Hell, it's like $200 on ebay. I'd be interested in one for my rack....I've tried a Behringer V-amp and hated it, so don't recommend that. I see a lot of pros using the original POD PRO over the xT, so...


What do y'all say?

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Pod XT will kick the Pod Pro's arse. Pod XT Pro is another thing though.

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POD = wank.

unless you like loads of useless effects and shitty emulations.

Behringer is even worse.

I've got the POD Pro, and while i love it and can get some good sounds out of it, i don't use it much these days, really it just acts as tuner. I couldn't comment on how the emulations sound compared to the original amps, but i reckon its a 'good enough' sound. the EQ isn't great, and it seems quite difficult to get a good clean sound out of it. However, if you've got it in the FX loop of an amp, you can improve your sound by adding a little chorus and reverb etc.

Its got too many functions for me to use, and because my QuadraVerb is only 1U, i use that now. Great fun to muck around with though

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There are people who own modded XXX's and JCM's who compliment me on my tone. Why? I KNOW HOW TO TWEAK A POD. POD = a computerized preamp, a lot of people who have used heads their entire life hate them because its NEVER a matter of adjusting a couple of knobs.

To people who are wary about the POD : There are people who buy a POD, run it through the front end of a guitar amplifier ( without reading the manual ), get a shitty sound and then tell everyone that it blows. Line 6 is not going to take the time to design it to compliment the sound of whatever guitar head its paired with, its simply unfair to judge its tone on that premise ( not everyone does this, but many people do! ) The thing is a preamp, so treat it like one. Its not very common to run an ADA or 530 through the front end of a guitar head, why would it be acceptable to do that with a POD? Get a poweramp. And a HIGH QUALITY one. There are too many people buying a preamp, and running it through a shitty poweramp and then blaming it on the preamp. Use the right cabs with your poweramp too. If you're running a tube poweramp like a Classic 60/60, then get a cab with V30's or something. If you're running a monster-wattage s.s. poweramp, then get 400w Madison cabs or something. And finally, with a Mesa, Engl, Peavey, Marshall, what-have-you, its almost never needed to read the manual ( if it even comes with one ). Its all WYSIWYG. Not so with the POD. Its like someone who does'nt even know how to format a harddrive saying that PC's are complicated useless pieces of junk. Be forewarned that if you get a PODXT, it's going to be like using a computer. In fact, you get the most out of it by downloading Line 6 Edit software, which lets you view the interface of the PODXT more efficiently by spreading it out over the computer screen. And as far as emulations : I did'nt buy the POD so I could sound like other musicians ... in fact my tone is nothing like Vehemence or Meshuggah. I've ended up using one of the Line 6 originals, which I find are actually better than the emulations. Be conservative with the settings too, I've gotten the best sound out of it with my distortion level on 3.5.

/ end rant

word.

Well, I made my original post in this thread about the XT ... you want the PRO, it seems. Well, I got my XT for exactly 200$ new over E-bay, so don't discount it entirely. The POD PRO still needs a knowledgeable user ( read the goddamned manual! ), but its nowhere near as complex as an XT.

Let's compare the PRO to the XT :

Pro is simpler to use, XT is not.

You can upgrade the XT for cheap. 50$ can get you 18 more amp models voiced for metal. PRO does not do this.

You can have several effects at once with the XT, POD PRO only has so many knobs on the front to work with. This is why the XT has a digital scrolling menu. The XT also has so much to work with ... there's the A.I.R. effect, which voices the voicing ( that was weird to say ) of the amp model to fit the size of the room you're in ... the EQ on the XT is HUGE and expansive. When you use it without your PC, you've got a four band parametric ... when you use it with it ... *whistles*. Among other things ... but still. Do what you want man!

The PRO has the A.I.R thing as well, but i think they developed it a lot more in the XT I'd also recommend getting some software to control it via your pc (remember that the PRO doesn't have USB, so you have to do it through MIDI), i found it much easier for getting the sound i wanted from a keyboard than with the knobs and buttons of the unit.

EDIT:

I see you've got the FCB1010 foot controller- its perfect with the POD, but again, get the software (3rd party) to program it on the computer, its much easier to set up effect on/off for each button whilst on the pc than tap dancing across your floor

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they're pretty cool. you gotta be a pretty shitty player if you can't get a decent sound out of a pod. provided you're running it through a decent poweramp and cabinet.

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Well then i'm gonna either go racked original POD or bean xT, I think. I have a Peavey Classic 60/60 that I run with a 530. This isnt for main usage, as i love my 530 to death, but hey, i'm a gear whore, plus i've always been interested in modellers. I'd consider using it as a backup pre and/or in stereo with my 530.

Thanks for the advice. I realize a POD isnt going to work like a regular tube pre (turn some knobs, press one or two function buttons), and I honestly like deep interfacing like the PODs have.

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I'm amazed at how the PODXT ( I don't have any other version of the POD, so I'll speak of the XT ) can react like a tube amp, as in the distortion's dynamics ... you can't hide behind the gain, the gain reacts accordingly with your picking intensity, etc. I know when I had my Crate there was none of that present.

As far as I know, the PODXT bean is the same thing fundamentally as the rackmount version. The rackmount version however has expanded connectibility, which if you were to run your POD through a PA a la' Meshuggah I suppose that would be ideal. But if you're going to just use it with your guitar rig then there's no need in paying the extra cash for it.

I've heard lots of recordings with Pod XT and they kick some serious ass.

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What power-amps have you used with the POD Mr Holland?

Carvin HD1800.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU KNOW HOW TO TWEAK A POD!!!111!

Now sit down, that's not the reason I think they're wank.

I don't think the emulations are realistic. I played the pro, the XT and the regular one when it just came out. it just doesn't sound like a tube amp to me. IMO the tube sounds of it where pretty shitty, like you said, you're better of getting to know it and dailing in your own settings.. is that not allways the case with digital preamps..

to summarize a long and boring discussion;

if you want a lot of digital fun to play around with, the pod is something for you.
if you're the oldschool analog type of guy and don't care about fx or digital pooha, it's definetly not for you.

I know the guitar center near me has a rackmount POD, so I'll try it and see if i like it or not...but thanks for the advice guys. I like me some tubes, as demonstrated by my rig, but i'm not necessarily buying the POD for its emulations, I want to see what kind of sounds it can get. I wont tweak it to "sound like a rectifier" i'll tweak it so it sounds good...

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meh, it would be impossible to make a digital amp sound and react "exactly" like a tube amp... however. it's definately possible with some of the newer shit like the high end line 6 shit(pod xt and vetta II for example) to get really good sounds that can turn some heads. you might be suprised if you found out some of the recordings you like were done with pods or other digital programs. but what you don't know wont hurt you.

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Please do give me some examples of those recordings

Hearing it on record and playing the gear for yourself is a totally different world. Ofcourse you can get good sounds but I wasn't really impressed with any line 6 amp and I've tried them all.. The Vetta is cool though, if you're into startrek

POD's aren't all that bad. I used to mess around with em, but the POD xt really kicks the shit out of it.

I run my POD xt through the effects loop of a marshall AVT 50....it sounds pretty much terrible if you run it through the front...at least it was painfully obvious to me.

IMO, I think pod(s) at least lead the way as far as digital (affordable) emulation go. With the amount of effects, support, programs, software, and tones you can get out of it...its hard to go wrong for the budget guitarist.

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don't want to ruin it for you.

i understand about the playing vs hearing... and keep in mind i don't own any digital modeling myself. im just saying, i you cant get some good sounds from a pod or a vetta, its more than likely a user issue, not a problem with the equipment.

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well bring me some examples allready

ofcourse you can get 'good' sounds out of a vetta or pod but to me 'good' just doesn't cut it. And believe me, I don't have any problems tweaking any piece of hardware.

And that's exactly what POD's are. affordable emulation for budget guitarist, with some effects and such to go with it.

okay... i'd step forward and say great sounds can be had... but it gets more into the ear of the player.

of course now in comparison to say, my amps... well, you don't see me selling my powerball, recto, or cobra for a pod.

though i may buy in the future for fun.

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