I Have Gone To The Dark Side

[Phosphene Audio]

Back when my band started playing again after COVID, I realized I didn't like carrying so much gear around.

I was using a 100 watt tube head and 2 2x12 cabinets. So, after a short tour, I ditched the head and cabs and bought a used Quilter Overdrive 200 and the last two ported 1x12s that Avatar had.

The Quilter sounded pretty good, though there was always something in the upper mid that was either too harsh or too dull, with no way to really dial it out.


I have been wanted to try a modeler forever, but the barrier to entry for stuff that seems like it would work well (Helix, Fractal, Kemper, etc) was pretty high. The cheaper stuff seems like it all sounds bad. I had tried a bean shaped Pod many years ago and it did nothing that I liked. I tried a Zoom product that I can't remember the name of and didn't like that, either.

I took a chance on the Pod Express, and I have actually put it on my board, feeding the effect return of my Quilter.

I am using the "dynamic" model, which I think is a modified Traynor of some sort. All the models sound good, except the "lead" one, which is a 5150, which I never liked in real life, either.

Apparently the models are from the Helix line. You only get 7 models and 7 cabs (which can be shut off) with B/M/T/Presence/Gain/Vol for each. The built in effects are rudimentary, but sound good. I don't use the distortion or modulation, but I have footswitches connected to turn reverb and delay on/off.




https://www.tumblr.com/ich-bin-der-chro ... urce=share

[friendship]

This is news I can use. I've been thinking about upgrading my POD HD bean since I guess amp sims are better than that now? I only use a couple of the amp models on it so I wasn't sure if something like an HX Stomp would be necessary--turns out I only theoretically like having a ton of options; in reality, I prefer a small handful of good sounds. So it might be between either this thing or the Boss IR-2.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I respect the dark side. If it sounds good, it's good. Cool board!

[gila_crisis]

Welcome to the club!
I also no more use amps since ages!
All I have is my pedalboard (main core is a AMT SS20 valve preamp), and go straight in line.

[Phosphene Audio]

I guess amp sims are better than that now?

As far as I can tell, the pricier stuff has been quite usable for a while, based on what I've heard other folks doing. I know a guy with a Kemper amp, and it sounds great. The 7&8 piece King Crimson line ups had both Fripp and Jaksyk using g Helix modelers, etc.

Quad Cortex, Fractal and Line 6 Helix have always been north of $1k, which is a lot of money if it turns out it's not what one wanted or if one doesn't need all the features.


This seems to be one of the few instances of a company making an entry level product that has the same or very similar sound quality as their top of the line gear, but with fewer options.


The fewer options are more than I will ever need.


I can see myself using 3 of these models, and the controls are all I would need. I'd have been fine if they made one without the effects.

[Phosphene Audio]

I do still have a tube amp at home, a Fryette GPDI one watt recording amp.

[coldbrightsunlight]

The Line 6 does seem intriguing, I'm definitely put off by the high price tag of most of the top of the line stuff. And the level of tweaking, I like simple stuff that sounds good not things that if I tweak 1000 parameters I'll get the world's best tone. I've got a Humboldt Simplifier that I use as a DI/preamp for recording and playing at home, I've taken it to gigs as a backup but not put it to the test fully yet. Sure would be nice not to carry an amp around (even though my gigging amp is small) so I should probably push myself to give it a go haha