Some thoughts on Line6 M13 drives...

[fr8_trane]

The boost/comp "crackles" badly as you turn the gain up to the point where it distorts. Its pretty unpleasant and not useful for ANY dirt let alone edge of breakup. The tube driver with gain below noon and mids set really low is the best low gain OD in the box IMO. I was A/Bing with my timmy for reference... the timmy was definitely better (warmer yet more present) but I could certainly do a gig using the tube driver as my low gainer.

The screamer is a decent model of the TS. They got the mids right but you can't dial in a smooth tone with it. Like most of the dirt in the M13 there is a bright sheen that can't really be dialed out.

The tube driver is the best mid gain model and reminds me of the OCD/BOR/Boss OD-3 depending on how you dial it in.

The best distortion model is the line 6 drive. With mids below noon it does the big muff type tone better than the actual big muff model. With the mids at noon and above it does tones similar to the a Rat/DS-1/crunchbox. I don't really like the Rat model (too ratty and you can't smooth it out like the real one), Muff (too wooly/fizzy) or any of the fuzzes.

I haven't really tried the comp on the boost comp yet. The tube comp is by far the most transparent, although it does add some pleasant treble sheen which is great for clean acoustic/electric rhythms. The vetta comp does the string pop/chicken pickin thing without any obvious pumping like the (useless IMO) red, blue and vetta juice comps.

I discovered something interesting last night while putting my new m13 through its paces. I was getting some noise with the M13 on. I have it set to true bypass and when all fx were off the noise went away so it was definitely coming from the M13. Well the noise also went away when I put my clean boost in front of the M13. This also worked with the timmy on and set as a clean boost. Apparently the buffer in these units had a postive effect on the M13. I also noticed that with either boost engaged (both at unity gain - no actual volume boost) the sound of the OD's was improved. This could be due to the inherent EQ "color" that clean boost impart but it was noticable. Anyway, give it a try and see what you think.

I remain unconvinced. I just checked out the demo on the Line 6 site and did not like what I heard at all.
Where can I find some better demos? Could someone point me in right direction please. If it is as good as you say, I am definitely interested.

Try youtube for better demos.

Look for videos by stilwell, dognmoon and jasongellis (featuring Bill Walker)
Here's a couple to get you started
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-NX...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz47S...e=channel_page

[The P-Man]

Originally Posted by fr8_trane

The boost/comp "crackles" badly as you turn the gain up to the point where it distorts. Its pretty unpleasant and not useful for ANY dirt let alone edge of breakup. The tube driver with gain below noon and mids set really low is the best low gain OD in the box IMO. I was A/Bing with my timmy for reference... the timmy was definitely better (warmer yet more present) but I could certainly do a gig using the tube driver as my low gainer.

The screamer is a decent model of the TS. They got the mids right but you can't dial in a smooth tone with it. Like most of the dirt in the M13 there is a bright sheen that can't really be dialed out.

The tube driver is the best mid gain model and reminds me of the OCD/BOR/Boss OD-3 depending on how you dial it in.

The best distortion model is the line 6 drive. With mids below noon it does the big muff type tone better than the actual big muff model. With the mids at noon and above it does tones similar to the a Rat/DS-1/crunchbox. I don't really like the Rat model (too ratty and you can't smooth it out like the real one), Muff (too wooly/fizzy) or any of the fuzzes.

I haven't really tried the comp on the boost comp yet. The tube comp is by far the most transparent, although it does add some pleasant treble sheen which is great for clean acoustic/electric rhythms. The vetta comp does the string pop/chicken pickin thing without any obvious pumping like the (useless IMO) red, blue and vetta juice comps.

I discovered something interesting last night while putting my new m13 through its paces. I was getting some noise with the M13 on. I have it set to true bypass and when all fx were off the noise went away so it was definitely coming from the M13. Well the noise also went away when I put my clean boost in front of the M13. This also worked with the timmy on and set as a clean boost. Apparently the buffer in these units had a postive effect on the M13. I also noticed that with either boost engaged (both at unity gain - no actual volume boost) the sound of the OD's was improved. This could be due to the inherent EQ "color" that clean boost impart but it was noticable. Anyway, give it a try and see what you think.



Try youtube for better demos.

Look for videos by stilwell, dognmoon and jasongellis (featuring Bill Walker)
Here's a couple to get you started
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-NX...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz47S...e=channel_page

Completely agree on a number of the points you make. Boost/comp distorts (in a bad way) for me and I find the Tube comp, set with low compression works far better as a clean boost. I actually find that even with the comp off completely, the Boost Comp still has a strong compressed tone which I don't enjoy.

The Tube Driver is a firm favourite and is very versatile. I can dial it in to sound very similar to my BOR (not identical but close enough).

I have also found that running my BOR in front of the M13 (set to low gain with both the Distortron and the boost on) makes the M13's drives sound better. It also makes the univibe sound a lot deeper and alive with the BOR in front and the Tube Driver behind it.

[goldie-gold]

Originally Posted by fr8_trane

Try youtube for better demos.

Look for videos by stilwell, dognmoon and jasongellis (featuring Bill Walker)
Here's a couple to get you started
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-NX...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz47S...e=channel_page

Wow. Thaks for that. I can totally hear how great the drives sound. They really are very convincing indeed. I shall have to take myself and a few of my favourties pedals to a shop to try this out and do some comparisons of my own.

[wizard_23]

Fooling around in the shop I thought the Tube Driver was the pick of them too. Can't wait to get my m13 and start tinkering. Still holding onto my Klon and Jordan BossTone fuzz though.

[UncleLarry]

I've been using the M13 since it was first released. Really, all the compressors in the M13 are quite good. Tube Comp being my fave and Boost Comp a close second.

Of the overdrives, the Tube Drive is my favorite. I'm a big fan of Tube King and Chandler type ODs, and this one comes really close. Like REALLY close. I've A/Bed it to my Maxon and Ibanez tube pedals, and the models are almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

[kiki_90291]

I A/B'ed the tube screamer and Rat models against the real things (the TS was a handbuitl 808 clone and the Rat was an original). Once I matched the settings, my very skeptical friend could not tell them apart without looking to see which ones I had on. I can get the colorsound model to sound just like my tonebender mkii clone, except the model does not clean up with the volume knob on the guitar. I haven't done any other comparisons, but I think the dirt is pretty good.

[The Interceptor]

Just tried the Boost Comp on my new M5. Not bad at all for that edge of breakup tone.

Not every drive in the unit is great, but a large number are. And that is to say nothing about the mods, filters etc. This is a cool pedal (if you can call it that).

[sascha]

Originally Posted by kiki_90291

I A/B'ed the tube screamer and Rat models against the real things (the TS was a handbuitl 808 clone and the Rat was an original). Once I matched the settings, my very skeptical friend could not tell them apart without looking to see which ones I had on. I can get the colorsound model to sound just like my tonebender mkii clone, except the model does not clean up with the volume knob on the guitar. I haven't done any other comparisons, but I think the dirt is pretty good.

Also A/B'd the Rat model against my VFE Alpha Dog (Rat Clone). While, to my ears, the Alpha dog was still clearly superior, I was surprised how close my M5 got.

In general, I think there are a lot very useable FX in the M series modelers, I love the Auto Volume Echo and the Tube Echo.