Gear_Junky
New member
So, has anybody compared the two? What are your feelings? And would somebody like me, who already has his SansAmps(GT2, Bass DI and Acoustic DI), Trademark 60 and analog effects pedals want anything to do with them? 
AlChuck
Well-known member
GearJunky,
I saw a comparison article on Harmony Central yesterday:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Reviews/J_Station/
Do a search on this forum, too. I recall seeing some discussion of this topic before here, like in the late Spring - early Summer. I recall a link to some guy's website where he did a pretty thorough test of both and put up MP3 examples.
I myself own a POD and I love it. Supposedly the J-Station has better effects but I'm not much of an effects guy anyway -- a little 'verb, some delay, ocassionally a little chorus or flange is usually all I ever do. I do like the idea that the J-Station has an S/PDIF output and a bass model at that price point. But I think the POD sounds and feels great. The Fender models are superb -- I almost prefer playing the blackface model to playing a real '65 Deluxe Reverb.
If you've already got SansAmps, though, and you are happy with the sounds you get from them, you don't need a POD or J-Station, I would think. The SansAmp offers the same level of ease of use and convenience for getting a sound on "tape" quickly and without needing to crank an amp and fiddle with mics. Maybe the POD or J-Station sound more "real," but maybe not -- it's as subjective as anything else involving guitars and amps.
Try 'em out and see what you think.
-AlChuck
I saw a comparison article on Harmony Central yesterday:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Reviews/J_Station/
Do a search on this forum, too. I recall seeing some discussion of this topic before here, like in the late Spring - early Summer. I recall a link to some guy's website where he did a pretty thorough test of both and put up MP3 examples.
I myself own a POD and I love it. Supposedly the J-Station has better effects but I'm not much of an effects guy anyway -- a little 'verb, some delay, ocassionally a little chorus or flange is usually all I ever do. I do like the idea that the J-Station has an S/PDIF output and a bass model at that price point. But I think the POD sounds and feels great. The Fender models are superb -- I almost prefer playing the blackface model to playing a real '65 Deluxe Reverb.
If you've already got SansAmps, though, and you are happy with the sounds you get from them, you don't need a POD or J-Station, I would think. The SansAmp offers the same level of ease of use and convenience for getting a sound on "tape" quickly and without needing to crank an amp and fiddle with mics. Maybe the POD or J-Station sound more "real," but maybe not -- it's as subjective as anything else involving guitars and amps.
Try 'em out and see what you think.
-AlChuck
Wide Awake
New member
I compared the J-Station and POD to the SansAmp PSA-1 and I ended up taking the SansAmp home even though it cost considerably more. I've never used the GT2 but it's similar technology. When I compared the different units it was through headphones and a P.A. and the SansAmp sounded more like the tube amps I'm used to playing. It has one sound really, just like a real amp. The modeled units like the POD do give you a variety and that might be beneficial in the studio. I think that all these modeled simulators will get even better in the next few years, more programmable, better effects. I hope they also go in the direction of the Roland VG series, synth type sounds and unique creative other-worldly sounds.
I usually run floor effects in conjunction with the SansAmp. Chorus pedals, delays, flanger after the pre-amp. If I'm playing distorted leads I put an old distortion pedal before the SansAmp.
When I play live in my bedroom or with friends I only use a real tube amp with little or no effects....I'm kind of a traditionalist in that regard. ( I use a Peavey Classic 50 ) Guitars and amps haven't improved that much in the last 20 years, that's why people still play Les Pauls, Stratocasters, ES-335's, Fender Twin Reverbs etc. You're SansAmp looks like a dinosaur considering all the new things coming out but in fact it's trying to duplicate sounds that have been around for years and will probably never go out of fashion.
Bottom line..if you wait one or two more years there will be amp simulators on the market that will blow away POD, SansAmp, Ampfarm, J-station. We haven't seen anything yet.
I usually run floor effects in conjunction with the SansAmp. Chorus pedals, delays, flanger after the pre-amp. If I'm playing distorted leads I put an old distortion pedal before the SansAmp.
When I play live in my bedroom or with friends I only use a real tube amp with little or no effects....I'm kind of a traditionalist in that regard. ( I use a Peavey Classic 50 ) Guitars and amps haven't improved that much in the last 20 years, that's why people still play Les Pauls, Stratocasters, ES-335's, Fender Twin Reverbs etc. You're SansAmp looks like a dinosaur considering all the new things coming out but in fact it's trying to duplicate sounds that have been around for years and will probably never go out of fashion.
Bottom line..if you wait one or two more years there will be amp simulators on the market that will blow away POD, SansAmp, Ampfarm, J-station. We haven't seen anything yet.
Gear_Junky
New member
Thanks, Wide, that helps. I would buy a PSA-1 if I found one in the ball park of $200-300(used), otherwise it's too much for me. So do you just "model" a clean sound and then use a drive pedal before it? Why not just model a cranked tube amp sound? Of all my dist pedals I only have the Tech 21 XXL left (not counting the GT2). I know that people use overdrive pedals even with the best of tube amps. But why? Always wanted to know that. Thanks.
P.S. If you need compression, do you use it after the preamp or before?
P.S. If you need compression, do you use it after the preamp or before?
Wide Awake
New member
I plug my guitar into the distortion pedal then into the SansAmp because it gives me a better sound sometimes. When playing double-stops ( two notes at a time ) the sound of just the SansAmp alone makes me cringe. I set the SansAmp to a clean sound and I control the gain of the distortion box to dial in the right amount of distortion and overdrive. It also makes it faster to get the sound I want. I know it sounds crazy to run a $40 junk distortion box into a $600 tube amp simulator but whatever sounds good, is good. People use overdrive or distortion boxes in front of amps for a particular sound. It can give you the sound of cranking an amp to "11" without actually turning it up to thoses levels. On rhythm guitar I never use a distortion pedal...but I don't play metal or real hard rock.
I've been experimenting with compression before the SanSamp, after, and through the channel inserts. The best I have found is through the insert. You'll have to experiment to see what works the best. Usually for electric guitar the compressor comes first in the chain but I'm not getting good results that way, using my BlueMax. I use compression as a mixdown effect on rhythm guitar. It helps it stand out in the mix without using a lot of EQ. I have a lot of instuments in that midrange sometimes...piano and clavinet sounds.
PSA-1's are going for $250 on Ebay. I assume that people are dumping them and buying the lastest thing.
I've been experimenting with compression before the SanSamp, after, and through the channel inserts. The best I have found is through the insert. You'll have to experiment to see what works the best. Usually for electric guitar the compressor comes first in the chain but I'm not getting good results that way, using my BlueMax. I use compression as a mixdown effect on rhythm guitar. It helps it stand out in the mix without using a lot of EQ. I have a lot of instuments in that midrange sometimes...piano and clavinet sounds.
PSA-1's are going for $250 on Ebay. I assume that people are dumping them and buying the lastest thing.
Gear_Junky
New member
Thanks. Well, I don't know about $250 on Ebay, they usually end up being more than that! If there is one available for $250 I'll probably eventually justify getting one.
K
Krystof01
New member
FOr the record-a search is a good way to start, AlChuck is right. Nothing against you (people always do it) but there have been numerous threads on this article in the past.
The J-station has bass effects I am led to believe-fuck it, the J-station is decent but a pile of shite compared to the pod, don't take my word-try it yourself.
When I first entered this forum I thought nothing of the POD, I had not tried it-ignorance. I bought one on the strength of the forum "word" here after trying them (instead of a GT-5), got home tried it out, didn't like it that much, but after a few days of getting to know it and understanding how it worked I could never go back and I understood the argument for it.
I bought the POD pro buy the way-worth the extra in my opinion.
If you want me to write more on the subject, e-mail me, or else-good luck.
The J-station has bass effects I am led to believe-fuck it, the J-station is decent but a pile of shite compared to the pod, don't take my word-try it yourself.
When I first entered this forum I thought nothing of the POD, I had not tried it-ignorance. I bought one on the strength of the forum "word" here after trying them (instead of a GT-5), got home tried it out, didn't like it that much, but after a few days of getting to know it and understanding how it worked I could never go back and I understood the argument for it.
I bought the POD pro buy the way-worth the extra in my opinion.
If you want me to write more on the subject, e-mail me, or else-good luck.
monty
Banned
What Krystof01 said.
C
Coyote
New member
POD-vs-JStation
I compared the POD and J-Station head to head, and I preferred the J-Station. I Just liked the J-Station's sounds better, and the effects were better too.
Check them out and see what you think.
I compared the POD and J-Station head to head, and I preferred the J-Station. I Just liked the J-Station's sounds better, and the effects were better too.
Check them out and see what you think.
S
Squashboy
New member
Depends on what you're trying to do.
Because I was on a tight budget, and I'm doing most of the instruments in the recording myself, the J-Station seemed the way to go. I liked the idea of having most the amp models that the POD has, plus the 3 bass amp models, and the 2 acoustic amp models. But if you only want electric guitar sounds, the POD might be the way to go.
In any case, I'm very happy with the J-Station. It really does sound awesome. Good luck,
Squashboy.
Because I was on a tight budget, and I'm doing most of the instruments in the recording myself, the J-Station seemed the way to go. I liked the idea of having most the amp models that the POD has, plus the 3 bass amp models, and the 2 acoustic amp models. But if you only want electric guitar sounds, the POD might be the way to go.
In any case, I'm very happy with the J-Station. It really does sound awesome. Good luck,
Squashboy.
T
timtraynor
New member
Yo get a POD or POD PRO!
Sold my Lexicon MPX G2 and got a POD PRO.
I formally had an orginal POD and loved it.
I tried the J-Station,Sans Amps, etc.
But once you've had a POD there is no other substitute,except
for a real tube amp.
Tube-ulate On!
Sold my Lexicon MPX G2 and got a POD PRO.
I formally had an orginal POD and loved it.
I tried the J-Station,Sans Amps, etc.
But once you've had a POD there is no other substitute,except
for a real tube amp.
Tube-ulate On!
P
Proveras
I like my recordings.
POD is the best, ok, I got it....
I dont have $360 for guitar and $360 for bass...
so I go for the j-station...
BUT...........
what about the
¡¡¡Zoom GM200 Guitar Amp Modeler!!!!
I dont have $360 for guitar and $360 for bass...
so I go for the j-station...
BUT...........
what about the
¡¡¡Zoom GM200 Guitar Amp Modeler!!!!
C
Coyote
New member
In my humble opinion, the J-Station sounds best.
Don't take my word for it, put em head to head, buy what YOU like.
Rock On
Don't take my word for it, put em head to head, buy what YOU like.
Rock On
K
Krystof01
New member
To be honest, I think all of you who opted for the sound of the J-station as opposed to the POD have missed out. The POD takes some getting used to, it's like a solid top acoustic-the longer you spend with it the more vintage and pleasent the sound becomes, the better your recordings become and the better in turn people percieve your playing.