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4320 Views 25 Replies Latest reply: Oct 30, 2011 8:16 AM by spaceatl RSS
RobbGnarly Just Startin'
RobbGnarly
57 posts since
Oct 2, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 15, 2009 6:35 AM

Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

I play in a Punk/Hardcore band and have played through L6 gear for over 9 years. I bought a L6 spider when they first came out and no one even knew who they were, but everyone was amazed at the sound of this 75 watt 1x12 "monster of tone" and I was in a jam band, then L6 started getting bigger(more people found out what they were missing for the $). The next prodject I started was heavy and I needed a half stack so I bought the spider2 hd150 and a Laney cab from my friend, still before we played everyone wanted to know how the L6 was and they were loving my amp after they heard it, but also saying how hard they found it to get that head to sound good in the store. It just takes some tweaking like any amp.Then in early 2008 I bought the svhd100 and I was amazed( I even bought the head with out even playing through one)and dont get me wrong the L6 is a modeling amp, but it moddels the best amps in the buisness, not exactly but most people will not notice much of a diffrence. now I have recently bought a Bogner Uberschall ( search for the perfect tone) and it is an amazing amp, but my SV HD100 is still a great amp. Basicly what I'm trying to say is L6 is great gear, and not everyone can afford $1600+ for a tube head. And the people who can great, but dont knock theL6 users for tryning to get the tones that only a hand full of people can even purchase. so if you use L6 dont be ashamed be proud that you can get the tones that you need with out breaking the bank. It could be worse, you could be playing through a crate or some other pos!!!

 

PS next time someone says L6 sucks look at what they are using and listen to there sound, you'll be suprised how good L6 is. listen to the tracks on my bands page and tell me L6 is no good

 

www.myspace.com/teabagginsacmasters That is a SV HD100 through a Marshall 1960A

  • pikeral Just Startin'
    pikeral
    123 posts since
    Feb 5, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 15, 2009 7:04 AM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    That link doesn't work. I wanna hear.

  • geeker Iknowathingortwo
    geeker
    1,138 posts since
    Jan 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 15, 2009 7:20 AM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    I know what you are talking about and agree..... people need to listen with their ears instead of their eyes.... my 2 cents

  • cjanow Just Startin'
    cjanow
    44 posts since
    Oct 23, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 16, 2009 9:22 AM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    Yeah, I know what you mean.  It's just a matter of time with L6.  There are so many people out there listening with their eyes.  Eventually some of the "cork sniffing" crowd will come around.  It just seems to take time with new music gear.  I don't think a lot of the people in the high end gear crowd were willing to take a cheap effect like "Bad Monkey" seriously either in the beginning.  It must be a defense mechanism for some of these people to justify the hefty price tags.  It would be so funny, and revealing, to hold blind tests and see what would happen.  I've also wondered what the reception would have been if these exact amps (spider valve) were marketed under a different name than L6.

  • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
    spaceatl
    3,833 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 16, 2009 9:40 AM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    My first amp was a Mesa Boogie SOB in 1983...At that time I was ridiculed by my peers for using that because it was a "Jazz Amp" only good for stuff like Santana...No way that it would ever keep up with a Marshall I was told...My own thoughts were that I needed an amp that could do a good clean and a good crunchy tone...I tried some Marshalls and never could get a good clean out of it so I went with the Mesa...The bottom line is that people are the same as they ever were...And it really does not matter what they say or think since most of them are just repeating what they have heard or read from other people since they are unable to think for themselves...I would not waste my time worrying about that stuff...It will not ever change...

    • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
      phil_m
      3,076 posts since
      Jan 25, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 16, 2009 10:30 AM (in response to spaceatl)
      Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

      Exactly.  Play what makes you happy, and don't worry about what other people say.

       

      It's been my experience that the amount that a person name drops when it comes to gear is inversely proportional to how talented they actually are.  For the most, part the players I've met who are the most talented care the least about the name on the amp or guitar and just know how to play well and sound good.

      • cjanow Just Startin'
        cjanow
        44 posts since
        Oct 23, 2009
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 16, 2009 10:34 AM (in response to phil_m)
        Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

        That's so true.  Eddie could get a better "brown sound" out of a banjo running into "Twang Amber" than a lot of people could get out of their high end gear.

         

        I play a lot of golf, and too many guys try to "buy" a good golf game, and it's funny how often that happens with guitar gear too.

        • mtrash14 Iknowathingortwo
          mtrash14
          539 posts since
          Feb 18, 2009
          Currently Being Moderated
          Nov 17, 2009 2:12 AM (in response to cjanow)
          Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

          Ok, let me bring this down to reality.

           

          The gear must match the gig.  If you're on the road playing 200 shows a year then you need gear that can make the long haul and stand up.  If it breaks down then it must be easy to fix, anywhere in the world.  You also need spares of course, but the prime gear must be fixable and reliable.  Let alone give the tone you are after.

           

          I believe that is why you don't really see that many L6 amps on the road.  You do see a lot of custom made hand wired amps with premium components.  Parts that are supposed to wistand the test of time, crafted to perfection by professional amp builders with a good reputation..  Amps from a known good maker are easy to sell to the pros because of their tone yes but also because of how road worthy they are.

           

          I don't think I'd trust my SV 112 in those conditions.  What would I do if it broke down?  Take it to an authorized service center in bumm@ucked egypt?  Parts would be like 2 months away. Postone everything because my amp got the "black bars of death" and my presets are now lost!!!!!

           

           

           

           

          Give me a time out

           

          M^T

          • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
            phil_m
            3,076 posts since
            Jan 25, 2007
            Currently Being Moderated
            Nov 17, 2009 6:40 AM (in response to mtrash14)
            Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

            Well, I don't know about the handwired, custom built thing.  Yes, you do them kind of regularly.  But what I see most often is the old standbys - Fender Twins, Vox AC30s, Marshall JCMs.  I also see my fair share of Mesa Boogies.  What you don't see very often if people using amps with built-in effects, and I would say it's probably for the reason you stated.  Nobody wants to have an amp die and lose their whole rig.  If your rig is built around a classic amp with a pedalboard, you could always rent or borrow an amp if you had to.

             

            The thing is though that the vast majority of guitar players will never go on tour. They will be lucky if they get a regular gig at a local bar.  So in that context, Line 6 amps may make a bit more sense.  They give the average player a wide variety of tone for not a lot of money.

             

            In some ways, guitar players all suffer from delusions of grandeur.  We all want to build rigs with the intention of becoming the next Van Halen or Edge, but most of the time these rigs sit in our spare room.  Of course, I'm being a little sarcastic, as I know there are some working musicians here, but I just think that most of the people who buy Line 6 gear won't be throwing into the back of a tour bus very soon.

            • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
              spaceatl
              3,833 posts since
              Jan 24, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Nov 17, 2009 7:31 AM (in response to phil_m)
              Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

              +1 phil

               

              ...In my own experience going to Europe, Japan, Canada and South America generally means renting an amp from a backline company. In all the years I toured I only shipped backline out of the USA twice and even on those ocasions it was rented backline...At least most of the guys I know work it that way...Carry a pedal board and a couple of guitars...Hard enough to fly that way even back in those days...I imagine it's pretty troublesome these days...

  • gene3000 Just Startin'
    gene3000
    8 posts since
    Oct 27, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 17, 2009 8:18 AM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    Let's face it, we buy Line 6 because they are cheap and they serve the purpose for us weekend rock stars. But, I recently fried one of the power amps on my AX2 212 and a Vetta head I just bought, from my own stupidity of course. I took the Vetta back to Guitar Center and got my money so nothing lost there. However, I had some sweet sounds dialed in on the AX2 212 and can't seem to get close to them on the HD147 I just bought but I'm sure in time I will be able to. I got tired of lugging the combo around all the time. I thought about cutting the bottom off and making a head out of it and a seperate speaker cabinet and still may do that. I usually used a B-52 cab and one speaker from the combo to get more mids and highs. The B-52 cab does not work well with the HD147 for me, too much low end. The past month has been a nightmare for me trying to duplicate the sounds I had, first on a GNX3000 I had to use for a gig, which really sucked and now on the HD147 but much easier. So that being said, I can see why people do not like Line 6 for this reason. I'm starting to lean more towards a tube head with no effects and building a pedal board. It seems to me it might be much easier in the long run.

    • mtrash14 Iknowathingortwo
      mtrash14
      539 posts since
      Feb 18, 2009
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 17, 2009 2:16 PM (in response to gene3000)
      Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

      If I were playing week-ends at a local bar and my amp fried one night in the middle of a song I probably wouldn't take it too seriously.  I'd hope I could rig a backup so we could finish the gig.  Even if I couldn't then I'd probably just go over to the bar and drink (cry in my beer) while the band finished out the night.  In the real world - that's not that big a deal.  (my pride may suffer )

       

      If I were in front of 100,000 people then I'd say if my amp fried it would be a big deal.  The money would be high, the stakes would be high, the pressure would be high.  I show up at the stage door lugging an SV-112 and a guitar and anyone standing there that knows a @uck would know I'm way out of my league.

       

      Like I said above - the amp (rig) must fit the gig.  If it doesn't then trouble will come because the stage would be set.  I would not go on "the big stage" with an "all in one bargin priced amp".  I'd have a custom hand wired tube head with a maxed out pedal board that you would die for.

       

      Just my .02 cents.  For whatever thats worth now days.

       

      M^T

      • gene3000 Just Startin'
        gene3000
        8 posts since
        Oct 27, 2009
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 17, 2009 2:25 PM (in response to mtrash14)
        Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

        True, not a big deal playing at a local bar. It would bother me though because I am the only guitarist and the whole band would basically have to stop and I would never hear the end of it. If I were playing in front of 100,000 people, I'm sure I would be able to get any type of rig I wanted and probably get it for free unless it was a one time deal or something and in that case I would rent something.. Line 6 is cool because you are always tweaking your sounds and finding new ones, keeps you from using the same sounds over and over and you are not limited to what you can do or having to buy more pedals.

         

        I still like the tube idea with a pedal board though, maybe I'll just keep both.

  • RobbGnarly Just Startin'
    RobbGnarly
    57 posts since
    Oct 2, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 18, 2009 2:52 PM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    I agree  with some of what everyone here has said, but the point is L6 makes some great products. I personaly have never had a major problem with any L6 gear. And is there any other "Touring musician in this forum besides me? I don' just play in my beadroom or little venues in my town, My band plays Nationaly and Internationaly who else here does this besides in your "MIND!!" probably a few  as regional artists. And like I also mentioned I have a "Real" Tube head and yes I could have bought an entire Mesa rig for the price of my Ubershall head. But even when we were touring with big bands I never felt out of my leauge as faras equipment goes (bands like Agent Orange, Pennywise, Strung Out and ASG). And these bands have the best equipment you can buy ( only they get them free or basicaly free because they are endorsed) they normaly aren't stock eather. And I know all to well that renting an amp for a few weeks sucks, Because they are always Marshall or Peavey witch in my opinion are not very good sounding amps for my style of playing. but like I said L6 make some good sounding gear, and obviously all of you think it must be pretty good because your here.

  • astrosaki Just Startin'
    astrosaki
    26 posts since
    Aug 24, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 18, 2009 7:38 PM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    I would definitely take L6 products on the road with me if my band gets to that stage. I haven't had a problem with any of my l6 gear yet. Since L6 is cheap and reliable it wouldn't be a HUGE deal if something bad happened on the road. I would have (or could buy) a backup pretty easily. compared to if I had a vintage Marshall amp (that would be hard as hell to replace) or a $3000 head (which I'd probably cry over) that ****** up while on the road. Loosing all your settings however could be a catastrophie but to remedy that line 6 should develop.. the ability to back up your tones for the new sv's and spiders. I think thats something that everyone wants. And if it got to the point that I was playing shows in front of 100k people...I'd still use my sv. **** it, I love it.

  • DarkZenGuitar Just Startin'
    DarkZenGuitar
    387 posts since
    Apr 10, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 21, 2009 4:38 PM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    One of the reasons I love Line 6 gear is that it's replacable. I have the XTL and a power amp. I can go into any store and pickup an exact replica of my rig, cheap.  Then all I have to do is connect it to my old XTL or laptop and I'm good to go.

    Can't do that with a Mesa or Marshall-everyone is a little different. And if a Mesa head dies or is stolen, you're out major bucks.

    I'll agree that the build quality is my major concern with Line 6. If they made stuff like Roland makes stuff, then we'd have nothing to worry about, but they don't.

    Put it this way. If we ever go on tour, I'll use my Line 6 stuff, but I'll have a backup with me.

  • GhengisKong Just Startin'
    GhengisKong
    67 posts since
    Feb 7, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 28, 2011 4:57 AM (in response to RobbGnarly)
    Re: Why do people down L6 untill they find out how good they realy are

    All that I use right now is Line 6.... Vetta II, FBV, and even a Variax 300 along with my ESP's. Having said this, the bottom row of switches on my board died this week and will have to be sent off. It's a good thing I kept my Behringer FCB1010 controller because it immediately ran everything except the stompboxes, amp channels and wah.

    I keep my POD2.2 as a spare. I would not gig without it at this point because anything can crap out, as my FBV proved. Line 6 stepped up and got me in touch with 'local' repair centers and when I have the shekels to ship it off I'm sure it will be repaired perfectly.

    I think people are biased against Line 6 because even after so many years and so much usage the analog to digital backlash is still in effect. It won't matter to some people what their favorite player is using because if it's not an all tube 'whateveryoucallit' then it can't really be all that good. It's too bad people still think that way.

    I read a comment about affordability and honestly, that's what brought me into Line 6... an affordable way to get the Rectifier tone. Back in 2000, I was using the Crate Blue Voodoo stack and a Scholz Power Soak with a Zoom 4040 in the loop. I couldn't afford a Rectifier but I could afford a POD2.0 and Floorboard. Even after I got a Single Rec Solo 50v2 I missed all the flexibility of Line 6 and I wasn't playing huge places, so I got what I have now. No regrets here.

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