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1220 Views 12 Replies Latest reply: Nov 13, 2012 9:22 PM by JTSC777 RSS
matisq Just Startin'
matisq
153 posts since
Jul 5, 2008
Currently Being Moderated

May 16, 2012 9:49 AM

I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

... and it failed. I bypassed amps simulations, setup output correctly, an HD 300 just suck all bottom end from my signal. So I assume this unit have no true bypass, or bypass at all. Don't get me wrong - I love my POD HD especially when I use MXR ZW44 in front of it instead of build in TS9 simulation - but I think it just don't work well in front of tube amp especially for higain sounds. I'm curious how HD 500 can handle that.

 

Just my 2 cents.

Tags: hd300
  • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
    phil_m
    4,243 posts since
    Jan 25, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 16, 2012 9:57 AM (in response to matisq)
    Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

    What output mode did you have it set on?

    • matisq Just Startin'
      matisq
      153 posts since
      Jul 5, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      May 16, 2012 11:01 AM (in response to phil_m)
      Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

      I tried both - bypass all effects and with effects on.

      I tried both - amp output mode and line output mode.

      I tried also different settings from software level (stack combo etc).

      My signal was weak in all cases. I tried it in lead channel and clean channel on my amp. Higain was not so higain and clean was muddy at all.

      Now I need to buy a few analog pedals to complete my rig

  • litesnsirens Iknowathingortwo
    litesnsirens
    649 posts since
    Mar 20, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 16, 2012 10:05 AM (in response to matisq)
    Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

    I doubt that true by-pass would be the answer.  True by-pass is a great marketing gimmick but in fact less than helpful if you're running any length of cable.  I think if you are finding with all effects turned off that you aren't getting the same sound as if you by-pass the HD300 altogether you may need to re-assess the "setup output correctly" part of your statement.  Anyway, that is the place to start, plug in through the HD300 with everything by-passed and then plug your guitar directly into your amp.  If it doesn't sound the same then you probably have something set up incorrectly for your application.  I don't think in this sense there would be any advantage to the HD500.

    • mabbaticchio Just Startin'
      mabbaticchio
      49 posts since
      Jan 29, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      May 16, 2012 10:54 AM (in response to litesnsirens)
      Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

      It's really lack of a dry analog signal path that is sucking all your tone.  I tried it in the loop as well as up in front and just plain simple doesn't work.  I think maybe one would do better with the line 6 mutli effcts units if one likes line 6 effects.  Nothing new..... The PODXT was the exact same way.  Just not meant to be a multi-effects unit.

      • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
        phil_m
        4,243 posts since
        Jan 25, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        May 16, 2012 11:05 AM (in response to mabbaticchio)
        Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

        Well, I've used the HD500 in front of several different tube amps for effects only, and I've not noticed any tone loss to the magnitude being described here. There will be some with any effects pedal, and even a true bypass pedal can result in tone loss because of the extra cable involved.

         

        One thing to remember is that if you're using any of the HDs for effects only, the correct output mode is really Studio Direct or one of the power amp modes. In the "front" modes the high and low rolloffs and the focus settings are still active even if the amp and cab modeling are bypassed. I suspect this might be what some people are experiencing.

        • jimsreynolds Power User
          jimsreynolds
          2,227 posts since
          Jun 27, 43450
          Currently Being Moderated
          May 16, 2012 11:41 AM (in response to phil_m)
          Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

          +1 Phil.  I use effects only and it sounds just fine.  Some effects are great, some not so but generally I think they are pretty good.

           

          I have an HD500 too but it looks like the setup on the HD300 may be a bit different with regard to output modes.   If you are turning amp modelling off:  you might try turning the switch on the back to 'Studio' and see how things sound then. 

           

          If that does not work too well then

           

          • Turn it back to 'Live'
          • Go into setup and choose output mode='ComboAmp'

           

          That may avoid the EQ that is imposed on the 'Front' modes on the HD.  Cant say for sure ...

           

          Try it.

  • matisq Just Startin'
    matisq
    153 posts since
    Jul 5, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 19, 2012 11:31 PM (in response to matisq)
    Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

    Hi all.

     

    Thank you for all suggestions.

     

    I didn't try to plugin HD 300 in front of my amp, because I use Green Rhino as my boost/tight pedal and I don't need wah for now.

    But yesterday I finally tried to use HD 300 in the FX loop of my amp with compressor, noise gate, chorus for clean and delay for solos and I have to say it's working just great!

    I wanted to by separate pedals for delay, noise gate and maybe chorus or phaser, but now it seems that HD 300 works just fine in a FX loop.

     

    So this is how it looks now.

    http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/544365_447289231958748_1671064410_n.jpg

    • JTSC777 Just Startin'
      JTSC777
      63 posts since
      Jun 22, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 4, 2012 1:58 PM (in response to matisq)
      Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

      I have been running my HD300 into the effect return of an Egnater Tweaker head with a Celestion loaded closed back 1x12 cab and it has more low end than I need. Of course I am trying to stay out of the bass players frequency range. I realize a lot of metal players like to play in the same frequency spectrum as the bass player. After updating my HD300 to the newest firmware I can turn of my cab sims and it works very well in front of my non-effect loop equipped amps. Very cool!

  • PremiumJones Iknowathingortwo
    PremiumJones
    238 posts since
    Mar 29, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 4, 2012 2:57 PM (in response to matisq)
    Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

    Its not supposed to be used like that. I mean, I know there are no rules, and I am the first person to say "try everything and see if you like it." In this case, you tried it and didnt like it.

     

    Its cool that people want to help, this is a great forum for that, but in reality - the POD isnt supposed to be used like a stompbox into the front of an amp. It is designed to be a complete amp/fx modeller. It is supposed to take the place of your preamp and FX. The combo/stack front output modes are there so that you can use it as a fll modeller into the front of an amp with passable results, not so that you can use it like a stompbox into your amp like normal, with your amp doing all the preamp/tone shaping/etc.

     

    Put it ino a power amp (via FX return, power amp in, into a dedicated power amp, etc) or use it Stufio mode into an FRFR system, and you will have none of these problems with low end.

     

    L6 is kind of doing us a disservice saying that it can do everything for everyone.... If you want stompboxes in front of an amp, use stompboxes in front of an amp. If you want to simulate using stompboxes into the front of an amp without carrying all that crap around, use a POD and a power amp.

    • jimsreynolds Power User
      jimsreynolds
      2,227 posts since
      Jun 27, 43450
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 4, 2012 5:07 PM (in response to PremiumJones)
      Re: I tried POD HD 300 in front of tube amp as a effects unit...

      Just remember that the HD series is stuffed full of the same FX as the M Series and they are pure effects units.  You can get more concurrent effects out of an HD500 than an M13 and that is why I bought mine.

       

      I bought my HD500 as an effects unit and that is still primarily how I use it.  I progressively use more of the amp modelling but I have a great (real) amp and so the amp modelling is something that I am coming into rather than a raison d'etre. 

       

      The effects vary from the sublime to the ridiculous but there are more than enough in there to hit my bases and I can get most of what I want out of the unit without additional stomps. 

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