Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

[Mr.Geoffroy]

hi guys ,
i have a line 6 spider 4 75 , and i was thinking in buy a valve pedal , of a braziliam brand , called efx , they make boutique pedals ( hand made ) for a very good price.the pedal that i was thinking in buy is this one:http://www.efxpedais.com/hotbox.html

( i would let it on a clean tone, just to give me a more hot and tipical valve sound, for use on every preset of the amp , and sometime use the dist too)

what do you thing ? thats a good idea?

( i like of a bluesy tone , like clapton , and stevie ray, some Van halen , ac dc , IRON MAIDEN , whitesnake, etc)

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

you are using the wrong amp for those kinds of tones

a pedal might help but won't fix it

get yourself a marshall and an overdrive pedal

 

[Mr.Geoffroy]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

you are using the wrong amp for those kinds of tones

a pedal might help but won't fix it

get yourself a marshall and an overdrive pedal

it was so cheap in Brazil ...( the tube marshalls )
but you think that with this pedal I could get some of these tones?

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

yeah it's cheap everywhere

you can get close to those tons out of the box, but that amp is never going to sound as good as you want it to...because it's cheap

it doesn't make sense to plug expensive boutique pedals into a cheap amp.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

I will have to disagree with Empty Pockets on this and let you know you can get great tones out of that amp, and by adding a good pedal to it, achieve what you are looking for.

This is what I used when I was experimenting with the Spider IV 150 watt combo. Now it is going to have a slightly different sound than the 75 watt'er due to the single speaker vs 2x12's in the 150, but should get close to what I obtained.

I used a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Blue into the front of the Spider IV and "WOW" did it open it up. It changed the character of the Amp 180 degrees. I really think that is what the twin tube series was made for. You can definitely get the tone you are looking for and more. I used the "Like Butta" setting on the amp to get even more crazy with it. However if you use it clean is the best way to experiment with this type of pedal.


I have no experience with the Brazilian pedal you mentioned, however if it uses tubes to create its sound, it might be OK.

Now of-course you can get a better amp, thats an obvious answer and one that Empty Pockets uses all the time rather than have you work with what you have. Go for the pedal,... experiment. You are going to have fun either way.

Keep us in the loop and let us know what you decided.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

If you can find a pedal with the tone you want - go for it. Get all the fuzz/grind/grit whatever from the pedal.

Then just use the amp for volume/fx.

A comment - In my old age I find I can get a decent sound out of most things - to my ear, at least. Learn to play the amp. Use it's strengths, minimize it's weaknesses. Learn to really eq well. Be tasteful with effects and don't overdo it. Watch the gain - less is usually more.

I personally hate the Spider line, but I haven't played any new ones.

 

[Mr.Geoffroy]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

I will have to disagree with Empty Pockets on this and let you know you can get great tones out of that amp, and by adding a good pedal to it, achieve what you are looking for.

This is what I used when I was experimenting with the Spider IV 150 watt combo. Now it is going to have a slightly different sound than the 75 watt'er due to the single speaker vs 2x12's in the 150, but should get close to what I obtained.

I used a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Blue into the front of the Spider IV and "WOW" did it open it up. It changed the character of the Amp 180 degrees. I really think that is what the twin tube series was made for. You can definitely get the tone you are looking for and more. I used the "Like Butta" setting on the amp to get even more crazy with it. However if you use it clean is the best way to experiment with this type of pedal.


I have no experience with the Brazilian pedal you mentioned, however if it uses tubes to create its sound, it might be OK.

Now of-course you can get a better amp, thats an obvious answer and one that Empty Pockets uses all the time rather than have you work with what you have. Go for the pedal,... experiment. You are going to have fun either way.

Keep us in the loop and let us know what you decided.

Thanks man, I'll keep you guys informed about my decision

 

[Mr.Geoffroy]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

If you can find a pedal with the tone you want - go for it. Get all the fuzz/grind/grit whatever from the pedal.

Then just use the amp for volume/fx.

A comment - In my old age I find I can get a decent sound out of most things - to my ear, at least. Learn to play the amp. Use it's strengths, minimize it's weaknesses. Learn to really eq well. Be tasteful with effects and don't overdo it. Watch the gain - less is usually more.

I personally hate the Spider line, but I haven't played any new ones.

Thanks man, I'll keep you guys informed about my decision

 

[Mr.Geoffroy]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

hey, I found another pedal, which like the other one is also based on Marshall amps: http://www.efxpedais.com/pureplexi.html
see the second video sample of it.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

i appreciate that you had to use extra-large and bold text to refute my opinions, briggleman. i guess if you've got a bad idea you have to try really hard to sell it..?

however i still maintain that plugging expensive pedals into cheap amps is akin to polishing a turd -- if you're gona spend money on an amp and pedals, there are good amps and pedals out there to spend money on.

Just using local prices, a 75watt Spider 4 is $300. The Twin Tube pedals are all about $200. So you're already in for $500 -- you should've gotten a Vox Night Train, a used Blues Jr, a Marshall Class 5 or an Egnater Tweaker, because those are all quality vintage-style tube amps that, being vintage-style by nature and design, will be easier to coax vintage-style tones out of. You can plug cheap OD or boost pedals ($40-$100) into the front of these amps and get all the types of tones you're looking for.

Clapton, EVH, Stevie Ray Vaughn, those guys all used vintage-style tube amps. I think it's pretty reasonable to use something similar if that's the sound you want.

Line 6 makes good stuff but it's definitely geared for a more modern hi-gain sound. Midrangey classic rock crunch is not their forte...sure they do it okay but it's nothing close to a real tube amp being pushed beyond it's limits.

Anyway good luck with your quest.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

i appreciate that you had to use extra-large and bold text to refute my opinions, briggleman. i guess if you've got a bad idea you have to try really hard to sell it..?

No, the bold text is to make it readable, I find my eyes... and will admit my ears are not what they use to be, and I do use bold text in almost every post I make. As for it being a bad idea to use a pedal to make up for what is lacking in an amp.........YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME...... we musicians do it every single day.

however i still maintain that plugging expensive pedals into cheap amps is akin to polishing a turd -- if you're gona spend money on an amp and pedals, there are good amps and pedals out there to spend money on.

This may be the way you seem to look at life. Lets spend money on that great tube amp and guess what, most of the ones you recommend only do that one thing very well, but its only one tone. I along with many others find variety the spice of life. I go for a lot of tones for the money. I can augment every great amp and make it better with pedals, I can augment every mediocre amp and make it better with pedals.

Just using local prices, a 75watt Spider 4 is $300. The Twin Tube pedals are all about $200. So you're already in for $500 -- you should've gotten a Vox Night Train, a used Blues Jr, a Marshall Class 5 or an Egnater Tweaker, because those are all quality vintage-style tube amps that, being vintage-style by nature and design, will be easier to coax vintage-style tones out of. You can plug cheap OD or boost pedals ($40-$100) into the front of these amps and get all the types of tones you're looking for.....

Just read the original post. He wants to know if the pedal will get him in the direction he discribed.... all you could do was disrespect his existing equipment by calling it CHEAP and tell him to go get a Marshall.

Clapton, EVH, Stevie Ray Vaughn, those guys all used vintage-style tube amps. I think it's pretty reasonable to use something similar if that's the sound you want.

Line 6 makes good stuff but it's definitely geared for a more modern hi-gain sound. Midrangey classic rock crunch is not their forte...sure they do it okay but it's nothing close to a real tube amp being pushed beyond it's limits


Anyway good luck with your quest.

The only decent things you have said without insulting.

 

[Mr.Geoffroy]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

guys, you also have to remember that I live in Brazil, where this equipment are very expensive. so I bought the line 6 in the USA, where they are cheaper, the prices of instruments, amps, pedals are awfully high here in Brazil.
To give you an idea of a Marshall amp used (with a 4x12 cabinet ) is worth 7,500 reais, about $ 4,411. so it is very expensive to buy equipment in Brazil.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

some people would rather have 12 mediocre tones

i would prefer to have one good tone myself; whatever tho that's opinion

as far as me being "insulting"...Mr.Geoffroy called the amp cheap way before I posted in this thread sooo i was just using the word he used to describe it.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

some people would rather have 12 mediocre tones

i would prefer to have one good tone myself; whatever tho that's opinion

I think this is the majority opinion. Otherwise, we'd all be saying "my tones" instead of "my tone."

 

[briggleman]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

some people would rather have 12 mediocre tones

i would prefer to have one good tone myself; whatever tho that's opinion

as far as me being "insulting"...Mr.Geoffroy called the amp cheap way before I posted in this thread sooo i was just using the word he used to describe it.

Actually, Mr. Geoffroy did not use the word cheap when talking about his Line 6 amp, See below.

Originally Posted by Empty Pockets
you are using the wrong amp for those kinds of tones
a pedal might help but won't fix it
get yourself a marshall and an overdrive pedal

Mr. Geoffroy's response:

Originally Posted by Mr. Geoffroy
it was so cheap in Brazil ...( the tube marshalls )
but you think that with this pedal I could get some of these tones?

His written English is just a little off, Mr. Geoffroy is talking about the Marshalls being very expensive.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

^ learn to read

 

[briggleman]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

Can You? What is it in that (the tube marshalls) you don't understand.

EP, try to be a little more diplomatic.... you could make so many more sales!!

Look no bold lettering.... are you proud of me yet!!!

(Can't wait for this one) Sorry could not resist. :bling:

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

Now I see how the frowny face avatar came to be other than the empty pockets.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

A *clean* solid state amp can't suck out any "tube magic" already introduced into the signal. It's probably not gonna add anything great to the signal, either, but that's of less consequence.

Look at how many hybrid amps use a 12ax7 preamp and a SS power amp. They don't sound that bad. Some of em sound pretty cool. In effect, that's all the OP wants to do and I'd say yeah go for it.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Line 6 Spider 4 + some valve pedal?

^ and i don't disagree with that; you can definitely polish turds with decent results

i'm just advocating using quality gear instead