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Post subject: Thought I Just Wanted a Small Practice Amp, But.....
Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 4:56 pm
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Guys,

Apologies in advance for the rambling post - hopefully, i can minimize it somewhat.

I was interested in getting a small, practice amp for home. As I have some fairly nice guitars, I would still like something that is high enough quality to retain some of the unique characteristics of the tonal variations across my guitars.

As i was contemplating the various small combo amps out there I also started to think that i would actually like to be able to have some overdrive (i.e. i didn't want to just get a 5w tube amp that would be clean unless i cranked it or ran some sort of pedal - i want to minimize space and maximize portability in my house). This then started me to think of actually checking out one of those dreaded POD units that have all kinds of amp models and such. I have other tube based amps for 'real' playing, this just needed to be something i could bring down from my guitar room to the living room couch and just play and practice with.

THEN, i started thinking of this new amp as more of a practice type tool. And that led me to start thinking about playing along with backing tracks and really being able to develop more as a player with respect to tempo, keys, chord changes, etc.

I guess my questions in a nutshell are:

- What are the relative pros and cons of something like a G-DEC vs. POD?

- Can you use the POD with backing tracks (i.e. 'load' them somehow or use some other interface to be able to play along with backing tracks)?

- For those that use POD's do you ever run them through a small amp or only on your computer?

- Do the G-DEC's have as powerful amp/cab modelers as the POD's do? How does it compared to say more 'traditional' modeling amps like a VCXD or SCXD?

- I had the previous generation of the G-DEC (for about a week) and although I really liked the backing track aspect of it, it just wasn't enough of an 'amp' for me, if you know what i mean - it just didnt sound very good, its instructive merits aside. Have they improved substantially in this regard?

- Is there a better device out there for what I have described that I want?

Any help would be much appreciated guys!


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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:24 pm
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Hi ufboy73,

While I can't say that a POD will sound exactly like the tube amps that it models, it can get some very nice tones when used as a preamp into a good tube amp, and the headphone out is stereo and sounds great too. I use mine primarily as a preamp with a HRDlx and I have used it for awhile now and it is great. I have made some recordings using only the POD, a computer and headphones (YouTube link below). It will do all of the things that you listed. It has just about any effect or any amp model that you want, and is able to be updated via internet. It can be hooked up to a computer via USB, and used with headphones and/or an amp, while playing along with backing tracks that are on your computer, while recording your instrument, if you want to record only your instrument to the computer. You can adjust the level of the backing tracks and your instrument for a great balance that puts you right into the mix while listening on headphones or out to an amp. It can be used as a preamp into an amp, using any available effects and models for some pretty impressive tones. You can also use it without a computer, with headphones or amp, and still have access to all adjustments. Not all of the POD versions will record to computer, make sure to get the right one. You can test them in person at your local GC, to see if you like it. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1sk_IuDGvs

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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:34 pm
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hey, thanks lou!

in my continuing research, it looks like I would have to be connected through a computer to be able to play along with backing tracks - is that correct?

I was really hoping to be able to play along with tracks in a somewhat portable package...it sounds like to do this with the POD, i would need all of the following:

- POD
- computer
- speaker/amp of some sort

is that right? i wish tracks could somehow be on the POD so you could just connect it to an amp and play along, while still getting the benefit of all of the POD modeling features!


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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:58 pm
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Yes, the XT which I have doesn't have any tracks on it, or an input for MP3 player, so you would need a computer for the backing tracks to play along with. I use a laptop, somewhat portable, but another piece of gear to move I guess. There are other models of PODs that do have inputs for an MP3 or portable CD player, you might check their site to see if those models also allow recording to computer. They might also have a version that will hold backing tracks, I'm really only familiar with the XT. :idea:

http://line6.com/

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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:11 pm
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thanks again lou.

yeah, you're right - one of the floor models does have an mp3 input...floor model is out there (portability and the fact that i have the stompbox floor unit m13, or whatever, already isnt going to make it past the home police).

edit: so, actually, how would this work with backing tracks - you plug the guitar into the POD, the POD into the computer and then you have to have speakers going out from the computer that play the POD and the backing tracks?

Or, do you play the backing tracks from the computer and its own speakers and the POD through seperate speakers/amp?


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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:34 pm
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Surely the homeland security chief could be convinced that the old model might be sold if the new model works out. :wink: I had a DOD VGS50 pedal that I used for years, I sold it on eBay after getting the POD.

You can use the POD with headphones and computer to jam along with backing tracks, or with an amp and computer. Guitar into POD, POD into computer, then either headphones or an amp out of the POD to listen. The tracks on the computer will play through the POD, and your playing will be through the POD, both output to either headphones or amp from the POD. It will sound just like your playing through an amp when listening with the headphones. Your playing and the backing tracks will be heard together in either the amp or the headphones. You could use the amp and headphones, but that wouldn't be necessary because the sound would come through both the amp and headphones. :)

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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:52 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Surely the homeland security chief could be convinced that the old model might be sold if the new model works out. :wink: I had a DOD VGS50 pedal that I used for years, I sold it on eBay after getting the POD.

You can use the POD with headphones and computer to jam along with backing tracks, or with an amp and computer. Guitar into POD, POD into computer, then either headphones or an amp out of the POD to listen. The tracks on the computer will play through the POD, and your playing will be through the POD, both output to either headphones or amp from the POD. It will sound just like your playing through an amp when listening with the headphones. Your playing and the backing tracks will be heard together in either the amp or the headphones. You could use the amp and headphones, but that wouldn't be necessary because the sound would come through both the amp and headphones. :)


makes absolute perfect sense - thanks for that! so in essence, the computer is taking the place of the mp3 player in the chain.

have you found the POD tones less effective going thru your 'traditional' guitar amp? I have seen a lot of recommendations to put it through FRFR (whatver those are) 'neutral' speakers so as not to color the POD sounds...but i would really like to be able to run the POD thru one of my current amps (saving on space, etc. of another device like speakers). I fairly recently got a marshall (shhhh) Class 5 so was thinking of something like that.

thanks for all your help - i am really thinking of picking one up this week on a trial basis.


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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:19 pm
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Yes, the computer is the music player. I typically like the sound of the POD with headphones better than with an amp, when using the amp/cab models on the POD. Partly because of the stereo sound on the headphones, and partly what you said about the amp coloring the POD model sound. But with a good clean tube amp it still sounds awesome, and sometimes there is nothing like the sound/feel of an amp cranked up a little bit. You can also plug the POD into the "Power Amp In" and bypass the amps preamp circuit, if you have an effects loop on your amp. The amp modeling sounds more accurate when the preamp section is bypassed this way on many amps. Of course you can bypass the amp modeling on the POD, and just use combinations of effects into any amp and it sounds just like using pedals in front of your amp. Many times I just use the POD and headphones to jam as if I'm plugged into an amp, using the POD as my "amp with headphone out", so I don't have to fire up an amp or computer just to jam a little. For now, my favorite amp model on my POD is the 53 Deluxe setting, with headphones or plugged into my HRDlx. I have been using the POD with a BJr for the past couple of days. It sounds pretty good with the BJr, but the HRDlx sounds better. I'm sure that a tube amp would sound better with a POD than a solid state amp would. 8)

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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:29 pm
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cool - thanks again!

Im going to GC (i know, i know but 30 day trial on this is going to come in handy) tomorrow to see if i can pick one up and try it out at home with my class 5...

ill let you know how it goes!

thanks man!


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:58 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Surely the homeland security chief could be convinced that the old model might be sold if the new model works out. :wink: I had a DOD VGS50 pedal that I used for years, I sold it on eBay after getting the POD.

You can use the POD with headphones and computer to jam along with backing tracks, or with an amp and computer. Guitar into POD, POD into computer, then either headphones or an amp out of the POD to listen. The tracks on the computer will play through the POD, and your playing will be through the POD, both output to either headphones or amp from the POD. It will sound just like your playing through an amp when listening with the headphones. Your playing and the backing tracks will be heard together in either the amp or the headphones. You could use the amp and headphones, but that wouldn't be necessary because the sound would come through both the amp and headphones. :)


actually, one last question for now, you mentioned the backing tracks on my computer would play through the POD (along with my guitar playing, of course) - is there some sort of necessary software to make this happen? how does the POD 'know' to play the tracks on the computer?


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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:17 pm
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I forgot all about the software. :o The POD comes with a software disc, and you can download software/model updates and other options from the website for your computer for free, and there is other software and upgrades/packs that you can buy from the site. The software that comes with the POD is just a graphical representation of the controls on the POD, with the music player built in to the interface, you can load tracks from computer, on line or from a CD played on the computer. The software isn't necessary just for playing/recording/using the POD, but it is necessary for playing along with backing tracks, and for backing up any presets that you want to save. It is also easier to use the software for POD adjustments, because it shows graphical representations of the amps, speakers, mics and effects on the screen as you would view the real setup. It is a cool option. :)

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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:35 pm
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awesome - i figured there must be some sort of freeware with it.

cant wait for tomorrow:)

have you happened to have tried any of the G-DEC models? any thoughts in terms of playing along with the G-DEC tracks vs. backing tracks and the POD to an amp? I am assuming the G-DEC is easier to play along with but that the POD, hopefully, has the edge in quality of tone and being more like a traditional guitar amp?


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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:58 pm
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No, I have never used a G-DEC, I was hoping that some of the others here would chime in about it. I know that at least a couple of forum members here own or have owned a G-DEC. Maybe they can give their opinions about it. I remember some here have tried both the G-DEC and the POD, might be interesting to hear from them (63supro where are you :) ). Maybe you can try one of those at GC while checking out the POD. :idea: I'm a big fan of GC, I shop there often. :)

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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:20 am
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Practice amp with backing tracks,
I use a little Roland Cube 20x and just plug in an mp3 or cd player into the cd/mp3 input plug :)
Also has headphone out for when the 2am music fever hits..

Very small and portable.

The pod sounds like it is getting too complex and not so portable if you need a pc.

Also thinking of picking up a Champ 600, no firlls tube practice amp, cheap, small and sounds quite good.

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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:58 pm
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Id say the g-dec is much better

Heres a video of a guy comparing it to a silverface twin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX6gVCqDt7g

its scarily close

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