alphadog808

I haven't tried the epsi through a full cab. I started with the hd500 through a blues jr(no effects loop) with a cannibus rex speaker. Then I moved to an alto 1x12. It was better-I didn't have to make patches for the amp and one for my headphones/jamhub. Then I added the epsi. I can only say that when playing through the alto, the difference because of the epsi is still there. Things sound much tighter, punchier, and more authentic; just..better. I haven't tried the redwirez or any other IRs other than the ownhammers. I heard good things about them so I decided to start there. Just within the ownhammer stuff, there are a ton of good/different IRs, some more subtle than others. It just depends what you want; as it stands, I go back and forth between certain IRs, just depends how I feel, I guess. I have only scratched the surface on those, I have only messed with the mixes, not the mic versions. It can be easy to get bogged down and lost in the IR stuff if you let it. As for why I chose the preamps, for myself, I noticed that things just sounded better that way(to me); the IRs have the power section included, so I assumed that was right. To be honest, once I got the epsi, I didn't mess around too much between the preamp and regular models. IIRC, the regular amp and the epsi stuff on together felt like it was almost too much. For Joel's patch, he had a preamp version, so I just went with that. I'm still a n00b to the hd500 and modeling, so I'm sure my patches could be better, but it's nice that I don't always feel like something is missing or sounds wrong. I'm finally playing more than tweaking, so that is nice!

Sorry to those that might have seen my earlier post about 15 minutes ago, come to find out I made a mistake in the recording...both tracks were with the epsi! I was wondering why things sounded so similar in the recording but so different when I was playing. :lol: Anyways...here is the REAL tracks. Read the details in soundcloud if you are interested, but in a nutshell, both patches are the same, the only thing I did was use the epsi or the line6 cabs. I had to bring the loop send down -10db as the epsi was clipping and brought the return up +10db. Joel's patch NO epsi...Line6's XXL cab IR. https://soundcloud.com/alphadog808/joel-no-epsi Joel's patch with epsi...ownhammer celestion silver IR. https://soundcloud.com/alphadog808/joel-epsi Hope it helps!

Joel, One thing I forgot to mention was that before the epsi I was NOT using the preamp models. After the epsi, I changed to the preamp models, I'm sure that made a diff. Also, instead of studio direct, I now use stack front. Rafgys turned me onto that. I don't think it made too much of a difference tho, my old patches still sounded bad with the stack front settings. If you send me one of your patches and I have time, I can quickly record your patch and then turn off the cab and turn on the epsi. It might not be a great test as I won't touch any of your settings, but you'll get an idea...?

Well, it's been about a week, and I was able to get the epsi to work in the loop; I had it after the hd500 previously. I found out that the epsi tends to clip pretty easy, so I lowered the send(epsi input) and cranked up the return(signal back to the hd500) and it sounds great. At some point I should try to make some clips to convey the difference, but at the same time tone is a personal preference, so what I like you might not and vice versa. As a general review, if you had any problems dialing in a tone due to fizziness, etc, the epsi(and ownhammer IRs-all I tried) will fix that immediately. What I noticed is what took me hours of tweaking and adding EQs is now unnecessary. Things just come together faster, imho. I have since removed all my EQs from my chain and it sounds better than it did before. I revisited some of my old patches that went right to my PA the other day and noticed that they sounded *terrible* next to the epsi. Very thin and lots of fizz. I didn't think my original patches sounded too bad at the time, but now, side by side, it's hard to believe I thought those patches were ok/good. Just my mini review of the epsi, I'm pretty sure any HDx00 user would consider it a tone upgrade. EDIT...I made 3 quick clips to show my point. Sorry the gain is so high, but that is the patch I was working with. Please read the descriptions in the link to get more info. 1) My original JCm800 patch before I had an epsi. https://soundcloud.com/alphadog808/original-jcm800-patchno-epsi 2) My JCM800 patch with epsi in the effects loop. https://soundcloud.com/alphadog808/jcm800-patch-with-epsi-on 3) For kicks, my JCM800 EPSI patch, but with EPSI off. Just to show that the Epsi does alot. https://soundcloud.com/alphadog808/jcm800-patch-epsi-patch-with-epsi-off Hope it helps!

Hey guys, So I just got an epsi the other day to use with my hd500, but was wondering if I could get some feedback from other users who have the same set up. Do you guys put your epsi in the effects loop or after the hd500? I have it in my loop at the moment, but I notice that the signal chain is more susceptible to clipping(not the good one). The other "bad" thing is it takes up another resource slot for the effects loop. It seems easier to have the epsi at the end, but I wasn't sure what was most recommended. For those that have the epsi after the hd500, how are you feeding your signal to the house? DIbox? I was thinking a 1/4" to XLR cable would be more than enough signal to pass to the FOH, but I wasn't sure as I'm new to this. Thanks in advance for the help!

Just a quick update, I got the EPSI yesterday afternoon and was able to spend a couple hours with it. I'm using ownhammer patches; it's early but I can say that there seems to be a significant difference, in a good way. Right off the bat, there is alot, and I mean alot less/no fizz around the notes. That was instantly noticable. To a layperson like myself, it's almost like the ownhammer stuff adds alot of mids(in a good way) without giving it the blanket over the amp feel. The only bad thing is there are so many IRs to choose from, it just adds to the complexity of the system.

Hey R, Thanks so much for all the clips, they do sound pretty nice! I do seem to notice a bit less/no fizz...possibly due to the epsi? Not sure. I swear I heard alot of it on my hd500... To be honest tho, without a base(HD500 cabs) to go against, it's kind of hard to tell if they are better, or at least how much. At any rate, they do sound good! Do you remember how high the master and gain was set on your JCM800? When I turn the master and gain up on mine, it sounds...terrible...the only way to make it usable is with the mid eq.

Rafgys, I was looking into this as well, got any clips? I've heard conflicting information that it's great and that it's really not worth it. Clips would maybe clear that up? In fact, I think there were so many epsi returns that logidy issued a statement saying that their product was NOT made for the line6 HD stuff...or something to that effect.

Yah, I figured as much...was just hoping there was a way I could "fake" it to get that huge sound. Thanks!

Hi guys, Hoping that someone can shed some light on this. Note, I'm new to this whole stereo stuff...but I was able to get some incredible sound/tone by adding a stereo delay right after the amp, like this. It just makes the patch sound so huge, I'm glad I tried it. I found out about that via Glenn's patches. Anyways, I also have some patches where I have mono pedal/s after the amp, like this... I read that the signal is summed when you hit a mono device...BUT, is there any other way to get that stereo delay sound when you have mono pedals that far down stream? BTW, don't ask me why I have the screamers after the amp, I didn't the tone before the amp, go figure. Just hoping there is some type of workaround for this? Thanks in advance!

Hey guys, I have a Fender Blues Jr and a HD500. I'd like to put the HD in the effects loop of the blues jr, but unfortunately, there isn't one built in. However, there is a reverb tank and I have read that people have speculated using the reverb in/out as an effects loop. However, I hear that the impedance doesn't match, so that might not be a good solution. With that being said, would a impedance mismatch possibly break the amp and/or the HD500? I suspect not, but I figure I'd check before really trying. I did hook up my guitar to the reverb out for a short time and it did work. I could hear stuff and the volume was controlled by the reverb knob(which is a good thing). I just want to make sure that doing this is electronically safe before hooking up and going loud, ya know? I would only plan on using the reverb out with the HD500...basically to just bypass the preamp. I also saw there is a line or amp switch on the HD, I figure those change the impedance, maybe one of those settings might help match the impedance better?