line 6

[Strave]

The POD and Flextone II were impressively disappointing to me... both went back to the GC (and I got a great deal on the Flextone II so it was pretty hard)... I also had a mesa rectifier... went back too. I finally settled on the peavey XXL (you could do the XXX). That beat out the rectifier and especialy the flextone for me. Because of their price you could find a used one realll cheap I'd bet and then pick up a mesa recording preamp or something else.

 

[wannabecomedeat]

i've seen a used mesa recto preamp, 1200$...1800$ if you get to the brand new side, gets me nut... i would have to sell my whole kit just to buy it, i don't see how this little piece could be so hi-priced, and i read a couple of bad review about it, and a couple good.

anyone used it?

 

[TheRockDoc]

This one should be looked at more closely...

The problem with owning a "Marshall" is that not too many of them really sound like Marshall's. At one point, I used a Lead 20 (solid state) piggied through an old Sunn tube head- that was a killer sound.It made it sound more like a Marshall than the amp alone.

A few years back I worked at Daddy's Junky Music in Boston. The Marshall rep came to the store one day extolling the virtues of the new cabinets they had- "built like tanks" he bragged- marine grade plywood. We all snickered our WeKnowMoreThanYouDo snicker and said, "But the reason we like the old cabinets is because they were built like s*&)". The products are very good- but a lot of money for a one trick pony- a trick that's not even much in vogue these days. Players vary sounds from song to song much more than they used to IMO- unless you are merchant of metaldom

There are very few people who can tell the difference between a MD421 and an SM57 when they listen to a finished product, and fewer that seem to tell the difference between a LP and a Strat.

If you want the Marshall sound, then pick the era of Marshall that you're looking for, and buy an old one from that era. A Line 6 will probably give you more of the Marshall sound than a new Marshall at 10% of the volume, and excellent direct.

If you want to have flexibility, Line 6's give you 80-90% of the sounds they are trying to reproduce, and it's more fun to use. If you are recording your own CD's as finished products, get an amp that gives you EXACTLY the sound you are looking for as a recorded product. Many great songs have been recorded with the equivelant of a tin can and strings. If you want to be able to dial in to a really good sound in seconds, get rid of the Marshall.

 

[metaljoseph]

B52 100 watt head-Pod XT

 

[Dr ZEE]

There are very few people who can tell the difference between a MD421 and an SM57 when they listen to a finished product,..

I don't have any info/data, but I 'd imagine this may be true

... and fewer that seem to tell the difference between a LP and a Strat.

I don't have any info/data, but I'd imagine this may be only true if you ask people who have no idea what is LP and what is Strat. And the reason these people will not be able to tell which is which would be because of they don't know which is which , but not because of they don't hear the difference

Line 6 will probably give you more of the Marshall sound than a new Marshall at 10% of the volume, and excellent direct..

this maybe true with a big stretch (meaning that 'marshall sound' for you is the sound of 'full' Cranked Marshall), and Line6's sound will be somewhat 10% of a "marshall sound" of any kind and any volume. It'll be 100% the sound of your guitar played through Line6, that's for sure...

If you want to have flexibility ...

flexability of what?

... Line 6's give you 80-90% of the sounds they are trying to reproduce...

that depends on who you ask.

,... and it's more fun to use..

That's REALLY! depends on who you ask. c'mon now. Fun?!!! It's fun to play through Pod? What kind of fun is that? Arghhhhh... now way in hell,... nevermind,

If you want to be able to dial in to a really good sound in seconds, get rid of the Marshall.

I'd say: If you want to be able to dial in to a what-ever Line6 Pod sound in seconds - then get yourself Line6 Pod.
If you don't like Marshall, or don't like (or don't want) to deal with amp-micing recording - then get rid of Marshall
But I completely agree: If you expect to be able to dial in to a really good sound in seconds, then JCM would be a bad choice....

/respects

 

[giraffe]

The problem with owning a "Marshall" is that not too many of them really sound like Marshall's.

I agree (strange, that)

 

[Dr ZEE]

I agree (strange, that)

I'd guess that you also agree with TheRockDoc on what "Marshall sound" is. I mean you gotta be. But if not, then you still can agrree with TheRockDoc's problem with owning a "Marshall" ...it would be just an agreement on the same thing about different things

/respects

 

[giraffe]

when i think of martial sound, i think of like..... jcm800 crap like that.
(or is it the 900? i can never remember which is the combo, and which is the head)
not so big on the newer amps.

line 6 still bites my bum.

 

[boomtap]

I think you should get whatever has the sound that you like to hear, and not judge bassed, brands, advertising, or on what other people think is good. If you like the sounds that the POD can produce, then ditch the other gear and get it, because you will be happy with it.

I have heard thousands of dollars worth of nice amps sound like crap at the hands of most users. Also I have heard and used tons of other amps in the large studio that I have worked in, and have heard some great sounds, that I cannot fully simulate or afford to have in my home.

I personally like the line 6 (use an XTlive), but on this forum you get negative rep points for saying you like line 6, so be careful. I also like my Fender Cyber Twin, but it offers completly diffrent sounds, and I cannot duplicate them with the line 6, or vise versa. To me the Line 6 has been great, because my basement recordings can sound nice without the price. I just use my home studio for writing, and laying down demos. So far the ability to record off the usb in my basement with no noise, has been awsome. After purchasing my line 6 I have found that I am content, and am not constantly in search of a better sound, because with a little work, I usually arrive at something I like.

 

[jeffree]

As a semi-pro guitarist for nearly 30 years (making money at music but needing a day gig--sound familiar?), I've found that the combination of a tube amp (now, an older Musicman 112RD with a tube pre) and a Johnson J-Station is a winner for me when performing live, especially since I cover a wide variety of musical styles. While recording, I'm relying mostly on the J-Station these days and find it a wonderful tool for approximating various models. I still use and prefer an amp sometimes in a pro studio, but at home, in the wee hours with neighbors sleeping, the J does such a respectable job, overall, that I feel no sense of sacrifice. When I AB'd various modelers some years ago, I liked the J much more than the POD, particularly for cleaner sounds, which sounded rounder and more solid to my ears. The newer POD XT may be even better than the J now, but I haven't had the chance to try it.

Overall, though, a small tube amp (about 50 watts, mic'd live) plus a good modeling processor has been the key to good full sounds and wide variety for me and my doodlings primarily in rock and jazz.

J.

(The Johnson J-Station was discontinued a while back but is still available for a measely $100 online with some searching. Check out SOS mag online for a full review.)

 

[TheRockDoc]

Points well taken, Dr..

The interesting thing about the forum is that there are so many different levels and styles here asking or referring to the same questions...it's tough to nail down a good answer sometimes.

Basically,my point about the LP/Strat stuff is that people often think they're hearing something are often surprised to find out that it's something different. Case in point with the LP- Jimmy Page probably sold more LP's for Gibson than just about any other player- but recorded most of the amazing stuff with Silvertones, Danelectros...... and Budweiser cases stuffed with socks

My responses were mostly based on what I felt the guy was looking for answers to more than my in depth analysis.

Cheers

 

[Dr ZEE]

Points well taken, Dr..

The interesting thing about the forum is that there are so many different levels and styles here asking or referring to the same questions...it's tough to nail down a good answer sometimes.

Basically,my point about the LP/Strat stuff is that people often think they're hearing something are often surprised to find out that it's something different. Case in point with the LP- Jimmy Page probably sold more LP's for Gibson than just about any other player- but recorded most of the amazing stuff with Silvertones, Danelectros...... and Budweiser cases stuffed with socks

My responses were mostly based on what I felt the guy was looking for answers to more than my in depth analysis.

Cheers

also my RE(s) were not as much as disagreements, but rather as conversation
Nailing down a 'perfect answer' when comparing instruments or gear like guitar amps or effect processors etc - I'd say: forget about it!
However it is always interesting to know about other musicians experiences, preferences etc... That's why we do blah-blah to begin with... I guess
To me personally playing guitar just through modeling box as opposite to playing guitar through amp/cab is like playing driving video-game as opposite to actually driving the car on the road. I know, analogies like this one are crippled, but that's the way I can explain it... if this does make any sense.
Sure, one can like what his/her guitar sounds like through the modeling-box/effect-processor/di. But to me it's like: "I CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION" ..heh heh If I don't drive the cone - I don't feel like I REALLY play the guitar. so? I don't know....
Depends on who you ask, as I've said.
/respects

 

[TheRockDoc]

also my RE(s) were not as much as disagreements, but rather as conversation

Thanks-

I have NEVER owned anything but tube amps )except for a brief fling with a Marshall Suck, eh hem, I mean Valvestate. But I piggied it through a tube head anyway...

I long resisted the digital, I long resisted the solid state, I long resisted anything that wasn't "pure".

I've learned since to have fun

Sometimes, it's "close enough for the government". All I can say is, lots of people think they hear lots of things. I remember literally getting into an argument once with a guy in NY (where else?) that Angus was playing through all of the Marshall stacks at once...

Mostly, Line 6 (and other similars- Zoom, etc) has done for musicians what desktops and cell phones and internet have done for the average folk. It has put the average guy who could only afford a crappy amp and cheap gtr the ability to access, with relatively comaparable cash, a world of sounds and therefore creatiuve expression that was previously not accessed- or maybe even aware of...

just a thought- from a guy who would never sell his LP, but won't give up his DuoVerb either

 

[Ronan]

Just one more vote for the "YES, NUTS" column and I am not even a huge fan of new Marshalls. I just hate the Line6 fake stuff so much.

 

[themaddog]

Try a Mesa Nomad, particuarly one of the combo models if you're recording.

I have the Nomad 55 1x12 and I think it sounds awesome for recording. On top of that, you can change the 6L6 tubes to EL-34's using the bias switch and it'll sound more "Marshall."

-MD