davidb7170

I saw your video -- If you have your amp in bridged mode and have not rewired your speakon cable connector on the amp end to 1+/2+ on the channel 1 output, you will get no output. Try this as a test: take your XLS1000 out of bridged mode to stereo mode, turn your input gain knob on the front of the amp all the way up, take your main volume knob on the XLS down to zero and slowly bring it up -- if you have sound in that mode, your speakon cable at the amp end is wired 1+/1-. If you want to run bridged (I do with mine) you'll need to get your amp end speakon connect re-wired to 1+/2+ before you'll get any output. Also -- what is the speaker Ohm rating? 4, 8, or 16 Ohms? I replied recently in response to the same question, different post -- was that your post? As far as the pod front settings, they are not of concern to this problem, as long as you have signal going through your pod -- make sure with headphones... Dave

I voted yes, as I have the 59 Tobacco Sunburst and the 69S Shoreline Gold. I got the 59 first when they just came out (got it after ~8 months of waiting, finally May 2011) and went through the switch problem, but was treated very well in the process, then had a bridge plating and piezo grounding problem later that summer. It all was sorted out and has been a champ ever since. I shied away from the 69 initially, as I don't care for the super strat HSS layout, but when they released the 69S with SSS pickups, I jumped - fall 2012, when they were having their Dream Rig promotion, so I got it for $200 less than now. I did not have any of the neck problems as noted initially with the 69's. I've been a Fender and Strat guy for many years, and it just feels right to me. In the last few years, I got into the HB LP style, including my 59, so had kind of gotten used to the relative silence of those. Since I use my physical pickups on the JTV's about 80 or 90% of the time, I changed out the 69S's single coils with a set of DiMarzio noiseless strat style pickups, the Paul Gilbert set, I believe. I was amazed at how quiet they are for hum. I had no problem with the tonality of the 69S's original PU's, just the single coil hum. I will probably change out my Strat's single coils with the same set, I like 'em so much. Lately, I find myself playing the 69S more than the 59. I always take both to the gigs -- one as backup. I also picked up an HD500X, and have my HD500 as backup, I carry a spare Class D 150Watt Crate amp head also. I've had equipment fail on me at a gig, and do not like the prospect. I'm an engineer, and I believe in contingency planning.... My 2 cents... Dave

I've been using the Crown XLS1000 for about a year and a half with my HD500 and 500X with good success. You definitely have to run out the 1/4" outputs in LINE level, not AMP level. ALSO, your speaker load (your Marshall 4x12 cab) needs to be in the 2 to 8 Ohm range, but the typical 4x12 cab is usually 8 or 16 Ohms. If you're using 1 channel of the XLS1000 you will get different Watt output at different Ohm loads -- at 8 Ohms you'll get 215 Watts, 4 Ohms - 350 Watts, 2 Ohms - 550 Watts. In Bridged mode (you need to rewire your speakon connector) you'll get 8 Ohms - 700 Watts, 4 Ohms - 1100 Watts, 2 Ohms - not applicable in bridged mode. This is per their specs. Note they do not mention 16 Ohms at all, so it's not recommended. Depending on your 4x12 cab, if it's 16 Ohms, it's probably got four 16 Ohm speakers -- 2 in series, in parallel with the other 2 in series. If it's 8, you'll have the same arrangement with four 8 Ohm speakers. If you can split your speakers into a stereo pairing, you'll have one series pair per side -- either 32 Ohms (2 - 16 Ohm speakers in series) or 16 Ohms (2 - 8 Ohms in series).... I run floor monitor wedges with "full range" 8 Ohm Eminence Beta 12LTA speaker (225 Watt rating). I run mono bridged, so with one, the max power output is 700 Watts into a 225 Watt speaker -- I do not push the amp too hard. When I play a large venue, or an outside gig, I take both speaker wedges and run them in parallel for 4 Ohms and 1100 Watts into 450 Watt (total rating) speaker pair. Again, not pushing the amp too hard, but speakers can take twice their rating for some time. One thing I've found is that a solid state PA amp like this states their output rating as their maximum value -- by the time you hit that level, the amp is starting to clip, so I always use my rule of thumb of expecting about half the amp rating. I think tube amps are rated so that their power levels are more conservative, and they don't clip like a digital amp like this one, they edge into distortion more smoothly. In our case with the PODHD's we're using the modelling for that effect. I was initially using an 8 Ohm speaker on one channel of the XLS1000 (getting a theoretical 215 Watts), but it didn't seem to have enough balls, so I actually pushed the amp too hard and it went into thermal shut down for a second or 2. That's when I decided to run it mono bridged. Now I have 700 Watts, theoretical, but is more like 300 or so, and it has plenty of guts for an inside bar gig, and I don't have to push it hard at all. I've never hear its cooling fan come on, that I'm aware of. Sorry for the long answer, but the gist is set your POD to LINE out, and get your speaker Ohm load in the right range. Dave

I have the 59 and a 69S, and do hear slight differences in the modeled selections between the 2 -- both on the latest firmware. I also noticed it on prior firmware versions. I even saved any changes I did with the HD Workbench to both guitars. I also believe the physics of the body shape, materials - ash versus mahogany, string scale, and neck style (bolted versus set) will contribute differently even to the modeling. To me, the humbucker based models seem more "real" on the 59, and the "Fender" based models sound more real on the 69S. Not a huge difference, but it's there...Doesn't bug me, though. I tend to use the physical pickups a lot more than the models. Dave

This is the what I sent to line6lcasey: The audio isolation transformer is a Triad Magnetics TY-141P I got from Allied Electronics: http://www.alliedele...px?SKU=70218235 I used a plastic project box from Radio Shack, I think (don't remember which one). It's 3.5" x 2" X 1.5". It had a prototyping circuit board inside. Then you'll need two 1/4" mono guitar jacks, pretty simple, really. I'm attaching a schematic and some pic's (if this editor will allow it -- seems a bit flakey today... The thing that's strange about your description is that you're using a laptop computer -- apparently plugged into power... You may have a ground loop, but shouldn't. Have you tried using your laptop on battery (not plugged in to external power)? You absolutely wouldn't have a ground loop in that case, but if you try and still do, an isolation transformer won't help that... I'm curious if going on battery helps. If it does, then the isolation transformer will help when your laptop is plugged in... Dave

I haven using the Hercules tri-stand version for about 8 years, and it has really been good to use. I used to take 3 guitars Variax 300, LP, and Ovation A/E and needed all 3, but now I take my 2 JTV's - 59 & 69S, but still use the tri stand - just used to it.... Folds up nice in my gear bag, doesn't take as much floor space as 2 separate stands, etc. Nice & stable. The other guitarist in the band has a Hercules bi-stand, but it takes up about the same space as my tri. Dave

There is no settable calibration of the external expression pedal on the HD500 or 500X, or any of the L6 units that use external pedals.. I just purchased the Mission Engineering EP1-L6 expression pedal, so am just getting into messing with it. It is basically a pedal-operated 10kOhm potentiometer. it has a rack & pinion type mechanical gear connection like my old volume or wah pedals from years ago. If yours is similar, you may be able to go heel down (open up the action of the pedal) and disengage the pedal ratchet a little from the rotating pot shaft, and rotate it a few gear teeth positions one way or the other so that it's travel is slightly one way or the other from where it's at now. It might help you get it into the range you want. Dave

Quick note -- The HD500 with the current firmware remembers the state of mags or model being active when the patch was saved. I set mine up for my mag/amp patches to switch to mags by saving the patch with the mags on. For the ones with a specific guitar model/amp I set force model, and am sure to save the patch with the model active. Even on the ones where I don't force the specific guitar model, but want the models active, I save the patch with the model active. Then when I hit that patch, the HD500 remembers the saved state of the guitar (mags or models) with the patch and brings it up in that state. Save the patch with your model on.... Dave

While this IS funny (had to laugh!!), I hope the OP didn't take you seriously.... It was funny, though... :lol: Dave

I've also noticed this, but it hasn't been a big issue with me. I keep my model knob on my favorite model position, and when I have a HD500X preset switch my JTV to another model, then go back to a "don't force" patch (I use my mags 90% of the time), and want to use a model, I just flick my 5-way on my 69S or the 3-way switch on my 59, and the model returns to the selector-switched model. Just a flick and I'm back where I need to be.... Either that or make the HD500X force the model -- pick a "home base" HD500X patch that's your go to, and switch to it on the way to your next patch... I don't consider it a bug, just how it works and make it work for me.... Just some ideas. YMMV Dave

I have two JTV's that I consider to be completely working -- a 59 since May 2011, and a 69S since October 2012. I had some initial issues with the 59 -- 3-way switch issue and later, a piezo issue that Line 6 stepped up and fixed in both cases. No complaints about them, and they are both my "go to" guitars. I make limited use of the alternate tuning -- only for down tunings, drop-d etc. On raised tunings, I use a capo - been doing for many years, just a habit. Dave

I've been chasing this one for some time as well -- I was going into the return on my guitar amp, and was using a guitar speaker cab (actually a floor monitor wedge I refit with the speaker of my choice), but he FOH sounded bad when I got my stage tone good, I like using the modeled amps and speakers, but when I would set the studio/direct mode and tweaked the tones I found I could sound good in one or other of the stage amp or FOH. I tried a self-powered FRFR monitor, but it didn't have enough "guts". I changed to a light weight but powerful Crown XLS1000 amp, but had to change from a guitar speaker to a full range model, and am pretty much on the same sound page on stage and FOH. What was happening was the guitar speakers have a pronounced mid-range peak response and the modeled amps/speakers also have a pronounced midrange peak, so they added up and made the stage amp sound "honk-y" and the JTV acoustic guitar models and patches really bit through the stage amp. I wish the HD500 and 500X had separate settings & levels for the XLR and 1/4" outputs like the X3L does (did), but my work around and others here on the boards do compensate, so over all, I've come to terms with it all. I always set my tones on the speaker/amp I'm using, and run it up to near performance volume levels to get past the Fletcher-Munson effect -- I have a very understanding wife, but try to do it when she's not home... My 2 cents. Dave

Silverhead covered it for drag & drop, or you could rename it to the 500X file name extension -- 500 would be "PatchName.h5e" then rename the file "PatchName.5xe" I think 5xe is the extension. I did it with set lists from my 500 to the 500X and changed it from "SetListName.h5s" to "SetListName.5xs" then used the 500X WB software and go navigate to the folder and load 'em that way.... And the whole set list as I have it in my 500 was in my 500X - didn't do it patch by patch... Dave

Gotcha. ever so sorry....

I had the XTL with L6 bag, then it croaked after a few years, so I got an X3L, but it was wider and not as deep front to back, so didn't fit in the XTL case, so I got the L6 X3L bag. A couple years later I got the HD500, and I have been using the XTL bag for the HD 500 for a while... It's a tight fit, but it does work. I took my X3L as a backup unit. I just got an HD500X -- same size as the HD500, so I'm using the XTL bag for the 500X, then shifted the 500 as my backup unit. I got it into the X3L bag -- though it was a tighter fit than the XTL bag. I think the XTL bag had relaxed or stretched some over the years of use with the XTL. I was surprised I got the HD500 into the X3L bag, maybe it'll relax some with time... Anyway, that's my 2 cents... Dave

I have the same issue with my JTV-69S. If I have it plugged in via the VDI cable and port on my HD500 and plug in the power, it fires up, then like yours about 10 seconds later power cycles, then is fine. I just got an HD500X, and it does the same on the 500X. I also have a JTV-59, and it never does that with the 59 hooked up before I power up the pedal -- strange. It does not happen when I start up the HD500 & 500X with the 69S not plugged in, then plug the VDI cable into the 69S. I do this when I'm setting up at a gig -- I set up the HD500 and power it on, as I set up and arrange my cables. I get out my 59 & 69S and hang them on the guitar stand, then when I'm ready to check the guitars and tune them up. I plug them in -- the pedal does not reboot.... I don't know what makes it happen on my 69S, but not the 59, but no, I don't think the issue is a bad guitar. I've been using my 59 since mid 2011, and my 69S since late 2012, and have not had an Issue with either one and the 500 or 500X. It's annoying, but not fatal to the equipment. I find it interesting to hear about it on the 89 model. Surprised it hasn't been mentioned on the forums before (or I missed it), but I also never posted about it, either..... Dave

I held off doing the update for a couple of weeks -- I had some gigs coming up, and I don't make major changes to my equipment until I have some time to work it out if it goes south on me... Also, I was seeing all the reported problems with the USB interface and people not liking the update. I have never used the USB interface provided with the JTV -- I have 2 of them. One came with my 59 in 2011, and the second with my 69S in 2012. I always used the POD XTL, X3L, and now the HD 500 to do Variax updates. I found out you can still do the updates with the pedals, so that was a relief. I had no problem last fall doing the 1.9 update on my 59, but my 69S took a couple of tries before it took. This time neither 59 nor the 69S had any issues and it took the first try -- whew. I did the 59 first then listened to the models and decided to go ahead with the 69S. Overall, I like them, but saw I needed to tweak some a bit, so I got out the USB interface, loaded the software and connected the 59 to it. I built my pc a couple of months ago, and put Win8 on it. The pc has both USB 3 and USB 2 ports, but the USB 3 ports are on the front, so I tried those. Found I couldn't use my USB extension cord like I can on my Win7 machine with USB 2 ports on the front, but when I hooked up with a normal length USB cable, no problems. I actually learned this yesterday when I was setting up my HD500X. So I hooked up the USB interface, pulled out my JTV battery (I never use, since I power my JTV's with the VDI cable), plugged in the guitar 1/4" jack to the HD500X and the JTV, and both lights lit up green on the interface. I fired up the Workbench HD software and went through the models. I used the workaround for the spank 2 position (thanks, guys) then basically worked with the tone control to get the models to my liking -- really didn't have to change much. By the way, Line 6 fixed the mid peak issue on the tone controls, so it actually works like you'd expect a tone control to work -- thanks Line 6!!. I rolled some of the highs out of the spank models, the Lester 1 position, and the noted Semi 1, 3, and 5 humbucker positions -- they are a bit harsh, but can be tamed. The Semi positions 2 and 4, the Casino with the P-90s were fine. One thing I always do is save the tone setting with the tone, so I had to go through all the models to do that. I basically did that on the 59, then saved a bundle file, hooked up the 69S and plopped the bundle in it. I checked both guitars out on the VDI input to see if there was any significant differences between what I set using the guitar input -- didn't find any. The process was surprisingly smooth..... My 2 cents... Dave

I replaced all 3 of my JTV-69S's single coils with DiMarzio's Paul Gilbert Noiseless single coils -- had no problems with the fit. I did not want to remove all the connections between the face plate and the internals of the guitar, so I just removed the grounding conductors and was able to flip the assembly up into a workable position. Things are tight if you do this, but doable. I did have to open it up again, as the pickup covers color I ordered with the DiMarzio's didn't match. I never really realized the faceplate was mint green (looks white until you compare side by side), so I ordered DiMarzio mint green pickup covers -- generic strat pickup covers will not work on those, as the DiMarzio single coils have a bit more "innards", and they require taller covers and a thinner gauge of plastic on the covers... I also have a JTV-59 with the humbuckers -- actually was my first JTV. I never felt the need to replace those pups, as they sound good to me. The 69S's stock pups sounded good too, except for he typical single coil hum -- I've been a Fender guy for over 40 years, but had gotten spoiled by the lack of noise in my more recent humbucker guitars, and the Variaxes I've had, so I swapped them with noiseless and now it's as quiet or quieter than my HB guitars... I'm probably going to swap out my '78 strat's single coils with them. My '73 Tele Deluxe already has Seth Love wide range HB's. You weren't specific as to the JTV model. I know of numerous other posters on the boards here who have swapped out their 59's stock humbuckers for the pickup of their choice. Haven't heard of anyone changing out the 89's pups, though..... My 2 cents, Dave

I just bought an HD500X today. I bought it as a backup for my HD500. Basically, what I wanted was another HD500 so I didn't have to futz with resetting all my sounds or translating the files. The on-line retailers have basically dropped the 500's for the 500X's, except I found GC's online catalog still has them at $399, so I held off until a holiday (Labor Day) when they have their sales. I checked the local GC and they had it, but when I walked in, they were marked "clearance", so their 15% off wouldn't apply. With 15% off an HD500X, it was only 25 bucks more than the HD500, so I decided to go with the 500X. I hooked up my 500 to the HD500 Edit software, saved all my patches, all my set lists, and a bundle. I then hooked up and set up the software for the HD500X, updated, yada yada.... Anyway, when I got to the point of hooking up to HD500X Edit, I had copied my set lists into 500X Edit's directory for it and renamed the set list's extensions from .h5s to .5xs, and opened them with HD 500X Edit, and they all loaded without a hitch. I was very relieved at how easy it was. They all sound exactly as the do in the 500. When you start to see 500X patches that use more DSP start showing up in the custom tones, I kinda doubt you'll be able to bring it back to the 500 and work, though.. The new one will be my main one with the 500 as the backup. I've been taking my X3L as my backup, but every change I make on the 500, makes the 2 drift further apart for backup purposes. I did have my XTL die at a gig with no backup, which is when I got the X3L... The night of the gig though, I was dead in the water, had to run home and grab my regular guitar amp, but it was not easy to switch in & out of acceptable clean/dirty sounds... We had to start about 45 minutes late -- not a pretty sight. I am an engineer, and do believe in contingency plans, because sh1t does happen -- been there, done that... As far as I know, the patches will work the same by just renaming the extensions for 500 to 500X patches anyway... . My 2 cents, Dave

I got one. I don't know if being a registered user is enough -- check your account info -- maybe you didn't check any boxes that sign you up for emails or such.... Just a thought. Dave

Yah -- I know... Getting the shakes to try, but holdin' back... Maybe Sunday after Saturday's show.... Man I'm already feelin' myself cavin' in... No Sunday at the earliest. Must hold firm~~~~~~~~~~ :blink: Dave

Ok -- thanks, Zap! Guess I'll do the FW update with the HD500 in a couple of weeks (if I can wait that long) and mess with the new models for a while before wanting to change them or mess with them in WBHD... Dave

Will the HD WB only with the JTV USB interface be the only way with this going forward? I've always used my XTL, X3L, then my HD500 with the Work Bench software. I have 2 JTV's and so 2 JTV USB interfaces, but have never used 'em. Seems like a major step backwards -- hopefully they're just working the kinks out of the JTV/VDI/HD500/Work Bench method.... I hope, anyway. Any word on this? I have a couple of weeks of weekend shows coming up, so am going to get past those before diving in on this anyway. I never mess with my setup until I have some free time to deal with issues that may come up. I use both of my JTV's for gigs -- a 59 and a 69S. I had a bit of a trouble when updating the 69S (my newest late 2012) to firmware 1.9. Had to do it a couple times before it took. Thought I'd bricked it, but didn't panic and it finally worked. The 59 went through without a hitch in all updates since I've had it ( mid 2011)... At least I'll be able to do the firmware update via my HD500/VDI -- that's a relief. The updating is when I feel the guitar is at its most vulnerable... In the meantime, I've built a new pc with Win8 and it has USB 3, so that will be an adventure. Good thing I have my Win7 PC as a server now, that I know works with the L6 software -- been using that one up until the new machine. I find if I have too many changes at once, it's harder to figure the situation out if something screws up... Just wondering -- thanks for any ideas on this subject... Dave

I have both the JTV 59 & 69S and use them both out gigging -- I swap at the break between sets.. I use the JTVs' physical pickups probably 90% of the time. I bought the 69S last fall after having my 59 for over a year. I like the fat sound of the 59's humbuckers, but also the more cutting sound of the single coils on the 69S. I've been a Fender guy forever, but the thing that always bugged me about the Strat's sound (besides the single coil hum) was the bridge PU is not normally in the tone knob's control. On the 69S, it is in the tone control circuit. I've had to set up 2 set lists on my HD500 -- both with the same amps and patches, but one adjusted for the levels and tones of the 59 and one for the 69S. I also replaced my 69S's single coils with DiMarzio noiseless single coils, as I have been spoiled by the quieter HB's... Anyway, on my 69S I typically roll back my tone knob on the guitar to about 50% and I use it with good results on songs that need a HB more than the thinner sound of the single-coils. I had the same results with the original 69S pickups, just wanted to get rid of the SC hum, so I swapped them out. On my Strat, I bought a prewired face plate with the bridge PU in the tone circuit from Carvin. I've kept my original faceplate & pickups and can swap 'em back in if I want. I've been thinking about doing another face plate with the bridge PU in the tone circuit for my Strat, but with the DiMarzio's I used in the 69S -- I like them that much. There is a mod that someone noted in the forums not too long ago to wire the Strat tone controls to include the bridge pickup -- you might look into that to take the edge off the trebly sound of that PU. Anyway, my 2 cents on the subject, Dave

There are no rules -- just find what sounds best to you....