Korg PX5D vs. Pocket Pod - Practice

[Skjold]

I'm looking to buy something small like a PX5D or Pocket Pod to use for practicing guitar on the sofa with headphones. The Korg PX5D seems to offer a lot of features like backing tracks, the ability to record little sequences, and other seemingly cool functions, but I'm wondering if the Pocket Pod kills it in terms of sounds. Although my main purpose is not to use one of these for the effects, if they sound good enough to run through my amp too, that would definitely be a plus! To be honest though, I owned a little Zoom 8 track and the effects were so cheesy that I'm practically scarred for life.

What do you guys think? For a practice tool, what would you guys suggest?

I play mostly jazz, funk, rockabilly/surf, reggae, and a bit of blues. I'm not really into rock or metal, but from time to time I might bust out some old punk like the Misfits or Clash for fun...

[Rena Rune]

Korg PX4D kills both in terms of tone. The PX5D sounds harsh as heck for some reason. You don't get as much control over the effects as the Pocket POD(only one parameter for most) but you get more effects, the intelligent pitch shifter and octaving effects are great.

I'm nearly considering getting the Pocket POD for better plexi and dual rec models, and the Mesa Marks. While some of the PX4D models are better than either, there are some that kind of blow(and probably haven't been improved for the 5). PX4D also gives you bass amp models, which is also handy if you want to use a pedal, since you have more clean options.

You could easily get a Pocket POD and a PX4D for the same price as a PX5D. You could use the models that the Pocket POD does better into the device, turning off amp modelling but using the other features like drum machine and phrase trainer.

ALso look into the Digitech RP models if you want really good modelling.

[Maruuk]

+1. Avoid the PX5D like the plague. Truly brutal harsh, digital, dead, fake-sounding core tones with zero picking dynamics. Flat as a pancake. The effects are fine, but even the jam tracks sounds cheesy and fake.

[SpaceGuitar]

The Pocket POD is basically a portable version of the POD 2.0. From what I've read and from what I've seen, while it may be hard to tweak things using the unit's knobs themselves, it's doable, and if you hook it up to your computer via USB you can tweak things much more easily that way, including parameters you can't tweak on the unit using the knobs.

From the videos I've watched on YouTube, I like the sounds of the Pocket POD / POD 2.0 more than the PX5D.

Here are two examples I particularly like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL_XQp3NXEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnl341wDMxI

[Skjold]

Thanks for the info. I'm surprised everyone hates the Korg, as I saw some posts praising it over at the Telecaster forum.

I think I might just hold off for a bit and see if anything gets released this Summer. After doing some more research, nothing is exciting me at the moment.

[sxt]

I've had a lot of use from the Pocket Pod. I plug my ipod into it so that I can play backing tracks / drum beats from the ipod.
I'm really impressed (ON PAPER) by the Zoom gn2u ---- but have not tried one.
Have a boss micro BR - the menus and buttons drive me crazy - can't stand it.
.... also, the pocket pod sounds way better than the micro br for guitar sounds.
No experience with Korg.

[Maruuk]

+1 on the Micro BR. Very disappointing guitar tones (nice efx though) and the buttoning through the pages and complicated menus are a huge PITA. Sold mine.

The Pocket Pod is quite good. No comparison with the awful PX5D.

[Rena Rune]

Thanks for the info. I'm surprised everyone hates the Korg, as I saw some posts praising it over at the Telecaster forum.

I think I might just hold off for a bit and see if anything gets released this Summer. After doing some more research, nothing is exciting me at the moment.

The Korg PX4D is really good though.

http://www.box.net/shared/tza6p83ta1

I don't know why the 5 is worse. The one problem with the unit is that some of the cab models sound like they're badly miced with certain amps.

[Maruuk]

Just discovered the V-Amp 3. Sounds awfully good with a huge range of features including USB record, for $99 at AMS. No beats or loops of course. And Behringers aren't the most reliable.

[Skjold]

The Korg PX4D is really good though.

http://www.box.net/shared/tza6p83ta1

I don't know why the 5 is worse. The one problem with the unit is that some of the cab models sound like they're badly miced with certain amps.

The PX4D is selling new for around $65 here in Japan, so I ended up going with your suggestion and ordered one. I figure it's definitely worth a shot at that price.

The whole idea behind getting one of these is that (according to my wife) I spend too much time holed up alone in my little studio/workspace upstairs. If I get one of these I can practice down in the living room, and be in the same room with my wife and the dogs without making too much noise. Recently, I have just been playing my Les Paul acoustically during the week, so this should be a big improvement.

BTW, do you ever use any pedals between the guitar and the PX4D? I'm wondering how they would sound?

[Rena Rune]

Oh god yes. I used a Boss HM-2 into the JCM800 to get the Opeth tone. Not dead on(since I've a different guitar etc. and probably not the right cab model) but it Sounded great. Using it into a clean amp I could get some Johnny Greenwood kind of sounds too. The PX4D also has it's own stomps built in(but not the PX4 weirdly), the Bass Overdrive(which is actually basically a Tubescreamer), the Bass Distortion(sounds somewhere between a Rat and Russian Big Muff), and the Bass Fuzz(no clue on this, doesn't work great on guitar unlike the other two, sounds a bit like something from a Muse track on the lower strings). The OD in particular stacks well with the JCM800. People complain the Pandora is crap at metal; but the BOD model into the JCM800 is fantastic.

It takes pedals much better than my AD30VT since you have more options in terms of cabs and the EQ works differently. Also since it has some extra models, a bunch of bass amps and a second Bassman model.

[Rena Rune]

Okay, here's the Fender models.

I start off on the "BTQ" models(which are meant to be Dumbles, but don't sound great since it's hard to find a matching cab).

Then I think I go Fender Bassman 1x12 -> Fender Bassman 2x12 -> Fender Twin.

At the end I also do the AC30 again but through a better combo this time(Sounds way less nasally through the 4x12 Vox than the 2x12).

http://www.box.net/shared/xlgon50gi1

This is with humbuckers this time, not single coils, though they're pretty bright so I still get plenty of Twang. And again my computer is glitchy...

My impression of the sounds;

Tweed 1x12 (Fender Bassman 1x12 combo) - this has more of a guitar amp sound than a Bass amp sound. It has some of that Fendery bell-like chime on top(as opposed to Vox's more sparkly chime).

Tweed 4x10 (Fender Bassman 4x10 Combo) - This sounds more like a Bass amp; fuzzier and more full range. Less chimey. Very "airy" sound. This sounds more like the model that was on my Valvetronix, the overdrive isn't as nice. It's main advantage is that it doesn't have that cut off high end that most of the other guitar amps have. Modelers(and better but not quite awesome SS amps) some times exagerrate this as the high end is where a lot of fizz and aliasing occurs.

Black 2x12 (Fender Twin 2x12) - This has a more mid focused and also chimier sound, though it can get nasally because of the upper mids. Quite bright voiced. I wouldn't say it's as good as taking pedals as the above.

The JCM models do some great dirty clean sounds with the gain all the way down too.

[dspellman]

The Korg PX4D is really good though.

http://www.box.net/shared/tza6p83ta1

I don't know why the 5 is worse. The one problem with the unit is that some of the cab models sound like they're badly miced with certain amps.

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this -- I've got a PX3 (D?) and a PX5D and over this past weekend I sat down with a friend's PX4D and worked all three of them one against the other. Honestly, I didn't hear the differences you're alluding to. I did, however, go through two PX5D's to get to the one I have now; the first two had some sonic problems. I have a feeling that the PX5D's production run has come to a close, and that some of the pieces that have been on the market for the past year have been either end-of-run production or seconds.

I really liked the ergonomic setup on the PX4D best of the three (it's easily the most intuitive to operate), but went with the PX5D in part because of the USB output for recording. The manuals on these things are not the most useful in any case. The type face is tiny and most of the bulk is taken up with alternate languages, and there's not a lot of information <G>.

I don't think there's a comparison to the Pocket Pod at all; the Pocket Pod is so much less useful as a practice tool, and the sound quality is nowhere near that of its bigger brothers. It also burns (almost literally -- it gets HOT) through batteries. I'm a Line6 fan, too, with a pair of Variax guitars and three (count 'em) Pod XTs (one Live, two Beans). But the Pocket Pod (IMHO, of course) just doesn't seem to be one of their best designs.

[Rena Rune]

The Pocket Pod is the coolest looking POD though IMO. But there's something a bit freakish about the Bean design, like they engineered it from an elephant's kidney or something.

[SpaceGuitar]

I don't think there's a comparison to the Pocket Pod at all; the Pocket Pod is so much less useful as a practice tool, and the sound quality is nowhere near that of its bigger brothers. It also burns (almost literally -- it gets HOT) through batteries. I'm a Line6 fan, too, with a pair of Variax guitars and three (count 'em) Pod XTs (one Live, two Beans). But the Pocket Pod (IMHO, of course) just doesn't seem to be one of their best designs.

I haven't had this experience at all. I recently got a pocket POD and for me it lasts about two or three hours on rechargeable batteries, about five or six hours on new regular batteries, and in either instance it stays perfectly cool. It doesn't even get a little warm, not even slightly. After playing it for an hour or so straight I'll pick it up to tweak a setting, and it's still completely cool. But I've heard of some quality issues with these particular units, that the pocket POD's build quality isn't up to the same level as the other Line 6 products, so maybe the one you have experience with is slightly defective. Heck, the first one I got I had to send back because it only worked half the time.

As for the sound, to me it sounds exactly like the POD 2.0, which I'm not surprised by considering it literally has the POD 2.0 engine in it. They just placed it in a smaller form factor.

[Rena Rune]

I haven't had this experience at all. I recently got a pocket POD and for me it lasts about two or three hours on rechargeable batteries, about five or six hours on new regular batteries, and in either instance it stays perfectly cool.My PX4D lasts about 7-8 hours on cheap rechargables... I'd go nuts if I had to change it more often.

[SpaceGuitar]

My PX4D lasts about 7-8 hours on cheap rechargables... I'd go nuts if I had to change it more often.

In all fairness, I'm using Energizer rechargeables and they just don't hold a charge. The reviews on Amazon.com are full of comments like that. If I used something else like Duracells they'd probably last longer.

[Maruuk]

I'm very disappointed with the wimpiness of rechargeables. Now I just go to Costco and buy regular alkaline batts in bulk.

[SpaceGuitar]

If you buy bulk AAAs, how much does it work out to be per battery? There's a dollar store here that sells decent batteries and it works out to 25 cents per battery.

[Rena Rune]

I'm very disappointed with the wimpiness of rechargeables. Now I just go to Costco and buy regular alkaline batts in bulk.

That's horrifically wasteful. Just buy good rechargables. I never have a problem running anything off rechargables.

[Maruuk]

I use name brand rechargeables, but they only give me about half of what a new disposable can put out. Huge waste of time.

[Rena Rune]

I use name brand rechargeables, but they only give me about half of what a new disposable can put out. Huge waste of time.

But get this; you can recharge them after they run out.

"Brand name" doesn't equate to good. Generally they'll tell you the mAh capacity, some have far more than others.

[Maruuk]

I like the idea of recycling the batts through recharge, it's just the time sink aspect. Having to swap out twice as often gets annoying. I use Kirklands for the disposables, they seem as good as any other. For the rechargeables, I have about 5 different brands.

[Skjold]

I got my PX4D about 10 days ago, and I am so happy with it! As I noted before, they are down to like $65 bucks here in Japan, and according to the music store websites over here, Korg has stopped production of them. If you see a discounted one I highly recommend picking it up for practice. I absolutely love it. I recommended it to my co-worker and he has already picked one up as well. I'm shocked at how good the sound is for a cheap little device like this.

Thanks for the recommendation!

[Maruuk]

Well the 4 sure seems like the way to go.

[Skjold]

Have you found anything online that identifies all the amps? I would like to get my hands on a list if possible.

[dspellman]

Well the 4 sure seems like the way to go.

I've got the 3 and the 5. Friend has the 4.

Someone stop me if I'm wrong, but I think the major changes were the move to AA batteries from AAA <G> and the addition of the USB port for direct-to-computer recording. The 4's certainly cheaper now, but I picked up the 5 for $179 at a local GC.

[epluribus]

Have you found anything online that identifies all the amps? I would like to get my hands on a list if possible.

Haven't found it yet. Took some guesses for what they're worth. (IMHO the amp models aren't accurate enough for ID to be very important anyway. That said, the models, whatever they are, work pretty well in their own right.) Here's my guesses about the PX5D, if I remember them correctly now...

BTQ Clean and OD...Originally thought they were talking about the early Matchless Chieftain, but it sounds not a shred like one. IMHO, the "hand made" thing refers to Dumble. It's one of their best models IMHO, with some very nice dynamics, but I ain't found Robben Ford living in there yet. :)

TWD 1x12...probably a Tweed Deluxe, and a Narrow Panel at that. Certainly has a Tweedy EQ curve and compression to it, but finding the signature dynamics in the model is a stretch to say the least. BTW, I've built several Tweed (real-world) circuits, so I have actual amps to compare to. I've used this to make most of my Tweed amp patches, none of which match Korg's. Works remarkably well when gain structured and voiced right, great for Champs, Princetons, Deluxes, and even early Twins.

TWD 4x10...blatantly the '59 5F6A Bassman if you buy the description. This one misses a real Bassman by a mile IMHO, but it's a pretty good "circuit" for building Tweedy-dynamic patches. Does better for bigger late-Tweeds like the Narrow Panel Twin. Also a good foundation for Blonde and Brown patches, to the extent you can do those. (Not to mention a passable Supro Thunderbolt.) Again, not real Tweed dynamics, but still fairly responsive as Pandora patches go.

Blk 2x12...Blackface Twin Reverb. One of the better approximations IMHO. Does better as a Blackface Deluxe when tweaked properly, btw--sounds more 6V6 than 6L6 to me.

ACxx...obviously Vox let them use the names of the amps they modelled them on. Not a fan of this series at all, but then I'm not a Vox lover either. I will say, however, that there's some serious twang in this group.

UK Blues...Gotta be the JTM45 from the description, but sounds nothing like one. That said, it's a good blues patch, and makes a passable Bluesbreaker-flavored model. But that pushed 25W 4x12 Marshall sound? Not there.

UK 70's...Has to be their Plexi patch. Decent sound, but very different feel from the actual Plexi. Very useful nevertheless. If anybody has a good Plexi patch, I'm all ears...

UK-80's...I'm thinkin' JCM800 series, specifically with diode clipping. Easy to overdo the SS part on this one. BTW, I'm a huge fan of JCM800 cleans and light drive, unlike most people. This patch does those remarkably well.

UK-90's...Starts getting fuzzy here, the distinctions. As a wild guess and nothing more I'm thinkin' the drive channel of a JCM2000 DSL. Haven't played a real DSL, but this is one smeary patch at DSL gain levels. I use it for very non-DSL Marshall-style patches and it works very well dialed down. One of the better shred patches, btw. One Mo' Thang Dept.: Was just perusing JCM2000 schematics at Dr. Tube's (http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm)when I ran across his provisional Marshall timeline. By his reckoning, the nineties belonged to the JCM900, which chronologically I can't argue with. Trouble is, I've never considered the JCM900 to be distinct enough from its direct predecessor, the JCM800, to warrant a second patch in Korg's (or anyone's) lineup. To me, the 900 is a very derivative amp both by circuit and by play characteristics. IMHO, the difference between a DSL and a TSL is far greater and would make better inclusions in a tone library. Anyhoo, just so ya know.

UK-MDN...Stumped here. The third channel of a TSL maybe? Can't say for sure as my first TSL is sitting on my workbench as we speak getting the rectifier fix and a few tweaks. Got it for peanuts as a non-working amp, and the fix is relatively easy...once I get around to finishing it! Go figure. Anyhoo, I haven't been able to use this patch at all...just too over-the-top messy.

US Hi Gain..."Snakeskin cab..." I guess we're talking early SLO-100 here eh? Doesn't sound like one, but good basic patch anyway. Needs a lot of dialing in, however. You'd expect to use something like this for down-tuned grunt, but IMHO it's nowhere near tight or focused enough. Down-tune tone is one place the Pandora just doesn't go very well. And my headsets, btw, are Shure SCL-5s.

US MDN..."Eye-catching metal plate..." Dual Rectifier apparently. Good chorus-drenched stadium rock patch, but haven't found much else to do with it. :)

Anyhoo, those are my guesses. IMHO, all of them are very wide of the mark compared to their real-world counterparts, esp for the way they allow you (or don't) to be expressive with the pick. But if you spend some time to discover what they do give you, there's some really playable amp tones in there.

--Ray

sykocybernetic

[epluribus]

Oops...forgot the "bass" amps FWIW. Hardly use these, as I've never been impressed with using headsets with bass to begin with. Kinda hard to build a proper sound field in less than an inch. Never have figured out why Korg would devote so much real estate to 'em, but that said...

Valve 1...Going by the "ultra-lo switch," I'd say they're referring to Ampeg SVT2 Pro.

Valve 2...No idea. :) Early Marshall ala The Who?

Classic...No idea here either. Interesting function they loaded into the encoder wheel.

Scooped...80's? Must be the Gallien Kreuger.

LA Studio...SWR was the arguable king of the studio in LA for quite some time.

Gold PNL...The Eden Traveller WT-300 had such a panel and is often referred to by that name.

Jazz...Given the 1x15 config, I'm guessing this must be a Polytone A101. Very signature Jazz sound.

Studio...Motown? No contest, gotta be an Ampeg B-15.

AC100...Probably a Vox AC100, just like it says.

UKMajor...'69 Marshall Major it's safe to say.

HTH...

--Ray

[Skjold]

Ray,

Thanks so much for your breakdown. You went really beyond the call of duty on that one, and it is much appreciated! :aok

[epluribus]

No problem, I get all curious about this stuff too. :beer

[Rena Rune]

UK Blues...Gotta be the JTM45 from the description, but sounds nothing like one. That said, it's a good blues patch, and makes a passable Bluesbreaker-flavored model. But that pushed 25W 4x12 Marshall sound? Not there.

It's a Bluesbreaker. That's why it sounds like a Bluesbreaker :P IMO it sounds like a clearer version of the Plexi patch. A JTM45, obviously, would sound a lot like their Bassman model, tweaked. Instead it sounds like their UK70s model, tweaked. So it must be in the same general family.

UK 70's...Has to be their Plexi patch. Decent sound, but very different feel from the actual Plexi. Very useful nevertheless. If anybody has a good Plexi patch, I'm all ears... I wasn't that fond of the Plexi at first, but when I tweaked it a bit it was pretty cool(also things sound different depending what headphones I use). Doesn't have the fizz of the version on my AD30VT. The UK Modern(on the PX4D, 90s on the 5D) can actually get some really Plexi-like tones at lower gain. The UK 70s seems to be for the fuzzier classic rock tones, and the JCM2000 gets those more biting classic Marshall tones. I've heard that about the real JCM2000s too, they're both more metal and more plexi at the same time(compared to an 800, which is weird since an 800 is a more metal Plexi :|).

UK-80's...I'm thinkin' JCM800 series, specifically with diode clipping. Easy to overdo the SS part on this one. BTW, I'm a huge fan of JCM800 cleans and light drive, unlike most people. This patch does those remarkably well.I completely agree. I think I posted some JCM800 dirty cleans somewhere here. Almost prefer them to the overdriven tone, which gets a little muddy unless you run it through a brighter cab(sounds great through the Vox 1x12 - I'm guessing it's fairly dead on for the JCM800 combo).

UK-90's...Starts getting fuzzy here, the distinctions. As a wild guess and nothing more I'm thinkin' the drive channel of a JCM2000 DSL. Haven't played a real DSL, but this is one smeary patch at DSL gain levels. I use it for very non-DSL Marshall-style patches and it works very well dialed down. One of the better shred patches, btw. One Mo' Thang Dept.: Was just perusing JCM2000 schematics at Dr. Tube's (http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm)when I ran across his provisional Marshall timeline. By his reckoning, the nineties belonged to the JCM900, which chronologically I can't argue with. Trouble is, I've never considered the JCM900 to be distinct enough from its direct predecessor, the JCM800, to warrant a second patch in Korg's (or anyone's) lineup. To me, the 900 is a very derivative amp both by circuit and by play characteristics. IMHO, the difference between a DSL and a TSL is far greater and would make better inclusions in a tone library. Anyhoo, just so ya know.The JCM2000 seemed to sound better on my AD30VT. I think it could actually be a 900 on this. It has that thinner raspier sound a lot of people associate with the 900. It's not as "Metal" voiced at the 2000, or the equiv model on my Valvetronix(probably the power amp, speaker etc.), and it lacks some of the really over the top mid range honk that you can get from a real JCM2000(i.e. like a TS boosted JCM800, which was the point of the 900 and 2000, and probably the 800 over the Plexi).

UK-MDN...Stumped here. The third channel of a TSL maybe? Can't say for sure as my first TSL is sitting on my workbench as we speak getting the rectifier fix and a few tweaks. Got it for peanuts as a non-working amp, and the fix is relatively easy...once I get around to finishing it! Go figure. Anyhoo, I haven't been able to use this patch at all...just too over-the-top messy.It's a JVM. Whatever the channel metallers use on it. Sounds like ass on the PX5D though, at least from the clips. Too weak and fizzy. Real JVMs are great amps.

US Hi Gain..."Snakeskin cab..." I guess we're talking early SLO-100 here eh? Doesn't sound like one, but good basic patch anyway. Needs a lot of dialing in, however. You'd expect to use something like this for down-tuned grunt, but IMHO it's nowhere near tight or focused enough. Down-tune tone is one place the Pandora just doesn't go very well. And my headsets, btw, are Shure SCL-5s.Some people have remarked it sounds like a 5150/6505(which is a modfied Soldano). They could have been going for some approximation between the two. On my AD30VT it sounded more like a Soldano, a bit more like a 6505 on this.

Either way, it's a great patch for hard rock and not half bad for metal. My favourite out of the mid to high gain patches.

US MDN..."Eye-catching metal plate..." Dual Rectifier apparently. Good chorus-drenched stadium rock patch, but haven't found much else to do with it. :)I kind of agree. I have issues with the Dual Rec sounds for metal, but they're more versatile than this. A lot of other modelers go for a more processed Dual Rec sound which is completely different(probably modeling a different channel, I dunno, or the 90s Dual Rec versus the fizzier modern one). It has this airy haughty kind of quality, I dunno what to make of it. The

[epluribus]

Ahhh, terrific, this is some cool stuff RR. Glad somebody else finds these little puzzles intriguing. :beer

It's a Bluesbreaker. That's why it sounds like a Bluesbreaker :P

[Concept leaks into brain.]

IMO it sounds like a clearer version of the Plexi patch. A JTM45, obviously, would sound a lot like their Bassman model, tweaked. Instead it sounds like their UK70s model, tweaked. So it must be in the same general family.

I wasn't that fond of the Plexi at first, but when I tweaked it a bit it was pretty cool(also things sound different depending what headphones I use). Doesn't have the fizz of the version on my AD30VT.

The UK Modern(on the PX4D, 90s on the 5D) can actually get some really Plexi-like tones at lower gain.

Yup, I noticed the same thing. Most of my Plexi-wannabes are dialed down from other amps, particularly that one. If the target amp is indeed a JCM900, I'm thinking it must be the circuit without the diode clipping. You can smooth it out more than the UK 80's/JCM800 and it's more touch responsive.

The UK 70s seems to be for the fuzzier classic rock tones, and the JCM2000 gets those more biting classic Marshall tones. I've heard that about the real JCM2000s too, they're both more metal and more plexi at the same time(compared to an 800, which is weird since an 800 is a more metal Plexi :|).

So I'm hopin' with the real TSL on my bench--I've heard several owners say that about them. Figured I'll play it for a while stock and then dial each channel in to my liking...and one's gonna be the Plexi channel for sure.

I completely agree. I think I posted some JCM800 dirty cleans somewhere here. Almost prefer them to the overdriven tone, which gets a little muddy unless you run it through a brighter cab(sounds great through the Vox 1x12 - I'm guessing it's fairly dead on for the JCM800 combo).

True dat. I set up a nice old 4210 for a guy, including a change of speaker that does much the same thing. Except that one thing I can say about the real JCM800 is that it doesn't get muddy. Nasty maybe, but not muddy. :)

The JCM2000 seemed to sound better on my AD30VT. I think it could actually be a 900 on this. It has that thinner raspier sound a lot of people associate with the 900. It's not as "Metal" voiced at the 2000, or the equiv model on my Valvetronix(probably the power amp, speaker etc.), and it lacks some of the really over the top mid range honk that you can get from a real JCM2000(i.e. like a TS boosted JCM800, which was the point of the 900 and 2000, and probably the 800 over the Plexi).

It's a JVM. Whatever the channel metallers use on it.

Very interesting, I wondered about that. The JVM is such a cool concept...I really do have to play one one of these days! From what I here, they dial down to sane levels very nicely without losing the juice too.

Sounds like ass on the PX5D though, at least from the clips.

Confirmed. :)

Too weak and fizzy. Real JVMs are great amps.

Some people have remarked it sounds like a 5150/6505(which is a modfied Soldano). They could have been going for some approximation between the two. On my AD30VT it sounded more like a Soldano, a bit more like a 6505 on this.

Either way, it's a great patch for hard rock and not half bad for metal. My favourite out of the mid to high gain patches.

Certainly agree on the hard rock side...most of these patches do far better at lower gain levels than Korg packages them with, esp this one.

I kind of agree. I have issues with the Dual Rec sounds for metal, but they're more versatile than this. A lot of other modelers go for a more processed Dual Rec sound which is completely different(probably modeling a different channel, I dunno, or the 90s Dual Rec versus the fizzier modern one). It has this airy haughty kind of quality, I dunno what to make of it. The

Fun stuff. :beer Always useful to explore these things and find ways to misuse the intended patches to make better patches.

--Ray

[Rena Rune]

Generally with modelers you have to turn the gain down a bit, either because they didn't bother fixing the dynamic range up to that point(happened with a lot of older zoom stuff) or because the amp doesn't sound that good with that much gain. That's why a lot of people still use ODs with JCM2000s etc.

True dat. I set up a nice old 4210 for a guy, including a change of speaker that does much the same thing. Except that one thing I can say about the real JCM800 is that it doesn't get muddy. Nasty maybe, but not muddy. :)Yes. It was kind of funny, I was trying to get a Tom Morello kinda tone with my Xaviere Tele into my Valvetronix, but the neck pickup was too muddy. So I swapped in a more strat like one, and it was aces, and tried it out on a real JCM800. Definitely brightened up the JCM800(as did a speaker change) but still not quite there. Interestingly, the actual Morello patch(I'm assuming, it's called "Audio" and sounds a bit like it) on the PX4D uses the UK Modern(2000/900) at low gain. That's really gotten me stumped now. I think he uses a 2205, which is higher gain than a regular one, possibly uses diode clipping? So the JCM900 might be closer in voicing to the 2205 - they have to work with approximations; I used to find the AC15 got better Voxy tones on my Valvetronix than the AC30TB(luckily this has a non top boost AC30 and more control over the TB version with speaker cabs, etc.). Of course, it could be a 2205 itself.

I've heard that the Vox/Korg stuff goes straight for the original, unmodified amp, whereas since Line 6 look for a more recorded sound, they will emulate more specific models. You often see them talking about that in the model descriptions, about different amps they've picked up for testing. I think the modeled JCM800 might not even be the 2203. The "Modern" could actually be a modern JCM800(A 2205 of 2210) and the 80s the original late 70s/early 80s JCM800 which would have been on a lot of early 80s record, giving it that darker, rounded off "tubier" sound as opposed to the more bitey sound that came in the late 80s and 90s.

I think the Diode clipping could actually be giving a sharper tone. Often when you really push tubes for distortion, they can get quite muddy, especially power tubes. I'm guessing the sharper classic Plexi tone uses specific tubes, speaker, or a less saggy output transformer, to the "Fuzzy" plexi. Marshall amps are modded to hell and back. The right mix of SS and tube can sound pretty good. You'd be surprised how much SS tech is in "great sounding" modern tube amps anyway. The Jubilee used it. I'd like to say SS tech has come a long way, but it's never been all that bad if you know where to look.

[Skjold]

RR and epluribus,

Sorry to derail the thread for a minute, but since you guys appear to be extremely knowledgeable about amps, I was wondering if I could ask your opinions about a small amp for practicing/recording.

My ideal tone is the clean sound right at the beginning of this clip. Jazzy and almost a 50's type vibe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JG62nhICgI&feature=related

The problem is I don't really have $2,000+ to spend on an amp. The deal is though that I live in Japan, and with people living on top of each other, there's no point in me buying anything with real muscle. I need something that sounds good at low settings. I don't really play out, but if I do at some point down the line, I figure I could just mic it, and it would be nice to have something small that I can take with me on a train.

In terms of tone, I'm looking for something that can handle jazz to rockabilly. I don't really play anything too hard these days. I think my punk rock days are behind me.

Any suggestions? I'm in no rush to buy as I have the PX4D and a Cube right now, which are fine. I just want to know what my options are. I find a carrot at the end of the stick makes getting through the work week a bit easier. :D

[Rena Rune]

TBH I haven't played a shit ton of proper big tube amps, mostly just consumed an unhealthy amount of clips and other people playing them. I'm not really into 50s stuff either so it'd be difficult to help out there. But that amp sounds a bit like a Bassman to my ears, though there's something a bit chunkie about the dirt(almost reminds me of a Dumble).

The Bugera V22 I think is a cheap clone.

Other than that I'd suggest a ZT Club, which is probably a little darker but you could definitely take a Club on the train.

[Skjold]

The Bugera V22 I think is a cheap clone.

Other than that I'd suggest a ZT Club, which is probably a little darker but you could definitely take a Club on the train.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have a look! Sorry to throw the thread off track.

[taketwo56]

Hi how u going? I, in a moment of madness, sold my px3 which I was really happy with the sounds. The beats were a bit lame but I used them alot just for jaming. So Im considering either a px4d or the px5d. Having used all of these yourself, what would you consider out of the px4d n px5d to be closest to the px3? Almost impossible to find them on ebay nowadays, If all that makes sense. Im an old bastard now and have a Digitec GNX4 and just want something simple. Thanks man cheers Paul

[Rena Rune]

The PX4D has a horrid amount of noise on it, I've come to realise.

[monkmiles]

I finally, after lots of tweaking, am getting a good clean headphone tone out of my Pocket Pod. The main culprit seemed to be my cheap headphones. They just weren't loud enough and I had to crank the Pod volume and gain knobs which killed the cleans. I switched to other headphones I have that are louder and I can now get a good clean tone out of the Blackface Twin model.

I also had an issue using a Visual Sound One Spot with the Pocket Pod. I use a One Spot to power my pedalboard and then output the pedalboard into the Pocket Pod. Even with the Pocket Pod powered by its own/separate adapter, I got lots of noise. Once I switched from the One Spot to another adapter I had, the noise vanished. Odd because I get no noise form the One Spot through my amps.