cruisinon2

Yes...heel dimensions are spot-on. Bolt holes are the only issue. They will ream out any size tuner holes you want. When you're choosing all the various options, there's a drop-down menu with manufacturer-specific hole sizes to choose from (fwiw, I wasn't in love with the stock tuners, so I went with Planet Waves auto-trims for the convenience factor...well worth the money, imho). Even if you're buying an "in-stock" neck that's already made, most of them are pre-drilled with the smallest option, and they can always go just a little bigger if need be. EDIT: Was just checking out the site...they have a few nice options in stock (which are always cheaper than having them build you one from scratch). This one is very similar to what I got...and about $50 less than I paid. I'd grab it if I were in the market for another one...it's a good price. They make top-notch stuff. http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?Body=1&Spotlight=1&Path=Spotlight&i=VMS9288#.VYrEHUYiaAY

The 69's neck profile is not exactly what I'd call "thin"...and the nut width is absurdly narrow. Depending on what you're used to, the neck on the 89 might suit you better.

Warmoth will solve all your ills. You won't be sorry.

Not really sure what you're driving at. Like I said...it was just an example. If you prefer, I can change it to George Benson, Yngwie, or Jake E. Lee. I could have used any name to illustrate the same point.

It has nothing to do with quality...or even usability. It's a question of whether or not a patch will sound anywhere close to what the creator was trying to achieve when I get my hands on it...with a different guitar, different amp (or headphones), played in a different room, etc etc. The list of variables is endless. The result is that it's difficult to search for anything specific, because the end result is wildly unpredictable. I've downloaded hundreds of patches...I actually use a grand total of one that I found. It just isn't worth the investment in time. Any given patch on Customtone may be usable, spectacular even... in the hands, and on the rig of whomever created it. But after my 783rd attempt to use what someone swore was a great "Eric Johnson Lead" tone (just an example...) that turned out to sound like Green Day because it wasn't my guitar, my amp, etc etc...I gave up and did it myself. One could get lucky and accidentally stumble upon tonal nirvana, I suppose...but I just don't have the time, ymmv.

This has to be setting some kind of record, lol...lobbying for changes/updates to a product that hasn't even shipped yet.

I don't wanna rain on your parade, but it wouldn't matter if you found a master reservoir of patches crafted by the Almighty himself...a drag-and-drop tone solution does not exist for these things. Believe me...I tried. All I got for my efforts was a headache and a lot of lost time. Just too many variables to expect to find anything useful...it'll never sound the same on your end as it did to the guy who swears it's the best Slash tone ever. I learned very early on that time is far better spent starting from scratch. You will get the sounds you want quicker in the long run if you do it yourself...not to mention really gaining an understanding of how the unit behaves.

It was a Thursday...the moon was full, and a brisk 58 degrees.... :P Seriously though...I don't think there's any way for the consumer to tell just from the serial number. I think the JTVs are the only thing that has the manufacturing date built into the number itself.

I'm sure the exhibit was interesting...but this thing is about as useful as a seatbelt on a park bench. :P

Most 500X users around here are quite satisfied with their units, myself included...but if what you saw as the X3's shortcomings are still weighing that heavily on your mind, odds are pretty good that you'll be frustrated by the 500X right out of the box. There's not a whole lot of instant gratification with this thing...none, truth be told. My initial impression was "I've just wasted $500"... Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time getting the sound you're after. It's definitely doable, just takes a while.

Yeah...there are a few companies out there making more "guitar amp looking" FRFR cabs and powered speakers, but they all cost a bloody fortune...more $$ than the Stagesource stuff. I was a little put off by the appearance of the L2T initially, but I've made my peace with it. Since I'm using it as a monitor and running the POD out to the PA, nobody's looking at it anyway unless they're staring at my shoes...in which case I would likely have bigger problems than what the amp looks like. ;)

Everything will to a greater or lesser extent...though FRFR should be more transparent than a traditional guitar rig. But like anything else, not all FRFR speakers are created equal. You can always expect some subtle differences from one speaker to another, and some tweaeking is inevitable. Lots of good options out there. I love my L2T, but they're pricey...and with the advent of the POD's global EQ which does not function via L6 Link, it makes the Stagesource line a little less versatile if you're only using one as a monitor or backline, as you cannot switch between the various modes from the POD when connected via 1/4" cable. Had I known that ahead of time, I likely would have gone with a less costly option...that said, it does sound great.

I'm sure I'll like the Helix. I get good tones from the 500X, so I'm relatively certain I could get good tones from the Helix. I'd by lying if I said I didn't at least want a test drive... But what does a "3-5% improvement" mean? Or a 30-50% improvement? What units are we measuring in? (I say we call them 'Eric Johnsons'...this amp is 3.147159 EJ's better than that one ;) ). You can't quantify subjectivity. It will be just like everything else. Group A will declare Helix to be the best thing since indoor plumbing, while Group B will say they can't hear enough of a difference to justify the price jump from the POD HD...at which point Group A will tell Group B that their ears suck...and there will be weeping, and the gnashing of teeth, lol. This cheeseburger is 5% better than that one...why? More cheese? Was one prepared by a vestal virgin? Some guys like Coors Light...I'd rather die of thirst. Yes, each generation of modeling improves upon previous iterations...but trying to hang a number on the finished product is utterly meaningless. Maybe its just me...

I will forever be mystified by anyone who can keep strings on a guitar for more than a couple of weeks. Unless you live in a desert, even unplayed strings will corrode just sitting there (for proof, I refer you to whatever is hanging on the wall at Any Music Store, USA). Months are unfathomable to me, let alone years. And even if by some miracle they're not rusting out from under your fingers, if you run your hand underneath the strings, and you can feel the indentation from each fret, they gotta go...tuning stability is far from infinite, to say nothing of tone. That said, there's nothing exotic about changing strings on a JTV. If you're sticking to the same gauge, nothing should change much. Going to heavier or lighter strings will require a set-up.

This is not a prison movie... :P

I've been using AKG 240S cans with the POD since I got it...think they're rated at 55 ohms. $99 pretty much everywhere. Nothing bursts into flames, no plagues of locusts, and I haven't noticed any more than the usual number of demons and gargoyles circling overhead. ;)

Just beware of the potential consequences of such an awsome undertaking. You may want to consider an earthquake retro-fit on the house, and some extra flood insurance first. I understand Allstate has a new unmbrella policy that covers being smited by the Almighty for "failure to seek out an authorized service center". :P

Amen... Lunch, then? For 1500 bucks, we should at least get a sandwich with it... :P

Buy him in-ear monitors for his birthday, keep telling him he sounds great, and then just turn him down in the mix when he's not looking...he'll never know the difference. :P

Fair enough...either way, something ain't right, lol.

It's obviously not the volume pot itself that's faulty, otherwise it likely wouldn't work with the models either. Problem is further up the chain somewhere. Re-flashing the firmware is worth a try...it certainly won't make it any worse, but I suspect it won't help much either. Likely a physical connection issue somewhere.

Imho, for your stated goals, this is not the unit for you. Plug-and-play it is NOT. There's a step learning curve, even for the tech-savvy. And having no FX loop will introduce another layer of problems, as all of your patches will be altered by the amp's tone stack. Then there's the problem with other people's downloaded patches. Don't expect them to sound anything like what they're supposed to, because 98% of them won't. There are simply to many variables involved to expect drag-and-drop tones to sound the same on two different rigs, with different guitars, etc. You might look something like the Amplifi...same price range, and designed a bit more for plug-and-play use...although you will still be stuck with the app/Bluetooth interface for editing.

Yes, a PA speaker will work, but not all of them are powered. As far as problems, anything can be...but generally speaking, a solid state powered speaker should give you greater consistency and certainly less routine maintenance in the long run than a tube power amp, or combo guitar amp. No tubes to replace/re-bias, etc...ymmv

They always are... Although I have to say, the tones in that video didn't do anything for me, and I would have no use for them...however, to conclude that the unit is worthless based on one guy's 3 minutes of noodling, is rather stupid. I've seen videos with some nasty tones coming from the POD that I wouldn't want to use either...didn't stop me from buying one.

1) There needs to be power somewhere...so "directly to speakers" only works those that have thier own on-board power. The various FRFR PA or monitor options out there fit into this category. Otherwise you need either a power amp/cab rig (or a head that you can slave with a cabinet), or a combo (preferably with an effects loop to bypass the amp's pre-amp section). 2) "Better" is entirely subjective. Good, usable tones are achievable either way. I've done both...currently prefer the L2T, not only for the flexibility with the POD and JTV, but for the convenience...my spine isn't 25 years old anymore. 3) Yes...no matter what rig you choose, every component will affect the sound. Tweaking to the rig and the room is unavoidable.