Line 6 Spider VALVE

[Hendog]

What do you guys think of this thing???

I had the change to play one back to back with a 6505 and a Mesa Express 5:50 and I actually liked the Spider Valve MORE at low/moderate volumes.

[Waxhead]

Originally Posted by Hendog

What do you guys think of this thing???

I had the change to play one back to back with a 6505 and a Mesa Express 5:50 and I actually liked the Spider Valve MORE at low/moderate volumes.

... eeeh
You could give me 3 Spiders for either one of the 6505 or the 5:50 and I'd sell the Line 6's. Fizzy distortion, boxy tone, poor build quality, plastic parts.... eeehh Line 6

[shawnshack]

there are solid state amps that are worse...but it sure doesn't compare to a good 'ole tube amp . My friend had one and had lots of problems with it. I don't think they are typically troublesome, but his was.

[JPenn]

I've got the 100 watt head and get fairly good tones out of it. Is it gonna smoke a real Bogner or another high dollar booteek amp?...prolly not. What it does is provide you with some good tones, a little bit better feel than the FlexIII (to me),some decent effects, all in a fairly portable package.

I had a SV112 when they first came out, had a problem with it and was able to return it to MF. I decided not to get another at that time, just take a refund. A few months later a band member put up a live clip on youtube of a gig I used the SpiVa on. I was very happy with the tone I was hearing, so I decided to get another SpiVa. I got the head and have used it for the past 15-16 months without any problems. I run it thru an Avatar 212 cab with a Vintage 30/Veteran 30.

I really only use the Marshall models on the amp, but the AC30 model ain't too bad. I use tremelo, a leslie-type sound with the chorus, and delay so the effects are really fine by me. If you use lots of effects and need to be able to dive into them, I would suggest finding a good external unit.

Overall I'm very happy with the Spider Valve. I am trying to trade my 100watt head for another 112. I'd just like to downsize, and I really don't need much volume anymore. I have plans on trying the SVPre when I get a combo, and also thinking about trying out Yellowjackets in it.

[TS808]

The Spider Valve was one of the few amps I returned because I just didn't like it. For me, it just seemed that no matter what, I couldn't get a tone out of the amp that I liked.

I wouldn't say it's a bad amp by any means, but for the money, I think there are better sounding amps that you can get in that price range.

I really liked the versatility of the SV, but the tones just didn't inspire me much.

[wayne87mott]

Have went back to the local music shop about 10 times to play a Spider Valve 212. I have no practical use for one, because I have an ENGL 50 watter, and a 2x12 cab, but I really dig the shred tone I was getting out of the Spider Valve.

[vangit]

Originally Posted by Hendog

What do you guys think of this thing???

I had the change to play one back to back with a 6505 and a Mesa Express 5:50 and I actually liked the Spider Valve MORE at low/moderate volumes.

Try them again and go with what you think and what you like. No one here is going to change your ear. If you want to know if they are reliable, etc, there is a separate digital modeling gear section on this forum that can help.

BTW, I had a 5:25 express and I couldn't play it at low (bedroom) volumes. Not even on the 5 watts, just too loud to sound good to ME.

[Hendog]

Originally Posted by Waxhead

... eeeh
You could give me 3 Spiders for either one of the 6505 or the 5:50 and I'd sell the Line 6's. Fizzy distortion, boxy tone, poor build quality, plastic parts.... eeehh Line 6

Originally Posted by shawnshack

there are solid state amps that are worse...but it sure doesn't compare to a good 'ole tube amp . My friend had one and had lots of problems with it. I don't think they are typically troublesome, but his was.

Are you guys aware that we are talking about the tube version designed by Bogner???

[Waxhead]

Originally Posted by Hendog

Are you guys aware that we are talking about the tube version designed by Bogner???

yep - It might be designed by Bogner and have tubes but it's still made by Line 6. So you get their appalling build quality.
It's definitely better than the rest of the Line 6 amp range but that's saying very little.
Has digital effects and amp modelling - fine if you like Line 6 effects. Has no power cut options though.
That would have been much more useful than crappy Line 6 effects.
It is a cheap tube amp though. Like all line 6 stuff - you get what you pay for.
Fine if you want/need a cheap swiss army knife type solution for bedroom use, a covers band or somethin.
But tone wise - compare it with any Mesa or high quality tube amp - no contest IMO.

Hendog - you say you only preferred the Spider Valve at LOW volumes.
Mesa and high end tube amp makers don't make amps to excell at bedroom volume levels.
They're gigging amps for pros made to be cranked, whereas Line 6 have made trillions making cheap products for bedroom players.
Not really comparable IMO.

[TS808]

Originally Posted by Waxhead

yep - It might be designed by Bogner and have tubes but it's still made by Line 6. So you get their appalling build quality.
It's definitely better than the rest of the Line 6 amp range but that's saying very little.
Has digital effects and amp modelling - fine if you like Line 6 effects. Has no power cut options though.
That would have been much more useful than crappy Line 6 effects.
It is a cheap tube amp though. Like all line 6 stuff - you get what you pay for.
Fine if you want/need a cheap swiss army knife type solution for bedroom use, a covers band or somethin.
But tone wise - compare it with any Mesa or high quality tube amp - no contest IMO.

Hendog - you say you only preferred the Spider Valve at LOW volumes.
Mesa and high end tube amp makers don't make amps to excell at bedroom volume levels.
They're gigging amps for pros made to be cranked, whereas Line 6 have made trillions making cheap products for bedroom players.
Not really comparable IMO.

The Spider Valve wasn't for me definitely. I just didn't like the tones I was getting from it.

But appalling build quality, cheap, and crappy? Sorry, I have to disagree with you there.

[Razor]

I agree with TS808. The build quality is not bad, especially for the price. I have had the 2x12 combo for about one year, with no problems. There are some good tones in the amp, and the versatility is nice. The presets were not pleasing to me, but with some experimentation, I found good usable tones. It does not sound as good as some of the all-tube amps I have owned and/or played, but it provides a portable rig which covers all the tones I need.

[drgonzoguitar]

When I was gigging with the Spider Valve, here are some of the tones I was getting out of it. All of these recordings were done with a Tascam DR-1.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6681738
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6681743
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6681748
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6681751

The Spider Valve was a decent amp for the price.

[Lution]

Originally Posted by TS808

The Spider Valve wasn't for me definitely. I just didn't like the tones I was getting from it.

But appalling build quality, cheap, and crappy? Sorry, I have to disagree with you there.

I too have to disagree.

I've owned an Ecstasy 101B and when the SpiVa arrived at my local GC i headed right down and looked it over backwards and forwards before ever plugging in. I have to say i was impressed with its build quality. Looked pretty solid to me, especially compared to the regular Spider line.

And I thought it sounded nice. It had that hint of warmth to it. I passed on it because it needed to be fairly loud to give up the goods.

[drgonzoguitar]

Originally Posted by Lution

And I thought it sounded nice. It had that hint of warmth to it. I passed on it because it needed to be fairly loud to give up the goods.

I agree 100% Those power tubes needed to be cooking a bit to give up the goods. In the clips I posted, I am not in the mains. That is out front beaming people!

If the made one that was 18 watts and had better delay control, I probably would sell the rest of my amps.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by JPenn

I've got the 100 watt head and get fairly good tones out of it. Is it gonna smoke a real Bogner or another high dollar booteek amp?...prolly not. What it does is provide you with some good tones, a little bit better feel than the FlexIII (to me),some decent effects, all in a fairly portable package.

I had a SV112 when they first came out, had a problem with it and was able to return it to MF. I decided not to get another at that time, just take a refund. A few months later a band member put up a live clip on youtube of a gig I used the SpiVa on. I was very happy with the tone I was hearing, so I decided to get another SpiVa. I got the head and have used it for the past 15-16 months without any problems. I run it thru an Avatar 212 cab with a Vintage 30/Veteran 30.

I really only use the Marshall models on the amp, but the AC30 model ain't too bad. I use tremelo, a leslie-type sound with the chorus, and delay so the effects are really fine by me. If you use lots of effects and need to be able to dive into them, I would suggest finding a good external unit.

Overall I'm very happy with the Spider Valve. I am trying to trade my 100watt head for another 112. I'd just like to downsize, and I really don't need much volume anymore. I have plans on trying the SVPre when I get a combo, and also thinking about trying out Yellowjackets in it.

Jason: Care to share your settings?