I got frustrated with looking for a decent-sounding inexpensive combo amp that I think I'm going to buy this for playing around at the house for the time being, and perhaps acquiring a keyboard amp or a cheapo mediocre amp to slave it through the FX return when playing out.

I recently heard some samples as well as that dude's recording with the V-Amp pro and I am definitely floored, I think I'm buying it regardless but...

Owners: I want you're thoughts on this, did some searching but to no avail. For the 100 bucks this thing sells for(actually like 130 euros here), is it a good bang-for-buck solution for late-night playing and slaving it to another amp into the FX return?

I have an oldass Digitech RP1 multiFX that Ive been using for late night jamming but I think it really sounds atrocious. Would a V-amp 2 sound substantially better than the RP1 as far as amp models go?

I play death metal for the most part, though I delve into 70's metal kinda fuzzy tones. Not very picky so long as it does an ok tight sterile high gain sound, I was extremely impressed with some of the recordings I've heard.

Someone stop me.

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It sounds okay at best. I have one and I can get pretty a decent sound from it but I have to turn down the gain on the unit and push it with a boss super overdrive to get good tone out of it.

The noise suppression also works well on it and eliminates pretty much all hum created by the distortion with minimal damage to sound and sustain. I haven't used it live but i have used it in rehearsal with my band Lillith and it can get pretty heavy and still keep allot of bite.

but remember to push it with the overdrive......... I use it set up something like this.

guitar----->Super Overdrive(Volume and tone maxed and drive all the way down)----->V-amp2------>Amp

i used the first one for a while, loved it. got some awesome tones out of it. I havent used an amp in years (until now with the trademark) the last amp i had was a marshall jcm 900 sl-x 2100 and once that had to be sold to pay rent I never went back. I just would run through a pa system. they can be a bit muddy with low notes, but maybe thats just with how I liked to set mine up.
Actually sit and try it with your own guitar though, play around with one for an hour or 2, hell even see if you have a great return policy on one from a store and try it out overnight and if ya dont like it take it back.

Yeah I'm gonna go to a local store and give it a whirl, hopefully the guy will let me try it(he didn't let a friend try a PodXT Pro though cuz it was sealed, wtf). I hope they have a dedicated poweramp or a transparent amp of some sort so I can try it. I have a Boss NS2 and an EQ pedal too so that will help me.

Isn't it strange how it actually sounds good when you put an OD in front of it? Digital units -as opposed to SS and tube- generally don't sound good with boosts in front, cause they're generally meant as standalone units in my experience. I know my RP1 certainly doesn't sound too good if I boost it too much with an EQ pedal.

I also hear that you need to activate the "boost" function in the V-amp to get it tighter and more present, are you using this feature too widdly? If not maybe that's why.

I greatly appreciate the help guys.

Anyone have any death metal clips of it going direct? And withinexile, how does it sound compared to your Tech 21?

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I have the boost activated on all of my heavily distorted tones(and even a few cleans ones to balance the volumes). although its hard to get a great clean tone with the boost and humbuckers. It may just be my pickups but it is very muddy with the low strings and even worse with lower tunings.

I'll be home later I'll record some heavy stuff direct to my computer and put it up if I get the chance.

You're really just better off getting a PODXT IMO....

I don't want to spend 350 euros(450$USD+ here) on something I'm only gonna use for home practice, I already have an expensive amp and don't want more expensive gear. And btw, I hear the V-amp 2 is far better value for the $ than the PODXt.

Thx widdly, any more input from people who have played it?

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IMO the PODXT is far superior. It's got more upgradable options and more tweakable aspects, and the effects and models all sound great. The V-amp models sounded very weak to me. And I don't know if you want to use it for any recording purposes, but w/ the USB cable, they make it so simple. Yeah it's more expensive, but you get one in good shape, used, and I think it'll be far worth it down the line than a V-amp. Oh, and in addition to that, you can buy the "Metal Shop" expansion pack for it that has even more great metal tones in it. But yeah, of course it's gonna cost money.

I'm sure its definitely is superior, it damn well better be at that price. Thanks, but I know all about the PodXt so don't waste your breath. Buying used aint an option as they don't show up around here often, and paying for shipping from abroad is pretty silly as I'd end up spending the same $ as on a new one.

I am not going to use this for any serious recording, at most recording scratch tracks at night without firing up my tube amp. I have a Palmer speaker simulator and an Engl Fireball that give me all the tones I dream of, I don't need another kickass rig, just something for playing at home or slaving it to a combo amp of some sort for playing out. My RP1 is horribly uninspiring for this kind of thing.

I just need 1 or 2 useable tones, not all the shit in a PodXT, for the 99 bones they sell for it's not gonna be horrible. I'm going to try one first before spending anything though. If I'm not happy with it I'll just wait til April as I'm visiting the US for a week, maybe I'll be able to score a nice combo amp for under 300$ and take it back with me.

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i tried a v-amp pro direct (headphones and comp speakers) for a day w my peavey V (emg81 in bridge) and an epiphone dot hollowbody. ok for the hollow on cleans, but the V sounded pretty bad.

i can't recommend the distortion modelling. the delays and reverbs are decent tho. it sounds better for ambient clean stuff.

what about 'guitar rig' as a free alternative ... better distortion through headphones ... did you give it a chance?

Matt Sotelo's clips (decrepit birth) on youtube are recorded with a V-amp.

Hey Now
Send me a message w/ your email address...

INH, yeah Ive seen Matts vids, cant really hear his guitar in em though.

Leevious my email should show up in my profile, Thanks!

Got your PM kleenx. Cool stuff.

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Did you ever buy the V-amp dude?

I have the V-Amp Pro and I love it!!! I ONLY use it for recording in my home studio and have it conected via midi cables tomy computer so I can control a lot more of the functions and add patches.

If your looking to record with it I would say go for it. Check out my signature links for my bands site and listen to what I recorded with it. I recorded my entire CD with it.


Peter

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Hey thanks man but I ended up not buying it. I'm using amplitube 2 with my presonus inspire as the interface and I'm getting killer sounds for late night playing with headphones and for recording quick scratch tracks with cubase. Thx for the help anyway.

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+1

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I'm better off not spending money on gear for a whiiiiiile.

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