Guitar Amp

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A1A2

A1A2

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I have been recording guitars DI for awhile now, and I want to start micing an amp instead. Got a coupld of questions:

1) What's the average acceptable amp size for mic'in? I only have one tinny Vox amp, and would like tp upgrade for recording/live use

2) I have a POD Pro, I will be using it for its effects/amp models, how important will the actual amp/cab be if POD was coloring it's sound

3) Can I just use POD as an amp to power a cab??

Thanks

AL
 
Man, I gotta think of a better title next time, only 7 views??

AL
 
1. doens't really matter, as long as the sound is ok

2. don't really know what you mean xith this one?

3.sure, why not.
 
pod

I think amp size really depends on the sound your looking for. You could record guitar with a 25 watt pocket sized amp if it was to your likings. I personally like the fullness of a 4x12 cab but if you are using the Pod you may be able to recreate this sound to some extent anyways.
As for using just the pod to power a cab. You can do this but I'm pretty sure you have to run it through a poweramp first.
This is just a suggestion but you may want to record one track with the pod direct and then record another live with your amp. Then blend the two and see what type of sound you get. This seems to really work for me.
 
thanks, guys

Wireneck: What you suggested is exactually what I want to do, 1 DI track and 1 mic'ed track. So, I guess POD doesn't prodive enough to power a cab on its own?

ANy other comment on this?

Thanks

AL
 
What Vox do you have? The Pathfinder?

I think (and I've heard it often) that a good sounding 30-50 watt amp is all you need. A 100 watt amp is just WAY too powerful. It makes me think of planting a flower w/a bulldozer.

(This is, of course, unless you have an ENORMOUS studio...)
 
If you have a pod pro, why would want to run it through a speaker and mic it. You will get a better sound just running the pod pro straight in. It handles the cab sim and all that for you. Thats the whole reason I got a Pod Pro was so I wouldnt have to jack with micing gtr amps.
 
Because running it through a speaker and mic'ing it gives you a different sound than going DI with the same preset, thereby doubling the amount of available amp tones.

Cy
 
Cyrokk:

You nailed it. that's why I want to experiement with miking amp and DI at the same time.

AL
 
Pod

A1A2,
If you have a POD version 2 you may also want to experiment with the different cabinent settings on it. I ignored this feature for quite some time but it can really provide some variety for the presets you may already be accustomed to using.
I would definantly still go with the blending of the 2 signals (Live guitar and Pod). I have yet to get a pod sound on tape that matches the fullness of my marshall Jcm 4x12 cab at full volume. Maybe I just don't know how to use the darn thing correctly but I can never seem to get enough low end going on any of my presets. I always have to eq it more at the board or blend it with a "real" amp sound.
Keep experimenting, im sure you will find something you like.
 
Wireneck:

I have a Pod Pro. I have downloaded some patches from Line6's website, some of them are actually pretty cool. About the low ends, I am just guessing that Pod was designed more of a recording use, therefore, a low-cut filter or some kind might be in there (just my uneducated guess)

AL

Thanks for all the info, guys
 
I am not sure exactly what you want to do.

If you want to use your pod into an amp and mic it, then I would say that a solid state amp would be ok. There are mixed feeling around about this issue. Some say a tube amp warms up the sound, others say the Pod is self contained and the amp should sound transparent. SS would certainly be cheaper, but micing it would probably not sound that different, though it certainly would add room ambience, and with other mic'ing could get a different effect.

Another alternative would be to record the pod direct, then send it out to an amp, pedals, etc. to change the sound. This way you will always have the orginal track as well.

If you are looking to complement your Pod with a "real" amp, then there are lots of choices, in all price ranges. I would say to get a tube amp, b/c they do sound inherently different than the pod. What would you be looking for, sound wise? A low watt tube amp (below 15 watts) can give great overdrive at lower volumes, though 15 watts can be VERY loud in a tube amp. You can also get something with more headroom, like a Fender Twin (and others) that will be clean sounding, but a pod, and other pedals sound great going into them. Or you can look into multi-channel amps that have a mix of sounds.
 
adam:

Thanks for the info. I guess what I am after is the warmer tube sound, although I have not played on enough tube amps to say that I know how tube sounds like.

I went to some music shops and played on some amps yesterday, but couldn't decide which one would fit with my Pod since I couldn't hook a pod up with it and hear the difference.
So, what's a decent all-around tube amp that's about $500-600 price range??

ps. I bought a Joe Meek pre/compressor, and I was hoping to get a bit more sustain out of it alone with my Pod. SHould I go from guitar to Meek then Pod, or Pod then Meek??

Thanks alot

AL
 
Well, if you want to use your pod with an amp, and want the "warmer" tube sound, you should look for something that has more headroom -- a nice clean, 30-50 watts.

What you won't get is great tube poweramp overdrive (which is sought after), unless it is at high, high volumes. This is the tradeoff. Lower wattage amps like a THD univalve, will overdrive at lower volumes, and your POD would help drive it, but what you would get is a mix of your pod sound and amp overdrive sound -- probably not desirable, unless you only use clean sounds from your pod.

In the $500-600 range there are things like the Fender Blues Deville/Deluxe. Great clean channel, not a very good gain channel (it is a 2 channel amp). Peavey makes a classic 30 and 50 that would work too.

If you are willing to look used, I would say the best deal would be on a Silverface Fender bassman head. These are excellent values, usually between $200-400 (would need to buy a cabinet), take effects/pedals well, and if the volume is raised, has a great crunch. Kinda the best of both worlds. ALso, they are simple curcuits and are point-to-point -- which means they are easy to fix, are generally reliable, and easy to modify if needed. I love mine, and often run my Rocktron ProGap (early modeller) through it. Sounds great. Look for 50 watt versions from the mid to late 60's. Avoid 70 watt and/or master volume ones from the 70's.

There are also lots of lower and higher wattage amps that are great for recording, but I left them off the list b/c they are either for recording overdriven tones (Silvertones, Fender Deluxe reverb, Univalve) or are out of your price range (Vox AC30s, Hiwatts).

I don't use a compressor in my guitar signal chain. Never liked them there. But, I have used one in the mic chain to reduce the chance of digital clipping into a computer. Unless the POD lets you insert an effect before the cabinet sim and/or power amp I would probably put it up front.

Also, it is SS but Tech21 makes a product, I think it called a power block or something, that is a powered cabinet with no controls. It is made for use with modellers.
 
Last edited:
awsome, Adam

I will start looking into those amps, also, is there a site where i can find some sample tones from different amp tones?

Thank you VERY much

AL

what's SS?
 
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