Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

Jimbojsr

Jimbojsr

New member
I'm having some trouble getting decent soudns out of my V-amp, through my Fender 650 SS amp. When I was playing it just there, everything sounded very trebly and sharp, even the fairly warm-sounding crunch model. I then had a thought, and put it into the "power-amp in" slot of my amp...

...and it sounds awful!!!! So distant, boxy and dull!!!

So, how do you guys play your modeller? Into a guitar amp's clean channel? And do you find yourself messing with EQ to get a good sound?

Those with PA systems and keyboard amps need not apply... ;)
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I think you already know my answer to this one, but for reference sake here it is:

At home, I play through my studio rig, which is a Behringer US802 mixer -> Digidesign MBox -> Samson Resolv 50a active studio monitors OR Sennheiser studio headphones (can't remember the model number of those). Sound quality is excellent, very full frequency thanks to the Samsons.

For rehearsing/gigging, I am now using an Atomic Reactor 112, which is a tube amp designed specifically for modellers. See my thread titled "Welcome to the Atomic Age!" for a full review. In brief: the tone is fat and powerful with bone-shaking lows, and smooth mids & highs.

Your story about plugging your V-Amp into your 650 is total deja vu for me. I tried EVERYTHING to get my PODxt to work through my Mesa DC-3, but the tone was either shrill and ice-picky, or dead and sludgy. I had the same experience through a Marshall DSL half stack and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I have concluded that amplifying a modeller through a "traditional" guitar amp is a non-starter, unless you only use your modeller for effects.

Hope that helps.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I have been playing with my V-amp through my Marshall when I first bought it, and I hated the sound I get out of it.

My theory was that as the amp as a caracteristic sound of its own, it was kinda interfering with the modeling.

Hopefully, this wasn't to use it in this condition that I bought it. So, for a year I used it through the speaker of my Desk computer (4.1) and found the sound really thin and powerless, but as i was the only way I had to play my electric guitar, I was getting on like this.

Since I settled in Edinburgh, the V-amp is plugged in my smal hifi and I really like the sound of it. The speakers are pretty transparent tonewise as they are supposed to reproduce the sound with hi fidelity. So my v-amp can express itself. And I got a fair amount of headroom for a Bedroom usage.

Having say that, I largely prefer my Marshall to the V-amp, cause anyway, what I dial the most in my V-amp are Marshall-like sounds. But it has been a good replacing system for the few years at uni when I couldn't bring the 80W amp with me.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I can actually get pretty good sounds out of mine, running through my Blues Jr. Are you running from the line out (hopefully) or the headphone jack of your Vamp? I have to keep mine turned down pretty low, too. EQ relatively flat, reverb off.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

i only use my v-amp for recording directly. i used to use it through my little 13w amp, and it was a big improvement, but through anything else its not very good at all. sounds great for recording though
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

JacksonMIA said:
Are you running from the line out (hopefully) or the headphone jack of your Vamp?
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Yeah, it's from the right output jack in.... eh, I can't remember what configuration it is, but I think I get everything going through the right output. I'll give the hifi idea a go, though...
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I used to run my V-amp trough my stereos. And use the EQ on the stero system to alter the sounds a bit.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I run my V-Amp Pro into a M-Audio Mobile-Pre USB and into my Mac for recording.

I don't think the unit has actually ever been plugged into an amp.

I did use the V-Amp Pro Bass as a pre-amp with a GK RB800 head and a 2x15 cabinet. It gave it alot of nice characteristics of the amps it modeled.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I run my Vamp-2 in the loop on an old Peavey Special 130 with great results.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I still think the V-amp2 sounds like total ****. I'm getting a POD2.0 soon, and will eventually upgrade to an XT.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

Will the V-Amp allow you to turn off the amp/cab modeling? Then you can use it as an effects unit for your amp.

IF not, you're essentially using TWO preamps, coloring the coloring of your tone:smack:
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

Oops, I forgot to say:






























Play through a PA or a K/B or bass combo amp;).

PA is the way when modeling.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

LesStrat said:
Will the V-Amp allow you to turn off the amp/cab modeling? Then you can use it as an effects unit for your amp.

IF not, you're essentially using TWO preamps, coloring the coloring of your tone:smack:
Click to expand...


I'll assume you're talking to me and answer :laugh2: .

I actually just run it for recording, and let my guitarist use it for a preamp. I turn off the cab modelling for him, though. I've used it a couple times as an FX unit, but it just kills the quality of the tone; like going from 24 bit to 16.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

If you're planning on playing out with your modeler, you might think of investing in a power am setup. I use my Boss GT-8 with a Mesa/Boogie 50/50 power amp and a Marshall 2x12 sealed cab and a Vox 2x12 open back cab.

I get crushing volume (when needed), tons of headroom, and amazing fidelity to the models.

Now all I need is to ditch the 50/50 and get a Simul-Class 90/90. ;)


Let the eardrums bleed. :burnout:
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I run my Johnson J Station into a tube power amp and guitar cab with the speaker cab modeling turned off. When I record direct, I turn the cab modeling on. It sounds great both ways.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

The best results I've managed to get doing this I turned the master volume down to basically nothing and ran it straight into the front of the amp. It still doesn't sound nearly as good as when recording but it wasn't shrill that way.

@dss3- dude, don't bother with the pod 2.0 it's a step backward from the vamp IMHO. Just keep saving for the xt, then use kazrogs patch and you'll be good to go :D
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

I tried running my Vamp through a mini Marshall portable amp, and even that sounded cr*p. I found I get a good sound through a pair of PC speakers.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

Just tried it through PC speakers... and ti sounds just as boxy and poopy as it did in my fender's effects loop. However, it sounds good through my laptop (ie. through it's soundcard, even though it ain't a very good one). Thing is, I'd need a program that allowed me to hear as I played, which I can't do now - I can only record something "silently" and then hear it in the playback.
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

Death's Acre said:
The best results I've managed to get doing this I turned the master volume down to basically nothing and ran it straight into the front of the amp. It still doesn't sound nearly as good as when recording but it wasn't shrill that way.

@dss3- dude, don't bother with the pod 2.0 it's a step backward from the vamp IMHO. Just keep saving for the xt, then use kazrogs patch and you'll be good to go :D
Click to expand...


Hehe I'm actually getting a really good deal on it; trading my old PS2 to a friend for it. In straight value, the PS2 is worth a bit less. I'll end up selling the thing anyways, so I figure it'd be easier to sell a POD2.0 than an old PS2 that doesn't play some DVD's. :laugh2:
 
Re: Need help from those with Pods & V-amps....

Jimbojsr said:
Just tried it through PC speakers... and ti sounds just as boxy and poopy as it did in my fender's effects loop. However, it sounds good through my laptop (ie. through it's soundcard, even though it ain't a very good one). Thing is, I'd need a program that allowed me to hear as I played, which I can't do now - I can only record something "silently" and then hear it in the playback.
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Most PC speakers don't have enough low midrange and bass response to accurately produce a guitar tone ... not to mention that most PC speakers are crap to begin with. You need something that can give you a full frequency range response in order for the modeller to do its job. In that regard, your best bets are probably a small, high quality stereo (you Brits call it a Hi Fi I believe) system, a decent keyboard amp, or a mini PA system. Either that or the Atomic :)
 
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