Hey guys, I'm new here after seeing a video about the hd500 and been really looking into Line 6 as a whole and the Variax, after originally looking at the Fender/Roland guitar. So I'm really thinking about joining the club.
But for now, it's the HD500 that has me salivating, but I have a few questions that I haven't seen necessarily addressed after watching lollipop tons of videos and pouring over these forums.
I just purchased an EVH 5150 iii full half stack (sorry, no guitar center I walked into had any Line 6 heads for me to try, just the combo amps). Now I'm looking at getting some effects to accompany that sweet amp. My purist friends all have their multitude of foot pedals and their mess of patch cables and spaghetti to accompany it. However I see the HD500 and am thinking, why spend all the money to buy 5 or so pedals when I could get the HD500 with 100 effects for the same price? Their answer, I just like the pedals. Old dogs. Even though I won't be using all 100, I have the option in a great sturdy looking design, I like that.
1. First let me say, at this time, I have no interest in the amp modeling. I am only interested in the effects side of things with the HD500. Not to say its not something down the road I wouldn't have fun with, but for now, just the effects ma'am. So my question is, how do the effects sounds? How is the wah? Delay? Chorus? Etc? Do they sounds as good as if a had a cry baby or standalone stomp box pedals? It's my main reason for purchasing this, so as the saying actually goes, the proof isn't in the pudding, it's in the eating, so how does it taste?
2. Software - the other thing making me hold off purchasing was the software display. I was surprised that such a cutting edge company making cutting edge products would include a display reminiscent of a Casio keyboard circa 1987. I understand keeping costs down, etc, but it seems like in this day of iPads and iPhones that making the best intuitive easy to use controls would make this product something nobody else has. Then I saw that you could control your pod from your desktop computer. Awesome, that seems like the way to go for me. Question is, are their plans, or if their are they wouldn't announce it yet, to make a mobile iOS version for ipad to control and edit the HD500? That would be ideal.
3. Comparison Products - what other products, in the same class, would you recommend I look at? I've done some research myself, and in this price class, I didn't see anything that impressed me nearly as well as Line 6. Boss seemed to be the only near comparison, but by near, they looked to be a few years behind.
4. Are the products supported after new models? For instance the 500x just came out, so the 500 is $100 cheaper. Will I make a mistake getting the 500? Will new firmware or software updates not be applied to the older models (for a reasonable amount of time, I understand I can't run iOS7 on an iPhone 3.)
Thanks. Looking forward to getting this and maybe a Variax as well if I can ever find a guitar center that carries one. How can I be expected to order a guitar or amp without ever playing it? GC says order it and you have 14 days to return it. Sounds like a hassle just to try a guitar.
Thanks
Shamus Cockhorse
