Community: Message List

Re: Frustrated With the Tones of my HD 500. Help Appreciated.

support@line6.com — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:31:32 GMT

I have used a POD X3/ and latterly a HD500 for many years direct to the PA. I too felt I was missing that 'WOW' factor - but always got decent feedback about my sounds. Still nagged away at me though.

I think you undertand pretty well how to work those patches so nothing to say on that.

IMHO going direct to the PA seems to add an airy quality to your sound - when really I want something more raw. I have never been clever enough or a good enough guitarist to eliminate that. The other thing I find is that you feel very detached from the over all sound of the band. The PA throws the sound much further out. OK you have a monitor but thats likely pointing back at you and not really filling that center space immediately in front of the band. Of course the tweeter in the monitor still will give you that airy quality.

So there days I use a power amp combo. I've adjusted my settings to compensate (well created a new set list) and use the direct out from the powr amp into the PA or mic up which I seem to be leaning more to. My sounds feel more 'realistic' and I feel more part of the band as a whole. It all feels more raw and of couse I get the center fill which I talked about earlier. I wonder if your 'Mans' set up was similar in that he was getting his sound from the power amp HD combination?

Actually IMHO the best combination was POD to DT - a fab combo - but I had to move that on - less said I think.

I should add for some venues I still go direct so I don't actually think there is anything wrong with that set up as such.

Hope it helps

Re: HD500, Tech 21 Power engine 60 and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, One will have leave!!!

support@line6.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:12:22 GMT

Flip what a choice! do you really have to make that choice?

I have both a tube amp and a PE. I tend to use the 'real' amp for the bigger gigs and the PE \Pod for the small venues where set up is difficult and I need to lose the volume without compromising too much on tone.

I used POD (x3 and HD) exclusively on the circuit for years into a PE or direct to the PA but it has to be said there is something special about a tube amp. Sot if you can get the Hot Rod to work with the POD then I would keep that.

PE tend to go for a decent price on Ebay as long as you advertise them properly.

Alternative: Sell em both and get a DT25?

Re: Dr. Z amp

support@line6.com — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:53:47 GMT

+1 Dr Z

Used in my set list from day 1 of getting the POD, used to be my most used amp in my band - until the plexi came along.

Really versitile, I contemplated in having a whole set list of DR Z's set up from clean to OD with different pedal configs at one point, but decided that I had other great amps to choose from which would have been a waste if I never used them so never finished that project - sigh.

Re: Thinking of changing my live rig.

support@line6.com — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:44:01 GMT

I was thinking upon the same lines as jimsreynolds - if you search the forum you can only see good comments about the QSC K series. I used to have a Mackie SRM350 (10" woofer) which had small footprint and was insanely light-weight. So small in fact I contemplated getting another 1, but the Mackie stuff seems to get mixed reviews these days so although I was happy I am not sure that I would go as far as a 'recommend'

Re: Thinking of changing my live rig.

support@line6.com — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:36:11 GMT

I know what you mean the Tech 21s are quite low down, they definitely need something to get them off the floor. I used to have a foldable amp stand but again you might not find one of these high enough.

A should add that going to the PA is not a bad option by any means - I did this for 4 years - I was quite happy but eventually yearned for that real amp feel again.

Re: Thinking of changing my live rig.

support@line6.com — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:50:33 GMT

Maybe I am missing something but have you considered getting soft covers for the Tech 21s? All my gear has soft covers and despite the usual knocks moving from gig to gig it all still looks good.

You say you are used to moving lots of air I think in that case you are in for a bit of a shock moving to monitors, for me they just don't have the same on-stage feel of a real guitar amp. I have gone from Tech 21 PE to monitors back to a real guitar Amp (first one in four years) - guess which one I prefer from a sound and feel point of view .

The advantage of monitors and going studio direct to the PA was the speed of set up and tear down plus consistent sound at every gig with only a few tweaks of the board - bliss. However I don't regret giving all those advantages up.

Re: Success with going dirrect from hd500?

support@line6.com — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:00:35 GMT

+1 jimsreynolds

There are some good sounds to be had but there is no silver bullet, it takes time to achieve them.

Check out this video to compare the sounds between a real amp, POD to DT50, POD into desk

http://www.guitarplayer.com/video.aspx?bctid=822867953001&bclid=27948268001&section=gear

Re: OFFICIAL OUTRAGE THREAD! How dare those HD300/400 users get new amps before us !!!

support@line6.com — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 08:24:58 GMT

Funniest thread I've seen in ages - Well done Jim for lightening the debate

Unfortunately I sold my 300 last week- bugger

Re: HD 500 connected to a powered monitor

support@line6.com — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:54:01 GMT

Another point to note for your set up. If you have the HD mixer panned hard left (100%) and hard right (100%) you find that your signal is much weaker to the board and monitor

Incidently I have exactly the same set up as yourself - works fine.

Re: Moving from POD ---> PA to POD --> DT25 -->PA Opinions

support@line6.com — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 20:29:16 GMT

Intereting stuff thanks very much. I am close to buying now, just waiting for a price match from my usual dealer.