I've just replaced my POD X3 Pro + FBV Longboard with a Spider Valve MKII, FBV Shortboard MKII and M13, in order to dial in more tube sounds while still having access to all the great settings for OD/Dist, Mod and Delay effects that I use most often.

A) Is anyone else actively playing with a similar setup (even just with the Spider Valve MKII)?

B) Has anyone come up with good M13 scenes for popular Christian artists?

The songs that our Church does most often include those from Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Third Day, Newsboys, Passion, Hillsongs and Lincoln Brewster.

The POD X3 Pro could handle the heavier tones just fine, but when it came to minimal to moderate gain presets, I felt like it would suck up 100% of my guitar tone and completly turn my tone into a mush.

So far, I've done 1 practice and 1 service with the Spider Valve MKII, and the feedback I got was consistent:

1) My tone was much warmer and easier to listen to

2) It was harder to hear when I played a backing part - my tone got buried in the mix of the other musicians.

I went out right after the service and bought the M13, hooked it up with the 4 cable method and have been very pleased with the results so far.  The M13 is under 12 hours old for me, so I'm still setting up the pedals in at least the first scene to jam along with my massive iTunes collection and see what settings most closely match which artists.

So far, this combination has blown me away.  A far cry from my FOUR failed attempts at purchasing a POD X3 Live and having to return it because of one manufacturing defect or another.  So, if you've been frusterated going down that path, do yourself a facor and check out this combination.  At this point, I can say it's been worh every penny.  As always, I plan to post my progress as I keep working with the gear.