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Jim Ives · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

What is your opinion on the Pod and Pod XT amp modelers? I am in a position to purchase one but have not got alot of information to go on.
Thanks,
-Jim

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Mullen D-10 -or- Zum D-10
Lexicon MPX 100 -or- RV3
Fulltone Full-Drive II
Evans FET 500 -or-
Peavey Nashville 1000
Vox wah-wah pedal
My dog Toby sittin' on the floor listening

Randy Sevearance · From: Crouse, North Carolina, USA

Jim if you can talk to tommy dodd he has
settings in his that sound great I've not got them yet but my opinion is hes the best
with this unit I've seen and I think you can patch this animal direct to the p a system it works as a pre amp I like mine but you really have to put alot of time to get what you want tommy say finess it to get great stuff out of it Tommy is the man on this thing when it comes to the steel guitar and he might hunt me down and kill me for saying all this but he has the best sound bar none I've heard Hope this helps

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The POD XT is the one to use. Forget the older POD. The older POD is more distortion and really for guitar. The XT has more clean preamps and more features, and is supported by upgrades. One forumite reported he bought a POD instead of the POD XT because it was cheaper and then noted he couldn't get what he wanted out of it and wished he had bought the XT model.

Ron Elliott is using one (and sounded great in St Louis). I'm using an XT model and have also developed downloadable programs for it. I know several steelers that also have XT models and they are using my programs.

My programs are on my web site http://web.tampabay.rr.com/jstoner1

Tommy Dodd · From: Acworth, Ga., USA (deceased)

Jim,

Everything Jack has mentioned about the POD XT is true. It is much better for steel players IMHO. The Line 6 POD XT is an extremely powerful tool and can provide a world of enhancing flavoring to your sound. The unit can be used as a direct recording device, a powerhouse preamp, a practice partner (using headphones!), or as a creative digital signal processing tool kit.

In addition, I designed and have been selling the POD bracket that several steel players are using with it. (Here's a link to an older thread where it's merits were discussed some time ago http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum17/HTML/001723.html .

Due to the popularity of the combination of the POD and my bracket, I now have been set up as a "Specialty Market Dealer" for the Line 6 POD products. I can supply the POD (with or without bracket) with a complete set of programs aimed at the needs of steel players. Please email me if I can help you or anyone else with a question about the POD's.

[This message was edited by Tommy Dodd on 12 September 2005 at 08:06 AM.]

David Doggett · Posted 8 Sep 2005 9:08 pm

I'm not crazy about the amp models. But the many effects alone are worth the price. There is decent delay and over a dozen types of reverb - spring, plate, chamber, different hall sizes, etc. There are several types of classic fuzz and distortion. And even though none of the amp models sound exactly like the real deal, they offer many additional ways to get subtle to mega distortion. There is even a Leslie cabinet model.

The POD also solved my longstanding headphone problem. I have a Behringer minimixer that I plug my steel into along with my CD player for practicing at home. But going direct into the mixer and headphones always sounded harsh and thin. Now I run my guitar into the POD before the mixer and use a Twin Reverb model with the 2x12 speaker simulator. This is the best headphone sound I have ever heard. The CD player still goes directly into the mixer and I plug my headphones into the mixer. So the amp and speaker model only affects my guitar.

But I sure would like for Line 6 to add a 15" JBL D130 model. Tommy D., any chance of persuading them to do that? It seems like a pretty small thing, but it would sure make the POD more steeler friendly.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Tommy,
I'm looking forward to checking out what you have going on the pod. So far I must say I have been seriously underwelmed by them. When I play on stage with guys using them they seem to sound sort of muffled and down the hall. When I have recorded or gigged with them they seem to add a timing and dynamic separation between my picking and the sound coming out of the amp that I don't feel with my old Fenders.
Maybe its just the situation I've been in with them but I also miss a high range shimmer. They seem to drop off after 4K.

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Bob
My Website

David Doggett · Posted 9 Sep 2005 7:29 am

Bob, are you talking about a 4K drop off with the amp models, or with the effects also. I never use the amp or speaker models except with my headphones. I just use the reverb, etc. I haven't noticed any problem either with the delayed sound you mention or with the highs. But I have not really done a with and without comparison. I would not be surprised if there is a 4K drop off with the amp and speaker models. Compared to a flat PA or home stereo, most guitar amps and speakers roll off the highs and emphasize the bass. So if you run their guitar amp and speaker models through your own guitar amp and speaker, you are doubling the natural roll off of the highs. To get the authentic guitar amp and speaker simulations they intend, you have to run it through a flat hi-fi system like a PA, or flat, clean transistor type amp like the 300 watt Line-6 Vetta head.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

David,
I hear the same problems with the line 6 combo amps and the Line-6 Vetta head. They just sound dull and boxey to my ear.Although I have used them and amp farm on sessions and the end result was fine.

The separation thing is a visceral sensation for me. Like walking in sun compared to a tanning salon.

Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 09 September 2005 at 09:55 AM.]

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 09 September 2005 at 09:59 AM.]

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

For small club gigs, I usually use a Pod 2 into a very clean, flat-EQd solid-state amp, and run the line out via a balanced-to-XLR to the front-of-house if needed. If available, I prefer to hook the Pod directly into the power-amp-in. If I don't need to be very loud, I really like the 50-watt 1x12 Ampeg BA-112 bass amp. Warms up the Pod just a hair, but with everything flat, it doesn't color it much, or give it that distant sound. Into a Deluxe or Twin Reverb, it just doesn't sound right, to me. Perhaps it's the open-back cab.

My initial excursion into Line 6 was a Flextone II amp - it was fine for guitar, but I didn't like it for steel, for precisely the reasons you describe - it sounded boxey no matter what I did. But into a very clean full-range amp, the Pod sounds fine to me.

I like the A.I.R. speaker cab emulation, but it can give a bit of that "distant" feel. Turning this off helps when running into a guitar amp, but I prefer to use it, and then amplify very cleanly.

We've been around this topic before, and I know most steelers insist that the XT is the only way to go. Frankly, I've tried all the different Pods extensively, including the original Pod, Pod 2, XT, and Vetta, and I can get whatever I want at rock-bottom prices. I'm just fine with the Pod 2, and use the Twin Reverb (Blackface 2) + 2-12" speaker emulation. IMO, if one likes the Twin Reverb sound for steel, the Pod 2 is just fine if very cleanly amplified. Now if you just have to have a 15" JBL or BW, this isn't going to have that whomping low-end. Frankly, when I bring in the "big guns" for a small gig, everybody just gets blown away by the clarity and presence - almost everyone prefers the Pod/Ampeg rig I described above unless it's a large stage or outdoors.

With the 'deep editing' software, the Pod is very configurable, and I spent quite a lot of time fiddling around to get the sounds I need. There are 'hidden' settings one can't get to from the Pod controls, like a default gain boost that guitar players want, that can be disabled to get a decent steel sound. I have had good luck making rapid in-the-middle-of-song switches between pedal steel, guitar, and banjo. That makes it worth the price of admission, to me. I can't use the sound of, let's say, a Tele straight into a steel amp, but the Pod makes it work just fine.

I've told anyone that will listen that I'll move to their latest model if and only if they put in a good clean amp model with a 1-15 JBL or BW speaker emulation. Till then, I don't think it's worth upgrading. The only Pod sound I like for steel is the Twin Reverb + 2-12" emulation. One can grab a Pod 2 for (possibly much) less than $100 on fleabay. I think it's a bargain for that. As David D. says, at the very least this is a great solution for headphone practicing.

jim milewski · From: stowe, vermont

these are also very good http://cgi.ebay.com/Digitech-Genesis-3-Guitar-P rocessor...

[This message was edited by b0b on 15 September 2005 at 11:16 AM.]

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

I bought an XT and took it back and got another 2.0. The XT would be fine in the studio or for someone with better eyes than mine. It is too hard to read on a gig and, it doesn't matter how good you have your programs tweaked, they still need to be adjusted a bit from room to room. Having those big black knobs is big plus.

I always use a balanced cable (which makes a big difference in sonic quality) and I go either direct to my Bose PAS, or I go to my Mackie mixer and use a pair of EV near-field monitors, depending on the situation. I do think that the Pod loses something when coupled with some guitar amps. I certainly have no problems with boxiness or not enough highs with either of my rigs. In fact, I tried using one of my bi-amped Mackie SRM 450 powered speakers with the Pod and they had too much high-end for my tastes.

Like Dave M, the 2-12 Black Face is the way to go for psg.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

I got a lot of use out of the PodXT used strictly as an FX unit with the amp and speaker modeling turned off. Great unit for delay w/tap tempo, reverb, tuning, modulation, etc. With Tommy Dodd's mounting bracket, it's the handiest multi-fx unit you could dream of. The fidelity is quite good and is definitely good way up past 10kHz. If anyone felt it lost it's highs or sparkle, that would probably have to do with having the speaker modeling turned on while going thru a guitar amp which probably isn't wise. It can get confusing using a modeler thru a guitar amp. You don't want to model an amp and speaker and then go thru an amp and a speaker. The redundancy sounds weird. The amp modeling is for going direct to an unvoiced power amp or recording setup. The speaker modeling is for direct only and not for feeding a guitar speaker. Once you get a handle on the Pod's basic setup, it's real impressive.

Brad

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

This rig has a lightweight 800 watt power amp and 15" Deltalite speaker for a total of
40 lbs. I use the PODxt for the preamp/FX.

It's the most flexible rig I've ever used.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Nice cabinet Jay! The guitar ain't so bad either. What do you have for power?

Brad

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

I believe that Brad has exposed the most prevalent misconception about the Pod--it is an amp modeler, not an effects pedal, even though it has some good on-board effects. It is not made to go into the front end of a guitar amp, which as Brad says, would be redundant.

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

Brad,
It's just a 15 lb. Soundtech PS802 I bought
used a few years back. The '54 Bassman cabinet is also 15 lbs. and the Neodymium speaker is
8 lbs. Since I'm feeding the PODxt directly
into a power amp (with no preamp) it works
terrific!

Gerald Menke · From: Stormville NY, USA

Hello,

I have done some sessions where for volume and space restriction reasons, I had to play into a Pod. I have to say, I think those things sound pretty harsh friends, I had to turn the presence and treble all the way down, and even turn the tone down on my steel to get a sound that didn't feel like shards of ice in my ears.

The other issue I have with them is that they have no feel whatsoever. You pick harder and a tube amp reacts, the Pod just doesn't have any feel in my VERY humble opinion. The best setting for the TV beds I was playing seemed to be a Blackface Deluxe with an SM57, but still sounded so corny it was affecting my ability to play with any kind of inspiration whatsoever.

I am reminded of something Billy Gibbons said after hearing a Pod, something to the effect of the only reason people are going for these devices is that fewer and fewer people have ever played guitar through an old Marshall or tweed Fender cranked up. And considering I think BG's tone on his records from the 70s is about as good as it gets, I am inclined to agree with him. In sum, if it's a matter of tracking or not, obviously I'll use the Pod, but I have to say, I find the sound of those things pretty heartbreaking. Moreso because so many think they sound okay.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

For pedal steel or snap-crackle-pop Tele sounds, I am emphatically not trying to sound like Billy Gibbons. I only argue that the blackface and silverface Fender Deluxe/Twin Reverb models can be tweaked to sound good if one likes the original BF/SF sound, which is fairly mid-scooped and clean. I have A-B'd my tweaked out Pod with my own old Fender BF/SF amps. One needs to get in and 'deep edit' the Pod, but it is possible to get a good sound, IMHO.

I do agree that the 'distortion' sounds on the Pod, like an old Tweed Fender or Plexi Marshall, aren't as accurate - they're more 'buzzy', to my ears. I have owned many, many old Fenders, Marshalls and other vintage amps of many descriptions, and this is why I still own some. But with some tweaking, there are still some good distorted sounds on the Pod. Just my opinion.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I just got a POD XT, and I've started using it instead of an amp for some gigs. It doesn't respond the way an amp responds. Unlike the Genesis 3 it does sound good running direct into the PA.

I couldn't get the sounds I wanted out of the older POD 2.0, so I sold it.

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Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

There is a difference between the new and old 2.0s. I have both, and the new one is much better.

I will say that, while I think it sounds just about as good with my GFI as it does with my old black face twin, I cannot get my ZB to respond the same way. I gave up playing the ZB through the POD.

I guess it really does depend on what guitar you have, and I don't thinK the PODs are consistent either. I think they vary even within the same model.

But, as one who has owned just about every amp out there over my 39 years of performing, the POD may not be a panacea, but it's close enough for live to keep me from dragging around any more equipment than this tired old back wants to carry anymore.

[This message was edited by Webb Kline on 15 September 2005 at 12:16 PM.]

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

I have to echo that Tommy Dodd does have some exceptionally good sounds dialed in on his Pod. I listened to it quite a bit in the Zumsteel room at the St. Louis convention. Seems if you are in a band and need a variety of sounds at your disposal in an instant, this would indeed be a very handy item.

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