Line 6 tonecore pedals

[Gr8Scott]

Anyone else out there think these things cost too darned much? I've done some research and I think that these units cost so darned much because you have most of the processing being done in the base of the unit with a general purpose DSP and the knobs and the programming (eprom) are all in the module. This means that the modules are worthless without the base and the base is worthless without the modules. Neat idea for marketing, but i think it would have been better for everyone if they made the stereo and mono enclosures with voltage supply and made the expensive metal bases a bit cheaper. Adding the DSP etc to the module portion isn't going to be a huge technological leap and it would let you do all the processing on one board instead of two boards and a bus. This would make the overall product cheaper to purchase (less complicated) and easier to modify (you would then have inexpensive ready-made shells to house your old soundtank tube screamer circuit or other projects).

So what do you think? Did line 6 do the smart thing here?

It seems smart on paper, but the overall cost is prohibitive and few are willing to pay so much for a single operable pedal unless it's stunning in it's quality. So far, I'd say that maybe two of their tonecore series pedals are that good (verbzilla and echo-park). The rest of their effects just don't seem to be worth it to me. I may spring for a verbzilla (pardon the pun), but that will be about as far as I go down that line. This makes the entire line an absolute failure in my eyes.

(I set this thing to be a poll, but something must have gone wrong...)

 

[jony]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

They offer things in some of their products that you'd have to buy a few pedals to achieve right now.

Like the Dr Distorto... Which other pedal does that sustainer thing? Not unless you go buy a Fernandes system or scout for a Boss DF2. So thats what they are trying to go by.

Then again of course they could be cheaper... ANYTHING "guitar" CAN BE CHEAPER

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

The docking station in a neat idea. But other than the verbzilla. None of there pedals do much for me.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I thought the build quality was a bit suspect for the long haul...

How's that leslie pedal?

The Boss one looks WAAAAAAY hipper and that rotating LED is totally groovy.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I don't like how the tonecore pedals buzz if you try to daisy chain them with other pedals off the same power supply. They also don't seem to play well with other pedals . . .

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I've also heard that the pedals have large power requirements that eat batteries for breakfast which makes using batteries a frustrating and expensive proposition.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I thought the build quality was a bit suspect for the long haul...

I had one of the knobs on my Tap Trem pop off with no coaxing from me. I still like that pedal and the comp. I bought them used though and I figured if I needed to replace anything I could buy a module.

 

[joelap]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I wont even waste my time with most effects being made today, ESPECIALLY digital ones!

Battery life ALONE is enough of a reason to keep me away. Second, almost every single digital pedal I tried had a harshness to it I could not dial out. Line 6 distortion modeler did the same thing to me... almost every single setting was close to the original pedal, but just a tad on the harsh side. Maybe its me. I found my Mesa Mark IIB to be harsh and "forced" sounding so I returned it... so maybe its my ears?

Long, roundabout answer to: I cant say I'd recommend these pedals really.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I had the delay & the chorus, they sounded good, but the tap tempo and the power isuues were a pain to me. Does anyone else feel the same about the tap tempo on those units? I kept changing the settings instead of turning the units on & off. :eek13:

 

[gripweed]

Re: Line 6 tonecore pedals

I had the delay & the chorus, they sounded good, but the tap tempo and the power isuues were a pain to me. Does anyone else feel the same about the tap tempo on those units? I kept changing the settings instead of turning the units on & off. :eek13:

Yeah, it's hard to find the right *touch* on those things.