Palico

+1. I was almost onboard but with DT function almost like any other amp then it would not be worth the price to me. If it gets added down the road then I'll be intrested. Glad I followed the forum FAQs on this. Maybe there is DT replacment coming down the pipe too?

On the Expression pedals, will the Mission Engineer pedals for L6 work with it? Or will it use new ones?

hmmm might have to try one. But at that price point, it would not be given go ahead like I did on the HD, have to look at compeation capablities in similar price range. No body was comparable in the price point for the HD. And I just got my HD expansion packs setup nicely! Almost wish they had not come out with them if a knew POD was in play. Maybe different division in the company worked independantly but seems like a quick money grab on the expansion packs now.

Except the price tag! Ouch. Looks really good though.

Any recommdataions? I use guitar pro 6 for practicing as it slows down the tab but it's a tab based one that you have get the tab for. I've never really been one to try it this way by ear. I usually start with the tab and once I get the tab version down pretty good move on a play along with youtube version of song and find out where the tab is incorrect and adjust. Trying to track solely against the original audio would be good skill to add to my resume. This is great time to learn guitar with all the tools @ our disposal these days.

+1. For online content I would recommend checking out JamPlay.com. It's not free but pretty cheap. I'm on there and love it. It's not a good as real instructor but they have a ton of content (at various levels and sytles) and interactive lessons (many player in same video chat with instructors) that many people like. I understand some of the other "JustinGuitar" comes up alot are pretty good as well.

Practicing the same things over and over rarely produce results for me. I have to mix it up. Some days I will got to completey differnet sytles of music, even ones I have not intention of performing live. Why just to change it up. Years ago I was lucky enough to catch a question and answer question with Steve Morse at local guitar store thing. Most people asked about gear or then industry, but the question I asked was simple "How do you get out of rut in your playing?". His answer hit me a profound way, even thought it was stupid simple. "Play something else, go in a different direction than what you have been doing." Simple but true. If you in a ditch you can continue down the ditch or step out of it. But you contine on the same line you will stay in the ditch. So play something else. I also found working with other syle helps me define my own style. Becuase I can't help but to start incorparting little things from those style into my playing. Another thing is to think about what is your practicing. What is your goal in practicing? Is to sit down and have some fun playing? If so great do that. You might not get leaps and bounds better that way but if your goal is have fun and you have fun practicing then great. If you goal is specific techniques then you must find ways to work on them. For many that is various exersises. These approach rarely works for me. I find songs, passages of songs, or make up ones that can use the technique I want to work on. Having something more musical just works better for me. Some may thing goal setting for practice is overkill or only for those who are uber dedicated. I disagree, your long term goal may not be to the professional and that is fine, but most everyone wants to be better. And I agree, sometimes a break from it actually improves you. I'm not talking a long break but take a day or two off and don't play guitar for those days. Then when you return somethings have had time to sink into your brain. And sometimes when I return to the guitar, my playing sounds better. My theory is that, I'm really not a better, but I had become so critial of myself while practicing that I had not really noticed what I had accomplished. That SHORT break allows me really hear where I am at better, not to meantion ear fatiuge which most guitarist discount. But your ear gets tired over time and you don't hear as clearly. That's is also why on these modeling devices after hours of tweaking, you can return to patch the next day and for some reason it sounds like crap. Becuase you set up the patch while you ear was fatigured and now it's not. Hopefully my rambling assisted.

+1. I generally use the "Pre" models on the HD but I've got outstanding results from the "BlackPanel Pete" which is full model. You just have to work the EQ knobs a bit more than the "pre" ones.

Pictured with a Variax but quotes using a '96 Voodoo Strat. but does say using a Spider Valve HD100.

89F. I found exactly the same thing. The 2.0 and up "HD" models to sound thin and quacky. Tried everything under the sun to bring it under control. Finally rolled back to 1.9 and bam they sounded much much better. Can't use Workbench HD with the 1.9 version but you can use the old workbench with it. The old workbench is not as advanced, can't set the alternate tuning knobs with it. But you can set model tuning etc... with it.

+1. The DT shine IMO because of the real tubes and switable power amp section that can give you a real Class A or A/B etc... sections. For electric guitar tones it is outstanding. But I agree with radatas if you wanted to use a acoustic tones as much as electric then the FRFR solution would likely suit you better. And you can get some great tube tones with the FRFR solutions too, but I still think they are missing something when I used FRFR solutions.

+1 I read Dan Erelwines books (great reads) and learned a lot about the process and thought I knew what i was doing. Then I took my guitar to a Luthier with lots of experience for some work I was having a hard time with. Now my JTV and my old Variax 500 both play like a dream. I asked him about it and got a very similar response as you. Every gutiar is as different and every player, glad you like the setup. He gets all my guitar work now and I pay him with smile on my face.

Yea, JTV89 -> HD500(x)->DT25 combo. Honestly on the BlackPanelPetem, I just adjust the EQ on the amp itself a bit. Most of the time on the HD ones I use the "Pre" version. But you can use the full version without too much trouble they just tend to be a bit dark to my ears. IMO, the BlackPanelPete sounds more like what I expect a good Black Panel to sound like than the HD one. I know his was heavly modified, so likely just my expectation but this model makes me happy. My patch this one Soul Food overdrive(actual pedal POD effects loop), just spin the knobs and turn on when I want a some dirt. BlackPanel Amp block Opti tremolo, turned off mostly just for one song I need it on. Analog Delay, set with low mix kind of a slap back delay but not much of it. Room 'verb, just a touch so it's not sooo dry sounding.

I really don't think it's the Piezos so much, I think it's the new Variax HD, particular over a DT amp. Over headphone on full models it's not as noticable. And they are "Quacky" but not horrible. It's workable, but I've been sticking to the Mag much more often except for when need an alternate tuning or an Acoustic model.

Got the full pack just becuase I occasionally need the bass amps for recording some bass lines. I have not tired the bass amps yet. The 5150 is a staple on my Dream rig now. It's a bit of grindy type of gain tone but the note defition is outstanding. The BlackPanel Pete (which is older throw in not HD) is favorite of mine now as well. The AC Fawn and Orange I haven't used much yet but the bit I've played around with them I really like them.

I would say this tread so far would incidicate the older crowd! but then again that also depends on how what the average age of those that monitor the forum too, lots of L6 gear out there and people never hit any forum.

I run a HD500(x) with the L6 link to a DT25 combo. It's a great and very verstile little rig. The advantage is obvously the versitiility and I think the tube in the DT series completes the modeling on the POD HD to make it outstanding sounding system. As for drawback the biggest seems to be realibility. I have had no problems at all on mine. But if that Orange gives out on you, then you can likely find someone to work on it. Even if it's out of warrenty and there is no local "Orange" certififed shops close by, there is still likely someone good around that knows enough to fix it up. With the L6 gear there isn't a lot of shops around that know how to work on them. And from reading the forums It seesm even most of the "certified" shops don't really know either. So your odds of having any issues is pretty small risk and it's outstanding sounding amp but if you do it might be difficult to get fixed.

+1 89F the modeling is really quackly sounding and can be thin. I've been thinking of going back to 1.9 firmware as the models just sounded thicker there. Hate to lose the HD but seems there is no solution, I keep watching these threads in case anyone finds something but nothing so far seems to help much. I love my 89f on the mag side thought otherwise I would have ditch the guitar.

That totaly depends on his usage of the pedal. I use mine to control the volume between patch and I used it a lot to mix the levels. The main problem is the plunger that moves the pot, is not secure. The top doesn't compeletly go over where it attaches the pedal, too much pressure it comes right off, then doesn't work. You can take the bottom off and re-attached without a problem. He might not be as rough or use it same way, I can't tell what he's got it hooked up to. So in some situations it might be useable. But It's not ready to bang around local dives they way I do.

+1 on the two above. I started with the EX-1 but it broke twice on me due to the cheap construction. Both times were the same thing and easly fixed after taking it apart. It works okay for a volume pedal but it's not stage worthy. To replace it I got the EP1-L6 which is very solid and nice pedal but the throw feels completely wrong for using as a volume pedal. I just swtich my patches to put the volume to the on board and using the EP1-L6 for Wah or other settings.

The neck gotta be custom, the headstock doesn't match the 89f, plus the handwritten "Variax" on the headstock.

To clarify what the alternate turning does is take the incomming sound and adjust it by an amount (up or down). It doesn't care or know what the incomming tuning is. So normal "Standard" setting on the knob apply a movement of 0 across all six strings. The drop D apply 1 step down (on the low E) from the incomming signal and then 0 across the rest. So the gutiar 1/2 down manual strings are Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb. the drop D setting will produce Db Ab Db Gb Bb Eb

It will be Drop Db, just like you manually did a drop D on 1/2 down tuned guitar. Of course you could hook up to workbench and create a custom tuning that would really be drop D.

Yep half steped tuned all the time on my 89f, no problems (of course after setting the floyd itself properly for 1/2 tuning). The Ghost note thing is really really strange, I've had it and then it pretty much disappeared and I have not idea what I did differenly. If it occurs it is a bit more pronounced when you are half step tuned thought. And yea the tuning changes are all realative to what the string report to the Variax. So if you half step tuned say a the Drop B tuning setting in reality will be Drop Bb tuning.

I've often wondered if that is the "Plinky" type of sound I hear on the Variax side. I put a muffle on the headstock which made no difference but with the locking nut on the 89F, it makes sense you wouldn't gett anything from there. I can't think of way to muffle behind the peizo itself on Floyd thought. hmmm maybe on restring I could stick some paper or something to muffle it right behind the peizo just to see what affect it has. Might have to try that.