Line 6 Pod

New gear experiments! Line 6 Pod vs. mic'd amps (Reason Amplifiers & Marshall). I just got my first Line 6 Pod.

http://www.themusiczoo.com/PDGImages/Line6_Pod2_0_500.jpg

So, I did some comparisons with my regular amps & the settings in the Line 6 to see how they compare.

This is a Marshall JCM800 50-watt half stack (standard 4x12 cab w/ Celestion 30-watt speakers).

http://www.christopherschlegel.com/files/Private/CSharpMinorRiffAmp.mp3

This is the Line6 Pod setting called Brit Classic (as in classic British amp; i.e.: a Marshall).

http://www.christopherschlegel.com/files/Private/CSharpMinorRiffLine6.mp3

Now here's a whole tune done with the Marshall for the rhythm parts & a Reason Bambino for the lead tones! The isolated track is the first rhythm guitar part in the song.

http://www.christopherschlegel.com/files/Private/CSharpMinorOpus4Amp.mp3

And the whole tune with the Line 6 Pod using various modeled tones to stand in for their real-world mic'd amp counterparts.

http://www.christopherschlegel.com/files/Private/CSharpMinorRiffOpus4Line6.mp3

Pros & Cons.

I can hear the difference between the Line 6 ultra pure signal compared to a loud mic'd amp. The recorded amps are loud! High SPLs hitting the mic diaphragm HARD. And it's cool, but sounds a little messy & buzzy. This is basic recording procedure & how the last 5 decades of recording amps has worked. Until now. :)

The Line 6 doesn't have that punch of the loud speaker in a cab. But the basic tone is a perfect replica & it's not messy or buzzy. And it's probably possible to replicate even that awesome bass response of the Marshall if I drilled down into the parameter settings.

OTOH, I can record "loud guitar" tones & parts when the family is at home. Also, no background hiss, amp buzz or RF that I have to try to dial down, minimize or move cables around the studio room or tilt my guitar until it's not an antenna.

And of course I don't have all the classic amps & effects that are "modeled" in this thing! I've already started recording tests of all the other settings. For example, I've captured a gorgeous clean jazz guitar tone.

So, I can hear some distinct differences when the tracks are isolated. But once those tracks are combined in the mix of the tune they are very close to the same end result!

The only thing I think I miss is the tactile feeling of the loud amp as I'm playing it. It felt a little odd just hearing that tone as I was playing guitar, but without the accompanying room vibrations. :p

But I got used to it quickly & I'm sure new generations of players already regard that as the standard playing experience.

Hope you enjoyed my report!

Hey Chris.. How ya doing..Great report.. I have had Line 6 Pocket pod for a good while and I am still learning to use it.. It's a good way to do my lesson quietly.. I was looking at a Line 6 Helix until I found out the price..
My playing doesn't warrant the price.. The local band I am a fan of uses a Line 6 product..
Thanks for the report..