Lopp
New member
I often read threads where people state cheap amps and modelers are just as good as, if not better than expensive amps. I really want to believe this. I want to think I can plug in a modeler and get the same tones as an "overpriced" amp. I want to believe makers of high end equipment are just riding their reputation and the cheaper stuff does a better job for a better price.
I can't.
Granted, some inexpensive stuff does give a great bang for the buck. Also, if you really search and audition tons of amps, maybe you can find one that sounds damn good.
However, from my experience, the cheaper stuff does not sound as good as the high end gear.
As an example, I have auditioned the POD a few times, have owned a RP100, currently own a Korg Pandora and a Peavey Bravo, among other amps. Yet they just don't compare to my Boogie Quad (which isn't that expensive). More drastically, I just got my TriAxis back from Boogie. My God. It even (IMHO) blows away the Quad. The lower end stuff doesn't even compare.
I say IMHO because tone is subjective. Hell, if you like your modeler, more power to you. A big part of the equation is whether you like your tone.
I find it more interesting that some people say a POD (or whatever) is better for recording. *PFFT* I say a POD is great for laying down scratch tracks. It is even probably great for playing live. But for recording your final product. Yeah right. I would almost hazard to say it is more important to record a great tone than to play one live.
The tone you record is etched forever and people will listen to it over and over again. The recorded track captures all the subtle nuances of your tone. Live is influenced by many other factors like environmental noise, room dynamics, competency of your soundman, etc. These factors are more controllable when recording. Granted, if you have a great tone live, it is easier to sound good regardless of external factors.
It would be great if the modelers sounded just as good as the high end stuff. Then I could sell my expensive stuff and just keep the modelers.
However, from my experience, that just isn't the case.
I can't.
Granted, some inexpensive stuff does give a great bang for the buck. Also, if you really search and audition tons of amps, maybe you can find one that sounds damn good.
However, from my experience, the cheaper stuff does not sound as good as the high end gear.
As an example, I have auditioned the POD a few times, have owned a RP100, currently own a Korg Pandora and a Peavey Bravo, among other amps. Yet they just don't compare to my Boogie Quad (which isn't that expensive). More drastically, I just got my TriAxis back from Boogie. My God. It even (IMHO) blows away the Quad. The lower end stuff doesn't even compare.
I say IMHO because tone is subjective. Hell, if you like your modeler, more power to you. A big part of the equation is whether you like your tone.
I find it more interesting that some people say a POD (or whatever) is better for recording. *PFFT* I say a POD is great for laying down scratch tracks. It is even probably great for playing live. But for recording your final product. Yeah right. I would almost hazard to say it is more important to record a great tone than to play one live.
The tone you record is etched forever and people will listen to it over and over again. The recorded track captures all the subtle nuances of your tone. Live is influenced by many other factors like environmental noise, room dynamics, competency of your soundman, etc. These factors are more controllable when recording. Granted, if you have a great tone live, it is easier to sound good regardless of external factors.
It would be great if the modelers sounded just as good as the high end stuff. Then I could sell my expensive stuff and just keep the modelers.
However, from my experience, that just isn't the case.