Sanity check on amp purchase - Line 6
Discussion
I'm about to go out and buy a Line 6 DT25 combo and a Line 6 HD500x effects board. There's loads of stuff on the net about these things and the most comprehensive review I've seen seems to be the Andertons dream rig review. In summary though the amps tube section is configurable between A and A/B and pentode and triode. There is some modelling but having played on one they do sound really good. The pedal board adds the usual effects combo thing but it also reconfigures the amp for you to make the result better in theory.
I'm buying this to replace an all valve amp that I use at home so it'll be used for practice but also for when I get a band together. The valve amps I have sound great but do one thing. This seems to give a lot of flexibility which will be handy as I imagine I'll get together with a couple of mates and do some covers for a fun in pubs when we finally get our arses in gear.
The thing is this kit costs about a grand which also buys a hell of an amp so I thought I'd ask for opinions as a bit of a sanity check.
Cheers,
Mark
I'm buying this to replace an all valve amp that I use at home so it'll be used for practice but also for when I get a band together. The valve amps I have sound great but do one thing. This seems to give a lot of flexibility which will be handy as I imagine I'll get together with a couple of mates and do some covers for a fun in pubs when we finally get our arses in gear.
The thing is this kit costs about a grand which also buys a hell of an amp so I thought I'd ask for opinions as a bit of a sanity check.
Cheers,
Mark
dern said:
I'm about to go out and buy a Line 6 DT25 combo and a Line 6 HD500x effects board. There's loads of stuff on the net about these things and the most comprehensive review I've seen seems to be the Andertons dream rig review. In summary though the amps tube section is configurable between A and A/B and pentode and triode. There is some modelling but having played on one they do sound really good. The pedal board adds the usual effects combo thing but it also reconfigures the amp for you to make the result better in theory.
I'm buying this to replace an all valve amp that I use at home so it'll be used for practice but also for when I get a band together. The valve amps I have sound great but do one thing. This seems to give a lot of flexibility which will be handy as I imagine I'll get together with a couple of mates and do some covers for a fun in pubs when we finally get our arses in gear.
The thing is this kit costs about a grand which also buys a hell of an amp so I thought I'd ask for opinions as a bit of a sanity check.
Cheers,
Mark
What style of music are you doing? If it's rock I think that money would get you a Marshall DSL half stack, which is far more versatile than you might think and perhaps as importantly from an image point of view is a Marshall stack... I upgraded to a 1987X reissue in the summer, but the DSL is unquestionably wider ranging if you want anything other than classic 70s rock tones.I'm buying this to replace an all valve amp that I use at home so it'll be used for practice but also for when I get a band together. The valve amps I have sound great but do one thing. This seems to give a lot of flexibility which will be handy as I imagine I'll get together with a couple of mates and do some covers for a fun in pubs when we finally get our arses in gear.
The thing is this kit costs about a grand which also buys a hell of an amp so I thought I'd ask for opinions as a bit of a sanity check.
Cheers,
Mark
A band mate got the HD500X. Initially impressive due to the number of effects available, but over time he found it too involved to really find the time to set up better sounds with. The default ones being a bit overprocessed and aimed to impress on a short listen (which they did).
If you're after something with flexibility and great sound(s) then have you looked at the Mesa Boogie options? For a little more than you're currently looking at spending you could have a Rectoverb 25 or Express 5:25 or perhaps a head version if you already have a cabinet. I've not tried them myself, but will be on my short list for my next amp, since I read how flexible they are (and I've always fancied a Mesa anyway). Be worth a lot more in future if you want to sell it on, compared to a Line 6 (I know as I have a much older Line 6 Flextone III which is worth peanuts now). They often come up in threads on other forums when people ask for a good clean/dirty amp.
The other thing is to take your current valve amp along and compare it to the modelled version of it, to get a feel for what you'd be missing out (or not).
If you're after something with flexibility and great sound(s) then have you looked at the Mesa Boogie options? For a little more than you're currently looking at spending you could have a Rectoverb 25 or Express 5:25 or perhaps a head version if you already have a cabinet. I've not tried them myself, but will be on my short list for my next amp, since I read how flexible they are (and I've always fancied a Mesa anyway). Be worth a lot more in future if you want to sell it on, compared to a Line 6 (I know as I have a much older Line 6 Flextone III which is worth peanuts now). They often come up in threads on other forums when people ask for a good clean/dirty amp.
The other thing is to take your current valve amp along and compare it to the modelled version of it, to get a feel for what you'd be missing out (or not).
Line 6 stuff is generally banned in my studio. Hatefull tone sapping garbage that it is. Going from an all valve to that? Yes you are mad. Get an interface and some software (Peavey revalver 4 is free for the basic set up) for home, £100 or so and you can cock around to your hearts content. Then when its band time you'll be johnny kick-ass tone without a hint of dirty digital in sight. Mint.
Over the years I have played with/watched many guitarists, my opinion is that the less there is between the instrument and the (valve) amp, the better they sound. Multi/digital effects sound good in the shop and at home but on stage they don't seem to cut it.
Another thing to consider is that unless your set list is carved in stone, quickly finding the setting you need for a particular song is a complete pain with many effect banks.
There is a video on YouTube worth watching by Joe Bonamassa, where he demonstrates the amazing range of sounds available just by adjusting the volume and tone on the guitar.
I have both valve and S/S amps for my bass, the S/S amp is light, robust and cheap to run but playing through the valve amp is just so much better with regard to tone, response and dynamic range.
Another thing to consider is that unless your set list is carved in stone, quickly finding the setting you need for a particular song is a complete pain with many effect banks.
There is a video on YouTube worth watching by Joe Bonamassa, where he demonstrates the amazing range of sounds available just by adjusting the volume and tone on the guitar.
I have both valve and S/S amps for my bass, the S/S amp is light, robust and cheap to run but playing through the valve amp is just so much better with regard to tone, response and dynamic range.
Anyway, I bought a dt25 at the weekend with the pod hd500x.
I'm completely blown away by it. I can't believe you guys have played through one... maybe you had a go on a spider or a kidney bean or something like that? The DT series are Reinhold Bogner designed tube amps with some modelling in them. The hd500x is a modeller but it reconfigures the tubes to help with the sound. The sound quality is really really good. Sounds awesome cranked up. I guess I can't argue it's quite as good as an ac30 on full chat or even my old park or my laney lionheart but there's not a lot in it and the versatility compared to those other amps is off the scale. I'm not Joe B and i never will be and I don't have the skill to make a valve amp sing in a variety of different ways.
The standard patches on the pod are way over the top but take them back to the amps being modelled and they sound really lovely. It's not just for the chugga chugga power chord at full volume brigade.
I'll probably keep the laney anyway but I am so pleased with this.
Cheers,
Mark
I'm completely blown away by it. I can't believe you guys have played through one... maybe you had a go on a spider or a kidney bean or something like that? The DT series are Reinhold Bogner designed tube amps with some modelling in them. The hd500x is a modeller but it reconfigures the tubes to help with the sound. The sound quality is really really good. Sounds awesome cranked up. I guess I can't argue it's quite as good as an ac30 on full chat or even my old park or my laney lionheart but there's not a lot in it and the versatility compared to those other amps is off the scale. I'm not Joe B and i never will be and I don't have the skill to make a valve amp sing in a variety of different ways.
The standard patches on the pod are way over the top but take them back to the amps being modelled and they sound really lovely. It's not just for the chugga chugga power chord at full volume brigade.
I'll probably keep the laney anyway but I am so pleased with this.
Cheers,
Mark
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