suitable modeller

[SloeGin]

Hey people,

I'm still looking for a new amp. Since i live in an appartment i was adviced to look for a modelling amp.

My guitar is a Gibson LP Custom and I play bluesrock to metal such as Jimi Hendrix, Joe bonamassa, Slash/Guns N roses, Metallica, Ozzy, Zakk Wylde/BLS, Megadeth and some Children of Bodom.

The axe-fx is supposed to be very difficult especially for people with no experience with modelling what so ever. The eleven rack is cheaper, less possibilities but can i get sounds from it like above mentionned?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

[Universe74]

I'm very impressed with my GPS1101 so far. I had the Vamp and this thing blows it out of the water. Easy to program, usb recording and integrates with pretty much any rig via 4cm ect.

[rsm]

The Axe-Fx is difficult if you don't know what you want from it IMO. If you know how to express that tone in your head or have a reference tone to AB, etc. you should be fine. I started using my Ultra into my stereo guitar rig (ADA B200S solid state amp + 4 ADA 2x12 split stacks, 2 cabs per side) with the cab blocks off. This will give you the "amp in the room" feel, much like having a guitar rig of a rack preamp (or many) + rack effects (or many) in a 2U space unit + power amp and guitar cabs. Once I had this working, I felt I was missing the full capabilities so I went FRFR.

In my experience, you can get very good tones with the basic controls and simple signal chains and move up to the advanced settings, more complex signal chains, user IR's etc. when / if you want or need to do so. I sold my Ultra because it was overkill for my needs, I'm able to get the vintage tones (approximated) I want using my Vox ToneLab LE, a Vox valvetronix amp stack, my Fender tube amp with pedals and my AC15 Heritage....YMMV. If my gear fund allowed, I would have another Ultra. No other modeler I've tried is in the same class IMO. I have not tried the 11R....

For the tones you listed,I would also look into the DigiTech RP1000 - it may have the models and effects to get the tone and sounds you are looking for. I've read and heard good things about this unit, though I haven't tried it.

[SloeGin]

Thanks for your replies

What about a line 6 pod? Can anyone advice me please which pod exactly to get for the sounds I want?

[jchan]

If you will be using it for home use it will work just fine IMO.

[fr8_trane]

For a happy medium between tone, ease of use and price I think the Digitech RP500, 1000 or GSP1101 are your best bets especially over the PODS which are yesterdays news IMO (at least until they come out with their next gen).

The GSP is their flagship studio rack unit and has the best tones and dual processors. The RP units are single processor floor boards with a built in expression pedals.

[nangillala]

Do you've got any equipment yet? Do you want to use the modeler with headphones?
You could think about a computer based system if you already own a decent PC. VST amps are often cheaper or for free. This would be a good starting point I suppose.

[SloeGin]

I'd like to use it with a cab so i still have the feeling of having a 'real amp' you know.

The Digitech RP's can be used with a cab?

[scott58]

Originally Posted by SloeGin

Thanks for your replies

What about a line 6 pod? Can anyone advice me please which pod exactly to get for the sounds I want?

I've got a POD XT Live plugged into a Valve Junior and it's perfect for what your talking about. Great low volume tone. I do alot of my practice between 1 and 3am and it doesn't bother anybody and on weekends when I can crank it it gets pretty loud too. Better tone then my modeling amps by far.

[eyeball987]

Originally Posted by scott58

I've got a POD XT Live plugged into a Valve Junior and it's perfect for what your talking about. Great low volume tone. I do alot of my practice between 1 and 3am and it doesn't bother anybody and on weekends when I can crank it it gets pretty loud too. Better tone then my modeling amps by far.

I did that for a while and it does sound pretty good. The issue I had with it was that I like big bottle power tube tone and VJ was just too anemic. It just didn't have any ass to it but then again, for apartment or late night volume playing, it does fit the bill nicely.

[scott58]

The key for the VJ is get the stock tubes out. That was my first dramatic improvement. The 2nd was plugging in a Wampler SuperPlextortion to replace the OD/Distortion of the POD. The POD loves that pedal, better then any other pedal i've plugged in. It really gets along with amp modeling.

[HCarlH]

Originally Posted by SloeGin

I'd like to use it with a cab so i still have the feeling of having a 'real amp' you know.

The Digitech RP's can be used with a cab?

Yes. I've used my RP1000 both FRFR and with a tube amp's effects return (really sounds good that way).

After nine years I jumped ship from Line 6 to the RP1000. The modeling sounds more natural to me on the RP. I had the original POD and have POD Farm (X3 in software form). What got me to look at Digitech in the first place was the reliability issues Line 6 has been having with the X3 Live. I'm glad I got the RP1000. The harmonizer on it has issues (glitches), but I don't use that anyway.

[fr8_trane]

Originally Posted by HCarlH

Yes. I've used my RP1000 both FRFR and with a tube amp's effects return (really sounds good that way).

After nine years I jumped ship from Line 6 to the RP1000. The modeling sounds more natural to me on the RP. I had the original POD and have POD Farm (X3 in software form). What got me to look at Digitech in the first place was the reliability issues Line 6 has been having with the X3 Live. I'm glad I got the RP1000. The harmonizer on it has issues (glitches), but I don't use that anyway.

+1

The RP's have less fizz and no weird sub-harmonic artifacts. The marshall 77 master volume model alone is worth the price of admission. It has the best mid-gain marshall crunch I've heard outside of the AXE-FX and it just crushes any of the marshalls on the Pod XT I still have but never use.

Also the FX available on the RP's are worlds better than those on the POD. They are in the same league as the excellent L6 M13 which is itself a huge step up from the POD.

P.S. If you want to run it though an amp/cab I have gotten the best results by disabling any cab sims and leaving the RP in STUDIO mode. Amp mode has alot more treble and is MUCH fizzier than studio mode.