Which amp with Line 6 Pod XT Live?

Antisocialiser

Hi!

I'm thinking of simplifying my rig because the majority of my playing is done with a cover band at the minute. The Pod XT Live looks like a very handy and cost effective solution to my problem! Anybody else use this live at all?

I think I am after a good basic clean amp that would work well with the Pod's modeling features. I take it I should be after a solidstate? I gather that the amp doesn't have to be all that great as the Pod will do most of the work? I already have a 4X12 cab so maybe all im after is a head.

Any opinions on a decent budget amp for this purpose chaps? I'm selling my tiny terror and 1X12 orange cab so budget of roughly £3-400?

Thanks in advance!

darrenw5094

Antisocialiser wrote: »

Any opinions on a decent budget amp for this purpose chaps? I'm selling my tiny terror and 1X12 orange cab so budget of roughly £3-400?

Thanks in advance!

Prefer a valve amp with a loop.
Guitar => Pod XT => amp loop

Bypass the preamp on the valve amp and use the amps on the POD is the most accurate way to go. There was a combo amp with just a power section and speaker for this purpose, but i forget the name of it. Or a 19" valve power amp and separate speaker cab.

Elysian

darrenw5094 wrote: »

There was a combo amp with just a power section and speaker for this purpose, but i forget the name of it

There was the now discontinued Atomic Reactor



There's also the Tech21 Powerengine: http://www.thomann.de/ie/tech_21_power_engine_60.htm

If you want to use your 4x12 you could always get a linear power amp like this: http://www.thomann.de/ie/art_sla2.htm . A lot of people on the Axe FX forum swear by that.

Antisocialiser

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Prefer a valve amp with a loop.
Guitar => Pod XT => amp loop

Bypass the preamp on the valve amp and use the amps on the POD is the most accurate way to go.

So with my 4x12 i could just get a valve amp head. My main issue is whether i need a very good valve amp or not as the Pod will do most of the work? Really i just need an amp with a nice loud clean sound to get layered under the Pod?

Elysian wrote: »

There's also the Tech21 Powerengine: http://www.thomann.de/ie/tech_21_power_engine_60.htm

Can this be used as an amp by itself or is it's function to act as a speaker for the modeller?

Elysian wrote: »

If you want to use your 4x12 you could always get a linear power amp like this: http://www.thomann.de/ie/art_sla2.htm . A lot of people on the Axe FX forum swear by that.

Thanks guys I'm in work at the minute but ill read up more and listen to youtube samples later.

Elysian

Antisocialiser wrote: »

Can this be used as an amp by itself or is it's function to act as a speaker for the modeller?

You could plug a guitar directly into it but its designed to sound flat so it wont sound great without some sort of modelling in front of it.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Antisocialiser wrote: »

My main issue is whether i need a very good valve amp or not as the Pod will do most of the work? Really i just need an amp with a nice loud clean sound to get layered under the Pod?

It doesnt need to be valve. If you were able to get a decent head that takes pedals well you could go straight into it, or as mentioned earler use the effects loop if it has one to bypass the pre amp. Some amps take pedals better than others, I find that modeling amps are crap when overdrive pedals are put infront of them.

demanufactured

PM sent to the OP

Thomas from Presence

If you're going to Line 6 the XT is three generations ago. The sounds of their new HD stuff are top notch (I'm using the HD500) and I'm still using my X3 Live for some gigs.

The real joy of this system is that you really don't need any amp. When you're gigging with a traditional amp the sound you get in rehearsals is only ever approximated by micing the speaker on stage.

There's a lot wrong with that to me because you can't really control the level of the amp onstage without messing up the band mix.


If you use a stage monitor with a pod (and also send it straight to desk) you hear what the audience hears. You can also control the level to suit yourself without upsetting anyone except the drummer (or anyone else behind you).

I use a Mackie Thump which cost me €320. It's 400w and completely transparent and the HD500 and X3 sound amazing through it. When I go abroad I just request a similar flat monitor and take the Pod with me and I get the same sound everywhere.

All this applies to any modeller (11 rack, amp FX etc.) so I'd really recommend trying out a few modellers instead of just grabbing the XT. There's been some excellent advances in recent years and while I have fond memories of my old XT, the newer stuff can do more and do it better.

Antisocialiser

Thomas from Presence wrote: »

If you're going to Line 6 the XT is three generations ago. The sounds of their new HD stuff are top notch (I'm using the HD500) and I'm still using my X3 Live for some gigs.

I would love a HD500, especially for the loop function! Unfortunately funds are a problem

Thanks for all the advice chaps!

Antisocialiser

DAMN U THOMAS FROM PRESENCE! Really got me interested in the HD500!

My options at the minute are:

a) Pod Xt Live (£200) and Tech 21 Power Engine (£330)

b) Line 6 HD500 (£410) and Stage Monitor (£?)

So my next question is which Stage Monitor is suitable and sensibly priced!? (<£200)

Is it an active full-range loudspeaker i need? Sorry not au fais with PA equip!

http://www.thomann.de/gb/active_loudspeakers_fr.html

Also finally is this all i will need with this set up to gig!?

Thanks for all the help so far.. clearly im inept!

Antisocialiser

Reviews seem pretty decent for this bad boy!

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/mackie-thump-th-12a/44795

Thomas from Presence

Antisocialiser wrote: »

Reviews seem pretty decent for this bad boy!

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/mackie-thump-th-12a/44795

That's the one I have! It's the shiznit.

It's over 300w which gives plenty of headroom. I've destroyed monitors that were less powerful by pounding a guitar signal into them. These ones are really light and the extra headroom makes them fairly resilient to a guitar sim.

Get that and the HD500 but be prepared for a bit of a learning curve. This guide is aimed at heavy metallers but the principles apply across the board: http://line6.com/support/thread/71651

There are two ways you can set this up.

1. POD HD500 -> PA Mixing Desk and from an auxillary or nmonitor out to your monitor

PROS - you can control your volume from the desk without affecting the mix
Cons - You're singer may be hogging the monitor outs

2. POD - Monitor - PA
Con to that is it's difficult to control your monitor volume on stage as the monitor is controlled on the back

Hope that helps.

Antisocialiser

Thanks a million for the advice Thomas! Think ill order all from GAK for handyness and so hopefully get it next week at some stage.:D

Also thanks for the pdf... some light reading to get me through work! :pac: