate yourself.

[WAR IN D]

Don't ditch your gear dude, you'll hate yourself.

True dat..

But I only have the one 212 combo left, and I probably won't get rid of it. I just recently (within the last two months) sold my half stack. A VTM 120 with 4X12 because I really didn't need it anymore... No more garage tours for me. But I'm kicking myself now for selling that damn cabinet.. It was beat to Hell, but was loaded with some really nice Celestions..

I'm just looking for something that I can get that tone I'm used to hearing out of my computer with that GuitarPort, but that I can crank if need be.

You see, most of my guitar playing life.. I've focused more on my guitars that my sound. Now, I'm kind of going the other way. I've got the cool guitars, now I want to build that "dream" tone I've been looking for and the modeling stuff just seems to make it alot easier to find.

[Johnny Drama]

I've never used one personally, but I've read a lot of good things about Carvin tube power amps, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper than the Boogies and Marshalls of the world. I'd check them out!

[WAR IN D]

I've never used one personally, but I've read a lot of good things about Carvin tube power amps, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper than the Boogies and Marshalls of the world. I'd check them out!

Nice suggestions, if Carvin is good enough for Vai... I guess they'd be good enough for me. Love my guitar, so I'm sure they make some quality amps too.

I'll most definitely check them out.. Thanks.

[RockStringBender]

Stephan, did the same thing about 8 years ago.

This is a little weird but you could get a couple of ART Tube MPs (if you go stereo, 1 if mono) and stick it right between the POD and your fan-cooled power amp (unless you can afford an $800+ studio power amp DON'T try the cheapies, ya can't hear the fans when you're set on 11 anyway)

You can dial in true warm tube amp sound right in your signal chain and they just started selling the MP for $25 !!!!!!!!!! new. Just a thought. I use them on some recording tracks just for this. 12AX7A real tube in there.

Power conditioners clean your sound up as well as protect your equipment but the rack units are expensive as hell.

Via is not using a stock Carvin anymore than Ed was using a kramer in 1984. Carvins are decent and priced right and get good reviews.

Behringer has a nice stereo 4/12 cabinet for cheap loaded with Jensens FYI.

Good Luck!

[WAR IN D]

Cool, I'll keep an eye out for that stuff as well..

I've got my eye on a Mesa 50/50 right now.. but the thing that confuses me about those is they have three (3) 12AX7's in them beside the four (4) 6L6's for the power section.

Do they have a preamp section in those? They dont' have any knobs for gain/pre/post/etc... Just a volume and presence for each channel. Just curious as to what the 12AX7's are in there for.

Anyone know?

[KramerTamer]

I like the Crate stereo 4X12's believe it or not. They sound good and are cheap used. I'm using a Mesa 50/50 that I love. I just got it so don't know about the setup yet. I figured you switch between the sets between channels. No pre-amp though, seems pretty straight forward. Found it on Craigs. Hope Dan can enlighten us, I think he uses one.I would use a Conditioner (Furman). For the money it's better to be safe than sorry. Don't know about the Pod's....Sorry!

[bkeen]

Stephan, welcome to my world!

I have a great Marshal half stack here that barely gets used. It is great at what it does and I love it but I can just get so much more out of my pod.

Hear is what you need. Just remember this. What you want coming out of the speakers should be the exact same that you hear coming out of the headphones!



The cabs are actually fullrange cabinets. 1 - 15 1 - 10 and 1 tweeter with a 3-way crossover in each.

This system sounds exactly out of the speakers the sound coming out of the phones jack. Exactly! Change the cabinet and speaker emulations on the pod and it changes the sound out of these speakers just like it does with headphones. These cabinets don't add any color to the sound at all. They are basically studio referance monitors. Big ones!

Guitar cabs will color the sound and reduce your frequency range.

For my power amp, I use a Carver PM-175 which is the same amp they use in all those amp stage stacks in the band Boston. You can pick one up for about $145 on the bay and it is solid state - 175W per channel stereo (8ohms) or biamp to 500 watts!

Tube power amps will color your tone. This one doesn't!

You can get these cabs from my buddy, Vince on his site: RockmountConcepts

You can get them stackable like mine too!




Welcome to the dark side...

[RockStringBender]

Man, Bruce you just dished a lot of killer info. It reminded me that I didn't explain why I went with a studio tube preamp instead of a tubed power amp. The sounds out of these processors are now fully and totally produced right out of the jack. I see the signal chain as a done product right there, and I also use the PAs more than the 4/12. Basically, ya don't need all that stuff and the axe cab hides/robs a lot of frequencies from the processor. You can dial in some warmth with the MPs but I would look at it like you are engineering a good signal in the studio and then just broadcasting it verses loading the cab up/ overdriving or choosing a speaker for the cab that will be distinct. that is selectable in the pod.

Nice rig Bruce. Thanks for the tips and thought process.

[KramerTamer]

Nice.....I'm going to have to look into those cabs!

[Johnny Drama]

Cool, I'll keep an eye out for that stuff as well..

I've got my eye on a Mesa 50/50 right now.. but the thing that confuses me about those is they have three (3) 12AX7's in them beside the four (4) 6L6's for the power section.

Do they have a preamp section in those? They dont' have any knobs for gain/pre/post/etc... Just a volume and presence for each channel. Just curious as to what the 12AX7's are in there for.

Anyone know?

I believe the 12AX7's are just used as a pre to "warm" the sound, not to add gain or anything. The 50/50 is a really loud power amp though. From reading your other post, I wonder if you're really going to want that much volume? Doesn't Boogie make a 20/20 power amp as well?

[WAR IN D]

WOW!! Bruce, that's exactly the info I needed!

And now that you mention it, using those types of cabs would be ideal because that exactly what I'm trying to do is to emulate what I'm hearing. Didn't think about the limited frequency response out of a 2X12 or 4X12 cab!

Another great preamp to add to the list too, and looks like it's in my price range as well! Cheap is good for me..

Ok, now another question to go along with the others.. What is the difference between the Pod Pro and the Pro XT? I see you've got the XT in there, but what concrete differences are there between them and is it worth the difference in price?

I'm definitely going to check out those cabs, but shipping them my be prohibitive..

[WAR IN D]

I believe the 12AX7's are just used as a pre to "warm" the sound, not to add gain or anything. The 50/50 is a really loud power amp though. From reading your other post, I wonder if you're really going to want that much volume? Doesn't Boogie make a 20/20 power amp as well?

Yeah, I've noticed the 20/20's while looking for the 50/50's.. Too damn many numbers for me...

I'm thinking to try to get off as cheap as I can for now.. The 50/50 I've been spying is at a good price right now, if it stays low I might try it out on priciple alone.. But if not, I'm going to check out the one's that Bruce is suggesting.. They sound like just the ticket for me and they seem to be working really well for him as well.

[WAR IN D]

Me likey this one:

[bkeen]

Stephan, the Pod Pro is the 1st. generation and the Pod XT Pro is the current generation and the top of the line pod product.

I believe the Pod Pro is not updateable via the internet and doesn't work with the other tools and downloads. So it is behind the times and not going to get any better. That is why they are so cheap. It also doesn't have many of the features of the XT.

This pod system I have isn't cheap. But it is like a studio of amps, cabs and effects available at the click of a switch. You can also build it over time. Get the pod xt pro fist and then the head case, the amp. And leave the cabs last which are the most expensive part. If they go on sale on ebay, you can get them for 1/2 price. But that is pretty rare.

The Pod XT sounds killer running a cord direct out the headphones jack to your home stereo. Or run it out the back through a stereo PA system with 3 way cabs...

[bkeen]

Me likey this one:

That is an option. I have heard that for stage work the speakers are so close together that there is a phasing problem when using chorus' and such. Just not enough separation...
+ that is 12" 8" and tweeters which will work fine but will restrict slightly the frequency. Not nearly as much as a guitar cab though.

[WAR IN D]

That is an option. I have heard that for stage work the speakers are so close together that there is a phasing problem when using chorus' and such. Just not enough separation...
+ that is 12" 8" and tweeters which will work fine but will restrict slightly the frequency. Not nearly as much as a guitar cab though.

Well, that makes sense.. but it's typically me.. Going after what looks good instead of what actually works..

The reason I'm still single I guess too..

Probably just one of the cabs like you're using would be more than enough for me at home. Don't plan on playing out much anymore. Since I moved I don't really have anyone or anywhere to play out with. Not that I have the time anyway..

[bkeen]

Well, that makes sense.. but it's typically me.. Going after what looks good instead of what actually works..

The reason I'm still single I guess too..

Probably just one of the cabs like you're using would be more than enough for me at home. Don't plan on playing out much anymore. Since I moved I don't really have anyone or anywhere to play out with. Not that I have the time anyway..

If you only get one get that stereo cab. If it's just for home you will never see it's short comings. After all, stereo is way cool!

Sounds like you need a good recorder so you can be your own band, like me!

The new Tascam 2488 MKIIs came out and cheap for what they are which means ebay is going to have a lot of the original 2488s like I have for dirt. I would say, 24 channels for $400. Plug that xt pro direct in and look out!

[WAR IN D]

If you only get one get that stereo cab. If it's just for home you will never see it's short comings. After all, stereo is way cool!

Sounds like you need a good recorder so you can be your own band, like me!

The new Tascam 2488 MKIIs came out and cheap for what they are which means ebay is going to have a lot of the original 2488s like I have for dirt. I would say, 24 channels for $400. Plug that xt pro direct in and look out!

ME with a 24 channel recorder!!

Now that's funny!! :happy1

I couldn't figure out how in the Hell to work the Tascam 424 I had..

I like to compare myself to a race car driver that doesn't have a clue how to work on the car.. Kind of the same with the guitar, except most race car drivers can drive.. I have trouble playing, but when it comes to all the technical stuff like recording, signal chain, etc... I'm a babe in the woods..

Just give me a good sounding rig, and hand me a guitar.. I'm happy.. I don't like to think about it too much.

But I'm trying, I'm really trying....

[Mac]

Ive got a POD XT

was looking at the floor board but for changing channels i just use my footwitch which came with my amp

which is a 65 Watt Crate Mutli FX

so yeah i get all sorts of ace tones now with a real punch

[Lightningdan]

The Pod XT Live floor unit does everything the rack one does at a fraction of the cost though.

Anyway, I have a power conditioner but I'm not sure if it affects the tone.. but it sure would suck to have a power surge in your building and blow your pod up.

I've run it direct into a p.a. with no amp and it sounds the same as through my rig, so I know my rig doesn't color the sound and that also means if you have a perfectly clean amp head / speakers it should sound pretty good as long as your patch has an amp model and a speaker model. Without it.. bad mojo. The secret is to write your patches loud and from a few feet away, that's what I do so that when I play live its not "wtf is this!" hehe.

[WAR IN D]

The Pod XT Live floor unit does everything the rack one does at a fraction of the cost though.

Anyway, I have a power conditioner but I'm not sure if it affects the tone.. but it sure would suck to have a power surge in your building and blow your pod up.

I've run it direct into a p.a. with no amp and it sounds the same as through my rig, so I know my rig doesn't color the sound and that also means if you have a perfectly clean amp head / speakers it should sound pretty good as long as your patch has an amp model and a speaker model. Without it.. bad mojo. The secret is to write your patches loud and from a few feet away, that's what I do so that when I play live its not "wtf is this!" hehe.

I was wondering that about the floor unit too... So, it's the same thing just in a floor model? If so, that would be the way to go then. By the time you buy the rack mount Pod, and then the floorboard you'd be out about $550 in the used market.

I could run it through my clean channel on the amp for now and if that didn't tickle my fancy I could get the power amp and some full range speakers later..

Too many options..

[unchained1984]

Stephan you want to be running the modeller through a really clean setup that's why they sound so decent going straight into plain old PA's which I've done a fair few times. The Line 6 & Behringers are good bro but I'd still be hankering after some Mullards

Sandy

[WAR IN D]

Stephan you want to be running the modeller through a really clean setup that's why they sound so decent going straight into plain old PA's which I've done a fair few times. The Line 6 & Behringers are good bro but I'd still be hankering after some Mullards

Sandy

Yeah, I know.. and now that Vox Tonelab SE is starting to weedle it's way into my thoughts since I've given consideration to a floor unit..

It's got a real 12ax7 in it... DOH!!

I was thinking about it a little earlier and using my clean section on my amp isn't really going to solve anything as it will break up at lounder volumes anyway... Just the nature of the beast I guess.

You see, it's things like this that just make throw up my hands and just stick with what I have! I know that the floor units would probably be as good as rack mount.. but I'm still leaning pretty heavy on that Mesa 50/50 (just in case ) and the rack mount POD... and then just go from there.