357mag Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I've just recently heard about this POD Express. I guess the amp models are based on what is in the Helix. I tried the Helix and I couldn't get a real, nice loud heavy sound out of it. I play hard rock and metal, and I know it's gotta be possible with the Helix, but I was not able to do it so I sent it back. In the POD Express favor it has delays and choruses and effects like that, where the Boss IR-2 does not have any built in effects which is a disadvantage. I probably would have to buy a separate delay pedal and run it in the effects loop. But I would like to ask if anyone here has purchased a POD Express and do you feel you're pretty happy with it? Would you recommend it? Can you get a real nice sound out of the JCM-800 (which is the amp I always use in my X3)? Post your impressions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcio Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 I got mine 3 days ago and it blew me away!! I know some people are super picky and even almost impossible to please. But for $179??? Holy !@#$%! This is the first device EVER that I plugged straight into my daw and sounded as good if not better than my BIAS FS 2 Elite software, at least for high gain which I'm always having a hard time with tone-wise on a PC in a daw. I have had TONS of high quality high gain pedals and gizmos but every time I plug them into the computer they lose their magic and sound like poo. Not this thing. I also really liked how I could plug into an amp or headphones while connected via USB to my computer and play along with YT videos, guitar lessons, backing tracks, etc. And I know that's nothing new, but the thing takes batteries which is why I went for it. I have had so many times I wanted to tinker around on guitar and just didn't feel like hooking all that stuff up so blew it off. I have yet to find a practice amp that has the high gain I like so I always have to add a pedal, then need a fricking noise gate, more cables, adapters or more batteries. Doesn't sound like too much of a hassle but it's enough to make me just blow it off on those less energetic days and not practice. It is taking some time figuring out all the complex buttons and which ones simultaneously do this or that. But personally this is the best small investment I've made in a long time. Of course it depends a lot on if you need something like this. I think it's GREAT for simple quick plugging in and practicing on the fly with super high quality sounds to boot. That's my opinion anyway :) I don't know anything about the JCM-800 setting. I haven't dug in that deep yet to know which amp is which. I just plug in, and tweak til it sounds good (which is effortless at least for me with this thing) And I found a case that this thing fits in PERFECTLY!!! Got it on Amazon. MEIJIA Portable All Weather IP67. You just need to be careful when ripping out the padding parts to get the right size. I don't know if you can add any pieces back in if you tear out too many Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pol2711 Posted May 2 Share Posted May 2 Have one as backup. Nice little thing with huge amount of possibilities. But I disabled the cabs and have an IR loader attached to it. For me a huge leap forward tonewise. So if this thing can have an editor (you sit with your guitar and want to adjust treble or gain....hard to do when you have to use both hands) AND can handle IR's.....they will have a huge hit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abstractocaster Posted May 2 Share Posted May 2 I was ready to love it, have an hx stomp. But I can't dial in a reverb I like (long tail, 25% mix), and the headphone volume is not even adequate for the clean amp. I have yet to try it with an amp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dankrzykowski Posted June 5 Share Posted June 5 On 5/2/2024 at 3:34 PM, abstractocaster said: I was ready to love it, have an hx stomp. But I can't dial in a reverb I like (long tail, 25% mix), and the headphone volume is not even adequate for the clean amp. I have yet to try it with an amp. Yes. The Reverbs are too extreme even at the low end. The delays are okay for atmosphere, but it's criminal that I can't get a slapback. Truly insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BothWorlds Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 (edited) I like it quite a lot. I knew about the limited fx peremeters so I use a separate multi fx for compressor, modulation, or slapback. As far as the amp sounds I think it's awesome. The amps chosen cover alot of ground. For an easy plug and play with headphones or active monitors it doesn't get much more simple. As for the JCM800 question, it does not have that model. What it does have is a Friedman that sounds eerily close to Eddie's plexi, a great crunchy Marshall-esque amp model. I love that one! Edited June 29 by BothWorlds Forgot to answer OPs question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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