Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

[75lespaul]

Got a Line 6 Podxt I'd like use as a preamp. It sounds horrible thru an amp so I know I need a power amp that doesn't color the sound. I want the total tone to be from the Pod. Any suggestions for a power amp that will give good volume without coloring the sound? I know my cab probably will but I don't want to spend any more money on speakers. Got a Crate Blue Voodoo cab loaded with Eminence Legend V12's @ 120 watts each.

Do you think it's possible to get it to sound close to the same through speakers as it does when recording direct? Thanks everyone. :smoker: :smack:

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

It sounds horrible thru an amp so I know I need a power amp that doesn't color the sound.

Huh?!
If it sounds horrible thru an amp, why bother? Sounds like you're throwing good money after bad to me.
A good amp will cost as much as a decent head, anyway, so why bother?

 

[FretFire]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

Not necessarily true. I run my POD xT (soon to be a Pro hopefully) through a QSC A3.7 power amp. It's solid state, but doesn't color the sound, and I got it on eBay for under $100. Just keep an eye out and you can find some good deals.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3752717693&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

i have a classic 50/50 power amp for sale if you are interested.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

Not necessarily true. I run my POD xT (soon to be a Pro hopefully) through a QSC A3.7 power amp. It's solid state, but doesn't color the sound, and I got it on eBay for under $100. Just keep an eye out and you can find some good deals.

??!!??
You're telling me that a $100 amplifier doesn't colour the sound?! I don't believe it.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

75lespaul, can you try the pod directly into the effects loop return on that amp? and temporarily disable the speaker models on your pod patches? ... this might give you an idea of how it can sound through a power amp ... by bypassing the amps preamp section, you can use the pod for modeling the tone .. then by disabling the speaker models on the pod, you can use the amps power section and speaker .. might give you a little idea

if you want to keep the pod speaker models, you might want to try a full range PA cabinet with a poweramp

good luck
t4d

 

[FretFire]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

The power amp is a very nice QSC from the late 80's-early 90's, hence the low price. Works extremely well and DOESN'T color the sound. I also run the POD with speaker simulations on (direct mode), as I think live mode is too harsh for my tastes. My cabinet is fairly flat eq-wise, however, so it works out pretty well.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

The power amp is a very nice QSC from the late 80's-early 90's, hence the low price. Works extremely well and DOESN'T color the sound. I also run the POD with speaker simulations on (direct mode), as I think live mode is too harsh for my tastes. My cabinet is fairly flat eq-wise, however, so it works out pretty well.

I would love to hear a clip of this rig in action, actually, since I know many people use their POD as a preamp for live use.
FretFire, is the Picaso guitar in your avatar yours?!

 

[FretFire]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

I don't have any recordings of the POD->amp->cab setup, just of the POD straight into my PC. And yeah that's my RG321.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

I've been using 2 Atomic amps with my PODxt and it's kickin butt! It's made for the POD! Been recording quite a bit with it and starting this week I'll be using them for some club dates here in LA. http://www.atomicamps.com

 

[jeremy]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

a friend of mine used to (probably still does) run a pod into a marshall 50/50 power amp into a pair of 2x12 cabs. sounds great

 

[DiminisheD-7th]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

im doing the same thing only with a POD 2.3.
i got a QSC MX 700 (2x350 stereo) amplifier going into JBL 12'' speakers.
the sound coloring is minimal because its PA equipment.

 

[Burkwieser]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

75lespaul, can you try the pod directly into the effects loop return on that amp? and temporarily disable the speaker models on your pod patches? ... this might give you an idea of how it can sound through a power amp ... by bypassing the amps preamp section, you can use the pod for modeling the tone .. then by disabling the speaker models on the pod, you can use the amps power section and speaker .. might give you a little idea

if you want to keep the pod speaker models, you might want to try a full range PA cabinet with a poweramp

good luck
t4d

Yep, that is a cool way to work around. Just don't connect the loop send to the input of the POD also. You will be preamping your preamp. Bad news, but I think you know that already. Another work around is to use the insert plug in, if you have one on your amp. It bypasses as well. Don't use the input on the amp with the settings they suggest either. Plain and simple, it sounds like crap. You really need to bypass the preamp, and or run it to a power amp to sound good.

Keep in mind that if you get a tube power amp it is hard to run it at bedroom levels and keep good tube saturation. A SS amp would work good in this case. You don't get the tube warmth, but it will still sound good. Even at low levels. Don't know your intended use.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

Hi guys--

Thanks for the suggestions. I already have a great amp but I was so impressed with the replication on the Marshalls etc... that I wanted to try and use it just like an amp without having to buy a Vetta. A great amp is great. Over 30 great amps is like going to 11, right?

 

[clint_41]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

I've been using 2 Atomic amps with my PODxt and it's kickin butt! It's made for the POD! Been recording quite a bit with it and starting this week I'll be using them for some club dates here in LA. http://www.atomicamps.com

but dont those amps only have like 18w of power? not nearly enough for live use :smack:

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

but dont those amps only have like 18w of power? not nearly enough for live use :smack:

Clint, don't underestimate a true 18w amp. If you were to play a 100w amp through the same speaker and cab, it would only be about 7db +/- louder. Now pushing more air via more speakers is a different thing. I run my PODxt into 2 Atomics and I don't need to turn the output level past 3-4. Plenty loud on stage. Especially with 2 of em.

When I use my Vetta II HD into my GenzBenz 2x12 GFlex, I rarely have to push it past 3. Besides using either I feed the Direct Outs to the PA. The amp is my monitor. On teh Atomic, take the effect sends and those are the same as feeding yoru POD right to the PA. End of story.

I know that the guitarist from Joan Jett's band uses 2 of them also. They are playing outdoor shows at fairs and such and he has absolutely no problem hearing himself. Matter of fact many touring bands have very small setups that are mic'd and those are fed to the board to the FOH monitors. Many times what you see on stage is just for show.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

That's an odd number of watts for (what I thought was) a solid state amp.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

Fretfire, if you mean the Atomic. It is pure tube. JJ Tesla EL-84 to be exact.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

Did not know that, yeah I'm talking about the Atomic, I had thought it was SS. Thanks for correcting me. Too bad it's not at least 30 watts, that would be pretty tasty.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Thinking of running my Line 6 Podxt thru a power amp.

I say give em time and they'll probably come out with other products. If they went 30 watt, they'd probably go EL-34's which is a different sound. And 18 vs 30w in the same cabis only a 2-3 db difference. Like going from 3 to 4 probably on your output level.