Amp modeler choice (again)?

[jclogston]

Hi –
So I’ll be moving in 2 weeks time to an apartment and have to resort to using either playing through headphones or pc speakers directly (not with laptop). Also would like to record with my laptop.
Looking at the following modelers:

:no:Zoom G2 – sturdy, has many amps/models to chose from, drum capability, inexpensive, tuner, built-in footswitch, need manual at first as less knobs up front.

:no:Behringer V-amp2 – plastic, may have reliability issues, comes with footswitch, inexpensive, easy to use (everything up front).

Line 6 Pod v2 – expensive, would have to go used, easy to use, ‘industry standard’.

:no:Korg Ampworks – simple to use, very cheap, only 2-3 saved sounds.

Add Johnston J-station.

Really only looking at these 5…any comments/suggestions? Which one would you use?
Also, I play mostly old school metal – metallica, king diamond, 80’s metal, etc….


Thanks in advance

jeff

 

[Hellion]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I like Line 6, personally. They've consistently been the leader in the modeling technology for a long time and show no signs of relinquishing the title. The original P.O.D.S. are still very good (they're what I use in the studio) and still relatively inexpensive.

 

[greendy123]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

How about the new line6 toneport, they go for around $100.

 

[jclogston]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

Hi -
The toneport is out as my laptop is older and don't meet the pc requirements. Also i prefer the versatility of allwoing the modeler to be hooked up to a power amp (say a tech 21 power engine) down the line.

jeff

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I had a Behringer V-Amp Pro for about two years and a V-Amp for awhile as well. For headphone amps I wasn't all that impressed with them. The Pro was nice for recording, but Behringer really isn't all that interested in creating a community or doing anything with the V-Amps. They just seem to have put them out there to steal some of Line 6's potential sales.

I picked up a POD XT last weekend and am having alot of fun with it. It's ALOT better as a headphone amp and has SO much more available to it.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I like KORG (the fact that they are affiliated with VOX may be and influence)
But havent heard them
One thing dont get boss they suck
I tried a Line Vetta and that had a few good tones (for digital).

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

Line 6 XT or Vox Tonelab. The rest sounds like DOD to me.

 

[jclogston]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

So I've decided against the korg ampworks (see first post).
I'm going to try out the pod and the zoom g2 tomorrow and see what i like/dislike and go from there...

Thanks everyone for their comments......keep them comin'.............

 

[Mincer]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

the Johnson J-Station...it is discontinued, but they sound really great, and they have a software editor as well.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I'm most familiar with Line6 products, and they've worked great for me (I, too, live in an apartment, and the modelling is perfect for good tones at minimal volumes).

I do not recommend computer based software. Trust me, I own a computer that blows away the recommended system requirements (not minimum, but recommended) and I still have latency issues when recording. The modelling software hogs so much of the system's resources that it bogs down recording software. Stick with a POD, IMO, if you go with Line6.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I had a Behringer V-Amp Pro for about two years and a V-Amp for awhile as well. For headphone amps I wasn't all that impressed with them. The Pro was nice for recording, but Behringer really isn't all that interested in creating a community or doing anything with the V-Amps. They just seem to have put them out there to steal some of Line 6's potential sales.

I picked up a POD XT last weekend and am having alot of fun with it. It's ALOT better as a headphone amp and has SO much more available to it.

\

I agree. I have aBeringer and I don't really use it. It's not that bad; but the Pod is so much better...

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

the Johnson J-Station...it is discontinued, but they sound really great, and they have a software editor as well.

I had a J-Station for awhile and really liked the sounds it got. I eventually sold it because the MIDI on it didn't work and thusly the software editor was useless to me.

With the unit being discontinued support and updates would be the major drawback. But if there's no intention of rigging it up to a computer it should DEFINETLEY be on the list of potentials!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I don't care for the Line 6 sounds. All of their voicings sound a bit too "polished" to my ears. I'd look long and hard at the Korg units, or even better, a used Vox Tonelab.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

the XT is really good with headphones, but for recording it really pisses me off. it takes so much tweaking to get a usable tone its rediculous. distortion that is, the cleans are great though.

 

[jclogston]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

the XT is really good with headphones, but for recording it really pisses me off. it takes so much tweaking to get a usable tone its rediculous. distortion that is, the cleans are great though.

is this why you own a v-amp2 instead?

jeff

 

[MBreinin]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I have owned a V-Amp Pro for a year now and I do not agree with those who have been putting it down. I think there are indeed alot of very usable guitar tones in it. Also, it is very easy to use and very affordable. I used it almost daily as a headphone amp, and I also run it through the effects return of an old Peavey Studio Pro 112 and it really shines in that environement as well. I think for $150, you can't go wrong.

The Modern High gain model is absolutely killer...especially with the 2x12 Cab model, #10.

Mike

 

[ex-250]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

is this why you own a v-amp2 instead?

jeff

no, i got the v-amp first. then about a year and a half later i got the XT. right now im just using the XT. cleans on the v-amp are constantly distorting out, its really annoying. on the XT however, theyre pretty consistently good. as far as a distortion comparison....i dunno. the v-amp sounds drier. the POD can be kinda fizzy if you dont EQ it exactly right. and even then it can be kinda empty, which i remedied with now quadruple tracking everything (far left, 3/4 left, 3/4 right, far right) and it sounds pretty badass.

 

[Hecubus]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I know it's not on your list, but I agree with those who recommended the J-Station. When I got mine back in '02, I was debating between the V-Amp, the POD and the J. I think they all have their strengths and weaknesses, but the things that sold me on the J were
1) the digital output,
2) the software editor (it is amazing, like a virtual rack with lots of flexibility),
3) the community (at the time). While you may only see a tumbleweed roll across the J-Station forum now and again, the archive should help you with any troubleshooting, and the patch library is alive and well with close to 150 patches (most of them very usable).
4) the price- I don't think the POD has earned it's price tag and the V-AMP was the same price as the J,
5) and of course the sound. I love the rectifier and Marshall models. They sound very realistic and warm. The cleans sound a bit processed, but it sounds like you are more into distortion anyway.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

 

[jclogston]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

I know it's not on your list, but I agree with those who recommended the J-Station. When I got mine back in '02, I was debating between the V-Amp, the POD and the J. I think they all have their strengths and weaknesses, but the things that sold me on the J were
1) the digital output,
2) the software editor (it is amazing, like a virtual rack with lots of flexibility),
3) the community (at the time). While you may only see a tumbleweed roll across the J-Station forum now and again, the archive should help you with any troubleshooting, and the patch library is alive and well with close to 150 patches (most of them very usable).
4) the price- I don't think the POD has earned it's price tag and the V-AMP was the same price as the J,
5) and of course the sound. I love the rectifier and Marshall models. They sound very realistic and warm. The cleans sound a bit processed, but it sounds like you are more into distortion anyway.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

uuuuggg...when you break it down like that i have to consider it now.......more decisions...damn you......:fingersx:

Seriously though, i always liked the j-station. I tried one a few years back through some small crappy solid state amp (i think it was a kustom, the one with the puffy plastic look to it (looked like a pillow)) and it sounded great. The only downside is that i would have to get it used and its out of production (both model and company).........

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Amp modeler choice (again)?

The POD v2 would be a cheap option because they still sell new but the XT has taken over as the "better pod" now so the v2 is much cheaper than it used to be...plus its got lots of great sounds good for recording and bedroom level amp playing alike. So you should be able to pick one of them up cheap and that would be your best bet.

The J-station is also a good one and would be cheap now if you can find one. The pod XT is good ive heard but also like people are saying its very fiddly, so id definitely go for the pod v2 for price and usability.