Line 6 POD HD500x and a Mesa Boogie Mark IV Set up

[Hickdood]

I have a Line 6 POD HD500x and a Mesa Boogie Mark IV. I play a Gibson Studio, Gibson P90 Midtown and a Fender Tele (see pic).

 

I play in a cover band. What is the BEST way to configure the two pieces of equipment? Sorry for the NUBIE question, I have looked all over the threads here and nothing really answers my questions.

 

Ideally i would like to set up amps and effects accurately to the bands i am covering. This means i would have to set up a patch for each song in my setlist on the POD (which i have no problem doing since i have the time to program EACH song in the setlist)

 

OR

 

simply get a nice generic tone consisting of the following: Clean, Overdriven clean, Rock n Roll type Distortion. Along the lines of Mike Campbell, Pete Thorn, Neil Schon, Kings of Leon etc.

 

I guess i can copy the patch to different presets and add effects pertain to the song as needed. I think this is the easier way but I'm a stickler for accuracy in my playing and in my sound... In other words... I DONT WANT TO BE PLAYING AN 80'S METAL TONE FOR HOTEL CALIFORNIA.

 

Sorry for the essay but if you guys have any ideas drop me a note. 

 

Thanks

 

Hickdood

[cruisinon2]

Opinions vary...and more will soon arrive, but here's my 2 cents:

 

Assuming that the amp has an FX loop, just run straight out if the POD into the FX return so that you're only using the amp's power section. If you try and plug straight into the front, it's a God awful mess...it's not impossible, but it's noisy, and just an all around pain in the arse to get decent tones. Create your patches as you see fit, and it's off to the races. Just be prepared to experiment with the POD...a lot...it can be a bit frustrating at the outset. Might take you a while to find combinations that work for you.

[Hickdood]

Thanks for your response Cruisinon2.

 

1. I'm Programming my Patches using my headphones at home because OBVIOUSLY i can't plug in the Boogie and play at Band-room/Gig Levels. Does this make any sense? or shall i just program my patches for each song in my band room at the levels i am gonna be playing at and just keep the headphones thing for practice at home kinda thing?

 

2. I TOTALLY AGREE with you on running the POD in front of the amp... Any Suggestions on how i should set up the POD to run in the Return of the Boogie? (Combo front, Studio Direct, Combo Pwer amp etc...)

 

3. Another thing. Is it worth my while to use the 4CM (Four cable method) and if so what output settings should i use in the POD for the 4CM? (Combo front, Studio Direct, Combo Power amp etc...) Where should i put the 'effects loop' icon in the chain. A step by step tutorial would help immensely for this, as in...

 

Step 1: Run cables

Step 2: Set POD to Whatever

Step 3: Build effect chain (Compressor, Distortion, Modulation, Reverb) and where to put the effects loop icon in the chain.

Step 4: I am reading about UNITY GAIN, but can find anything that sows me step by step how to achieve it with the Mesa Boogie Mark IV.

Step 5: Where is the master output volume on the POD supposed be?

 

How does using the 4CM benefit me in a live show? Is it worth all the extra mess of cables?

 

4. I'm in a bit of a mess here. I'm getting good tones outta my POD. I'm getting great tones outta my Boogie... How do i get the two to play nice? I would like to use the POD for: Gate, Compression, Solo Boosts, a little chorus and delay on clean tones, Wah, Volume pedal.

 

Sorry if i may be repeating myself. I guess there is no substitute for just messing around with the POD... I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed here. I just want to get a GREAT SOUND with the tools i have.

 

Thanks again.

 

Hickdood

[DunedinDragon]

Your headsets may be very deceiving when it comes to how things will sound through your Mesa Boogie depending on your setup.  In an ideal world you would only want your amp to work for pure, clean, flat eq'd amplified tone and leave everything else up to the POD.  The reason being is if you intend on using the amp models along with their cabinets and mic placement, you don't want the sound of that amp model to be colored by your actual amp and cabinet (and possible mic).  But guitar amps and cabinets naturally add a certain amount of coloration to the sound because of their design..that's what they're supposed to do.

 

Your headsets on the other hand, if they're decent ones, are trying to provide a very flat and even tone like you would hear from a stereo system so it's likely there are going to be some fairly big differences once you play your patches through the amp.  Generally speaking you'll likely be missing some of the crispness and articulation you were hearing in the headsets, in effect a bit muddier.  You can mitigate some of this by following the setup advice cruisinon2 pointed out, but you'll still likely have to make some adjustments unless you set up your patches in your band room.

 

I play my POD direct through the PA and through a personal FRFR monitor on stage which is a Yamaha DXR12, so I end up with something of the same problem.  I have a different powered speaker at home, but it doesn't respond at all like the DXR12, so I tend to have to make some adjustments once I get to the rehearsal space.  I'm intending on replacing my home powered speaker with a second DXR12 for home use, but that's the only way I can be sure the sound I'm building at home will sound the same on stage.

[Hickdood]

Thanks DunedinDragon.

 

Now i think i'm, getting somewhere.

 

Option 1

1. Use the Effects return of the amp

2. Program patches in the band room