Hi again,

I have to make a decision and I need help/opinions:

Since 1988, I was playing Strat and Marshal. No fxs, besides one Ibanez delay. I loved my tone. The bridge pickup is a Fred. On the neck I use a Seymour Duncan.

Then something happened to my amp and the tone got ruined. At the same time, I stopped playing for a couple of years. When I restarted, I mostly recorded at home so I used PC software effects to shape the sound. Then, 3 or 4 years ago I restarted playing live again. I went for a BOSS GT-8 (7?) that in the meantime got lost and I replaced it with a Line 6 Pod. I've been playing directly to the sound mixer, with no amp (besides monitor). I use the amp/mic emulation and it sounds good to me.

To record at home, it suites me fine. Playing live, the fact is I was never fully happy with the result, but I've always associated it with poor monitors since at home it sounded nice.

The other day I played live with another guitarist (will share a video of him in a couple of days, he was awesome) and every time the guy switched to his solo tone, his sound was far better than mine, no doubt. He played a PRS with a JCM 900.

My question is: is it me that can't shape a proper tone in my POD or is it simply impossible for a pod through a PA to sound exactly or equivalent to a plain old amp?

Any experiences/thoughts are welcome. I started thinking that I need a good amp (probably Marshall) but wanted to be sure that I can't do any better with my Line 6.

Yet they are so practical! How I enjoy carrying just two bags to the gigs and taking 5 minutes to set things up... :)))

ptrocker:The majority of my old tone came from original jap boss pedals.I,d take those 7 pedals in a box to every gig & session,unfortunately they are now discontinued & have been replaced with new versions made in Taiwan which really suck major bad tonaly in comparison. I had comp, noise sup, Korg OV1 "still have" DS1, chorus, bass parametric EQ & Reverb that had an amazing eq on it.The tone was exquisite

minimoog, all processors I've tried sounded horrible until I tried Line 6 POD.

I'm not talking about generic signal processors versus good old amps.

Hello Satch world! Havent been here for a very very long time...kinda lost myself for awhile. Just wanted to say hi and hopefully a few of you remember me! Hi Joe!

Thanks, guys, for your comments.

On the amp/emulator debate... I use a rack setup with a marshall JMP-1 and power amp with a TC fx unit going via a valve poweramp and 4x12 cab (or 2 - depends on the venue...). I have tried the emulator out on the marshall both live and studio and although it is passable it doesnt come close to the sound coming from an amp.

What you could try to see if it helps is having a monitor behind you just like an amp to see if that helps as guitar amps are naturally 'fuzzy' when right on top of them so having it behind you may be better for your ears...

Cheers,

Cube's response confused me! I was expecting a "Are you crazy? Processors can never reach the real tone's quality... Go fix yourself!" kind of replies :) I'm glad someone is happy with a processor. It means hope :)

I was pretty sure I was playing with a sound as nice and complete as the "traditional" dudes until I played with one of them on the same stage two weeks ago.

I'll post a video of us two playing in duet (me with my Line 6 directly to the mixer and the other guy with his JCM and mic) and you'll understand what I'm trying to say... The difference is huge! It could be the volume but I think there's something else.

I don't know Fractal Axe, but Line 6 is supposedly one of the best options there is so it is probably me that hasn't been able to shape a proper tone... (yet!)

mowlie_2000: that's a good suggestion, the problem is (at least with my pod) I have to configure whether I'm playing directly to the table or connected to an amp, I can't use both. Since I consider more important the sound to the audience, I set it up to play in direct and use the phones output to have the monitoring sound connecting it to a Marshall 80W amp on my back, but I am aware the quality is all screwed up... I can't (or at least I don't know how to) set the line output to "direct" and the monitoring output (phones) to "amp"... :( The result is a really bad monitoring sound (I have to cut all the amp trebles, for instance, just to make it less horrible) I was convinced the sound that came out through the PA was ok though... After listening to my last concert recording, I was not that sure anymore...

Alan: I think you are right. The thing is these processors are so practical that for a minor loss in sound quality, I still prefer to use them. What I'm trying to understand is exactly how "minor" is this loss...

Play with POD XT Live and POD X3 Live everywhere and ProTools record with them. Live through 2x TECH21 Power Engine to reproduce the PODtones (direct/studio out) uncolored as I made them. And from the TECH21's XLR-out straight to PA. Never put simulating equipment through a regular guitar amp unless you go in through FX return to only use the power amp. The discussion between the "real" thing and simulated is old and the only I learn from it is that most musicians are scaringly conservative.
BTW: Joe uses Palmer speaker simulators... and TECH21 Sansamp sometimes, recording.

Guitarvibes, now that's a great album!

Another great recent release: Pearl Jam - "Backspacer"

I'll give you guys a break now, I've posted more today than over the last months... :)

good one zen!