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Post subject: New Non-Fender G-DEC
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:19 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
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The new Line 6 Spider Jam. A direct competitor to the G-DEC series. It looks big, complex, and pricey. Unless it's got USB direct record, a massive online support operation behind it featuring study lessons, etc. and a huge onboard assemblage of fantastic jam grooves, I'd say Fender has nothing to worry about.


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Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:34 am
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 634
Update on features (please excuse translation): The Spider Jam has...

--100 'Endless Jams' (prof. rhythmgroup - no midi files)

-Loop recorder (14 minutes !)

-A 12" celestion guitar speaker and "tweeter"

-Spider III amp models

-250 sounds from various top recording artists

So the plot thickens: L6 has apparently done what we've discussed to distraction in the G-DEC community: put a hi-fi speaker config right in the unit so the "Jams" sound great and aren't forced out of a guitar speaker alone which as we all know is a highly distorted EQ curve optimized for guitar only, no good for track playback.

Spider III amp models are pretty weak stuff, oriented more to Hard Rock and Metal. ZZZZZZZZZ. Advantage Fender Cyber Engine. Plus look at this thing--can it possibly cost under $499???

But the secret ingredient that L6 always has over Fender is online support. If this thing has USB and can hook up to a whole dynamic slate of new grooves and tones from stars online, not to mention training programs, then all bets are off. L6 has proven with the GuitarPort system that they totally get how to marry the online support world with the jamming and practicing player. Fender has proven they are clueless in this area.

I've been flogging Fender forever to activate an aggro online support system for G-DEC. New grooves, tones from stars, instructional programs, community contributions. Result? (crickets chirping)

The Fender manual says: go out and buy a midi interface (we don't even make one). Go out and buy a cable (don't look at us). Now go out and get some midi player software (we don't supply one even though they're free). Now try to make your third-party midi interface work with your third-party software. I've read hundreds of posts all over the net from frustrated G-DEC owners who get stalled at this point. Garageband doesn't even have midi out. Oh, then even the midi files are DIY too! Go out and find some...someplace. (crickets chirp again)

That's just not acceptable. Perhaps none of the above would be an issue if the onboard preset tones and grooves were stunning and plentiful. Uh-oh...(crickets chirping again)

Thus the battle is drawn. Cyber Engine good. Spider models bad. G-DEC inexpensive. Spider Jam pricey. Fender online support community has chirping crickets. L6 is a proven master at this.

Monopolies bad. Choice good. Let the games begin!


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