Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

[Gr8Scott]

I thought it sounded really really good. Very natural tone etc, but it sounded more digital when the effects were added in. Take the presets out of the picture and dial on just the amp tones (turn down the effects knobs to zero) and you have a good sounding amp. Jonesy was right. I think once Line 6 puts out a higher end model, we may be calling Line 6 the "mack daddy" of the modeling world. Vox needs to step up and answer this. Right now, I'd say that it purely tonal aspects it is superior to the valvetronix heads I have and I LOVE my valvetronix heads. This just sounds more natural and it has the good feel that the valvetronix heads have. I'm very impressed with it.

 

[darnright]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I need to hear one. I've used Line 6 AX2-212's for 10 years and a year or so ago I got a Vetta II. I would really like to hear one. thanks for the info.

 

[millsart]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Line6 definatly has more effects on the Spider amps. They are fine on a $299 amp but not a $899 Spider Valve.

For that type of money they should of really implemented a PodXt style effects section with some good models and way more control.

With any luck they'll have a Vetta Valve or something that really gets it right with tube tone, tons of models and deep effects routing.

 

[Captain Tightpants]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I've got a Spider 2 I got for 2 and a half bills I'm pretty happy with, but at $899, those valve versions better be a whole lot better.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I played one for a bit a few weeks ago.

I liked it, but not $899 liked it. I turned the effects off and tried to just tork with the amp models and all in all it didn't really come across to me as being any different that some of the more generic models I'd heard and have been using on the PodXT and XT Live. They just didn't nail the sound like I typically am looking for when I turn the dial. it got closer with some tweaking, but it took a bit to get there.

I'm still in the Honeymoon phase with my Valvetronix. Among the favorite features are that when I point it to Blackface Twin or a Soldano SLO 100 or the JTM45 or anything else for that matter the sound is that. It may take some tweaking due to the specific guitar and other factors, but it is what it's supposed to be right off the bat.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I thought it sounded really really good. Very natural tone etc, but it sounded more digital when the effects were added in. Take the presets out of the picture and dial on just the amp tones (turn down the effects knobs to zero) and you have a good sounding amp. Jonesy was right. I think once Line 6 puts out a higher end model, we may be calling Line 6 the "mack daddy" of the modeling world. Vox needs to step up and answer this. Right now, I'd say that it purely tonal aspects it is superior to the valvetronix heads I have and I LOVE my valvetronix heads. This just sounds more natural and it has the good feel that the valvetronix heads have. I'm very impressed with it.

Wow. Total opposite experience to mine. I did the same thing...got off the pre-sets and turned the effects off. Granted I only fooled with the crunch mode, but with my experience I'd take a Vox VT ANY DAY of the week. I thought the SV was awful.

Perhaps they have QC issues. Local shop has them now, I'll go for a replay soon.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I played one about a week, two weeks ago as well and didn't think much of it. The 2x12 combo...

Like Skary, I bypassed the FX & worked the amp models with a new custom shop Tele & LP Standard... wasn't impressed. Didn't respond very well to picking dynamics or rolling the guitars volume back... nor did it take well to complex chords with a hint of grit or lots of gain. Still has that 'weird' midrange ring & murky bottom/hash top end like the rest of their amps & the PODS.

Seems like it's the hippest amp Lame 6 has ever put out there... but it isn't saying much. At least it has headroom... it didn't fart out when I cranked it like the Flextones do.

I guess if you like the Lame 6/midi preamp concept... instant access to lots of sounds then you'll love it. I'd rather have one or two good tones & build with stompers.

 

[millsart]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Line6 definatly doens't build amps for everyone. They do quite well with the uber high gain crowd. THey don't really touch a classic Plexi or Fender though in my book.

They seem to do quite well in the Bogner, Solando, Engl, etc realms though

I'm sort of a if it was made after 1969 its crap type of guy lol, (though I can't afford to really be that way)

I checked the amp out, as well as their earlier offerings and it wasn't for me.

I saw/heard some other guys shredding on it and it sounded like it had a nice tone and dynamics for what they did, but does it do hot texas blues ? Not hardly

Wrong tool for the job. You can't model mojo (yet at least)

 

[J Moose]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I beg to differ with that... A real Soldano, Bogner, Boogie has infinitely more mojo & dynamics then a Line 6. The Lame 6 models do a better job at high gain stuff, but it's always been easier to emulate high gain... even 15-20 years ago when ADA was king.

Making high-gain dynamic & fun to play is a whole other thing. None of the modelers hit that or come close... Vox is still closer.

You can plug into a high gain VHT or Soldano, roll the volume back & have a 'workable' clean tone. The modelers break apart into fizzy, choppy noise.

 

[millsart]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Obviously its not a true Bogner or else it wouldn't be $899. Boogie or Diezel ? Its going to cost you 3 times that.

But point remains, the Line6 stuff is better, or "less bad" if you want to call it that and modeling modern high gain amps.

If thats your style and you can't afford the real thing, the Line6 stuff should still make you pretty happy. Or at least happier than if you wanted to get a good modded Bassman vibe going on because they really don't pull that off very well

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Line6 definatly doens't build amps for everyone. They do quite well with the uber high gain crowd. THey don't really touch a classic Plexi or Fender though in my book.

They do and they don't....

I think the 100 watt Plexi is right on the money. It's the only amp model I've heard that's good both in true vintage style as well as goosed to near high-gain territory.

They CAN do versatile. The problem is that at times they just don't.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Obviously its not a true Bogner or else it wouldn't be $899. Boogie or Diezel ? Its going to cost you 3 times that

Maybe a Diezel would... but you can find used Boogies & other monsters for $1000 or less. A used Boogie DC combo is maybe $400-500... I paid $600 for a 1x12 VHT Pitbill 50... with a flight case!

Fender Hot Rod with a V-Twin a Budda box for dirt?

Lots of options abound...

I'd honestly love to dig the Line 6 amps... but they don't inspire me to play. Instead I want to STOP playing. I was hoping the Spider Valve would be different.

 

[ModestCargo]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

There are several problems for me with modeling amps, the biggest one being I can't be bothered spending 15 minutes dialing in a tone from a computer.

The biggest problem right now that I see is that they ARE computers and so your good amp you bought today will be a boat anchor next year because they've come out with so much better.

Modeling amps, to me, can be good for someone who has been playing long enough that they aren't going to be wowed by the super high gain and effects, and play with sounds all day instead of playing music, but someone who isn't at a point yet where they can drop 1500 dollars on an amp because they just don't know what they want an amp to sound like yet.

But if it were up to me everyone would be playing an acoustic like I did for a year, then an electric guitar into an amp with no "distortion" for another maybe half year..

 

[darnright]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Line 6 amps (I have and play 3) do NOT duplicate the sounds of ANY amp extremely well. They do better with the more distorted things, terrible clean channels, especially on the Ax2's. (nobody does clean like Fender). I like them cause they're compact, all in one and I don't play out anymore, so having an amp that sounds "close" is good enough...for me. I realize if I was still in a band I'd want more pure tones. In my basement, it's OK. Just my opinion, by the way.

 

[Captain Tightpants]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Line 6 amps (I have and play 3) do NOT duplicate the sounds of ANY amp extremely well. They do better with the more distorted things, terrible clean channels, especially on the Ax2's. (nobody does clean like Fender). I like them cause they're compact, all in one and I don't play out anymore, so having an amp that sounds "close" is good enough...for me. I realize if I was still in a band I'd want more pure tones. In my basement, it's OK. Just my opinion, by the way.

Yeah, that's kind of how I feel about it. I got mine simply because I can get a pretty good sound on it at apartment level volumes at midnight, and it still sounds pretty good when I turn up for jamming with friends. If I was in a regular gigging band, the I'd want more, but it's great for what I need it for. However, I still think $899 for the Spider Valve is a bit much.

 

[millsart]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I'm funny I guess because I'm totally opposite. When I used to play out I didn't care so much about the quality of my effects or the rest of my rig. Just as long as it got the job done and I played a good set.

Now mostly playing at home for enjoyment, I can be a lot more picky about my sound.

Lets face it, when you've got a loud drummer, a bass player who's into slapping and a vocalist who's a real screamer, playing a set with the worse house PA you've ever seen in a cavern of a bar/club, no one is going to notice the fine details of your tone, not even you.

When I'm at home though, thats where I'm sitting alone with the rest of the family sleeping, no sounds or distractions in the house and its just me and my gear and I can really listen


Other big difference is I have a "real job" so I can buy gear I never could when I was younger lol

 

[Rowan]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

I'm funny I guess because I'm totally opposite. When I used to play out I didn't care so much about the quality of my effects or the rest of my rig. Just as long as it got the job done and I played a good set.

Now mostly playing at home for enjoyment, I can be a lot more picky about my sound.

Lets face it, when you've got a loud drummer, a bass player who's into slapping and a vocalist who's a real screamer, playing a set with the worse house PA you've ever seen in a cavern of a bar/club, no one is going to notice the fine details of your tone, not even you.

When I'm at home though, thats where I'm sitting alone with the rest of the family sleeping, no sounds or distractions in the house and its just me and my gear and I can really listen


Other big difference is I have a "real job" so I can buy gear I never could when I was younger lol

I don't know man I find that the same guitar/amp can sound different at louder volumes as opposed to quieter ones. It does make a difference how you sit in the mix, even if it takes just a couple turns of your EQ knobs. I've always been more critical of my live show volume. Who is going to hear what I play in my bedroom?

 

[Captain Tightpants]

Re: Tried the Line 6 Valve Spider tonight...

Exactly what I was getting at, Rowan. No amp I've ever tried sounded it's best at low volumes, but that silly little Spider is by far the easiest I've had to get something good out of when you are at 1!