Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Ratrod on September 14, 2009, 03:16:32 PM
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Here's the situation.
I'm the soundguy/organ grinder for two singing girls. They're very good at what they do and throw in a nice show as well.
Still, it's just singing with a backing track. So we had this idea we could do some songs with them singing and just me, playing the guitar.
My car is already filled with a PA system and I'm not going to invest several 100's on an acoustic and I can't haul my amp along.
So I was thinking electric and an amps simulator.
It's small, cheap, portable, mobile, can be hooked up to the PA, easy to use (I hate scrolling through menus) and the clips I found weren't half bad.
What are your experiences and opinions about it?
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i had a normal pocket pod and returned it, terrible
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i had a normal pocket pod and returned it, terrible
+1. They're good if you are after a really tinny digital sound.
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Well it is about compromise. The punters are there to see and hear the girls and will not think "ooh this would be so much better if that guitarist had a big ol' tube amp etc etc" so a simulater sounds to me like a good compromise. As for which one though I have no idea. I have an old ( first series) pod and I have used it through a PA with my Strat and whilst it wasn't my real thing, I was a backing musician. No-one came to see me and no-one cared -gig went well and we all went home satisfied.
edit: sorry, that comes across all "holier than thou".
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I've used a modeller for almost every gig. Look at the SansAmp character series, I think they brought things on a step with this series.
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I seem to remember the PSA1.1 had an acoustic sim? does that fare well Vs the character series?
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I seem to remember the PSA1.1 had an acoustic sim? does that fare well Vs the character series?
the PSA1.1 is very hifi, but i think the character series sound more realistic.
regarding the acoustic sim, i've never tried that preset.
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I have a Pocket Pod - use it when I am travelling with headphones to allow me to practice - would I stick it through a PA for a live gig? Err, no! Sounds are pretty average really - tinny is a good word..
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Well it is about compromise. The punters are there to see and hear the girls and will not think "ooh this would be so much better if that guitarist had a big ol' tube amp etc etc" so a simulater sounds to me like a good compromise. As for which one though I have no idea. I have an old ( first series) pod and I have used it through a PA with my Strat and whilst it wasn't my real thing, I was a backing musician. No-one came to see me and no-one cared -gig went well and we all went home satisfied.
edit: sorry, that comes across all "holier than thou".
yes, thats all well and good... but theirs such thing as a terrible tone that is really not useable.. a pcket pod isnt designed for live use, its just a toy
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38th Beatle makes a good point. I'm not after a 'god tone'. No sim will ever be as good as a proper amp.
I've considdered a small portable amp too. Most of those have zero headroom and are very limited in sounds. IMO they sound worse than average.
The Tech21's are a bit pricey. The Blonde pedal would have my preference but I'm not convinced by the clips I found.
So what other options do I have?
Edit: Anyone try one of those Boss Fender amp sims on a PA system?
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The best of that kind of thing, IMO, is the tonelab LE. It would do what you want of it.
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The best of that kind of thing, IMO, is the tonelab LE. It would do what you want of it.
+1 (in fact you beat me to it :lol:)
They've launched the ST, which comes in cheaper. It seems to have more amp models (or variations on the 11 in the LE? I can't tell from what I've managed to read so far), it also has USB connectivity (LE doesn't, but you can connect to a PC easily via MIDI and an interface). However, the ST seems less flexible for live use to me - the LE has the ability to "open up" a patch with a footswitch, and then you can use the main footswitches to turn effects on or off in that patch - on the ST you would have to cycle between patches (ie if you want to turn chorus on/off, you need to set up two patches, one with, one without, and switch between them).
I've never used the LE live, but based on my recording and home use of it over the last 12 months I definitely would give it a go. I'm doing the equivalent of running it through a PA in my living room (mixing desk to mid/cheap 100w powered speakers), and as long as I can turn it up enough, I love the sounds I get, much better feel than an amp at the same volume... The only thing that would worry me would be getting enough monitor to feel like I'm playing an amp - I get that in the living room, but in a gig?... gwem must be solving this in his live rig - but I suspect that with the line-up you're dealing with you might not need that much power anyway?
I'd also happily use my POD XTLive in the same way (less convinced of it's reliability though), and at a pinch my POD 2.0 - but I don't like those models as much as the XT models. The pocket POD I believe (and therefore the Pocket POD Express? dunno) is based on the POD 2.0 software, but with minimal tweakability - so if it's anything like the presets in the POD 2.0, er... wouldn't want to use those :lol:
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Yeah, I recommend the LE in great part because your patches are one or two stomps away. I havent used it live, but it should be very usable for live.
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Tonelab Le is a great pedal, beats the pod by a mile (used to own the podxt sold and got the le)
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The Tonelabs are way beyond my budget.
I did put the Tech21 Blonde pedal on my list of options.
A guy on the other forum I frequent has been raving about it. He's planning to do some clips. I haven't heard any convincing clips on youtube yet.
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what about second hand tonelab le's or se
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^ Haven't seen any used ones in Holland yet.
Back to Tech 21. I did hear some impressive stuff from the Liverpool pedal.
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The Tonelabs are way beyond my budget.
I had a feeling that might be the case, which is why I didn't wade in with it in the first place - but then it sounded like mebbe it wasn't, and, and... oh well :lol:
Is there anyway you can try any of these things out? eg the Pocket POD thingy? I haven't bought any of my modellors without giving them a good old bash in the shop. The LE, I even took in my own guitar and headphones...
The reason I ask is, one man's "it's sh1t, sounds tinny", might just be another man's "OK that's not great, but it's a reasonable compromise for the price..."
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what about the korg version of the tonelab without the valve...not quite as nice as the le..compare back to back but still nicer than the pods for me..can't remember model no..but same effects
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The reason I ask is, one man's "it's sh1t, sounds tinny", might just be another man's "OK that's not great, but it's a reasonable compromise for the price...
Agreed - although I stil don't understand why guitarist gave it a gold award :?
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couldnt you pick up a used pod xt instead of the pocket... it would be a bit more, but probably a lot more useable
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The number of options is growing.
Certainly, I'll try before I buy. I'm hoping to limit my choises so I can find a shop who has them all.
I don't want to spend a whole lot because it's just something I'll use on the side.
Ease of use is a priority. I don't want to scroll through menus to change sounds. I just need cleanish, slightly overdriven and rock overdrive that are switchable with a turn of a knob or push of a button. No need for 32 different amps and 115 FX.
And it has to be portable.
The Pocket Pod Express fits that description. The question remains wether or not it sound OK enough.
The Tech 21 Liverpool is twice as expensive. It better be a whole lot better. On a demo clip it went from early Beatles to Brian May on steroids with just a turn of the character knob.
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I'll chip in and say....
DON'T let these tone hounds distract you or you'll end up with an Egnater rack system!!
Get the bloody Pocket Pod express.... it's peanuts does what you want and you could sell it in a jiffy bag to any kid on the block if you don't really like it.. :P
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podxt for cheap for sale on here
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I'll chip in and say....
DON'T let these tone hounds distract you or you'll end up with an Egnater rack system!!
Get the bloody Pocket Pod express.... it's peanuts does what you want and you could sell it in a jiffy bag to any kid on the block if you don't really like it.. :P
Yep, this man talks sense...
podxt for cheap for sale on here
As does this man, but I have to warn you that a POD XT has a high "omigod how many parameters have I got to understand?!!" factor to it... the very fact you can tweak so much makes you think you must be able to get "better" out of it than you've got already - I spent a year happily doing that before I actually realised I wasn't playing anything!! Might not qualify under your "ease of use" criteria :lol:
Nah, get on down and hear the cheap thingy(s) - if they rock (enough) straight out the packaging, then they rock... :D
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For the love of God, the saints and all that is holy...
GET THE BLOODY POD EXPRESS :lol: :lol:
It's what DREAMS would have been made of 10years ago for pocket change today..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKtN6XQW9ww
You can't buy a round of drinks in London for what it costs and "what you see is what you get" PDT_009
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I've just been off reading up about the pocket pod express - yep, Dave is dead right.
I would also consider the Pocket POD itself - a bit more expensive, but it has USB and downloadable editor software. I can't find out how much it will let you edit, but if it allows you near tone control parameters for the amp models (there are none on either unit), then that's the one to get, you'd be able to sort out any tinny-ness in the presets.
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This is becoming the most entertaining gear advice thread I ever started.
I've limited my list to:
1. Pocket Pod Express. Dirt cheap, easy to use might not sound OK enough.
2. Tech 21 Liverpool. More expensive, gets excellent reviews, can also be used with an actual amp.
I need to think this over.
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I need to think this over.
AARRRRHHHhhhhhhhh.... PDT_029 PDT_041 PDT_030 PDT_029 PDT_032 PDT_043 GETDAGODDAMPOD PDT_002
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I need to think this over.
AARRRRHHHhhhhhhhh.... PDT_029 PDT_041 PDT_030 PDT_029 PDT_032 PDT_043 GETDAGODDAMPOD PDT_002
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I have to admit Dave raises valid points.
Nevertheless, would still go with the Sansamp. You have more controllability with it regarding tone. Lets say you play through a very bassy PA one day, you can accommodate that with zero fuss.
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Actually, you should get an Egnater rack setup.
How do you even set EQ on that pocket pod express thing?
I really shouldnt comment though - I hate the full blown pods with a passion.
What about any old preamp? Dont forget they come in pedal form as well. A JD10 or a v-twin or a twin tube whichever (there are two) or something. I'd have much more faith in that to give a couple of tolerable sounds under any cirmstances than that line 6 toy.
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I've tried the V-Twin. I didn't like it. Too dark and muddy in front of an amp. Used as a pre-amp into a PA it manages to be muddy and thin at the same time.
The H&K Tubeman II is actually really good into a PA. But again, too expensive.
The fact you can't EQ the Pod itself isn't such a great deal. You can EQ it with the PA.
I'm leaning towards the Tech 21 Liverpool.
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Yes, I got one.
We're starting the project next week. Time and money are scarce. No time to save up for a SansAmp.
It was only 59 euro so what the hell.
Yes, it sounds quite bad.................compared to my amp. It sounds better than the guitars that are usually to be heard on backing and karaoke tracks. What comes out sounds like a guitar. It sounds like a guitar sounds through your 1985 Ford Escort car stereo with a bass box in the trunk.
It's good enough for now.
Some of the FX are actually surprisingly good esecially the tremolo and the spring.
The clean sound Fendery and you can get some dirt in it.
The twang doesn't sound twangy. More like a cranked Princeton.
The crunch doesn't sound Voxy. Too dark.
The rock setting is decent and usable. A little too much bass and honk to my taste.
The metal setting is also pretty good for what it's supposed to doo. Bassy and sludgy. Like Justice For All on a worn cassette tape.