Should I Get This Or Just Hang On To My Spider Iv?

[Brad_Ames]

Hey, I was just wandering if I should Pick up an amplifi or just hang on to my spider IV. I've had the Spider IV since 2010 and it works fine, though I've never played with settings. I just tried the Amplifi 75W at GC today, however I was unable to connect the amp to the application and whenever I signed into line6 it ALWAYS said "unable to connect to line6.com" even under perfect Wifi and or 4GLTE. The basic tones were a grand disappointment compared to the Vox VT 20+ and I was basically appalled that on an American standard deluxe strat, the distortion was beyond weak, the bass was to flat, the mids were great, and the highs were..just *ehh*. I'm going to give it 1 more chance provided I can actually get the app working with it and make a tone or 2 (good luck finding tones for x-Japan songs x.x). But I was just wondering does it have any advantages over my Spider IV? I was just wondering because $400 is REALLY pricey for something that sounds (based on the 1 hour non app version of play) Far worse than the SIV, and the plastic top really threw me off with how cheap it looked to be, though major Kudos to the idea behind the amp. Plus i have an apogee Jam unit for my iPad, and I use some apps to practice from time to time with that, so I'm at a bit of an impasse here.

 

~thanks

---Brad

[arislaf]

Hang on to your spider, gather more money and later go for the DT... The only benefit from the Amplifi is the boombox use and the signal chain, and the connection with ios... But without ios it is pretty much useless.

[Brad_Ames]

How is the DT line? I've honestly never heard of em..I saw a black star amp and head but I'm guessing not even similar? Anywho, I gave the amplifi another shot...app wouldn't stay connected, tone library is. Hard to use right, can't even make the tones I want (ie: X-Japan). I think a tube and some pedals will be my ticket there. Sad too because if it were only ~130$ it'd. Be fine, I like the idea of an online tone sharing community, but I think L6 has one for All their other stuff too. Can't wait to try a DT with a '61 SG if I can, what are they like?

[ColonelForbin]

How is the DT line? I've honestly never heard of em..Can't wait to try a DT with a '61 SG if I can, what are they like?

 

The "DT" line is Line6's collaboration with Bogner. It's a "Bogner / Line6" DT25 or DT50. The digital preamps and the L6Link function is all Line6; the tube amp, and analog switching is all Bogner. The way they work together is like "Magic Man and El Diablo". Cal Naughton Jr. and Ricky Bobby! :) "Shake and Bake" ;)

 

No, in all seriousness, the DT amps are pretty sweet - however, they are nothing like the Spider / AMPLiFi gear. The DT amps do not have any onboard FX, other than reverb. They do have the ability to Link with the HD series POD devices, and in so doing, give you a pretty full range of FX, amp models, volume, and IMHO, pretty sweet stage worthy gear.

 

I went with the smallest of the line, the DT25 1x12 combo. You can go all the way up to the DT50 head plus 4x12 cabinet. With an HD POD you can "Link" up to four of these together, and because of the two-way communication occurring between the DT amps and the HD POD's, you have every control at your fingertips - NO iOS required! ;)

 

No offense to the other L6 amps, but this DT gear is in a class all to itself. Line6 calls the DT amps their "flagship amplification", and that statement, I do agree with. For what it's worth, if you end up going the HD500x type route, the L2t/m and L3t/m speakers are pretty solid too; though a very different route from the DTgear.

 

If you want a tube amp to interface with the HD POD, the DT is the way to go. If you prefer using the HD POD in "studio direct" mode, then the flat response / full range type speaker enclosure that the L2/L3 StageSource speakers offer may be more to your liking. They also use the L6Link, so you can customize dual amp chains with more than one, create stereo rigs, etc. You can also L6Link DT amps and L3/L2 speakers to an HD POD; the DT just has to go first in the link chain.

 

http://line6.com/dt25/index.html

 

http://line6.com/dt50/index.html

 

http://line6.com/speakers/

[Brad_Ames]

Just took a look at the L6 DT line...My goodness they cost! almost triple what a blackstar head/cab would be (a least based on what my local shops offer). But I do want that true tube sound, it's always better than digital provided the pedals are there. Would I be better with a smaller combo, or a 50W head + my blackstar cabinet I have...I do so love that little cab, incidentally I just found out I need  the L6 FBV to update my Spider x.x  but a POD HD500x seems pretty neat, and after a 2-year hiatus from guitar/bass, I've discovered I don't like the purely digital tones the spider line is known for, it's great don't get me wrong, but I played on the Vox and the Finder Twins..Night and day from digital sound.

[ColonelForbin]

Just took a look at the L6 DT line...My goodness they cost!  a POD HD500x seems pretty neat, and after a 2-year hiatus from guitar/bass, I've discovered I don't like the purely digital tones the spider line is known for.

 

For "pure" analog / tube, I have to add the caveat, that the DT series is definitely still digital. They key is understanding which part is digital and which part is analog. The manner in which they made it work is quite clever - but it's still got a digital portion of the signal chain which cannot be truly bypassed, other than, perhaps by plugging in directly to the FX loop in.

 

The "preamp" portion of the DT is all digital. It comes with those four preamps loaded, and with the latest firmware you do have access to the entire bank of HD series amp model preamps - HOWEVER - you can still only load the number of them onto the DT as there are slots, I think maybe 8? I know you can cheat it and load more than just four; but you still won't have the same control as with the HD.

 

The way to think of it, in terms of using Line6 Link, an HD500, and a DT amp is like this:

 

The HD500 provides the amp models and all of the FX. It is the "brains" of the rig. Where it gets cool, is when you use L6Link, and make your patches using the "PRE" version of the amp models, not the "FULL" versions. This means the HD is modelling only the preamp portion of each amp model.

 

Where it gets cool, is the HD500 tells the DT amp to switch up it's power amp, typology, and various actual analog components. You hit a patch change on the HD, and the amp reconfigures itself - pentode, triode, class A, class A/B, typologies, all kinds of cool actual analog changes occur - and though there are default settings within each amp model, you can customize all of that stuff using the HD500 or it's corresponding software editor.

 

Again, though to reinforce this potential limitation - there is no getting around the digital part of it. If you get a chance to play with a rig, and like how it sounds - both just plugging a guitar in to the DT direct, and also using the Link to an HD500, then you have the core of a really cool rig.

 

Then, just start saving up for a JTV! You nailed it with the expensive comment - it's way, way outside of the AMPLiFi budget, and in support of the AMPLiFi, I can relate - there are times I ask myself if it was all worth it; those thoughts usually disappear once I plug in and start playing.

 

For me, having spent four years trying to make the Hd500 work with the various amps I had, and going direct to PA and mixer, it was a welcome change to hear the power and clarity that happened instantly when I got my DT25.

 

I also *really* like the way it sounds going to the L2t speakers, for use in different rigs / setups / uses. I do still like the direct / studio recording ability of the HD500 by itself; though without a proper guitar amp, it always gave me some trouble dialing in patches that would sound right in the context of other guitar amps, especially loud, 40watt tube amps, with bass and drums raging. I was worried the 25watt DT wouldn't be loud enough, but I was totally wrong, it CRANKS. I am actually glad I didn't go with the DT50, primarily, because the DT25 is more than heavy enough on my back for loading and carrying it around!

 

Second, the DT25 looks cool from the front because all the controls are on the top.

 

For all that $$$, you could get a whole lot of amazing tube amp, with some $ left over. I don't think there is any one best path to the tone; it is so subjective, that three people could all configure the same gear to sound the same way, using three very different methods. This effect post, that one pre, using a compressor vs a boost, or an EQ vs a drive. Lots and lots of choices. For me, I had come off playing bass in a band for a number of years, but my first and real love was always guitar. Not as much room to explore crazy effects with bass; though I had an X3Live, I never really bonded with it.

 

Once I heard the HD amp models, that was it for the X3; the thing had me hooked all the way back in 2010. I just waited four years to finally get all of the other cool stuff to go with it.

 

You gotta plug in and play, and see what moves you. Maybe the HD500 with a decent Hot Rod tube amp would do it! Maybe a collection of Keeley fx pedals, and a nice boutique tube amp would be the path. It's all personal taste.

 

As for me, getting off work right now, ready to do the long drive home, and most of my gear is all setup in the downstairs living room and ready to jam and record and mess around with dialing in some new tones!

 

Cheers peeps, it's almost FRIDAY!!! :)

[Brad_Ames]

True, and quite inspiring. I have just $580 left on my SG to pay tomorrow, then I begin the saving for a better amp! I'm a huge techie for just about anything, and I'm sure if I can find even the right combo of tube/digital it would be great. I wanted to use a variax but ~1500 when my gibson was the same price...I'll just keep my SG. I just wish our GC had more stuff to try, they don't even have the DT or Variax line, and the variety is dismal at best, high quality, just not many types. Right now I just use my tone port GC and epi lespaul with p-90's, that SG is going to be so much better :D I hope L6 knocks amplifi to about $150-200...I'd consider it then, the speaker are pretty nice for music.