Why EVERYONE should own a modeler

[Glenharris1971]

I recently incorporated a Line 6 Pod HD300 into my live rig. Chain goes like this Guitar> MXR Dynacomp> Wampler Ecstasy> HD300> Effects return of JCM800 half stack. Sounds great. We were playing a class of '81 reunion this past weekend and everything was going great... Then my amp craps out. Power tube. I was stupid and left my extras at home. At the end of the song I reached down flipped the switch to "studio" on my HD300, plugged into the PA and finished the gig. If I didn't have the Pod, I would have been screwed. Very nice.

[aleclee]

Sounds more like "Why everyone should have a backup plan".

[MKB]

Don't get me going on what you do when your HD lays down on you... might need a backup for the backup. I've been playing live for over 30 years, used tube amps the entire time except for the last 6 months or so (went to a HD500). So of course the HD500 dies in the middle of an energetic set and I had to use the other guitarist's Hot Rod Deluxe to finish the gig. This is the only time I've ever had a catastrophic gear failure.

Maybe the moral of the story is to always have a backup as all gear can die on you unexpectedly. And it is cool that the HD300 gives a full feature backup option by itself.

[Structo]

Never fails, old Murphy strikes the one time you don't bring your backup stuff.

You can get those backup amps in a pedal now.
EHX makes a couple.

Crate used to make the Power Block now discontinued.

I used to use a Line 6 POD XTL straight into the board.
Worked pretty good once I had dialed in the patches and amp models.
But I missed the feel of a good tube amp.
So back I went.

Always carry spare fuses, tubes, cables, etc.

I have a little suitcase type thing I keep all my backup stuff in just in case.

[drwiddly]

I have more than one rig but they all use midi, so I always have a Rolls MP80 (spare midi switch), Crate Powerblock and an old Digitech Genesis 3 in my case, as well as spare cables etc. It's my 'get me out of trouble rig'!

[epluribus]

Interesting thought...hm...

...Great for playing through headsets

...Great for recording, esp budget and home studios

...Only way to do zero-stage-volume gigs (absent heavy iso)

...Adaptable to any mix/room, can be dialed-in under show conditions and fine-tuned from FOH

...Patch libraries are the bomb, per above

...Provides tons of gear you might not otherwise own

...Opens up new sounds and approaches

...Great for prototyping new analog rigs

...Gotta love GUI...no soldering!

...Light and compact

...Inexpensive

...Excellent onstage useability

...Big-V Versatile!




...but not that anybody should own a modeler. To each their own, of course.

--Ray

PS...They sound good too. :)

[sixesandsevens]

I have a little suitcase type thing I keep all my backup stuff in just in case.

Note to self: Get a backup "backup stuff" suitcase. ;)

[frankencat]

In the techie world a backup consists of at least three of something. Better hit the emporium....



:D

[Dancing Frog]

In the techie world a backup consists of at least three of something. Better hit the emporium....



:DThe Space Shuttle had five flight computers, four fully functional redundant primaries and a back up. Maybe, you ought to get two or three while you're out there.;)

I always have two back ups these days to my Axe-FX II, my Ultra and an iRig.

[torquil]

The Space Shuttle had five flight computers, four fully functional redundant primaries and a back up.

But how many tube-based computers would they have needed? :p

[epluribus]

If the shuttle ran on tubes they wouldn't need computers...just a Tele and a hound dog. :)

[GCDEF]

I just carry a spare amp.

[forum_crawler]

Not a bad idea to have a modeler in your arsenal of tools. I don't always want to turn on my tube rig or lug it around so they GSP rig is excellent for those situations.

So I think having both is the best way to go, but if you can only have one, keep the tube amp.

[Mango Positive]

I don't use my HD500 live, but I take it to gigs... just in case.

[MKB]

I haven't used a tube amp live in months. The HD500 is so versatile and easy to set up, plus sounds better at the volumes I usually gig at. Every gig I get compliments on my tone. Works perfectly in the studio too, and for practice. I could almost justify getting a second HD500 just as a spare.

I do think everyone should have one too.

[sixesandsevens]

I haven't used a tube amp live in months. The HD500 is so versatile and easy to set up, plus sounds better at the volumes I usually gig at. Every gig I get compliments on my tone.

That's great. Are you running direct to FoH or through something else?

[dlc1953]

I picked up a 300 here for $220.00.The best money I've spent on gear this year easy.It took a good bit of tweaking put still finding new things to try with it. The Pre-Amp stuff is great.And effect's that I would never have spent the money on are at your disposal for those rare times you want them.