Clean sound with POD 2

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

Hi Everyone,

I know there are a lot of old posts on this, but has anyone had any recent revelations on this issue.
I'm using sounddiver on a Mac and it's easy to get into the POD and tweek things. turn down drive settings to zero, but there is still a little dirt. I'm wondering if the pickup on my Carter is to hot.
I play a stock S10. Any ideas? Has anybody downloaded any good steel sounds from the Line6 site?

Thanks,
Mel

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

That is the same type of issue I had, which stopped me from using it. The clean amps just weren't clean enough. However, Gary Morse is a top road picker using one (or the Pro), and obviously he is getting it to work well for him.

I would search for some posts under his name, if he doen't weigh in here. I think Jeff Peterson was using one as well...

Good luck,

David Spires

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

I had a POD for a few weeks and tweeked my heart out with the SoundDiver software. Never could get rid of the dirt - especially that pesky descending harmonic artifact that showed up every time I played two ASCENDING notes together.

There have been a few posts recently indicating that the POD XT is better for clean tone, no experience with that here.

dg

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

The POD XT is a world better at clean tones, and adds models of several effects, 24 bit - 44.1k internal sampling, and the ability to edit all features on-board (great for tweaking live).

It's just a newer generation of the same concept. I can't wait to see what is available in the next 5 years...

David Spires

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

I second David's feelings, the XT is head and sholders above the 2.0, and I've had live and stuido experience with both. No matter what I did, I could never get a really sparkling clean tone out of the 2.0. Guitar didn't matter, Zum or Carter.

Chick Donner · From: North Ridgeville, OH USA

I'm about 4 months into a POD PRO XT, and I run it thru a Webb amp on live stuff, or once in a while my ShoBud single channel, and it't very clean. I record direct with it, and luckily for me, usually the engineer knows more about the POD than I do, and I get some great sounds.

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

Well I guess that settles that. Pod XT is the way to go.
I can't afford the rack mount job. Does the kidney bean XT have close to the same sound quality?
I'm utility guy playing fiddle, mando, steel and acoustic guitar. Maybe some dobro
I'm trying to put a portable system together for my all my instruments. I have a 12 channel Yamaha mixer and a in ear monitoring system. I figured why not run my steel direct also as long as I have the POD. One less amp to drag around. I've used the POD 2 to record guitar and it works great. Guitar center owns my soul...

thanks for the input Me

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Mel,

You can use the acoustic amp models in the XT for fiddle or dobro too. I actually am messing with that right now for dobro pickup combinations.

I use the XT (the bean), first because it was cheaper, second it will fit in my pack-a-seat, and there is no tonal difference from it and the pro. The pro model is rack mounted, has additional XLR outs on it, and digital outs as well - but I just run mine analog outs to a couple DIs (don't have to do that), and away you go.

I actually took a road briefcase with padded foam, and put my POD, LDR power supply, Matchbro power supply, and breaker strip in it. It made something small enough to carry on an airplane, yet road worthy.

Sorry for chiming in again, and good luck deciding. New gear is fun!

Thanks,

David Spires

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I recently bought an Xt model and have been using it as an effects processor with my Nashville 1000. I've got a couple of other programs with reverb and delay that I can use with a power amp, such as a MosValve 500 and a couple of speakers.

I plan on posting them on my web site in the near future and they will be available for downloading.

The effects only programs are "delay+reverb, reverb and rotary speaker, chorus, reverb only (for use with my MatchBro) and a phase shifter program.

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

David,
Sounds like the bean will work fine.
Yet another good point.... if I use the POD I can relocate some of my effects pedals away from my steel.. or get rid of them all together. Do you use any of the rotary effects. I haven't messed around with that.

And yes talking gear is fun.. chime in all you want ....

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

I've been using POD2 live for over a year now. I use the blackface amp model. Put the output volume on 10 and the gain low, about 1 or 2. The big breakthrough for me was when I figured out how to bypass the speaker cabinet simulator, and use my amp speaker (hold tap tempo down while dialing effects to bypass), then save that.
I will also say, I've tried this with a Nashville 1000 and Twin, but they sound like crap. My Nashville 400 is the only amp I've had any luck with. I did a show recently and Pete Anderson was playing with the opener. He complimented my use of the POD and my tone with it. He said not many steel players have any luck with it.

Mel Mandville · From: Bellevue, Washington, USA

Chris,

How do you like your Nashville 1000?
That's my regular amp.
Who do you play with?

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

Mel, I do not like the N-ville 1000. It seemed to sound good when I played through a ProFex, but since it fried, I was determined to use my POD, or sell it. I'm happy with the POD/Nville400 combo, but the 1000 doesn't cut it just straight in or through the POD. The 400 is (IMO) the best amp for steel, if you consider cost, durability.
I play with the Derailers.

Wayne Franco · From: silverdale, WA. USA

I tried a Pod 2.0 and couldn't get the sound I wanted out of it. I took it back and tried to get the XL but they were sold out. I have heard it is very superior to the 2.0. I wanted something less involved. Dan Tyack recommended a Fulltone Fulldrive 2. I have one coming. It is simpler and the only tone I am looking for is a nice warm distort for blusie kinda stuff.

Wayne Franco · From: silverdale, WA. USA

I tried a Pod 2.0 and couldn't get the sound I wanted out of it. I took it back and tried to get the XL but they were sold out. I have heard it is very superior to the 2.0. I wanted something less involved. Dan Tyack recommended a Fulltone Fulldrive 2. I have one coming. It is simpler and the only tone I am looking for is a nice warm distort for blusie kinda stuff. I have a SG black box I put after the Pod. The tone to me was much better with it than without it.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Mel--everything I've heard (talk, not sounds) says that the XT is far superior. But the Pod2 is all I've tried. It was my main rig for a while before I got restless and moved on. I was pretty pleased with the sound. But I know exactly what Dave G is talking about with

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Essentially, that sound of harmonics moving the wrong direction is intermodulation distortion, and in my opinion coming from modeling an amplifer in a little bit of an overdriven state (right where most electric guitar players would want). I had the same problem with my Tube Fex rigs. Steel players are looking for headroom, not breakup.

The Pod 1, 2, Johnson J-Station, and Behringer V-Amps all focused on rock/pop guitar - hence the heavier sounds. Even the Twin model is modeled too dirty for me on the XT to use for the steel sounds I like. Line 6 just paid enough attention to us to give a couple of cleaner amp options, and with anything - the modeling process gets better with every iteration. The POD 1 & 2 were 18 or 20bit / 32kHz, where the XT is 24bit / 44.1-48kHz.

By the way - I really think people should find what sounds good to them, use it and be inspired by it. I have used other rigs in the past, and probably will use different rigs in the future. I'm just sharing my experience with amp modelers, because I am a gear nut and want to save someone from buying everything like I have...

:-)
Back to work,

David Spires

Tom Diemer · From: Defiance, Ohio USA

I'm curious if anyone else has tried the upgrade model packs for the PODxt?

I bought them for mine because of one model it had with it - the Dual Showman. On their web sight, they have a downloadable demo of the sound. I thought it would be perfect for steel. So far I'm real impressed with it.

Before this, I had some success with the settings David posted a while back (really appreciate that David), but after the firmware update it didn't sound the same - wasn't able to get that sound back. But the Showman module sounds very rich and clean, at least to my rookie ears.

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Hey Tom,

Glad to help. Actually, I have not updated my road XT from 1.05 yet, because I knew that some of the modeling was redone, and I didn't want to mess up tones and gain structures once the show was set.

My spare is updated to 2.01, but I have not tried the new add-ons. I'll have to do that upgrade, and try that Dual Showman.

Thanks for the idea to try,

David Spires

PS - I have been using a lot more mids, at least for the JDM show than my previous settings indicated. It just sounded more appropriate when I heard board mixes.

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

Guys, definately download the upgrade for XT. Even now has a speaker simulation for a single 15".

Dang, I can't get my POD XT to fit in my seat!

David, where do you set your POD on stage? Do you have it mounted or is it out of the way? Has been years since I saw JDM, back in "Heads Carolina" days opening for Charlie Daniels at the Fresno Fair. Don't recall her using a steeler then.

An important point I think gets missed sometimes. I've been using PODs for 4+ years now (6-string and PSG), and when using an amp (NV400 for instance), and not going direct to the board and monitoring your sound only through wedges or ear monitors, I've always had the best results when I set my all my amp EQs and verb to ZERO or use the "power amp" input. In other words, put your amp in "neutral" and let the POD shape the tone.

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Ben,

My bean is in a padded road briefcase that sits to my right - on my steel case, the top of the road briefcase, and the top of our acoustic player's pedal board top. It keeps all of the cases handy, and puts my POD XT right within reach of my right hand.

Also, I certainly agree on - "zeroing" out the amp you are using, and when I can - I use power amp inputs. I don't know when Jo Dee started using a steel player, but actually her earlier stuff had a lot of steel. She's definately had quite a few steelers in the past - Pete Finney, Boo Miller, Bob Angelo, etc.

I will try the new stuff in v2 soon, but I will also try and buy the add-on packs to try those new amps too.

Have fun,

David Spires

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

She could have had a steeler back then. That was before I started playing PSG so I was more focused on the guitar player. I remember a keyboard player doing the mando parts on "Heads Carolina."

When I saw her, it was when "Heads" was on the way up and she wasn't quite a household name yet. JoDee got heckled pretty bad that night. I recall feeling really bad and embarrased for my community. She stopped at one point and asked the heckler if they'd like to come up and sing. I got a kick out of that.

Later they threw something at Charlie, and he came unglued, right there on the mic, berated the he!! out of them. Told them he was going to come down and "paddle their rears," pointing his fiddle bow at them. That was fun to see.

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