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3038 Views 14 Replies Latest reply: Jun 18, 2012 10:51 AM by AjayLine6 RSS
woodswalker Just Startin'
woodswalker
1 posts since
Nov 25, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 25, 2010 8:30 PM

Spider Jam and FBV

I am thinking of getting an FBV foot controller for someone that has a Spider Jam. I played around with the amp today and now I am not so sure a foot controller is going to work with it. I don't know a whole lot about this amp but if I am understanding it right it plays music and you can play along with the music, as well as it is able to record what you are playing. If a foot controller is hooked up to the amp can you control the amp or can you just control the music playing/recording functionality? I didn't find any way in the short time I messed with the amp to "change channels" or anything else.

 

I have a POD 2.0 and control it with a MIDI floor board (just a button box, no petals or anything fancy). My Marshall amp also has a mult-button foot switch. Both allow me to have pre-set "channels" (on the POD I can program what bank/channel each button is and the Marshall I can control what channel, overdrive/clean, and chorus on/off). Will the FBV controller work with the Spider Jam in the same respect as the MIDI controller on the POD? Or is it only going to control the music playback/recording functionality while the knobs have to be adjusted to change the sound?

 

This may be a really stupid question, but I don't want to buy a foot controller that won't control the "amp" as that is the whole point in having one. I'm not so sure one will after playing with the amp today.

'

  • kurrykid Just Startin'
    kurrykid
    25 posts since
    Jan 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 25, 2010 9:30 PM (in response to woodswalker)
    Re: Spider Jam and FBV

    The SpiderJam certainly works with the floorboard.  If you click here, there is a compatibility chart:

     

    http://line6.com/footcontrollers/compatibility.html

     

    Unfortunately, I am not exactly sure which one is related to the SpiderJam since they aren' kind enough to list it in the chart Since the SpderJam was based on the Spider III technology, that's the one I would use.

     

    I have a FBV (the original one) hooked up to my SPiderJam and it works great.

     

    HTH

     

    Dave

  • joegillespie Gear Head
    joegillespie
    795 posts since
    Mar 31, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 26, 2010 12:47 AM (in response to woodswalker)
    Re: Spider Jam and FBV

    There are two FBV pedals that work with the Spider jam - the FBV Shortboard and the FBV Express,

     

    Both will control the recording/looping facilities in the amp, the tap tempo, the tuner and both have a volume/wah pedal.

     

    The difference in the two is that the Shortboard can access all 9x4 (36) custom USER tones that have been set up in the amp. The cheaper Express pedal can only access 4 custom tones from the pedal buttons (although you can still change to a different 4 with a knob on the amp).

     

    So, if you are using the amp in a performance situation and need to change tones on a song by song basis, the FBV Shortboard is the better choice. For home practice use where the 'quick change' is not so important, the FBV Express pedal is fine and saves a considerable sum.

     

    The new MkII version pedals have some extra facilities, such as MIDI, but these are not supported by this particular amp model and are for use with other Line6 products.

    • jwendorf1234 Just Startin'
      jwendorf1234
      1 posts since
      Apr 28, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      May 20, 2012 9:17 AM (in response to joegillespie)
      Re: Spider Jam and FBV

      i have the fbv express mkii and a spider jam and i am unable to figure of the looping/recording capabilities. if you can tell me how that would be greatly appriciated.

    • AjayLine6 Just Startin'
      AjayLine6
      2 posts since
      Jun 18, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jun 18, 2012 10:51 AM (in response to joegillespie)
      Re: Spider Jam and FBV

      Hello,

       

      I haven't been able to get the FBV Express to contol the Recording / Looping functions. I even tried assigning the record and Play function through the FBV Control software.

       

      Could you guide me on how to do it?

       

      Also do we have to press the pedal real hard to get the WAH effect?

  • jimmyz86 Just Startin'
    jimmyz86
    11 posts since
    Dec 3, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 27, 2010 4:23 PM (in response to woodswalker)
    Re: Spider Jam and FBV

    i have both . the fbv short board is the only way to go . anything else you buy you wil outgrow pony up and get the fbbv right off the bat

  • suficom Just Startin'
    suficom
    5 posts since
    Aug 1, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 28, 2010 3:31 AM (in response to woodswalker)
    Re: Spider Jam and FBV

    Hi evryone,

     

    I've just bought a Spider JAM and FBV Express MKII and they work just fine together, but I wonder how to edit the A,B,C and D to give me my choice of guitar presets. I've downloaded the software that can edit the FBV, but I'm not sure how to assign a perticular guitar preset to one of the 4-keys.

     

    Thanks,

    Sufian

    • Buy-a-Fender Iknowathingortwo
      Buy-a-Fender
      426 posts since
      Jul 25, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 28, 2010 5:10 AM (in response to suficom)
      Re: Spider Jam and FBV

      I don't think the software will do you any good with the Spider Jam.

       

      Check this page out regarding User Presets. Whatever you have assigbed as user presets on the amp will be what you select with the pedal

       

      You cannot assign user presets with the FBV you can only select

    • joegillespie Gear Head
      joegillespie
      795 posts since
      Mar 31, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 28, 2010 7:03 AM (in response to suficom)
      Re: Spider Jam and FBV

      Here is a tutorial on custom tones - http://www.joesjamblog.com/customtones.html

      • Buy-a-Fender Iknowathingortwo
        Buy-a-Fender
        426 posts since
        Jul 25, 2008
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 28, 2010 10:19 AM (in response to joegillespie)
        Re: Spider Jam and FBV

        Thanks Joe - I had meant to include that link in my post but got sidetracked by the smell of breakfast cooking

        bacon makes me lose my concentration

      • suficom Just Startin'
        suficom
        5 posts since
        Aug 1, 2008
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 28, 2010 5:43 PM (in response to joegillespie)
        Re: Spider Jam and FBV

        Thank you very much, indead Steve & Joe. that was very helpfull.

         

        After reading how to costumize my tones I wondered if you could help me on how to create (or where to find) Joe Satriani's tone, as I've just bought my first Ibanez JS1000 guitar.

         

        Many Thanks,

        Sufian

        • joegillespie Gear Head
          joegillespie
          795 posts since
          Mar 31, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Nov 29, 2010 1:00 AM (in response to suficom)
          Re: Spider Jam and FBV

          There are 4 things that make a 'tone' too

           

          a. The most important is your fingers. If I were to put Joe Satriani's guitar and amp into your hands, it would sound completely different. If I put another guitar and amp into his hands, it would still sound like Joe Satriani. You can't turn a few knobs and sound like Joe Satriani.

           

          b. Having made that point, if you want to get close to an artist's tone, you have to find out what gear they use. This is usually easy to find with Google or YouTube. Satriani uses a Yamaha JS series guitar.

           

          c. The amps they use is important. You will have to research that and dial-in the closest amp model on the Spider Jam. Joe Satriani uses Peavey JSX amps. One of the CRUNCH or METAL amp models will get you close.

           

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Satriani

           

          d. Effects. Satriani uses specific effects pedals which can only be approximated by a Spider Jam - distortion, echo, wah. etc  I'm sure that he could change these and still sound like Joe Satriani.

           

          In the end, it's the fingers that give the tone. The Spider Jam is the best product available for improving your playing technique.

          • suficom Just Startin'
            suficom
            5 posts since
            Aug 1, 2008
            Currently Being Moderated
            Nov 29, 2010 3:11 PM (in response to joegillespie)
            Re: Spider Jam and FBV

            Thanks very much, Joe for your quick & helpfull reply.

            Just one correction ... Satriani's using Ibanez instead of Yamaha.

             

            Thanks again for your advices, and by the way, you have a fantastic website ... I surfed around and it's really amazingly helpfull ... I'll try to create Satriani's tone (or similar) and share it, gladly, on your JAM wibsite.

             

            Sufian

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