ftuller

I'm using a gibson SG and the pod hd500 out to a fender blues jr that is mic'd into the sound system. Input 1 guitar, input 2 variax (for mute), output is studio/direct. I use specific banks per song mainly to align the tempos but also to fine tune the effects per song. Base patches go from left to right A-D: clean, crunch, medium/heavy crunch, gain. Chain is tube comp (use 2 as a toggle, both at 100 thresh, output 12 always on and can toggle to 24 for a clean boost) -> tube screamer on clean and crunch patches (use 2 but not at the same time - one at 50 drive and 70 output, the other at 70 drive and 65 output) -> digital delay (always on - dotted 8th, feedback 10 for a single repeat, 50 mix for clean, 30 mix for the other patches) -> blackface 'lux vib full amp with volume at 40 -> mixer (panned hard left and right) -> tape echo to thicken a little (25ms, feedback 0, mix 50) -> spring reverb (set close to hall - decay 60, predelay 101ms, tone 40, mix 20). For the gain patch I use classic distortion instead of the 70 drive tube screamer. Settings are drive 50 and output 20 (and bass 90). I also adjust the drive on the blackface 'lux vib amp across the patches: clean 51, crunch 73, medium/heavy crunch 83, gain 73 with rat classic distortion. For songs like Hillsong's Time Has Come and Fee's All Because of Jesus, to get a galloping delay I use the digital delay dotted 8th with feedback 10 and mix at 70 followed directly by (not dual) the analog echo quarter note with feedback 10 and mix at 50. I pull back on the gain a little for the galloping delay, otherwise the gallop isn't as clearly defined. I also sometimes use the auto volume delay for swells. In terms of the room, my church meets in a movie theater that seats about 300 people. Hopefully that helps.

I experienced the same thing and went with what sounded best. I play through a blues jr and tried the "correct" option of combo front but it didn't sound as good as studio/direct. Also, the additional low, mid, and high frequency settings within combo only complicated things. Studio/direct sounds good through my amp and also sounds good through headphones so I don't have to set up and switch different patches between using the amp and headphones. It's interesting to note that in the section of the Advanced Guide that covers combo and stack says that "there is no wrong choice...check out all the possibilities and decide which Models work best for your tone!" So maybe there is something to this and perhaps using studio/direct with an amp isn't really breaking the rules. Go with whatever sounds best.

It would depend on the sound board but it would be either 0 (in other words tell him not to boost or cut any of your eq frequencies) or ask him to turn off the eq frequencies for your channel if the board has that capability. But as Joel said the best option is for your sound guy to help your tone because you can't hear what he (and your audience) hears.

For your gigs this week I'd suggest going direct to the sound board. Use studio/direct, set line/amp to line, and use one of the left/right mono jacks to go to the sound board. Ask your sound guy to give you flat eq settings on the sound board or turn off your eq on the board. Then it would be up to you to tweak the pod amp and effects to get the tone you want. By doing this you simplify the variables regarding your tone and also you are then in charge of your own tone.

I just successfully ran 2 blues jrs at the same time. The pod wasn't the problem, it was a ground loop in my blues jr. Running 1 through a hum eliminator and the other straight into the pod is completely hum/hiss-free. 2 blues jrs at the same time sounds great - very full and lively. Thanks for everyone's input.

I also have a blues jr and after testing studio/direct vs. combo front I went with studio/direct. And I use full amp models in my patches. In my opinion it just sounds better.

Here are a few things that have worked for me to increase fattness without sounding muddy: 1) lower the gain (I use the minimum amount of gain I can get away with which fattens the tone), 2) lower treble, 3) use a red comp (sustain 55%) before overdrive and amp (seems to fatten the tone even if it's not turned on), 4) I use a tube comp with 100% threshold and output at 12 placed after the red comp and before overdrive and amp to serve as a volume boost (it seems to keep the tone fat and makes it sound more alive), 5) I use 2 tape echo delays after the amp in stereo - one at 25ms and the other at 50ms, both with 0 repeats and 50% mix (this adds thickness to any patch whether it's gain or clean), 6) lowering the guitar tone knob and volume knob a little can help increase fattness.

I mic a fender blues jr tube amp which also serves as my monitor. 15w is plenty loud for the venue I play in which is a decent sized movie theater. I try to get as close as possible with dialing in patches at home through the amp and then tweak at the theater. I also request flat settings for my channel on the mixer which gives me eq control via the pod and amp. With the pod, I've learned to go with whatever sounds good even if it seems to break the rules. As such, even though I'm going out to a real amp I use the full amp fender deluxe model in the pod in studio/direct mode. My patches are set to Guitar and Same which isn't too noisy for me. I have humbuckers and use a noise gate and try not to over use gain. On the front of the pod I use the amp and pad settings. I hope that helps.

DeanDinosaur - no, nothing else is connected.

phil_m - the blues jr sounds fine stand alone and when it's the only thing hooked up to the pod so maybe it's not the tubes. What still bothers me is that when both amps were plugged into the hum eliminator I still got the hum problem. It was only when I ran just the blues jr through the hum eliminator that the problem went away. My concern is that if I want to run 2 blues jrs that I'll have to buy a 2nd hum eliminator. Ideally 1 would have solved the problem. Thanks for the input.

Thanks toneman2121 - is there a way to check that without opening up the amp?

Update: the issue is my fender blues jr 15w tube amp, which is only 1 year old and works fine otherwise. Without the blues jr, both output jacks work fine. The only set up that works is putting a Hum Eliminator in between the blues jr and the pod and then running the other amp straight into the pod. Any thoughts on why the blues jr is doing this and how to fix it?

Guys, to clarify I have 1/4 Out on the POD set to Amp and Guitar In set to Pad. All of my patches start with a noise gate. I don't have any noise issues running one real amp. When I connect two real amps I get a loud hiss (or hum) from both amps. I've ordered the Hum Eliminator and hopefully that will solve the problem. A buddy said I should get an isolation transformer and I believe the Hum Eliminator does this. Thanks guys.

I'm trying to use both 1/4 inch output jacks on the HD500 to run 2 real amps but am getting loud hiss from both amps. I'm using the same power outlet for everything. Also got hiss with the combination of 1 real amp and going directly into a sound system (tried both the 1/4 and xlr). Problem occurs in different locations and using different power outlets. I'm using studio/direct output and the full amp model of the Blackface deluxe but don't think that's the problem. An ebtech Hum X did not solve the problem. Any suggestions? Do I need an ABY box?