Recommendations for a good unit for silent practice

[Ian Price]

one of the reasons I went for the Vox Tonelab was because, during an hour or so try-out in the shop, it was exhibiting a lot less fizz on the just breaking up tones that I was after (compared to the XTLive I'd just spent 18 months tweaking!).

Cheers Andy - that's interesting. Some of you may know that Frusciante is may long standing favourite guitarist - it's his tone that does it for me. Perhaps the Tonelab is more up that street.

[Ian Price]

Quick question Andy - I see the Tonelab ST has an aux input but can't see anything like this for the LE? I took a quick look and couldn't see anything. I'm looking at getting something that also has a line in so I can play along to backing tracks/my iPod.

[MDV]

I dont recall one when I had a TL LE, no.

[d1dsj]

I use either a Pandora or a Tascam GT1 (the one that's a cd player) which are ok for silent practise and they do quite a good job and I don't really mind too much that they can't get close to my amps sounds.

[Matt77]

The digital hybrid vox stuff will do the best just breaking up tones in your budget IMHO. Go try some out, there's bound to be some local. I bought mine for a temp fix whilst I was between proper amps. I gave it away to someone as a present, but I can always borrow it back for the Oct meet if you don't get the chance to try one before then.

I'm guessing the trigger will have been pulled long before then though! :)

[Ian Price]

The digital hybrid vox stuff will do the best just breaking up tones in your budget IMHO. Go try some out, there's bound to be some local. I bought mine for a temp fix whilst I was between proper amps. I gave it away to someone as a present, but I can always borrow it back for the Oct meet if you don't get the chance to try one before then.

I'm guessing the trigger will have been pulled long before then though! :)

Maybe - depends on money etc. I'll give you a shout if I've not made a decision by then.

Cheers Matt.

[Philly Q]

I've got the PODxt and several generations of the Korg Pandora (which is great for a cheap and cheerful unit and also has some fun little rhythm tracks).  I also had a Digitech GNX4 which I didn't like much.

I think it's worth mentioning that even though they're "artificial", digital modellers do respond very differently to different guitars and pickups.  On the POD some models sound great with humbuckers and shite with single-coils, for others it's the opposite; some only seem to work with P-90s.

[AndyR]

Like MDV says, I don't think the Tonelab LE has any ability to take an AUX input.

One thing worth mentioning - the Tonelab uses "Valvetronix", the same Vox modelling technology as used in the Valvetronix hybrid/modelling amps. I went for the Tonelab because it suited my purpose better - I had no need for amplification/speakers with the models.

And I'd agree with Philly - some models sound better with different types of pickups: humbuckers, singles, P90s. This applies to both the Vox and Line6 stuff. On the other hand, I'd say that it applies to real amplifiers as well!

Actually, for me, I seem to recall that the POD XTLive seemed to respond best to a Variax plugged into it... :roll:

[Ian Price]

Cheers all - some useful info and experiences in there. I'm really hoping that my son grows out of his light sleeping phase and I can get back to using the martamp at some point in the near future.

I'm still undecided between the Line 6 and the Vox - I've had experience of the original XT Live and thought it was pretty decent, agree that some of the settings sound awful for single coils. I never tried it with a Variax.

Perhaps the Tonelab ST is the best way forward for me - it's relatively cheap compared to the LE and X3, has an aux input and should be a suitable stop gap until my son grows up a bit. The only thing I need to do now is try one out  :D

[Philly Q]

And I'd agree with Philly - some models sound better with different types of pickups: humbuckers, singles, P90s. This applies to both the Vox and Line6 stuff. On the other hand, I'd say that it applies to real amplifiers as well!

Yeah, absolutely, even more so!  :D

But I've often seen comments from digital-haters saying it doesn't matter what you put into a Line 6 (or similar), it'll sound exactly the same, which is totally untrue.

[AndyR]

You know what the real solution is - that boy's gotta toughen up some... :lol:

There's no use molly-coddling. The missus might object, but you know what needs to be done - amplifier beside cot, start playing "bed-time-twelve-bar-boogies" at a reasonable volume instead of reading "bed-time-stories".

He'll soon get acclimatised, and will sleep happily through Daddy's noodlings any time of day or night.