How Do You Rate The POD?

[shogunlegend]

alright, i've taken a lot of heat because i don't praise the pod. admittedly, i thought the original pod 1.0 was the best sounding of all, then they stopped making them and their newer ones didn't sound as good to me. i really don't think too highly of the pod, but allow me to be CLEAR why.

my reason for not being a fan of the pod is PRICE... YES, "PRICE!" they got the add-on packs which costs money, the guitar port stuff, the software, etc... if you buy into the whole pod thing, you would probably be better off buying a friggin tube amp.

having owned a few pods, i've extensively compared the pod xt live to the boss gt-8. i don't know how intimiately familiar the naysayers actually are with teh gt-8, but i'm pretty confident that people who have actually owned both and compared them side by side long enough will agree that the gt-8 is better.

better why? well, IMO, the amp models sound better for one. the effects kill the pod xt as far as i'm concerned. it's user friendly and there are plenty fo great and useful features. i just think the overall tone is better.s

i'm not saying hte pod sucks, and i don't think i ever have, i just don't praise it. to me, the gt-8 is better and worth a high price in comparison

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I've never played through a GT-8, so I had to stick with grading the POD. I gave it a grade of "B": I find a lot of value in what's it's able to accomplish, given what it's built to do, but I generally prefer the gain sounds of my Vox Valvetronix over the POD, which tells me there's room for improvement.

Like most feature-rich products, this one takes some time and patience to dial in quality sounds. The factory settings are pretty awful, which I find odd. Perhaps they're meant to sound best in an uncontrolled novice guitarist's hands at Guitar Center. However, with the USB connectivity feature, you're able to share settings with others -- this is a real boon, since lots of guys out there (including some forum bros here) have put together some really incredible sounds.

I won't go into a full-blown review of the POD -- seems to me either you like it or don't.

- Keith

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I gave it a B - it's not quite perfect, but it sounds ****ed good for what it is.

Who cares if other people like a different piece of gear better? We all have different tastes, and we'll all like certain products over others. There's no point in trying to 'convert' others into using your specific piece of gear.

 

[jmh151]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

If I play it through the effects loop of a good tube amp I can get a ton of great tones. I'm not crazy about the effects, they're too hard to adjust unless you plug it into a computer, and then again, they're too digital sounding.

Some say it sounds best through a good set of headphones. I just went out and spent $350 on a set of Bose noise cancelling headphones (not solely for the POD), and I'm very disappointed, it sounds even more digital, cold, and muddy.

I got a Pod XT used for $130, so I was lucky. I spend another $200 upgrading the model packs. I was about to get the footboard since they have a digitech whammy pedal modeled on there now, until I played through an Orange Tiny Terror. That little $550 amp has the feel and tone I'm missing.

I think it's nice as a practice toy. It's fun to plug the XT into my Carvin V3 and nail Metallica's Master of Puppets tone, which may be because they used ADA MP-1's on that album. It does not get the 3-D character of a real live tube amp. Since I have a Marshall JCM800, I can say that the Marshall models are a bit lifeless, but may sound like a Marshall recorded.

Some things it's nice for. For example, the Marshall Major model is perfect if you have a strat and want to play early Deep Purple. But then you go on their online tone exchange, and the people claiming to have Ritchie Blackmore settings are using a Soldano model. And their Engle model sounds nothing like Ritchie Blackmore's more recent live material. Forget about trying to get EVH's brown sound, unless you want the mid '90's F.*.C.K. live tone using the Soldano model.

The GT-8 reminds me too much of the Digitech RP-6 that I had, so I won't even consider plugging into one. Over the years I've collected every pedal I wanted and I'm better off just using stomp boxes- though the GT-8 is a cheaper alternative

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

Some say it sounds best through a good set of headphones. I just went out and spent $350 on a set of Bose noise cancelling headphones (not solely for the POD), and I'm very disappointed, it sounds even more digital, cold, and muddy.

In all honesty, that's probably the headphones. Despite all the hype, Bose really doesn't sound all that hot, especially when compared to something like Sennheiser, which designs specifically with musicians and recording applications in mind.

 

[BlueSky]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

Gt-8 I don't use preamp or the OD. I Just like the effects more. Seems like way more tweakablity.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I gave it a B - it's not quite perfect, but it sounds ****ed good for what it is.

Who cares if other people like a different piece of gear better? We all have different tastes, and we'll all like certain products over others. There's no point in trying to 'convert' others into using your specific piece of gear.

thanks for your comments. i'm not trying to convert anyone though. i think the POD XT could be better in terms of sound and perhaps more useful as a front end to an amp, but my main concern is the price. my argument really is that why pay $400 for the pod when you can get the gt-8 for $450? personally, and not trying to say this as a matter of fact, i think the gt-8 offers better tone for a variety of music, better features, and more useful in different situations. in any case, i'm just trying to get some feedback.

 

[WhammyBar Allstar]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I've never tried a Pod through an amp, but I tried one through a P.A. before... I was kinda cringing the whole time but it got me through. I've heard alot of great things about the Vox Tonelab SE? I think that's what it's called. People have said it sounds alot more natural than the Pod and it does have a tube in it. Never tried it myself though.

 

[J Moose]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I sometimes miss my old Johnson J-Station. That at least responded to playing pretty nicely... had a good set of tones.

I miss it, but usually only for a minute!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

my argument really is that why pay $400 for the pod when you can get the gt-8 for $450?

To save $50.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I gave it a B because it's very very good (and great for recording) but still not the real thing.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I've never tried a Pod through an amp, but I tried one through a P.A. before... I was kinda cringing the whole time but it got me through. I've heard alot of great things about the Vox Tonelab SE? I think that's what it's called. People have said it sounds alot more natural than the Pod and it does have a tube in it. Never tried it myself though.

i owned the tonelab se and it does really have a great sound. it doesn't use all that modeling really like the pod, so i tend to prefer it over the pod because it sounds very natural. i don't think the metal distortion sounds as great as the tube distortion, but it does sound great in any case. i love what it does to the cleans. you can have a tube amp with ok cleans and turn it into more of a compressed sparkle like you hear in vox amps. great product i think.

 

[blueslegend8]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I've got a POD 2.0 and I hate it, haven't used it in years.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I gave it a C, I have neither the time nor the patience to play around with something that can't even sound good on the presets (whether or not it can sound better is not in question, I think that Line 6 should set it up properly in the first place) but I admit its a great concept and if developed further to sound more natural would be an amazing piece of equipment.

+ for potential

- for interface and presets

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

OK 2 questions -

1) what are the good places to download good POD XTL settings?

2) sooooo how does the POD XTL compare versus BOTH the VOX Tonelab and GT8?

The best sounds I have ever heard for live into the front of a tube amp were a GT6 (not GT8) into a Carvin MTS or Fender Red Knob Twin.

My friend got good tones out of the Vox Tonelab, but I still always ponder if all these modelers aren't ROUGHLY THE SAME? I don't wanna get into a spending spree on this kinda technology, as tube amps are always my number 1.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

It is what it is...........don't expect a Matchless amp out of a couple hundred dollars worth of diodes just because one of the patches says MATCHLESS.

or Soldano...or Marshall...or Fender

It's a small lightweight reasonable facsimile of the real thing....don't expect anything other than that & you'll dig it as just another tool.

 

[guitarded]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I used to use it in front of a power amp for live work, but I had too many problems associated with the live sound not being consistent.... The single biggest problem was co-existence with the second guitarist. Some patches would barely cut through where others would just overwhelm the other guitar. I was spending too much time managing various patches and spot tweaking levels, and my practice routine was suffering as a result.

I still have the POD but I use it with head phones or in front of my Valve Junior practice rig. There are still those days where I can blow away hours tweaking this thing, but I definitely would never depend on it for a live situation again. A lot of people on the line6 forums say they have had a lot of success with using it for live work with the Atomic Reactor Modeling amp, but the combined price of the new pieces can get a very nice tube amp.

It is also great for traveling when I have no room in the car for an amp.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

I've never tried a Pod through an amp, but I tried one through a P.A. before... I was kinda cringing the whole time but it got me through...

Did you tweak it after plugging in? The PA is another link in YOUR tonal/signal chain when using a POD. You have to adjust to the situation. Just checking.

I gave it a C, I have neither the time nor the patience to play around with something that can't even sound good on the presets (whether or not it can sound better is not in question, I think that Line 6 should set it up properly in the first place) but I admit its a great concept and if developed further to sound more natural would be an amazing piece of equipment.

+ for potential

- for interface and presets

:scratchch Funny. I've never found a multieffects/modeler device with presets that I liked. The xt Live has a few that were usable with minimal tweaking, which was a vast improvement over the 2.0. As a general rule, presets were developed for quite a different audience in mind than the average axe-wielder, IME.

OK 2 questions -

1) what are the good places to download good POD XTL settings?

2) sooooo how does the POD XTL compare versus BOTH the VOX Tonelab and GT8?

The best sounds I have ever heard for live into the front of a tube amp were a GT6 (not GT8) into a Carvin MTS or Fender Red Knob Twin.

My friend got good tones out of the Vox Tonelab, but I still always ponder if all these modelers aren't ROUGHLY THE SAME? I don't wanna get into a spending spree on this kinda technology, as tube amps are always my number 1.

Actually, the POD (and other modellers) were not designed to be placed in front of a tube guitar amp (unless you are referring to the Atomic Reactor). They were designed to mimic the amp. Some folks have had success using the POD as an effects unit, but it does not work well with my amp.

Best setup for a POD is direct to the board. Then you get the best of the amp modeling.

It is what it is...........don't expect a Matchless amp out of a couple hundred dollars worth of diodes just because one of the patches says MATCHLESS.

or Soldano...or Marshall...or Fender

It's a small lightweight reasonable facsimile of the real thing....don't expect anything other than that & you'll dig it as just another tool.

Perluss Whun.

 

[cake55]

Re: How Do You Rate The POD?

i have several line6 things pod xt
pod v1..pod pro..guitarport..DM4..
verbzilla

to me the pod xt is better for recording
as too sum of there other stuff
the pedals are fine verbzilla/DM4
if playing live it becomes an expensive
effect box without using the cabs!

ive used tones of gear over the years
your boss BE5/GT5..Digitech ect
and if your using a amp you cant beat
pedals or set ur multi effects up like
a row of pedals
another factor the kind of music your
playing, if you look at the guitar dudes
sum mix old type pedals with sum rack
midi stuff for ease of use..

but as for the wee red pod units they
are better for recording in my view!
GT8 i have no experience with it but
am sure it will be better for live use
than the pod xt


Bruce