ColonelForbin

I did a bunch of research on the GP-10 and it's corresponding MIDI pickup system (GK-3), and I can say that it doesn't make me want to immediately jump on that bandwagon. The external version of the GK-3 looks like it would be a total mess to install on a guitar; somewhat Borg looking in fact, having that thing clamped on the back of your axe with the cable running across the face. Then, by comparison, would I *really* want to pay a luthier to carve out the back of my nice USA strat for example, to install the internal version of that pickup? Because, though it can be used standalone, the really only good reason to use a GP-10 is with a MIDI pickup. So, then you start wondering about the 'pre installed' version; looks like your basic run of the mill Mexican made Fender Strat, with the Roland GK pickup and it's control dials and buttons pre-installed. Runs something like $800 or $900 bucks I think? I looked at some other MIDI pickups, there are several on the market. I also looked at what the GR-55 or whatever it is can do, compared with the GP-10, and I see where it goes; in the sense of, do you want to make your guitar sound like a trumpet? OR a piano? Or some other non-guitar instrument? In that sense, you aren't really in a realm inhabited only by Roland and Boss. You could run a MIDI pickup into something like Reason for example. So, while at first glance, $500 for an external GK-3 and a GP-10 seems like a fun, limited cost investment, it's not without it's limitations. I mulled over putting in on my JTV59, just to be stupid - have the Variax modeling going at the same time as the Roland/Boss MIDI models. I guess that is the key distinction: The Boss / Roland gear converts your guitar notes into MIDI data, and using a standard 13 pin connection, triggers MIDI audio from one of their devices - such as the GP-10, or the older VG-99, or the GR-55. How it *tracks* is a combination of the installation of the pickup on the guitar coupled with the DSP of the outboard device. As a comparison to the JTV, which is more like an all-in-one MIDI guitar with the onboard tone modules, it's not apples and apples. I think there may be some cool developments down the road, for sure. But seeing as how you can't even get a *nice* pre-installed Fender Roland equipped axe, it's not a straight forward thing. There is also a wireless MIDI pickup system that looks slightly less Borg-like, but has no 13 pin output, it sends to a USB dongle, so you would be using it with software instead of hardware devices. While I was tempted to go order one of these rigs from Sweetwater, for now, am resisting the G.A.S. Tempting stuff though, I mean, who doesn't want to be able to trigger piano or strings or trumpets and saxo-ma-phone with their guitar?> :) Unfortunately, the GP-10 leaves off all of those fun, albeit somewhat cheesy effects, and focuses primarily on the guitar modeling, and the synth stuff, which also shares DSP with the COSM amp modelling, which I could do without. Since the GR-55 is a few years old already, I would be interested in the next "nice" MIDI guitar unit, with maybe updated HD samples, tones, instruments and such. For that matter, a JTV with a 13 pin output and a 'instrument modelling only' pedalboard which can L6link would be tasty. For me, the HD500 amp models are still TOP of the heap in that price point; definitely better than the COSM stuff. Probably not 100% on par with the Axe-FX for example, but last I checked $500 is still not $2,000 and I wouldn't expect a $500 piece of equipment to equal a $2,000 price point piece of gear. Toyota is awesome, but it's still not a Tesla. ;)

I took a closer look at the GK-3 installation - the external version is pretty basic, anyone could do that at home, with no drilling or using screws - but as such I can imagine it might be a bit glitchy if the divided pickup moves around at all. I would like to hear a comparable 'shoot out' between the GK-3 + GP10 vs. a JTV, just in terms of the models. The GK-3 + GP10 is definitely something that puts the 'Variax' style technology in a more affordable price point. $500 for a GK-3 + GP-10 on Sweetwater; vs at least $1,000 for a JTV. HOWEVER, the 'internal' installation of the GK pickup into a guitar is a way, way more involved process that entails routing out the inside of your guitar to accommodate the system, which make the JTV that more appealing since all that rather touchy and detailed work is inherent in the design. I guess I would probably install the GK-3 external on my strat or something, and use it as an alternate to the JTV; while tempting to install it on the JTV, I don't relish the weight it would add, the JTV is already a pretty hefty axe!

"Topic: GK-3 Kit on a JTV 59" http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=4242 "Topic: Boss GP-10" http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=10782.0

Stuck! No way :) Here's my rig: JTV59 + HD500 + M13 + VoiceLive3 + DT25 + a pair of L2t's.. Unreal how good that stuff can all sound, each alone, or combined together. The Line6 amp modelling is still near or at the top of heap. Which is an important distinction I think a lot of people missed in this thread - OP is not talking about the BOSS alternate to the HD500 / POD, etc - he is NOT speaking of the 'GT' series. He's talking about the GP10. DIFFERENT BEAAST! The GP10 + GK-3 pickup is like turning my regular strat into a Variax. The GP10 happens to also have some of the COSM, BOSS, etc. I don't *CARE* about that other stuff, just the guitar / synth models. If I was going to add a GP10 to my rig, I would run the GP10 + GK-3 models INTO my HD500 amp models. In some ways, this conversation is more applicable to the Variax forum, but that's splitting hairs. On that note of being "Stuck" with the variax, I once again quote Glenn DeLaune (who can play circles around most any guitarist round these parts) Glenn DeLaune 4 weeks ago "Yes I love the JTV69. Actually I installed the GK-3 pick-up onto the Variax LOL. So now I've got both modelers going at the same time. The only thing the Variax models are better are for the reso models like Banjo, Sitar, Resonators etc. Boss has better acoustic and electric guitar modeling in my opinion. Heck the variax doesn't even do nylon string where the GP-10 has a beautiful nylon model." (one final note......G.A.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The GP10 has me quite intrigued actually. Now, personally I dig my Line6 gear, I've spent a lot of time brainstorming and trying different routing and connection options. It's a very seriously flexible and badass range of equipment. I have no qualms though, about intergear relationships; my Line6 equipment is the core of what I have going on, but at various points I have wired it together with multiple other brands and types of gear; Eleven Rack, analog Keeley pedals, TC Helicon Voice Live 3, to name a few. I read that Glenn DeLaune actually mounted a Roland pickup system into his JTV, and he uses both sets of models and the various tuning options. For example, the GP10 has a nylon string acoustic guitar model. I have been considering checking that GP10 out, indeed! But no way I abandon the Line6 rig, it's the core, heart and soul of my musical exploration right now. I even let my buddy who I jam with take over my Keeley pedalboard, and I've got him on my Line6 wireless since I am using the VDI from the JTV to the HD500. I also run a 1/4" off the JTV into a TC Helicon VoiceLive3, but that's mostly for pitch tracking. I do sometimes use the acoustic guitar patches on the VL3 when I am using the JTV acoustic models, to have a 'direct' option that bypasses the HD500. Anyway, on a side note, does anyone know what is entailed in installing a Roland GK-3 pickup system in a guitar? Or as Glenn did, even putting one in a JTV?> This video Glenn did is pretty cool, check it out:

Yeah, I just noticed the recent price drop to $1,499; definitely signals a shift in some regard! It would be nice if they could drop the price on the L3 speakers a comparable amount; right now I just have the pair of L2t's, which are great for home and rehearsal, but my rig isn't there yet, in terms of a full live sound PA.. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SSM20D http://www.guitarcenter.com/Line-6-StageScape-M20d-Mixer-107733693-i2398077.gc

I had similar problems; but mine was stuck from day one, and ended up getting sent back to Sweetwater as being a hardware issue. One thing that sometimes worked for me was to boot into the 'calibration mode', and redo the touch screen calibrate process. Seems like yours is stuck somewhere before where mine got stuck though - mine loaded up, just the touch screen didn't respond at all. I don't remember right now what the process is to get into that calibration mode though..

Check your output modes on the HD500? Depends on how you want to set it up, but if you are running the L2m in that reference mode, make sure the HD500 is in studio/direct mode. Another way you can approach that, is put the L2m in 'electric guitar' mode, and run the HD500 in combo/poweramp, or combo/stack. Don't forget, that in Studio mode, your mic settings are all active - try cycling through the different mic options with all other variables being the same, and see if any of the mics respond better to the types of crunch tones you are working towards.

Do you run vocals with your one man show? I am still trying to sort out the exact stage rig you are going with. An idea that occured to me today - makes more sense if you are using vocals - is, can you run the 'monitor' output from the Bose mixer to the L2t? In that regard, treat the HD500x as the tone engine for your guitar. Run both XLR's from the HD500x to the BOSE mixer, don't worry about using the L6Link for now. Run your vocals into the Bose as well, and put the L2t on it's sideways kick stand floor monitor position. Just a thought; with my group, we use the two L2t's as floor monitors, one for the drummer, one for the rest of us, focused so the singer can hear his vocals - but we don't really monitor the instruments as much. If you aren't using vocals, then it makes more sense to go to the way you were already trying, which is the L2t is your 'guitar amp', and then the humm and power issues are something that you can tackle with power filtering, sorting out ground loop issues - and also make sure you are not overloading the input channel on the Bose mixer from the L2t line level XLR send. I mean, technically, you could use the L6Link to the L2t, and also send the two XLR's from the HD500x direct to the BOSE mixer. Take a look at how the Line6Link works with *several* L2 and L3 speakers, when configured using the M20d. It's a digital signal chain, that makes the most sense when you are using it's features - if the ability to switch the speaker mode of the L2t matters alot to the sounds you are sculpting for your guitar, then it makes sense to keep working with the Link feature. If you can achieve the tonal variations you need using the HD500, then you can treat the L2t more like a versatile stage monitor. I would guess the Bose system is your primary PA system for the 'main mix' to your audience. Never underestimate the power of having quality monitors for what you need to hear though; especially when vocals are involved. I don't know if your Bose rig is acting as both main and monitor? If so, you could work with the idea that the Bose system is focused solely on audience sound,and the L2t can be your personal stage monitor. Who knows, you may find your one man show adding a player or two at some point, and having the stage monitor sound be as high quality as possible will enhance your performance by making sure what YOU hear is as crystal clear as what your audience is hearing.

Apparently Glenn DeLaune added a Roland GK-3 pickup to his JTV69 so he could use the GP-10 with it. Getting into some interesting dual 'guitar' / alternate tuning modeling there! He does make a good point, which would be a solid feature request: JTV needs some nylon string acoustic models! Glenn DeLaune 2 weeks ago "Yes I love the JTV69. Actually I installed the GK-3 pick-up onto the Variax LOL. So now I've got both modelers going at the same time. The only thing the Variax models are better are for the reso models like Banjo, Sitar, Resonators etc. Boss has better acoustic and electric guitar modeling in my opinion. Heck the variax doesn't even do nylon string where the GP-10 has a beautiful nylon model." Reply · Tom Molyneaux 2 weeks ago "It was actually the Acoustic and the Nylon models of the GP-10 that sold me on trading my Variax. I have the GK-3 pick-up on the Variax and was using it with my GR-55. My friend has the GR-55 with the Roland Strat and it runs very well together. I have had problems trying to set-up the GK-3 pickup with some synth sounds I was using and have tried many different ways that different people have told me how to do it and still was not satisfied. So when I heard the GP-10 and the demo of the Guitar models compared to my JT Variax, especially the Acoustic and the Nylon models , I was sold. So bottom line Glenn, I liked the GP-10 over the Variax and since my buddy's Roland Strat works well with his GR-55 and mine for that matter, well getting the Roland Strat gives me the best of both worlds. Next thing is to get the 13 pin duel Y cable and try out the GP-10 and GR-55 together......lol Wow are we spoiled....lol Tommy"

One more..

And, for what it's worth - if anyone is doubting the quality of BOSS / Roland gear, there is always the ever amazing Glenn DeLaune (http://line6.com/support/user/47950-gangsterusa/) doing those awesome YouTube product demo videos! "Glenn DeLaune 2 weeks ago "Yes I love the JTV69. Actually I installed the GK-3 pick-up onto the Variax LOL. So now I've got both modelers going at the same time. The only thing the Variax models are better are for the reso models like Banjo, Sitar, Resonators etc. Boss has better acoustic and electric guitar modeling in my opinion. Heck the variax doesn't even do nylon string where the GP-10 has a beautiful nylon model."

One somewhat tangential point to all of this, is that the JTV pitch shifting is done internally (in the guitar) on a per-string instance; so to compare that with the Boss GP-10, you are also factoring in the use of an external unit, the GP10 and a 13 pin Roland GK-compatible pickup, if I am understanding this properly? The footprint on the GP-10 sure looks nice and compact! When you look at it that way; and in terms of cost, for example Sweetwater sells the GP-10 + the GK-3 pickup kit for $500. GP-10 + GK-3 (sweetwater) So, it's alot less than an Axe-FX, and assuming you already have an electric guitar which that pickup kit can be mounted on, a lot less $$ than a JTV. SO it goes, at least it's nice to know the world of music gear keeps getting more diverse and expanding options! Are there any other retro install pickup systems that will work with this rig? IE, will the Graphtech Ghost bridge or something like it function like this, or am I mixing apples and macs again?

Sweetwater doing a $150 rebate until end of September on the older model HD500; they are selling it 'new' for $350 for the next three days http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PODHD500

Dang, looks like prices on most of the models have held pretty steady! Every now and then I look at Sweetwater, to see if they have any randomly crazy deals. This offer is decent, $150 mail in rebate from now through end of the year. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/pdf/Line6-JTV-141231.pdf

Yeah, I had a similar issue with mine out of the box. I ended up dealing with it for a while, and finally just sent it back to Sweetwater for a replacement. Knock on wood - haven't had that issue with the new unit since. It was exhibiting symptoms quite similar to what another responder mentioned; had to reboot the unit repeatedly, many many times before it would finally allow the touch screen to function. The calibrate mode was also in a similar state of being stuck. Haven't had to calibrate the new one at all; so most likely some sort of hardware related issue. Depending on when and where you bought yours, will guide your options, in terms of having L6 repair it, or if your original retailer is able to replace it for you. And +1 to keeping the box!!

Yes indeed! I am really impressed with the L2t speaker system. Quite versatile. I had been using the DT25 in the more stereotypical sense of , I am playing electric guitar, should be using an electric guitar amp. But did struggle with getting the JTV acoustic models to work well with the DT25; there are several various threads in the past about people coming up with work arounds to bypass the amp modeling when using JTV acoustic tones. What piqued my interest with your thread, is the idea that the L2t can be used to great effect to achieve that electric -and- acoustic in one speaker / amp; and it has an XLR out. I am thinking I will have to try that idea with my rig, and see what happens. It will be interesting to see how the M20d reacts to getting an XLR line level from the L2t, vs the mic level signal from the DT25. In general, my back pain / chiropractor related issues became the most predominant factor in which pieces of gear and in what combinations would get moved any amount of distance, IE, to rehearsal or to stage. Our drummer *was* going to be selling his house, so we cleared out all the electric rigs and haven't had a place to set up the PA and such since earlier in the year. Looks like he is going to take his house back off the market until next March, so we'll likely be getting back to the full rigs / electric setups this autumn and winter. What I can say about the M20d that I like, is the programability - and the recording features. Multitrack recording option is awesome, works really well. It's also cool to be able to dial in a full band 'scene' and recall that preset; sometimes we use more gear, sometimes less, so it's always pretty simple in terms of setting up from scratch too. A bit spendy, I can't justify the expense to folks on a casual basis - but if you can score one used, or on a good sale, floor model, etc, might be worth checking out. Definitely a different use of the L6Link feature; though with the full Bose rig you already have, doesn't make a ton of sense to spend $2k on the M20d, then need to drop another $2k on additional main / monitor L2 / L3 speakers.. The L6link really does some magic going from the M20d to the downstream L3/L2 speakers in a way that is a good bit different from the HD50 to L2/L3 link connections. What got me thinking most, after reading your posts, was the feature of the L2t when L6linked to an HD500, to save the speaker mode! I think that is really cool. The acoustic presets would want to be that full range type sound, and the electric guitars might prefer a more electric guitar amp type tone. I know the DT25 XLR out has a 'cabinet' / 'mic' emulation of some sort; when L6linking from the HD500 to a DT25, it automatically defaults to the 'combo poweramp' output mode,which disables the mic / air modeling being generated by the HD500. Supposedly, the transformer tapped out from the DT25 put the 'air' back into the signal, making it PA friendly. For example; try this test: connect your HD500 directly to your Bose rig, dial in an electric guitar sound, etc. Then, in the HD500 programming, switch your output mode from Studio/Direct, to Combo Poweramp, or Stack poweramp. It will likely sound 'worse' to your ears; it's usually a bit 'bees nest' sounding, especially with higher drive and gain setting or using distortion. It really prefers, when connected like that, to be in Studio direct. One thing I am not sure of, is how the L2t will sound, in a similar situation. IE, when messing about with the HD500 output modes, while also messing with the L2t speaker modes, which are best suited for electric guitar, in a way that sounds good both in the L2t which is L6linked, and also through your Bose system, taking the XLR from that L2t, into your Bose rig. Which is why I mention, doing that output mode test, so you hear the distinction between output modes when the mic model is on or off.

Not sure if I am understanding this 100%, but you should be able to drag those FX blocks into the two divided channels, path A and path B can have their own effects that only go to those channels. They need to be all in the section BEFORE the mixer block, which occurs after the amp block. Not sure about what happens if you put FX after the amp model block, before the mixer block.

First and foremost, thank you for your enthusiasm! Makes me want to revisit my gear, and work on music again; I have been musically dormant for a few months now. So for that, I thank you. :) This may have been mentioned in previous replies; not certain - but be aware that the XLR outs from the HD500x are always Left and Right; they will not sum to mono. When you L6Link to the L2t, it is combining the left and right audio signals - twice as much audio as just sending a single XLR from the HD500x. It sounds like the 'hum' issues you are having are ground loop related - though it's hard to tell. Make sure ALL devices are plugged into a single power strip, plugged to a single wall outlet source. For example, if you currently have the Bose mixer and speaker rig on one power source, and the L2t and HD500x on a different outlet / power source, you are most likely introducing a ground loop, which would cause that type of hum. From what I can tell, you have at least five devices all needing their own power, and they are mix of 2 prong and three prong grounded: 1. L2T three prong power cable 2. HD500x power supply 3. T1 power supply 4. Bose L1 power supply 5. Bose Bass speaker power supply Connecting all of that to a single power source, should in theory help elminate ground loop hum. If you have already done that, and still get hum, then perhaps the noise source is not power related. I have a few of the same components; I've just tried rigging them in different ways, to sometimes more, sometimes less success. I don't have any of the Bose gear, but I do attempt to run a Line6 M13 in the HD500 stereo FX loop, while also using a VoiceLive 3 vocal processor which needs a 1/4" cable from the guitar to pitch track for harmony vocal effects, to determine what key the song is in. I also used to attempt to run a tandem 1/4" and VDI from my JTV, adding a bunch of analog effects - for the most part, I have done away with that idea. Too many damn pedalboards! Ended up letting the other guitarist I jam with borrow a bunch of those pedals (mostly Keeley) and let him borrow a spare pedal board, and my Line6 G5 wireless. Sort of defeats the purpose of having the VDI options to then try to muck about with all that extra complexity~ And the floor space it was taking up was starting to be a bit of a joke. SO, I slimmed it down, then proceeded to not play guitar for three months... Lol!! Well, looks like I will be hauling the gear out tomorrow after work, and see what I can come up with. I also use the L6 M20d from time to time, so I will attempt to simulate a similar rig to what you have, by putting the M20d and one of my L2t speakers in place of your Bose rig, and then running the HD500 L6link to my other L2t, as you described, as a dedicated monitor. I guess if I was doing it as a one man show with my rig, I would run the HD500x using both XLR cables into the M20d, and set up one L2t as a floor monitor with both guitar and vocals, and use the other L2t as my "main" speaker. I also have a DT25, but I will leave that out of the calculations for now. I suppose if I was using that, I would do it similar to what you are doing, with the rig being: JTV > HD500 > L6link to DT25 > XLR out from DT25 to> M20d mixer > L6link from M20d to L2t main > l6link to L2t monitor Thing to consider there, as Radatats pointed out, is the distinction between mic level and line level. Take a look at the settings for your input channels on the Bose. In this case, the DT25 puts out a MIC level, not line level signal. I think Radatats is correct, in that the L2T is sending a LINE level signal, which if the input channel is not expecting, could also be overloading the channel and causing hum.

For playing live? Spend the extra $200 over the FX100 and get an HD500x. Way, way, way more options to route sound out of it. Just my opinion, based on not having any AMPLiFi related gear. I've got an HD500, a DT25, and a pair of L2t's. Here's a thread actually comparing those two: Pod HD vs. Amplifi FX100http://line6.com/support/topic/6960-pod-hd-vs-amplifi-fx100/

I suppose that could be referring to configuring the DT / Link send to use the amp model only, though I don't know what happens when you are in studio/direct mode. As much as I know, and there are many gaps in my understanding of the Link/L2/L3/DT/HD500 connections and such; the amp model is chosen at the HD500 level, and if you use a full amp model, you are emulating power amp vs using a "pre" version of an amp model, where you are only modeling the preamp portion. Regarding studio direct and combo/poweramp, I am not sure what happens if you are in 'studio direct', but assign the DT Link as not being the main left or right, but instead choosing the amp model. Something like this from the manual: Choose the output of one or two specific POD HD Amp Models - Amp Model A , Amp Model B , or both Amp Model A/B Choose Mute to silence any connected DT amp/StageSource speaker. This is handy, for example, if you are L6 LINK-connected to both a DT amp and StageSource speaker.* You can save some POD HD Presets with the StageSource set to “Mute†to allow an electric guitar tone to be heard through DT amp only - and other Presets with the DT amp set to “Mute†for an acoustic tone to be heard from the StageSource speaker only. Even better, if you use a Line 6 Variax guitar, these electric & acoustic guitar settings can be saved with your POD HD Preset as well!

Sort of - Split your amp model into two; define one input as "variax" and the other as "variax mags". Then, using the mixer block, pan them left and right. The issue you are going to then run into is the output modes. You might be able to work around this by defining the DT with the L6Link as the amp model A only; and then using the Studio/Direct mode so the XLR sends are "PA" / mixer / recording-friendly. I've mucked about a little bit with that idea; particularly attempting to split the variax and variax mags. I wanted to run the mags side out the FX loop into some pedals, and use the variax side for the acoustic models and be able to toggle between them or have both on at the same time. Then I tried a different idea, I ran the 1/4" out from the JTV into some outboard pedals, then into the HD500, and also used the VDI cable to the HD500, and defined that signal as 'variax mags'. Not sure which of any of these paths worked best, overall I just struggled with DSP limits, and getting the two amp models to level properly, stuff like that.

Yeah +1 to the "save your back agony"!! I've got the DT25, and as the lightest of the DT series, it's *still* a rather heavy piece of equipment. Reading about saving the speaker mode on a per-patch basis has got me inspired to rig up my HD500 with my L2t's, see what happens.

I just read about that in a different thread earlier today - I didn't know that could be done! Very cool.. Can that setting be edited using the HD500 editor or does it need to have the L6Link in place between the HD500 and the L2 speaker? Great idea really; The JTV acoustic tones don't always play well with the DT25 rig

Yes to that concept! Sometimes the energy involved in working with the more complex offerings the "dream rig" presents gets overwhelming for me - too many options makes it hard to decide on things. I don't have an AMPLiFi, so I don't know about the specific workflow of achieving a tone functions - I like hearing that customizing your tones with the IOS app is easy to do. I've been mucking about lately with adding outboard gear to my HD500 rig, and it's gotten pretty complex to set it up, wire all the cables and the amp and the extra pedals and such. Simplicity is a godsend when you just want to play music and not fuss about with a million different options! As far as the various limitations in the AMPLiFi gear, concerning recording, I suppose that's just the way it is. Surprising to some extent, that the USB port doesn't function as an audio send a computer, nor does it have any line out that still allows the speaker to be used. Though again, just getting something that makes you want to play is different than something that is used as a tool to record. Once I start recording, I often lose the type of "in the moment" playing exploration, so it's a constant back and forth between raw creative energy and focused "deciding power". Anything that encourages creative music exploration is good, no matter what it's inherent limitations. For that price, it's hard to beat. I have a thing for Keeley pedals, and they only do one thing per pedal. So, for the price of two Keeley pedals, give or take, you get one AMPLiFi.. I overdid it a bit, realized I liked being able to toggle individual effects on and off, so embarked on a ridiculous quest to add a complete analog pedalboard in front of the HD500 and added an M13 for the effects loop... I can say, running the M13 in stereo in the HD500 effects loop is pretty awesome. The analog pedals in front of the HD500 don't always work as well as I would like - I'd imagine they might function better in front of the DT25; but I like the manner in which the DT25 and the HD500 work together to render the amp models in such a fantastic manner - much more so than just the amp models by themselves in studio/direct mode. So getting back to that original comment, I heartily agree and will re-state it now: "Anything to get me playing more is a good thing."