[GuitaristZ]

although I would love to be able to haul around my marshall halfstack everywhere I go, its just not practical, especially when you drive a small mazda sedan. Anyway, I was wondering what a good amp modeler you guys would suggest. It will be running STRAIGHT into a PA system.

I was thinking the Line 6 Pod XT or maybe a boss GT8. Perhaps even a vox tonelab. I just cant justify bringing my tube amp everywhere, sure I will use it every once in a while when I have access to suitable transportation, but I need something I can stick in my backpack and go to gigs with.

 

[Yerffej]

the gt-8 is a great unit for that purpose. it has a ton of available sounds, you just have to be a little bit familiar with the layout and the manual

 

[GuitaristZ]

the gt-8 is a great unit for that purpose. it has a ton of available sounds, you just have to be a little bit familiar with the layout and the manual

yeah, when comparing the GT8 and the line 6, the Gt8 pwns it so amazingly. the line 6 sounds like a fuzz factory while the gt8 sounds almost tubelike. plus the GT8 is just so much better in every aspect even its patches arent named stupidly...the line 6 has patches like "washing machine" or something haha.

edit: this is just from website clips. I am just comparing the units by the clips on their sites so I am probably wrong about their true tone in real life. sorry if I offended anybody.

 

[violation]

Isn't the GT-8 like a huge floorboard kind of thing? That's not exactly practical if you ask me... POD would be much better for travelling. I personally dislike digital gear with a passion... anything I've tried doesn't sound natural at all.

 

[torndownunit]

Isn't the GT-8 like a huge floorboard kind of thing? That's not exactly practical if you ask me... POD would be much better for travelling. I personally dislike digital gear with a passion... anything I've tried doesn't sound natural at all.

The problem with these modeling units though is that the big floorboard is a necessity if you actually want to have easy access to the features while playing live. Especially when it comes to turning effects on and off and switching presets.

I gigged with a Line Flextone III for about a year. It totally sounded good enough to 'get by with' at gigs where I didn't want to take my other gear. But again, I found it just too complicated. And the more I played with it, the more I needed a floorboard which costs half what the amp costs. And the presets you spend hours setting will sound completely different when you play different venues. They aren't exactly easy to play with on the fly either.

Overall I can tell you from my experience that the 'easier' solution can actually be a complete pain. Especially if you are like me and just like the sound of a nice cranked tube amp. You will spend hours fiddling with dials to try to get a sound you get just plugging into a tube amp and cranking it. And still likely never find it.

Why don't you just buy a second smaller tube combo to take to shows? I have been playing for 15 years and have never needed a half stack for a single show. And I play some pretty rocking, loud music. Buying something smaller and lighter and just miking it is a second option.

 

[GuitaristZ]

I think you are onto something with the small tube amp thing. I do sort of want variety though, so that why I was thinking an amp modeller which would give me different amp types like vox, fender, marshall, mesa boogie, etc.

I agree that a modeller isnt as good sounding as a true tube amp, but I still think a modeller is the way I should go. I dont think I need a floorboard though. I have a cheesy little zoom pedal which has horrible tones, and I use it without a floorboard fine, so I think it should be ok.

 

[flange]

Have you tried a sansamp tri-ac?
I'm a bass player and use a programmable bass driver di.
It is small and simple and while maybe not the holy grail of tone
it works quite well. I also have a bass pod and find that I use the sansamp much more frequently.

 

[PaulS]

The sans amp Tri AC was a good unit, it offered three preset amp models and they sounded really good going direct. I used one for quite a while with a band I was playing with, the size factor was great as well as the sound. Did a good job on the fender/marshall sounds. Analog preamp as well. The main thing I liked about this modeller was simplicity....

 

[ENDITOL]

There's a new 'boutique' amp modeler called the Axe FX that has been getting rave reviews on the net. I thought the clips sounded pretty cool too.

 

[Ti-Ron]

Don't know if that can help but there's a couple other unit you can look at:

Digitech GNX4
You got a bunch of effects with a recorder, a looper and a usb out so you can use it as a recording device. There's a lot of settings, so maybe you'll be lost at the beggining !
Vox Tonelab
Only one tube but with a more vintage sound ! Probably the easiest one to set up! Really intuitive!
Zoom G9 2tt
this one got 2 tubes so it's probably got a better tone ! The only one I never use but the Z fonction look really interessing! Have to find a store with it, just to have an eye!

I give you the bigger model of each but there smaller alternative. I am like you, I don't like to move everything but that kind of stuff look like a girl the first time you ever touch it... you never know wich button is the good one but after practicing you can deal with it like a man ! My personnal suggestion is the Vox Tonelab because I prefer the tone and the easy settings options, but there's no usb out !

Good luck !

 

[Sneaky]

How about a V-Stack?

http://www.v-stack.com/

 

[Big White Tele]

Line 6 AM4 if you must......

 

[Milkman]

I gigged with a Vox Tonelab SE direct to PA for more than a year.


It sounds great and has lots of useable effects and models. Also among the major modelers, it's the most intuitive to use.


The gig bag has a shoulder strap.