sopachrga wrote:

 

I for one, am very impressed at the quality of the items produced by line 6.

Have you compared Line 6 gear produced starting with the JTV line, POD HD line, and the DT line with all other products produced earlier when making your statement I quoted?

Not looking to start anything and I take no responsibility if my words are misunderstood as combative by those extra sensitive people who might be reading.

I'm only pointing out what is clear to anyone who -like myself- does own both the older L6 gear and nearly all of the new L6 gear.  The DT amps are the biggest let down in construction quality in my opinion.  Here are the points I am basing my remarks on...

1. All L6 amps from any line came with corner protectors (plastic or metal) until the DT series which have none and cost more & weigh more than most all prior amps.  Cutting corners is one, thing, but leaving them off completely to save a few pennies in production and a few dollars off the profit margin - not acceptable in my opinion based on the facts and reality of all gear by just Line 6 produced before the DT amp line.
2. The tolex covering is by far the thinnest tolex covering I've ever seen in my near 35 years of using pro grade amps like Marshall, Fender, Ampeg, Acoustic, Orange, etc.  You can literally scratch this covering with your thumbnail.  That's pathetic and once again all for the profit margin and not the durability or consideration of those who buy this gear.  Please do not anyone say..."Well you can always get a roadcase for the DT amps."  Really?  No kidding, but that's true for any amp with corners, casters, and tougher tolex.  I've bought a $400.00 sturdy roadcase with locking swivel 4" casters for my Vetta 1 combo and amazingly...I've only had one mechanical failure since 2003 when I bought it new and have been using it nearly every week since for the past 9 years of live gigs in the worst weather for electronics here in Florida.  I now also bring a pair of DT50 1x12 combos to make my "L6 Pyramid of Sonic Bliss" (TM) yep - I even trademarked this title because at that point in time I was a Beta tester, and extremely proud of being associated with Line 6 and all it's products that I came to rely on and respect nearly a decade ago.  I still love my Variax electric model 700 guitars I have a pair (one trans amber & one trans red - interestingly enough, the exact same red as used for Wine Red on some of the new JTV guitars) of.  Those guitars made in Japan still work great and the sound is always up to date and by design should never go out of style or useful purpose.  I added the JTV guitars to them.  One other thing on this corner cutting point...I find it very interesting the JTV-59 has the identical headstock as the previous Variax model 700 guitars and is the only model with a completely different logo.  Only the JTV-89 & JTV-69 have unique headstocks which I find very strange since the entire line was designed, supervised, and finally agreed upon as the entire model set of James Tyler Variax guitars.
3. As mentioned in previous paragraph - no casters or even pre-marked caster holes for amps that are very heavy for their size.  Almost like old school Fender Twin amps. No L6 amp I know of ever came built with casters, but most Spider amps are very light, only the Vetta 2x12 combo amp at the time they were new are pretty heavy, but even so - still weigh less than a 1x12 DT50 amp.  Why not add that feature to the Flagship amp line?  I'd pay extra for it if they swivel and could pop out for stacking.
4. All POD HD units have inferior power connectors that constantly break no matter how gently they are handled.  Why not go with the RJ45 type connector for power like all the FBV and other footboards L6 produces?  I finally just hard-wired the power cord with strain relief on both sides of the frame so I never have to worry about the DC receptacle breaking or just stop working again.
5. For that matter - why not have the POD HD pedals get power from the L6 Link connection?  If that meant adding a pin or two in the original design (retrofit - out of the question) why not do it?  Now the Flagship "Dream Rig" costs more, does some things better, some things worse, and you always have to have power in the back as well as in the front if you use any amp with any POD HD pedalboard.

So these are my facts to base my question upon being curious about your statement.  No reply needed, but I'm just curious how much of what I just wrote anyone including yourself have given any thought to while defending the "new" Line 6 approach to production and retail sales compared to how the company used to handle all the points I've mentioned prior to...hmmmm...let's say about 2007.