Thoughts on the Spider II series??

[deftone_86]

What do you think of the Spider II series? Are they good amps FOR THE PRICE? I'm especially interested in the 75W 1x12 combo. I'm a little low on cash so I don't really have many options in which amp to buy. It seems to have pretty good features for the price and judging from the soundclips on their website the sound isn't that bad either(again, for the price). Please give your opinions about the series if you have played them.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

A fellow classmate, Eddie, has the Spider 122. When we practice at his house, we usually end up swapping equipment for something refreshing. I have to say, for a bedroom amp, I had fun. The tones and effects are not bad. He has the footpedal thingy, so he has these presets dialed in. That really adds some fun to it. Not bad for the price.

 

[7th Hell]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

I was in GC not too long ago- I was cranking up the tiny 15 watter with a 8" speaker! On "Insane" mode, it sounded pretty damn good! It reproduced all those coveted 80's metal tones. I liked the easy to use controls, as well as the various amp tones that are possible. If you want it as a practice amp, you can't go wrong. Just be sure to blow the extra $40 for the 30 watt 12" Celestion loaded model- $199 online.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

I've played one a couple of times, and for the money, yes..a good amp, IMO. A little "thin" and sterile, but again for the money, it's decent.

However, I would look at the Behringer V-Tone analog modeling amps. The GMX212 in particular. Not quite as versatile as the spider maybe, but I feel the analog modeling sounds more "tube-y", and the cab simulations really help to get a "real" amp sound. Plus it's a bit cheaper than the Spider II (though the durability on the Behringer's seems to be a hit or miss proposition).

The Vox Valvetronix models are really nice too, I have the 50 watter, and am prolly returning it just because it cannot give me the sound I desire personally, but it's the best modeller I've heard yet....the tube power amp really helps. I paid $360 for the 50 watter, and the 30 watter is in the mid 200's $-wise, I believe.

Don't know what kind of sounds you are looking for but the Valvetronix's Vox, Botique and Fender models are the best sounding. The dumble clean is phenomenal as is the Bassman. The Marshalls sound good too as far as the gain structure is concerned but they just don't have the "sparkle" of a Marshall (tube or solid-state). The Soldano (US High Gain) mod, IMO is not very good and the worst simulation. The real Soldano's I've played through and heard were not nearly as compressed sounding. To me it sounds more like an old Boogie..MKII or such.

Good luck...lots of choices out there.

 

[B2D]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

I owned one for a short time... i thought it was a POD with speakers attached. It's not. It never will be. I found the amp to be cold sounding, sterile, and the effects just seemed too narrow in their adjustment and abrasive sounding. I grew very unhappy with it and returned it.

I would opt for a used Flextone II 1x12 combo or a Behringer V-Tone, the 2x10 (12?) one I tried sounded excellent, and I can always get satisfying tones out of those Flextones.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

...it'll be worth pocket change when the Spider III comes out.

That's the rub of modeling amps....with the technology getting better in leaps and bounds an amp you buy now which sounds good will be the equivilant of a Beta machine in a year and a half and worth about as much as pocket lint.

 

[fish]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

...it'll be worth pocket change when the Spider III comes out.

That's the rub of modeling amps....with the technology getting better in leaps and bounds an amp you buy now which sounds good will be the equivilant of a Beta machine in a year and a half and worth about as much as pocket lint.

You know when its coming out?

 

[B2D]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

...it'll be worth pocket change when the Spider III comes out.

That's the rub of modeling amps....with the technology getting better in leaps and bounds an amp you buy now which sounds good will be the equivilant of a Beta machine in a year and a half and worth about as much as pocket lint.

And here i am saying I like the old ones better... :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

You know when its coming out?

Nope....but Line 6 has made a ton of money by making new amps in a series and getting people to give up their old ones to buy them.

If you buy one you'd better like it....'casue you're married to the thing!

 

[ex-250]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

im probably gonna get the 75watt one soon for in the dorm. my 13watter isnt cutting it when i play with other people (obviously haha), and i dont wanna haul my 95lb XXX here. ive tried a lot of em, and for the price i think theyre really good.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

Superb cleans on the 30 watter, but the OD channels left me cold. They were compressed, fuzzy, and tinny.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

i didnt think the metal channel was bad for a modeler.

 

[Jag513]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

I frankly think that it's a horrible series. The Spider I's are better, as are many other modeling amps today. For the price range, the Vox AD50VT and Roland Cube 60 are much better buys. To me, every Spider II I've played has sounded weak, thin, sterile, and too digital.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

yeah it's definitely fake-sounding but i dunno, i liked it just fine. I haven't gotten into modelers too much but it seems like a good way to go for cheap, diverse amplification. I'd definitely check out the other amps mentioned tho, these guys typically know their stuff...

 

[B2D]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

I frankly think that it's a horrible series. The Spider I's are better, as are many other modeling amps today. For the price range, the Vox AD50VT and Roland Cube 60 are much better buys. To me, every Spider II I've played has sounded weak, thin, sterile, and too digital.

Oh wow someone actually agrees with me! :saeek:

 

[deftone_86]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

Thank you for your answers!! I'll be also checking out the options given here. Actually I have tried the Valvetronix combo and though the cleans were good, the distortions wasn't...except the JCM 2000 modeler. Versatility is the reason why I'm buying a modeling amp so one distortion isn't enough.

 

[Jag513]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

Thank you for your answers!! I'll be also checking out the options given here. Actually I have tried the Valvetronix combo and though the cleans were good, the distortions wasn't...except the JCM 2000 modeler. Versatility is the reason why I'm buying a modeling amp so one distortion isn't enough.

Yeah, I've found the Cube to have better distortions, while the Vox has better cleans. But I like the Vox better, since I have distortion pedals.

And B2D, yeah I agree with you, the Spider I's were definitely better. They at least sound good.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Thoughts on the Spider II series??

Nope....but Line 6 has made a ton of money by making new amps in a series and getting people to give up their old ones to buy them.

If you buy one you'd better like it....'casue you're married to the thing!

I second that... I bough my Duoverb 212 for 2 reasons. 1) I like the sounds my friend was getting in HIS house. 2) He paid $1700 for the last floor model and I paid $500 for a BRAND-NEW model. I just caught it as the Flextone's came out!!!!

Of course, I couldn't get $500 for it now.....