Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Jump to content

HD500X Setup Help


ArtinSF
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone. Hoping to get some advice. I got an HD500X about a month ago and it is a big disappointment. I'm sure that it is not the product but my not knowing how to use it properly yet. 

 

Here are my main issues.

Plug the HD500 into the guitar input on the front of my Fender 65 twin reverb amp

Loud hum drones on

Strat played thru the 500 into the Fender = tone suck. It sound bigger and better without the 500.

 

Has anyone encountered this problem and found a solution?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Man its a toughie as you are probably going in through the front end and not an effects loop, right? Don't have a 65 Verb so I don't have knowledge of that other than it sounds great with only a TS pedal in front when I tried one decades ago.

 

For S&Gs find an amp with an fx loop and try going into the fx in (watch the volume on the HD as it will bypass the amp's pre) or try out a powered PA speaker. That usually gives examples of what the HD can do in case you are getting frustrated and want to kick it. :)

 

There have been a few threads here on how to go about front ending - dial the amp as clean as possible, try studio direct for output mode (or one of the others - some people like them too). Going into the front end of an amp can hit the amp's pre-pretty hard too and cause extra drive so you might have to also make sure that isn't happening.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just to make sure you understand...

 

The HD500X is an amp modeler, not just an effects unit.  In your configuration if you try and use the amp models you're putting a pre-amp (plus a bunch of other stuff) in front of your amp's pre-amp which is what's causing the problem.

 

What BillBee is referring to is that many amps have an effects loop out and effects loop in.  Plugging into the effects loop in effectively bypasses your amp's pre-amp and just goes into the power amp and speaker portion of your amplifier.  But you don't really have a facility like that on your amp.

 

What you can do is use the HD500X just as an effects unit without the amp models the way you're hooked up.  As long as you don't have any amp models engaged you shouldn't overdrive your pre-amp.  But you should still make sure you have studio direct set as your output mode.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

+1 for everything that's been said already. Running into the front end of any amp with a unit like this is a noisy mess. If you've got an FX loop, use it. Try the 4 cable method if you want to use your amp's preamp for your basic tone, and the POD only for FX. If not, and you're gonna use the amp models, just run as follows: guitar--->POD---> FX return on the amp. This way you're bypassing the preamp, and only using the amp for power.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks to most for the constructive comments. Unfortunately the 65 verb does not have an FX out. So the FX loop and 4 cable are not options. I think jeremybnz is right, I bought the wrong product. M13 would have been better for what I am trying to do. I am curious how are the line 6 amps different from a traditional amp? I assume they are optimized for the HD500. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is one of those products where reading the user manual, or at least the quick start guide, is really helpful. Also, Pressing and holding the View button also takes you to a page that lets you select the output mode. You want to select Combo when going into the front panel of your twin reverb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is one of those things that make me appreciate this forum. The two manuals only confuse me most of the time. Once I see the stuff talked about here, I then go back to the manual and it makes sense. I guess there truly are different learning styles. Thanks everyone..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...