Indianrock2020

where is the master level control on the upper right top side of the POD set?

I run my 500x with Input 1: Variax Input 2: Variax

I've been happy with this cable: Line 6 Variax Digital Interface Cable

I agree about the value of the amp model's tone, but if you're using that for crunch rhythm and then want a boost on solo, place the OD effect in front of the amp ( or amps ), then put a parametric EQ right after the OD and use it to notch out fizzy tones. You'll wind up with the parametric "Q" at about 3 o'clock, gain at 9 o'clock ( low ) and the frequency ( percentage ) probably between 50 and 65%

Are you talking about input1 and input2 on the POD being set to variax?

I rarely turn the knob down since the sound guy mutes us between sets. Only other thing I can think of is a poor guitar stand at this gig that, if I don't watch it, bumps the VDI cable where it plugs into the guitar ( ordered a new stand ).

Yes I sort of suspected a special setup for slide, besides the tuning. Now that I use the JTV59 almost exclusively, I suppose I could set up my strat for slide, but it definitely looks like a significant time investment to be any good at it.

Sold what was probably $800 worth of pedals for less than half of that, along with a medium-grade tube amp and moved to the 500x. Loving it. Mostly running dual amp patches now and when I use an overdrive effect before the amps, I place a parametric EQ right after the OD to tame any ugly frequencies. Better tone by far than I was ever able to achieve with the pedals.

Using dual amps almost exclusively now. Seems, more, "robust." But I always use one of these MeamBobo "approved" combinations of cabs/mics: http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/cabsMics#dualCab-faves Otherwise I make sure both amps use exactly the same cab and mic.

Which of these do you use, and with which amp model? Do you use a separate OD pedal in the effects loop? So far I've mainly used the tube drive, screamer, overdrive and Line 6 drive. Tube Drive Screamer Overdrive Classic Dist Heavy Dist Color Drive Buzz Saw Facial Fuzz Jumbo Fuzz Fuzz Pi Jet Fuzz Line 6 Drive Line 6 Distortion Sub Octave Fuzz Octave Fuzz

I've never played slide and know it won't be a skill acquired overnight, but just wondered if the modeling with piezos can handle it?

Still very happy with the JTV 59 / 500x combination. At my last gig there was a 15-minute break between sets and when I picked the guitar up again it seemed the modeling light had gone off so I pushed it in to get going again. I was surprised it would do this while being powered from the POD ( no battery in the JTV, ever ).

The only weirdness I hear is on 12 string models. I think more can be done adjusting string volume and pitch ( on the higher octave strings ) in Workbench. My mags are still where they were from the factory.

ok gotcha Wow. So far my patches are either acoustic for softer songs or electric guitar models for louder songs, with no mag at all. Lots of possibilities with this gear. This morning I was playing a very slightly tweaked Lester model into the POD which was running dual AC30 amps with the 421 dynamic mics and 2x12 Silver Bell cabs on both. Awesome tone to my ears. When it's this good I just can't justify the $$$ for a Helix.

Interesting. I have found that the best sound for acoustic models is no amp in the patch at all, so not sure how it would work with mags.

So select the mag pickup position you want, then in the patch select the model where you've blended in mags ( in workbench ). I'm assuming from that point on, that patch will remain the same even if the next time I use the rig with that patch, the mag pickup selector happens to be elsewhere. I guess the next question would be where other JTV owners have found the mag blend useful. To augment a Lester type model more so than a strat model? I often tell those still dedicated to old-style pedal boards not to go the POD/JTV route lightly. Many of those people are just not going to invest the time to make it work. But what I try to make clear, diplomatically, is that it isn't that the new gear won't produce and out-perform old pedal boards/amps -- you "gotta pay the cost to be the boss."

The problem there is moving the pickup selector changes the model as specified in the pod patch. But I'm convinced that if I edit the guitar model to blend in some mag pickup, that model in the pod patch will reflect the mag input.

Good to know. I may have to switch my pod inputs to patch by patch instead of global to make more use of mags

Yes I understand the "no alt tuning with mags" part. If the mag blend set up in workbench actually works when connected only by VDI and the POD patch is specifying a particular JTV model, then either the mag signal is being sent out through the VDI cable, or the mag blend is actually modeled, not being sent in real time as you play.

If this is true then it's not clear to me how, when using ONLY the VDI cable to POD, you can get magnetic pickups blended into a guitar model when you've done that in workbench. In case you haven't looked, when tweaking a model in Workbench there is a magnetics blend slider at the bottom of the screen. I can only conclude this is not real-time magnetic blend, but rather the tweaked model simulates the addition of a percentage of magnetic.

Ok so you're implying that if you don't use alt tunings on a patch, you can use just the VDI cable and blend in some mag pickup with the model.

Slightly off-topic but what happens when you only run the VDI cable to POD and in workbench the guitar model has been adjusted to use a percentage of mag pickup? ( that guitar model selected in POD mixer tab )

Thanks guys. I realize many things we hear at home won't be noticed in a mix at gig volume, but still think I'll try to avoid more than two semitone adjustments in my attempts to avoid using an actual capo. Still very happy with my JTV59. It plays so well my 74 strat has been the case since the JTV arrived. What I'd still love to see is more detailed videos on Workbench because I suspect quite a bit can be gained in there.

I'm wondering if any have found specific model that do or don't play nice with alternate tunings ( virtual capo ). I don't use things like drop D, just standard tuning pushed up a bit like a virtual capo. I also don't use the mag pickups ( so far ). I have some, minimal, evidence that virtual capoing up one semitone generally sounds better than going up four. I'd also like to hear if anyone has found specific changes that can be made in Workbench to improve virtual capoing.

So far on my 59 I don't use the magnetic pickups at all so I guess there's no downside to backing them away from the strings a long distance