Line 6 Vetta II amp

[mims2]

I know these amps arent tube, but how authentic do they sound? I play in a cover band and Im having a hard time trying to find something versatile enough. I dont need something that sounds dead on because most people in the crowd wont even notice the difference.

[wickidriffs]

They aren't worth it.

[glenecho]

You're not going to find any Line 6 love on this forum.

Personally, I think Vetta II's are great amps for cover band players, but that's just me. That said, I think you can get the same results by buying a PodX3 and running it through a high quality powered PA speaker, keyboard amp, or Atomic.

As far as authenticity is concerned, the Vetta is like most every modeller, some models are phenomenally good, others aren't. I find the Line 6 models to be great for high gain playing, and a little hit or miss for low-medium gain. However, with a ga-jillion models to choose from the chances are great you find the tones you want, if you are willing to spend the time to tweak.

But if you get a really good deal on a Vetta II don't pass it up just because people here tell you they are garbage...because they aren't.

[mims2]

well maybe I should try the Spider Valve or something. I understand that tube amps are better and I have a few nice amps myself, but I have seen so many bands play the clubs with cheaper amps that just sound really great for some reason. The last band I saw used a regular Spider 3 1x12 miced and somehow got it sounding great on every song.

[ezyrydr]

in my experience they sound pretty good recorded but they get lost in the mix when you play them live with a band.

[mims2]

Does that include when being miced? I will always be miced.

[Echo Are]

I have a Line 6 Flextone II XL from about 2001 or '02(100-watt 2 X 12" combo version of the Flextone amps). I only use the Black Panel model, it sounds really, really tubey. Imagine a 100-watt 2 X 12" BFDR. But, you have to read the manual when dialing it in. There are lots of parameters and hidden functions. For one thing, the knobs work differently depending on what amp model's selected.

[TS808]

A good friend of mine uses a Vetta II head and 2 212 cabs to gig with in a 3-piece band. He has no trouble cutting through the mix and his tones are incredibly good.

I own a Flextone II and a Flextone III, and although they don't nail the tube tone 100%, they certainly sound better than some tube amps I've heard over the years.

If you want to save some cash, look for a used Vox AD120VT combo on ebay. No problems cutting through the mix, and the tone is a touch closer to a tube amp than the Line 6 gear.

[wickidriffs]

If you want to save some cash, look for a used Vox AD120VT combo on ebay. No problems cutting through the mix, and the tone is a touch closer to a tube amp than the Line 6 gear.

:dude

[mims2]

How do the Vetta and Flextones compare?

[Echo Are]

How do the Vetta and Flextones compare?

The Vetta lets you run two amp models at once, has lots more amp models. Also has models of f/x pedals too, I think.

[TS808]

How do the Vetta and Flextones compare?

PM sent.

[derekd]

You're not going to find any Line 6 love on this forum.

Personally, I think Vetta II's are great amps for cover band players, but that's just me. That said, I think you can get the same results by buying a PodX3 and running it through a high quality powered PA speaker, keyboard amp, or Atomic.

As far as authenticity is concerned, the Vetta is like most every modeller, some models are phenomenally good, others aren't. I find the Line 6 models to be great for high gain playing, and a little hit or miss for low-medium gain. However, with a ga-jillion models to choose from the chances are great you find the tones you want, if you are willing to spend the time to tweak.

But if you get a really good deal on a Vetta II don't pass it up just because people here tell you they are garbage...because they aren't.

I totally agree. I played a POD 2.0 thru an Atomic tube amp for years at church because of the wide range of sounds and complete control it gave me.

I have a cousin who is a pretty good player and uses a Vetta. Here is his myspace if interested in prog rock stuff.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=81424043

[heretic]

I've been using a Vetta combo for about 5 years now. I've tried many alternatives during this period (tube amps + pedals, various combinations of modeler pedals with FR solutions and/or tube amps), but I keep coming back to my Vetta for local gigs. I find that the tones are there, the feel is...well, it's not a tube amp, but it's close-It feels better as you turn it up. And frankly, setup/breakdown is still the fastest of any rig I've used.

It works for me.

[mims2]

Thanks for all the replies! I played a Spider valve 1x12 today and thought that some of the clean sounds were ok, but I played it next to a Mesa Rectoverb combo, and it sounded way thin on the overdrive. I still wanna try the Vetta and the Flextones though.

[Rod]

I have a Flextone III XL 1/12 combo, and it's very versatile and sounds pretty good...Not quite a great tube amp, but pretty close if you spend the time to tweak it...32 amps...you can find 6 really good ones

[MichaelThomas]

The spider valve was pretty surprising. I didn't think it sounded cheesy at all. I'd say it's the best Line 6 has done for their amps in a while. I wouldn't play it live, but for a bedroom player it's amazing for what it is.

The Vettas just seem so complicated. I only know of one guy that really uses them live

[mims2]

How do the Flextones and Vettas do on Mashall JCM2000 and Mesa Rectifier like tones?

[StratManKudzu]

Doesn't Steve Howe use Vettas live almost exclusively?

[Andre357]

Doesn't Steve Howe use Vettas live almost exclusively?


Yes, he stated that in an interview with Guitar Player mag....

I think he's recording a new ASIA album on one as well ( they reformed recently if i remember right )

[TS808]

How do the Flextones and Vettas do on Mashall JCM2000 and Mesa Rectifier like tones?

The high gain modes are pretty good, although I rarely use them. With the built in noise gate, you can coax some pretty good tones out of the Flextones.

[nomadh]

I think it has more to do with feel. When I watch a band and they play a line 6 it sounds at least good typically. At the store when I tried one, I found it to be totally different from the classic 50 tube amp I did buy. I don't know why but tubes just sound, or feel, different than silicon. Except the valveking. I still think the tubes are not in the circuit in a valveking :)

[Eagle1]

The Vetta is utter crap ,feels like someone else is playing it no interactivity at all.
the Spidervalve is a bit better but still synthetic feeling. Both will do what you want so why pay out for the Vetta when the Spidervalve sounds better.
I'd still get the best valve amp you can afford and forget Line6 until it gets better.

[ungarn]

For a cover band...modelers will get you close enough...definitely look into a PODx3Live and go direct to PA...much less to haul back and forth to gigs!

[Echo Are]

Again, you have to really spend time with the user manual on these amps to get the best tones out of them. There are a lot of parameters you have to be aware of. Also, I don't know how it is with current Line 6 amps, but the modeling seems to sound the most authentic with humbucker guitars.

[TS808]

Again, you have to really spend time with the user manual on these amps to get the best tones out of them. There are a lot of parameters you have to be aware of. Also, I don't know how it is with current Line 6 amps, but the modeling seems to sound the most authentic with humbucker guitars.

I find them to be equally as good with single coils. One of the things that I've done with my Flextone III XL is to turn off the cabinet models. It seems to take out some of the low end that Flextones are notorious for.

Other sound enhancers that work well with these amps is to either run a BBE Sonic Stomp or EQ pedal through the effects loop.

I agree....you really have to spend some time with these amps to find the right EQ settings that work for you; these amps can drive you crazy at first until you learn how to tweak them.

[Fred McMurray]

Vettas are good stuff - I like playing with them, but I just don't like actually playing them when it's gig time. I'm a "fewer-knobs the better" kinda guy when it comes to live playing. I already know what works for me and what doesn't - the Line6 stuff is hella fun to jam and record with, but I don't need that kind of flexibility - I've got enough in my fingers, my pickups and guitar settings, a couple of pedals, and an amp and speakers that are responsive to all of the above. :D

[Echo Are]

I find them to be equally as good with single coils. One of the things that I've done with my Flextone III XL is to turn off the cabinet models.

Yep, definitely. Turn off a given model's cabinet modeling(f/x knob doubles as cab model selector). Also, for those who said that Line 6 amps won't cut through live you need to max out the channel volume knob, or turn it all the way up to the boost point(about 4 o'clock).

[Rod]

Yep, definitely. Turn off a given model's cabinet modeling(f/x knob doubles as cab model selector). Also, for those who said that Line 6 amps won't cut through live you need to max out the channel volume knob, or turn it all the way up to the boost point(about 4 o'clock).
Wow...that's good to know...thankx for the info....got to try that...:dude

[Miles]

I use a Vetta II combo.

I'm a lead vocalist and rhythm player in an all original rock music project. We gig a lot, we rehearse a lot.

The vetta sounds like a huge amp. I've owned 30 tube amps and I'm most happy here. It's just me

I forked around with tons of vintage clean amps and pricey pedals...didn't cut it.

The vetta gets huge full tones and the response is awesome...for me.

To say "they aren't worth it" is just kinda BS. It's how you use the tool. I think digital amps are the way to go. It's about producing a sound, the means are just an arbitrary method of man-made sound manipulating devices creating sound.

Anyway, cool sounds for sure. I have a Flextone III 2x12 for backup. I've probably played 12 gigs w/ digital amps and I've NEVER been more consistently happy with my sound.

[bjm007]

Been there, done that... Took a trip over to the "dark side" and really imersed myself in trying to make the Line 6 stuff sound good. I networked with all the other Vetta folks on Andy's Forum to the point where I even became a "Large" member on their bulletin board...

In the end, I sold all my Line 6 gear because it just didn't have the feel, vibe, warmth, reactiveness, nuance, and TONE that a real tube amp has.

That said, when burried in a mix, the latest stuff will record pretty well if you know how to do it to the point where you can't really tell its not tubes...... But to actually "play" the amp, there's no comparison.

My opinion of course, YMMV

[Miles]

Digital cuts through every bit as well when you know how to use it. Had a great recording session using only the Vetta. Used it in many gigs and have been far more pleased with it than any tube amp. People that use a lot of fizz or plinky cleans, no mids, etc... will not cut through w/ either type of amplification.