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Post subject: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 8:42 am
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Yes, perhaps a stupid question to ask on a Fender forum... I suspect the positive feedback and "get the G-DEC" here and that's fine.

I'm considering one of these amps as a simple practice and recording tool. Initially I wanted the G-DEC but upon digging a little deeper there are a couple things the SJ does that has me thinking it's the amp for me: multiple drum only backing tracks and the ease and lenght of recording (and not just loops). With the SJ you can record longer, and also record a complete song as the "loop" and then playback and layer over it. Perhaps crude but it seems simple and would work for basic song composition and practice. I know this cannot be done directly on the G-DEC but am wondering how simple it would be to do this, or if it can even be done, with the G-DEC and the Ableton s/w? I also don;t want to spend hours trying to figure out a s/w app.

As for the drums part, I'm not sure there is a way around it - the G-DEC doesn't have drums only backing tracks and I really like this feature on the Spider Jam. I prefer Fender products in general but these two factors are major ones to me and though the SJ is a bit long in the tooth now it still seems the better option for me personally based on this. I'm hoping for some insight from G-DEC owners as to how I might accomplish the same (with relative ease mind you) with a G-DEC before making a purchase.


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:32 am
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I don't know anything about the Spider Jam, but it is very easy to add additional backing tracks to the G-DEC by putting them on an SD card. So, if you could find some drum-only backing tracks in midi, wav, or mp3, you would be all set.

I haven't recorded with Abelton, but I've used Garageband without a problem. I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to save those recordings as mp3s and use them as backing tracks.


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:47 pm
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I have played through both and the GDEC won hands down. IMO better features, more flexibility and the fact that you can record what ever you want onto an SD card and there you go! Hope that this helps.
ABS :D


Last edited by airbornestrat on Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:07 pm
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The Country Version of the G-DEC offers 27 drum only backing tracks - bad for me, but might be great for you. All of these are available here for straight download at no cost, so you can't go wrong. I think the G-DEC is much more versatile than the SJ and I think the learning curve is a little less steep as well.

You can also find plenty of mp3 backing tracks on the net that you can use straight from any SD card as mentioned above. It's a no brainer.

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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:25 pm
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Thanks for the replies - any and all info is helpful and greatly appreciated. I may end up trying (buying) them both to see which I prefer; just can't get enough time with them in the store to make the determination.

CRGuitarMan - are those drum only tracks labled as such or easy to find if I don't get the country version. It looks like the country "pack" can be downloaded, i.e. the whole set of tracks included with the country version. This is the first that I've heard of drum only tracks being available on the G-DEC. All the other threads I've read that mention this have said there aren't any.

Now onto another question. If I record something with Ableton, can I play it back in ableton through the G-DEC as a backing track or would I have to save as an MP3 and load via SD card? I'm hoping to find a jam amp that lets me jam, not sit for hourse trying to learn how to use it and some other software as well. OT that end the SPider Jam looked a little simpler.


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:46 pm
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Hi there - might be a good idea to check out the Line6 Spider Jam user's forum also before you make any buying decision. I have owned & used both amps - I still own & use the Fender G-Dec3 30 - maybe you can read something into that!
Doubt if I'll ever get rid of the G-Dec - really love it. Currently have mine converted to the Blues version btw.
cheers.


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:02 am
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I have a G-DEC 3 Thirty & a Line 6 JM4 Looper, which is the brains of the Spider Jam w/o the amp & speaker. The SD card on the G-DEC 3 can work with midi, wav & mp3. The SD tracks on the Spider Jam are mono, 8-bit, low quality tracks. The downloaded backing tracks from other sources have to be run through a converter to let them work. Also, the amp models in the G-DEC 3 are MUCH more responsive than those in the Spider Jam. If you're into metal, the Spider Jam may be okay, otherwise, go with the G-DEC 3. It does EVERYTHING well.


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 2:58 pm
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Well I am now a G-DEC owner :D Picked up a G-DEC 3 30 watt this morning. I could only find the black one; thought the blues version would be cool but oh well. The most important thing is that I can load the blues version tracks.

I spent a little time fooling around with the Spider Jam and then the G-DEC. Really had fun with the G-DEC, thought it sounded better and I prefer the much smaller footprint as well. As I've seen mentioned here on the forums one of the really cool features is having the amp presets match the backing tracks, I really like that. Now to dig a little deeper, load some of the blues and country version tracks and see if I can find some drum only backing tracks. If anyone has any sources, please point me to them!


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:25 pm
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Congrats and welcome to the club. I absolutely love my G-DEC. I did get the blues version and I can honestly say it is one fo the best purchases I have made. You will see in a few short weeks that your playing will get better! I have noticed that mine has really imporved in all aspects due to this amp! Let us know how it is working for you in a few weeks!
ABS :D


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:24 pm
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Congratulations on your new amp! I just got the fifteen and love it. I know, everyone says get the thirty, but hey, $100 is $100.

I converted my standard edition to the blues special edition and love the choices. I'm sure you've found by now, if you'd loaded the blues sp, that there are some drum only tracks, but not much better than a metronome.

I have found some tracks on the web though and have a few mp3's on my sd card which are easy to get to.

Have fun!


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Post subject: Re: G-DEC 3 vs. Spider Jam
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:20 pm
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I own both amps, and each one is better at some things, and each one has it's strong points.

The SJ is 75 watts, loud enough to play with a full band, whereas my GFDEC does not have enough volume to do this.

Also, the SJ also has a memory slot, it is just in the back.

The G-DEC is much more cost-friendly, and they have tailored options to Blues and Metal, etc. The SJ just provides tracks for all types, not divided up into any specific category.

Both have online user forums, and since the GDEC has been out longer, there are more songs and posts about music for the Fender. However, the SJ has a ton of support as well, and I like that they provide not just the songs, but the sheet music to print out as well. Line 6 was the company I never knew was so good, but Fender is the long running standard you can always rely on, and the one others measure against. I owned my GDEC 1st, and my FXR100 Keyboard amp for decades.

The SJ also has 2 inputs, a 1/4 inch and a combo hi/low imp. for a mic or another instrument. I prefer the SJ for recording, there is almost a 1/2 hour of time you can record to on this amp. You can do multi-track recording and layer stuff with this amp, so you could make a drum pattern, then go back and record the guitar, then the bass, then go back and sing the vocals. There is enough space to record all of this, and you can always offload it to memory or download it to your PC.

The GDEC costs about $100 less, which makes a difference to some, and not to others. Also, if you shop used, GDEC are more common in the mid-Atlantic area than SJ's. I know there are song books you can purchase for the GDEC, I have not bought any so I do not know if there is sheet music to print or not. The best thing about the GDEC to me, and this is opinion, is the FUSE software. Both amps have USB and editing software for PC/MAC, but I prefer the FUSE software. Since Fender was first, I guess this app has had more time to develop than the SpiderEdit from Line 6. Also, FUSE works on ALL Fender USB amps, whereas Line 6 really messed up with SpiderEdit, it only works on a few specific models, and is NOT backward compatible. For the SJ, don;t worry, all their software support the SJ. But, if you buy another Line 6 amp, you may or may not be able to transfer your stuff to the new amp. With Fender, they support back to the earlier models, as well as the new stuff. Line 6 just messed this up when they neglected past customers by omitting many models from the editing software.

So there you have it, goods and bads about both amps. I would agree the SJ is a tad "more professional" in size and fell, it is HEAVY. However, for a practice amp that is nicer to my wallet, and something I can easily carry to a friends house to practice, my GDEC serves it's purpose well. Ask your self: Do I have a band, or will I soon? How often will I take this out with me? How much do I plan to record? Do I want to write my own songs, or just practice and have a backing track to play with?

The SJ has a 1 year warranty, the Fender has a 5 year, so nod for the Fender. The SJ has a bigger selection of foot pedals, like their Shortboard or Longboard, which can just about do anything you want from your foot, like start, pause, and restart recordings and also have an on-pedal LCD. As far as I know, Fender just has the basic 4 button pedal. The FBV pedals start at $200 though. Also, while the SJ does WAV files, recording folks know this is usually a higher quality format vs MP3's. However, MP3's are much more common, and you don;t need to convert them. I think the SJ might have a firmware upgrade to 2.07 that now supports both MP3 and WAV. My point is, if I record myself to WAV, it will sound better. So, if I am going to lay down lead guitar, 2nd guitar, bass, and then sing, it will sound better as WAV vs MP3 recordings. With the GDEC, you get 100 presets and 76 tracks, the SJ has 200 presets and 100 tracks. (20 is really enough, anything more is overkill to me). The GDEC has a 10" speaker and a tweeter for the music, the SJ has a 12" Celestion and tweeter, so this win goes to the SJ.

If you are into MID, like controlling things via MIDI commands, I think the SJ has a leg up here too, especially if you want to interface with keyboard. However, most practice amps this is not a feature people look for. You can remap the entire FBV pedals with their software to do just about any MIDI command you like. I know the GDEC has some limited MIDI support, but not as flexible as the FBV pedals that go with the SJ. Another thing I like on the SJ is Bass, Mid, and Treble knobs on the front of the amp, not something I set in a LCD menu, but this is just my preference.

I will end with a nod for the Fender: It is simpler to use, and takes much less time to master. The SJ does seems to have more options, like the MIDI functions, but again, what do you want to use the amp for? I never had to read my manual for any of the GDEC's. I brought the 1st GDEC home, and I had a backing track playing within a minute and I figured the rest of the features out within 5 minutes. The SJ I had to read about, there was more stuff to figure out, and I would have never been able to do it all without reading. The GDEC was simple and basic, which is what most people want in a practice amp.

SJ weights 42 lbs, has a basic strap handle on top.
G-DEC 30 weights 24 lbs, and has a carry strap that goes over your shoulder.

Hope I shed some light on the pros and cons of both amps I own.


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