Line 6 Pod X3 Live

[Mr Real Nice]

Anyone here using one of these?  I'm in the process of replacing my entire rig - everything from the guitar (warmoth build in progress) to my pedals and amp.  I'm using a Marshall MG50DFX right now, only because I got a good deal on a used one from a friend, but I'm wondering if I'll really need to change it if I get this Pod X3 Live pedalboard.  Like, I know it has amp modeling, but I guess I want to know how much I could rely on that.  I'm kind of thinking I'm going to upgrade the amp no matter what, and I'm obviously going to try out the board when the time comes, but I'm still waiting on my neck and I need other stuff to occupy my brain.   The sound I'm going for is more tube-oriented anyway (John Mayer/John Scofield/Pop/Rock/Jazz). 

I'd also appreciate any general input on the X3 Live anyone has as well.  I've read a lot of good reviews.

 

[ildar]

I had an XT Live for about 48 hours. It's not the first time I've used Line 6 stuff, and I'm always underwhelmed. I tried to like it, like I tried to like the other Line 6 pieces I had, but I couldn't. For practicing it was fine, even for rehearsing with a band it was ok, but for performing, where it counts their stuff just doesn't cut it. Amp modeling is not like playing through an amp. Even a SS amp feels more organic to me.
I have heard some guys just program these units as multi-fx platforms and ignore the amp sims. That's a thought.

 

[jackthehack]

"The sound I'm going for is more tube-oriented anyway (John Mayer/John Scofield/Pop/Rock/Jazz)."

Just buy a decent tube amp; you probably won't like the way any "amp modeler" sounds through one anyway.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Pod X3 isn't it a Pre-amp?

 

[ildar]

Pod X3 isn't it a Pre-amp?

Technically that's one of its functions, but more accurately it's a processor, a digital processor.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Pod X3 isn't it a Pre-amp?

Technically that's one of its functions, but more accurately it's a processor, a digital processor.

Righto

 

[ildar]

A lot of guys love them though. I've gotta say here that some players sound great playing through them as well. About 3 years ago I jammed with some old bandmates and the other guitarist had an XT Live. He was a Line 6 devotee anyway. When I was in his band he had a Spider 210 then a Flextone II. He always managed to get really good sounds out of all of them, and his XT Live made such an impression that I bought one eventually, but it just didn't move me.

 

[Mr Real Nice]

Well, I tried one out today at Guitar Center.  I had already read the manual online during work  :headbang: so I was able to dig right in.  It was a little tough to be perfectly objective in a loud obnoxious place such as GC, but honestly it sounded pretty good.  There's also a 30-day trial period during which I can return it if I decide I don't like it.  It's gotta be worth a shot at least.  After I finish my guitar, I'll probably pick one up and give it a go for a month.  I can really see myself tweaking that ridiculous amount of settings all day long.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

I had already read the manual online during work  :headbang:

I bet your boss is happy!

 

[Mr Real Nice]

I had already read the manual online during work  :headbang:

I bet your boss is happy!

He doesn't care.  It's not like I slack off.  When's there's work to be done, I'm all over it, but when there's downtime, I take advantage of it.  :icon_smile:  I work in a Toyota dealership parts department (at least until the semester starts again at Berklee) so business is up and down all day.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

I had already read the manual online during work  :headbang:

I bet your boss is happy!

He doesn't care.  It's not like I slack off.  When's there's work to be done, I'm all over it, but when there's downtime, I take advantage of it.  :icon_smile:  I work in a Toyota dealership parts department (at least until the semester starts again at Berklee) so business is up and down all day.

Ah, cool.

My parents are getting a new Toyota in a few weeks. A duel Cab Hilux with a canopy back, last years model i think,.

 

[GoDrex]

his XT Live made such an impression that I bought one eventually, but it just didn't move me.

weird  - it moved you enough to buy one based on his playing, but when you got it you didn't like it? That would really piss me off. I often buy stuff without even hearing it, but you got a chance to hear it first and still ended up confused. I don't get it.  :tard:

 

[Mr Real Nice]

his XT Live made such an impression that I bought one eventually, but it just didn't move me.

weird  - it moved you enough to buy one based on his playing, but when you got it you didn't like it? That would really piss me off. I often buy stuff without even hearing it, but you got a chance to hear it first and still ended up confused. I don't get it.  :tard:

Well, these things are far from plug & play.  I mean, you could use the presets, but in order to get the tones you really want, you gotta spend a LOT of time tweaking.  I'll let ildar speak for himself, but it does take a lot of patience and exploration to get your own personal perfect tone.

 

[Fish Out of Water]

I've had a few Line 6 amps in the past and I have found that they're difficult to use in a live situation. 
They come loaded with a ton of pedal effects and amp models, but I found that once you program the patches into the pedal board you are limited to the the sound that you've programed.  If you go to tweak the speed of your phaser, your entire volume drops out and you have to start fiddling with it in the middle of a show.  Then you look up and all the guys in the band are glaring at you cause you've completely dropped out of the mix and messed up everyone's timing and, and, and....wow, that was a bad flashback...lol
Anyways, I got rid of all my Line 6 stuff and went with a Marshall and a pedal board instead.  I always used the "Marshall" amp model with the Line 6 anyway and now I have everything that I need right at my feet.  Just set it and forget it...And if I want to turn the speed dial on my phaser, the volume stays the same...
I will say that those Line 6 amps were really loud for their size and price tho...

 

[Volitions Advocate]

I use the Boss multieffects.

  One thing I never really do is trust what the amp models say.  I DO use the amp models on my processor but I dont use them to get the sound of that amp. I just use them to colour the sound the way I want.

The thing I dont like about modelling is that it doesn't make sense really.  If all amps sound different enough that you'd want to model them.. than how could you expect to get the specific amp sound when you coudl be using it on any number of different amps that all sound different.

Does my marshall patch sound like marshall when played through a rivera? an Orange?  they probably did everythign through a JC-120... so if you have a jc 120 then all yoru amp models sound like those amps. but use any amp other than that....  how could you expect it to sound the same?

 

[ildar]

his XT Live made such an impression that I bought one eventually, but it just didn't move me.

weird  - it moved you enough to buy one based on his playing, but when you got it you didn't like it? That would really piss me off. I often buy stuff without even hearing it, but you got a chance to hear it first and still ended up confused. I don't get it.  :tard:

I wouldn't say confused. I'd say that what I was expecting didn't occur. Simply put, the unit didn't respond to my guitars, amps and my hands as it did to his.
And I spent countless hours tweaking and programming, I'm no novice to that.

 

[GoDrex]

Well I guess confused is the wrong word, but it just seems like you had plenty of opportunity to experience the amp before buying it.

I have a "modeling amp"  (Fender Cyber Deluxe) and it's cool but would be tough to use in a live situation - though it certainly is loud enough. The main problem with it for me is the switching from presets is too slow to be usable during a song. But with some planning I could probably work something out. But - I don't don't have a band now so I just use it for practicing and recording, which it really shines at. It also sounds awesome cranked up out on my deck hehehe

 

[ildar]

Well I guess confused is the wrong word, but it just seems like you had plenty of opportunity to experience the amp before buying it.

It seems you're trying to pick an argument with me. I've heard a lot of amps, played through a lot of amps, loved a lot of amps and bought a lot of amps. Some worked out, some didn't. When you get more and more familiar with a piece of gear, its strengths and weaknesses become much more evident. Sometimes the weaknesses are glaring.
Ever buy a guitar that you loved at the time, and 6 months later couldn't wait to get rid of it? Happens with any gear.

 

[GoDrex]

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you at all. Sorry you interpret it that way. I just don't understand your point of view that's all. And no I've never had a guitar I liked and then didn't like - not without doing something to ruin it.

 

[mscmkr]

Pods are not meant to be played through an amp with preamplification. They give you that option but I suspect they do that just to have that option available...