I have the POD, 2101, and sometimes a BBE Sonic Maximizer, into a Peavey
50/50 Classic stereo power amp and 4x12 slant cab.
I got the POD 2.0 for the pre-amp alone. I don't think the FX side of the
unit is why anybody would buy it. The FX aren't that bad, but when we have
the 2101, there is no comparison. The POD FX are good enough for when you
want to just throw it under your arm, and boot down to a friends place to
jam. It's strange that on the one hand, you have the cpu power for great
emulated amp tones, and on the other, you haven't got the same caliber of FX
to go along with them. That is the one valid criticism that the POD gets.
That by no means takes the shine off the little unit.
People by the POD for the amp tones, be it for the live pre-amp purpose or
when it emulates a recorded amp for direct recording situations. The direct
recording capabilities is what first got the POD moving of the shelves. It
was later on that people, using the PC software included, popped the hood on
this puppy to disable the cab and speaker emulations to play through a live
rig. POD 2.0 now allows you to do this from the front panel, without the
PC.The real amp will usually win over the emulated one, but only if they are
A/B'd, there in the same room. The sounds it produces are still pleasing and
really usable. Don't expect to get a fully revved Recto tone when you are
plugged into a small, strap-on, PIGNOSE amp. Check out there site,
www.line6.com , and take a look around. I'm always leery of artists being
photographed with any equipment, but I see many of them using the POD Pro in
there live setup. They will record with their many boutique custom amps, but
if they want to tour with all the tones and not the amps, they pack the POD.
The real strength of the lil' red bean is the variety of tones that it
produces. And it is sensitive to your pick-attack, just like the real tube
amps. Give it a test drive. Make sure that you have it set up for the
situation that you are plugged into. If you do try it out, here is the trick
that makes all the difference.
HOLD the TAP button down and then turn the FX knob to BYPASS. Now
release and you're there. You will have to do this for every patch or amp
sim change because the factory default is to have the cab emulator on for
each patch. If you take it home you can save these settings. Heck, even if
you don't take it home, STORE, STORE, STORE. And then walk away, only to
watch someone plug in and say, " The POD sounds like SHITE ! What a piece
of useless crap.".HAHAHA ;0) Remember that they are usually displayed
setup in a headphone situation. It's not so they can showcase the bedtime
widdley diddln' prowess of the unit, but it's more for the staff's sake I
think.
"If I hear CREED one more time !"......;0)
As for playing live...you see it on stage a lot. You can catch THE BIG RED
BRICK (POD Pro) being used on many of the late-night talk show appearances.
Weezer relies on them now, and so much of the band's character is from their
guitar sound. I have some family who work in high end recording studios, and
they have all said that you can find them in every one's trick bag. Though
that would mostly be for direct recording. What the hell, who gives a #@$%
about Weezer. I play it live and I love it. Not one complaint from anyone
who plays with me either. I've got pretty much all bases covered with any
musical style's tone.
Man ! The way I go off on these rants about the POD, you would think that I
was one of those Apple Mac cultish freaks. So be it.
I think it's the first time that guitarists have, at their fingertips, all
the desirable tones at a reasonable price, in one simple unit. No more
trying to make your Marshall sound like a Fender, Fender sound like a VOX,
and shred metal on a Roland. Now keep in mind, if you want BIG sound you
will need BIG AMP and STACK. It will not work miracles. Sure, many other
amps sound better, but I wasn't going to buy into any one sound with the
money I would have to put out. I love other amps and other people's setups.
I can always get one cool sound out of any pissy amp. But I bought the POD,
to get an army of amps in one little unit. Try it before you buy it. You
have nobody but your self to blame if you make a bad purchase. If you can't
get the sound you want, I'll be the first one to tell you to forget about
the POD.
I don't think any of the major companies are making any single purpose
pre-amps that are worth getting excited about, except for Mesa Boogie. You
see a lot of amp modeling now, but in combo and head formats. Even Fender is
getting into the act.
Johnson, a sister company of Digitech, has the J-Station. It's there version
of the POD. It gets good reviews, is argued to have a better effects section
and is a little cheaper. The tones are good, not great, and not as faithful
to the amps that it is supposed to model. Check that one out though. People
often say that if the J-Station had the POD's models, that would be the one
to buy. But it's the POD's tones that people want these units for. The FX
they get elsewhere.
Tech 21 SansAmp is a stand alone pre-amp with speaker or cab emulation. I
haven't messed with one yet. It gets mentioned in studio setups.
Digitech, Yamaha, Peavey, Fender, they are all getting into the act. Maybe
even Marshall now. If you can wait a year or two, you will have many choices
to go with. Even Line6 has taken the next step. They now not only model the
pre and power amp sections, speakers and cabs. Their new Vetta amps go so
far as to model the transformers, capacitors, rectifiers and wiring
separately. This allows you to model your own hybrid amps and blend two
different models together. Their pre-amp section is sounding more and more
like the 2101 FX section now. What happened to that, " Retro, simplify
everything for the stupid guitarist who can only handle 3 knobs and a rocker
switch." ?
"Listen here sonny. Back in the day when I was mere backwash in your
millennium Coke, we had to deal with NoiseGates, Sum, NoSum and
Bypasses..."What are those?", you say... Effects Loops, you little shit,
Eeeeffeeeects Looooops ! Ahrrrrg, How do you even get out of your Underoos
in the morning !?...."???",... UNDEROOS child, UNDEROOS ! The whole world is
going to pot.....Hey, that gives me an idea...."
Well, I'm sure I've gone on long enough. Time to take my medication.
Happy Bargain Hunting... Let us know what you find.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alexandre GRANVAUD" <a.granvaud@...>
To: "Mark Vulama" <mark_vulama@...>
Cc: "Deathchicken" <deathchicken@...>; "GSPGroup3"
<GSP2101@yahoogroups.com>; <2101@...-dod.com>;
<gsp-2101@egroups.com>; <gsp-2101@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: 2101: Re: Re: Hooking up with another preamp?
> Hi Gsp Guys
>
> I've been using my gsp for about 5 years now and i'm very bored of its
> preamp sounding... So i've seen many of you, gsp list members, that
> were using the POD gear.
> So i have a few questions :
> - Is the POD very better preamp than gsp ?
> - What about its fx section ?
> - What about live playing with it ?
>
> I'd like to have very impartial answers, please ;)
>
> 'cause if i buy this gear and find it shitty you'll ear my voice ! ;)))
>
> Thanks for your future input ! ;)
>
> Alex
> GSP2101Center : http://gsp2101center.home.dhs.org/Message
Re: 2101: Re: Re: Hooking up with another preamp?
2001-09-14 by Mark Vulama