How does one maximize the use of HD500x's amp/preamp models?

[rye715]

I mean, the amp models are part of we paid for when we bought the unit. That's what makes it attractive to those who do not have financial resources to get a monster rig.

 

For someone who wants to get the most out of the amp models and is a gigging musician with no uber-hyped tube amp, what would you suggest?

 

1. Get a portable power amp or speaker and use the preamps models (if there's no PA)?

2. Just rely on the amp/cabinet models and go directly to PA?

 

 

Any suggestions?

[jandrio]

I vote option #2.

Pair the HD500 with a JTV and go gigging.

u do not need anything else.

 

if ther is no PA, option #1 is the only way, but I wld buy a FRFR portable unit (keyboard amp?) , use full amp models and "studio direct mode"...

[zaphodboy]

I was running my HD500 into a Marshall 50w combo. I tried every which to set up, 4CM, straight into the front of the amp, all the different output settings, pre amps v full amps, the lot. I was spending more time tweaking than playing which can't be right. A couple of weeks ago I splashed out on a Stagesource L3 and WOW! Not only did it sound awesome but I have found it really simple to dial in great tones. Set the POD to studio/direct and the L3 to 'electric guitar' mode and away you go. I have played a few gigs with it now and the band are really impressed with the sound and it's easy to set up. If you didn't want to splash out on the L3 you could go for the L2 and save yourself a few quid, it would be plenty loud enough. They are not the cheapest speakers but seem to be made for the POD HD.

[lachinelli]

I use a transistor amp head and a 4x12" cab in my live rig. I do use amp emulation but I've disabled cab emulation. I use only the Power Amp stage of my amp, and try to send most of the sound of the emulated amp, which in most cases is the Dual Rec.

I know it'd be just great to go to a gig and only take the POD and your guitar, completely relying on the venue's PA, but I have two main problems. Whenever I've tried to make it sound good through the rehearsal's PA, (Which we use for vocals), I never could, so I wouldn't venture going to a gig and expecting to sound great. I go with what I know it sounds good, and that is what I explained in my first sentences. The other problem is that I have 8 banks for my band only, so imagine the PA's engineer asks to cut highs or lows from the signal...I just can't. I've even had that asked from my amp, which sounds great to my taste after countless hours of tweaking, and I tell them to deal with it from the mixer.

I'd like to read more from musicians that have found a way to rely on the PA only, that'd be just great. I know I should resume my patches in no more than 2 banks too.

[saTa]

I went straight to PA for years and now use a DT25 on stage. I love playing through the DT25 and I probably wouldn't use another amp that wasn't made for use with the POD like the DT25 is. Going to PA is fine and probably better than going through a less than optimal amplifier.