Re: POD XT users
Well, I've been playing around with my XT most of last night and this night, and I'm in more of a position to judge it now.
Firstly, the models included in the new packs are...
High gain:
Bogner '02 Uberschall, Cornford '03 mk50h, Diezel '03 VH4-Lead, Diezel '03 Herbert, ENGL '02 Powerball, Marshall '87 Silver Jubilee, Marshall '92 JCM-900-Clean, Marshall '92 JCM-900-Dist, Marshall '03 JCM-2000, Mesa Boogie '01 Triple Rectumfrier, Peavey '02 5150 II, L6 Big Bottom, L6 Chunk Chunk, L6 Fuzz, L6 Octone, L6 Smash, L6 Sparkle Cln, L6 Throttle
Collector Classics:
Bogner '02 Ecstasy, Diezel '03 VH4-Crunch, Fender '63 Vibroverb, Fender '67 Dual Showman Head, Fender '72 Bassman Head, Fender '96 Mini Twin, Gibson '60 GA-18 Explorer, Marshall '68 Super Bass, Marshall '69 Major, Silvertone '67 Twin Twelve, Supro '62 Thunderbolt, L6 Bayou, L6 Crunch, L6 Purge, L6 Sparkle, L6 Super Cln, L6 SuperSpark, L6 Twang
There's also a shatload of new effects should you choose to buy the pack, but I really can't be arsed to type them all out unless someone explicitly asks me to. Some of the things achievable with the effects are utterly crazy, including one effect which, when dialed in a certain way, causes pinch harmonics to sound like a sheep baa-ing. No really.....
As to the upgrade to version 2 itself, there is a great deal of improvement. The mic and cab sims are vastly improved, and the addition of a semi-parametric post-EQ is most welcome. The high gain tones all sound more "in your face", and less fizzy.
The true mark of the improvement in the XT is the speed with which I was able to dial in a decent patch after updating. Previously, I had to tweak for hours at a time until I had a satisfactory tone, whereas now I can create a decent patch in 2 minutes flat.
As to the new amp models, I'm very impressed with the vast majority. "Big Bottom" is one of my early favourites, as it compliments my style and gear pretty much to a tee. I really like the Diezel Herbert model also, along with the Lunatic (which comes free with the v2.0 update) and 5150.
I'm not too impressed with the "L6 Treadplate" (which comes free with the v2.0 update), which still sounds nowhere near as good as the Rectumfrier model found on the Pod 2.X. To my ears it still sounds flaccid, anaemic and dead, just like the "Treadplate" model, although not to as great an extent admittedly. The Triple Rectumfrier patch is actually not so bad though to be fair.
I'm also not too fond of the Uberschall model as of yet, which is a shame, although I'm well aware it may just need extensive tweaking. It's no big deal however, when there are 20+ other high gain models which I'm more than happy with...
As far as the collectors classic models, I really shouldn't comment because I haven't really sat down and messed about with them yet, short of making a sinister sounding clean patch with "L6 Twang". I'm also not the best judge of such tones to be honest, so it's probably best left to someone else.
All in all, I'm very satisfied with this new update and upgrade package, and it's certainly about time the XT got an update. Whilst I've had my problems with L6 Europe's customer service in the past, I find it hard to fault the latest software releases for the XT. I encourage anyone who owns one to download the version 2 update, and consider buying one or more of the expansion packs .
