Flextone III's and the PodXT

[Skarekrough]

So, I've been heming and hawing about a digital rig.

I have a PodXT as well as a Crate PowerBlock. In the past I've used the PowerBlock and had passable results.

I've considered the potential of going with an Atomic Amp. They're nice, but they're expensive.

Then it occured to me, aren't the Flextone III's the guts of the PodXT with a power and speaker cab?

Are the speaker sims on the Flextone going to be better than turning them off, as is what typically has to happen with the Atomic Amps and the PowerBlock?

I like the idea of being able to create patches with the PodXT at home and then just bring my laptop to a rehearsal and put them on the actual amp.

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

the POD XT has more efx and more efx at a time, and more amp models

chris

 

[DankStar]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

I think I'm going guitar-->modeller--->power block--->4-12" cab soon myself (already got the power block, guitar, and cab, so...).

You actually have the setup I think would be ideal with the POD XT. just get a kick ass cab and a footswitch (unless you have those too) and you're set for anything. I don't see why you'd need a flextone III. The only better setup I think would be a modeller and other "small head for power" like a sovtex mg or even a Carvin rack tube power amp.

I guess what I need to do is run a line out from my Flextone I head into the Power Block to see just how the two brands/products interact. I gotta do that today.

Small setups is where it's at.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

I don't think that a flextone would be much of an improvement from what you've got right now. An atomic would be though.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

Small setups is where it's at.

I concur...and the less stuff I have to carry the better off I know I'll be.

....so rather than lugging around the PodXT, the PowerBlock and the cab....having a single amp that handles all of those functions with the ability to fly patches in created from the PodXT with a laptop before a gig or rehearsal makes more sense to me.

I'm not the kind of guy that likes lugging alot around and is prone to leave an amp in a rehearsal space.

The Atomic may sound better...but not having one to be able to hear how much better it is it's hard to really know what I'm missing.

The other issue I have is that for every gig I'm going to have to pack up the PodXT and bring it with me as well as the Atomic. With the Flextone III all I need to have is a laptop, and that's if I'm going to be transfering any patches.

The more I think about this the more the Flextone III is making sense to me. My majot stumbling block is the difference in features which I have heard a little about, but no major deal-breakers for me.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

Why do ya need to pack up the XT and the atomic separately? The atomics have a little slot on 'em where you can put in your modeler, carry the whole thing as a single unit. Wouldn't be much different from a flextone.

Speaking from experience, if you do get a flextone, I'd suggest that you go for the higher-wattage model. I've got a 60 watt version of the flextone I and it struggles in a band situation.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

Why do ya need to pack up the XT and the atomic separately? The atomics have a little slot on 'em where you can put in your modeler, carry the whole thing as a single unit. Wouldn't be much different from a flextone.

The difference is that for each trip I would need to pack up the PodXT.

At the very minimalist with all the patches loaded into the Flextone and the amp left at the rehearsal space the only thing I would need to bring with me is guitars.

...and I'm a big fan of just having to show up with guitars.

Speaking from experience, if you do get a flextone, I'd suggest that you go for the higher-wattage model. I've got a 60 watt version of the flextone I and it struggles in a band situation.

I've dealt with the 2 x 12 Flextones before. I had one from the first series. Not a big fan of an amp that big.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

The difference is that for each trip I would need to pack up the PodXT.

At the very minimalist with all the patches loaded into the Flextone and the amp left at the rehearsal space the only thing I would need to bring with me is guitars.

...and I'm a big fan of just having to show up with guitars.

I do understand the whole ease of just showing up with a single unit, but...maybe I'm not quite explaining myself well enough:

I was under the impression that all you had to do was pop your modeler into the top of that thing, and ya wouldn't have to pack it up separately. You could just carry the whole thing as a whole, and it wouldn't be any different than a combo amp.

I've dealt with the 2 x 12 Flextones before. I had one from the first series. Not a big fan of an amp that big.

Still, They offer another model above the 60 watter thats a 1X12 as well. Its 75 watts stand-alone, and has the option of going up to 150 watts with an extension cab.

The only drawback is that its about 300 dollars more...****.

I'm reminded of why I intensely dislike line 6.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

I guess it comes down to a personal choice, and the 6-of-one half-dozen thing. I mean, there's always going to be some "lugging" with anything you choose, but with stuff like a pod and power block, you just get a bag or box that holds 'em both. The atomic looks hella cool, but it seems to just turn a pod into a line 6 combo amp (but I'm sure with beefier components). The laptop thing sounds a little cumbersome to me, but maybe that's the best solution.

I mainly just want a pod 2.0 simply because I already have a 4-button line 6 footswitch, whereas if I went XT or vox tonelab, I'd have to get an expensive vox footswitch or a MIDI pedal that's 80 feet wide.

at any rate, sounds like yer figuring it out!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

Atomic = considerably warmer, more "realistic", and slightly more dynamic/responsive to player touch than flextone III.

If you've already got a a POD and a footswitch/board, the Atomic is a no-brainer AFAIC.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

Well, this managed to work itself out.

This morning I found a 2 x 12 Marshall JCM 800 cab on CraigsList for pretty stupid money. When I talked to the guy I found out he lived less than 5 miles from me.

Sometimes when you hem and haw about things long enough even fate gets tired of listening to you and drops something right into your lap.

So, the next project for me will be to figure out a good transportation solution for a PowerBlock and the PodXT.

Thanks for all the input. If this doesn't work out I know I'll probably go Atomic and that'll be the end of it.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Flextone III's and the PodXT

:cool3: