geppert

Tal …. I think a new set of tubes are in your cards? Keep the old ones for emergency spares. One suggestion from another forum member is to buy a matched set of 4 x EL84's then you have new spares when needed or an available pair for your next change over. Re-biasing is recommended with any tube change. As I mentioned before, my problem with humming in Triode mode went down "significantly" after a tube change but did not disappear totally. AB always remained virtually silent. The low level hum I still get a bit in Triode mode is more than acceptable compared to what I had before. Let us know how you make out with this problem after you put the new tubes in for our reference on this issue.

When I first got my DT25 I thought it was humming more than it should have been in Triode mode. (AB was quiet). To make a long story short, by putting new tubes in the problem was significantly reduced.

Brionmkean, I apologize if you already know all this but …. From my experience (POD HD/ DT25 Head & 2 cabs) you will find a huge differential between "bedroom levels & gig levels" as it is basically the same deal with all amps. As others have mentioned here before, you will need to tweak (and possibly create) you gig patches at a venue where you can crank it up. Also, on the HD500, (assuming you are connecting to the DT via L6 Link) if you assign one foot switch to de-activate the modelled preamp, you will auto switch to DT Channel B and use the internal preamp on the amp itself (whichever you've selected). The PODHD then becomes a "pedal board" to the DT. I have found this useful sometimes and I kind of like the sound of the DT's internal preamps. Theoretically of course, the POD preamp models should produce the same sound as the equivalent DT internal preamp models but many have found some difference. You can easily try this out for your own experience and it helps with the learning curve as you get used to this package. Also, with the latest firmware, you can now run the DT hotter (i.e.: past 12:00 clock) to "push" the output tubes and throttle back with the HD Master. Enjoy … and … welcome to "the club".

That's brilliant Phil …. and, I think you may be on to something ….. lol

In my studio tube days (yes I am that old) we left the gear on for very long periods of time. 10-12-14 hours no problem. It was only powered down over night if everybody left. For back to back bookings it was never it turned off. This included studio amps (mainly Fender in those days).

Well Radatats … I was … ah … er … ahem … making a joke.

OK … I'll go out on a limb … I think it will be just a tube amp ….. nothing else, just tube pre and power amp, no efx … what a concept …. I mean … nobody's done that yet … right ???

FYI … I put a matched pair of Mesa EL84's in my DT25 and I quite like them better than the EH that came with the amp. I also checked and tweaked the bias. Very easy to do but requires removal of the Chassis, a multimeter, and a little know how. It can be dangerous if you totally don't know what you're doing in which case get a tech to do it. JJ's also have a good reputation and you probably can't go wrong with them. I may give them a try next time? Keep your old tubes for emergency spares.

I like the DT25 D112 (1x12) cabs. I prefer closed backs to open, and each cab (I have 2) is easy to carry. A pair of these D112 cabs stack nicely with a DT25 head on top as it's width (21") matches the Cab width. The DT50 head will be wider (26"). I do find them expensive however, compared to other manufacturer options. I am also a big fan of the beam blockers. Like Brazzy said, the sounds produced by the various available options will be subjective and is also dependent on the type of music you play and the sound you need to achieve. I don't believe there is a 2 x 12 cab made for the DT50, just a 4 x 12 cab and then a 1 x 12 Cab for the DT25's, which of course you could also use with a DT50 and visa versa. The nice thing about smaller stacking cabs is that you don't necessarily need to drag all of them out for small venues or rehearsals. I usually only use my 2 x 12 stack when doing gigs and only take 1 cab for other things.

Granding ….. that's odd? With the Fender preamp, I manage easily to get a very nice clean tone with the Master up past 12 o'clock. Also, with the Fender, I would dime out (100%) the Channel Volume (this particular preamp model is the lowest volume). Then, as I mentioned, use the "Drive" control for your amp volume. Unlike the other preamps, the "drive" pot on the Fender preamp doesn't add much distortion. As Boyce89976 said, what are your other settings? When you select the Fender Preamp on the 500, the Topology should automatically be "I", the Class should be AB, the Tube setting should be Pentode. Let's put it this way …. 1) Try it first with just the amp (no HD500). Plug your gtr right into the amp. 2) Pick TOP 1 (by default, it is the Fender preamp model) 3) Make Sure it is set for Class is AB (should be set by default when you select Top 1) 4) Make sure you are on Pentode (should be set by default when you select Top 1). 5) Master Volume ~12 o'clock or more if you wish 6) Channel Volume 100% 7) Tone Stack set to taste (maybe turn off the Reverb for the test) 8) Drive set to the overall volume you need. This should provide a nice clean tone. I get this no problemo on my DT25. I rarely run my Master Volume more than 1 0'clock and it is plenty loud. If this all works for you ….. then add the HD 500 as the front end with Line 6 Link. You should totally be able to duplicate the results as the amp standalone. If you can't get a decently loud clean sound using the above settings, something is wrong? …. IMHO anyway.

Note …. you cannot change and overwrite the 16 presets on the left hand model knob. Herein lies the problem. You need to change your presets and store them in the user banks (the channels). This is where you can lower the channel volumes to equate different presets. At this point (as Line6Drew pointed out) you can lower the channel volume and then run the Master Volume higher. However, make sure you understand, that IF you are running the Master volume high, DO NOT select any of the Amp Models via the left hand knob or you will make yourself and everyone else within proximity deaf. You may even break windows? I am sure this is a HUGE problem for the retail stores when unknowing folks try these amps out …. ouch. I never understood why Line 6 made the presets so loud to begin with? This is also why I never let anyone try my Spiders without being there to oversee what they are doing or else (as per Murphy's Law) they will crank the master and select a model on the left hand knob !~! Also, many of the stock channel presets provided by Line 6 are also very loud to begin with. This is why users need to go through the amp and average out the channel volumes of everything for comparison and also (if desired) to eek out more usable Master Volume level. However, as stated before, once you crank up that master volume, you are always in dangerous territory with the left hand model knob should it ever be activated. I think in essence this is a very bad design flaw by Line 6 on the Spiders, but it is what it is. Again, I reiterate, it can be dangerous for unknowing people to try your Spider amp without you overseeing what they are doing. Hope this helps?

What I do with the Fender preamp and the DT25 Master up past 12 0'clock, is to reduce the "drive" (not the Channel Volume) on the preamp to get the volume down to a manageable level. This keeps things nice and clean. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

Thanks very much for the pix & vids guys ….. VERY helpful.

Brazzy ….I used matched Mesa EL84's in the DT25. There is lot's of tube choices out there. A "matched set" is the key.

I had similar problems when I first got the DT25 … changed power tubes, re-biased, 80+% better for sure.

I have one foot switch on my POD HD500 that is "behaving badly", meaning that it needs a hard (ish) push to engage not just a quick tap like the rest. So …. 1) wondering if any of you have sourced replacement switches ?? 2) has anyone done a switch replacement themselves? I could also consider swapping the switch (F2) with another on the unit I don't use regularly. The whole issue is not all that big a deal but it just bugs me (technical term) a little. I am also thinking it might be signs of an upcoming switch failure?

I've got a couple D2F covers and quite like them.

Cgtrox … I was wondering if you could poll Rick to release the schematic for the pre-amp? I am thinking that there are many here (myself included) that would be interested in building one …. and if it is a dead issue for Rick, then he many be willing to release it? Even owning the DT25 (which I really like btw) I still have my SV212 MKII and have absolutely no inclination to part with it. I think it is a seriously decent amp.

I agree … I think L6 has completely committed to the PODHD & DT amps, and to that agenda we see the end of the Spider Valves. Possibly even the entire Spider line? … but this is purely speculation on my part. I still have my SV212 MKII and for what it does, I am still willing to hang on to it as a backup and an extra 2 x 12 open back cab for the DT if I need it. I still like the amp, it has some nice sounds if you know how to work things and I would take such a beating if I tried to sell it. All that being said however, I am totally happy that I upgraded to the POD500 / DT25. I concur with both BigChas52 and Esibanjack's perspectives.

FYI ... One of the things I was doing for a while was to NOT use an active preamp model in the HD500 (L6 Linked to the DT25) … so I was in essence using it as an efx pedal board with the onboard preamps in the DT25. With no active amp model on the POD, the DT25 automatically sets itself for Channel B, however, I found that with a foot switch you could force it to go to Channel A and still use all the efx from the DT25. So (for example) I would have a clean and crunch scenario set up on the DT25 and switch between the two channels. It was interesting experiment and if I had to play out with just the DT25 by itself, I already had the proper tones set up and balanced in standalone mode.

As a career professional Recording Engineer I can assure you I have heard some unbelievable "descriptions" for tone. One short story (and it is a true one), in a session once the (rather stoned) keyboardist came in to the control room and said "hey, can you do "something" with my sound" … lol, I said, "how about I just turn it off" …. honest !~! … under the circumstances (we were all friends) it got a nice laugh but honestly, there are many many ways to "try" and describe sound but like MGBade says …. many times the "concept" is conveyed by the most unusual words. Recently I have been working with a product called "Jam Hub", it is a headphone monitoring concept for rehearsals etc. IF the drummer has eDrums then everyone can plug in after pedals without the need for amps. The bass player said " yes that's cool but sometimes you just need amps to get the "Bone Feel" … I thought that was a very "organic" description and right on the money … and ... I knew EXACTLY what he meant … !!!

I am a big fan of Top III as well … "spong (iness)" ….. good description !~! From now on I will say …. "I think it needs more "spong" …. nice. Good post from Karl … in my experience it often pays to try everything and anything despite what the "literature" says. Great discoveries are made that way.

Did you get the attenuator from the Weber Site??? If so ... how long did it take? For $115 I assume you got the 50W version?

Couldn't agree more.

Tinman .... yes it is more of an old school approach I grant you, but for what I do it works. With the master up full I push the tubes but it doesn't have to be loud per se. I make the volume adjustments to suit the venue. If I don't need it loud then I just back down that drive on Channel A until it is where I want it and same on Channel B / Channel Volume. I get it where I need it with this approach. Truthfully, for what I do, the POD has way more options than I use. If I am lazy for rehearsals I sometimes just use the DT. I kind of like that sound but I need delay and chorus so I am not totally happy when I don't have the POD. Everybody's different.