Line 6 POD Go opinions/experience?

[tommy p]

On two occasions recently I've seen cover bands whose guitarists impressed me with the variety of tones they were getting.  When I checked out their gear, they were both using Line 6 POD Go's and they both swore by them.  I've been wanting to dip my toe in the "everything in one box" waters for a while and these things are really reasonably priced.  There's a standard model for $499 and one with wireless built in for $100 more.  Anybody have one that can give me some pros and cons?

[scottcald]

I haven't tried the POD Go, but have the Stomp and Stomp XL.   I guess ultimately, how many buttons do you need to access at once?  If you only need clean, dirt and lead, Stomp will do just fine. I think the path on POD Go is a little more set, where on Stomp and XL you can put anything in any order.   If you don't need more complex set ups, POD Go I think would be good.  The modeling is the supposed to be the same as Helix, just less bells and whistles.

[Brooks]

I just sold mine, but not because I wasn't happy w/ it (I was raising cash for a BluGuitar Amp1). For me, it was really useful as a "pedalboard thru a Marshall" setup, meaning I assigned each button as a "pedal"; EQ (bass boost for bridge pup), delay, phaser, comp, OD, and wha. All into a Marshall plexi patch, out thru the "amp out" jack (no cab sim) into a clean SS amp and Marshall cab. We mic'd the cab, BUT you can use the other output jack w/ a cab sim direct. You can setup lots of patches w/ different FX/amps/cabs etc, but I preferred to keep it "old school", as we were just doing all 70s & 80s hard rawk.  Its basically the amps & FX from a Helix, but w/ less routing (no dual amp/fx chains and othersuch wankery). If I ever get into another band where I need to cover a buncha tones/FX I would get another one.

EDIT - you can move the FX around in any order before or after the amp.

[scottcald]

On 1/6/2023 at 5:43 PM, Brooks said:

EDIT - you can move the FX around in any order before or after the amp.

Cool, didn't know that, thought it was semi-fixed.  Thanks.

[HamerCustomEr]

I got a POD XT Live when it first came out, but I never bonded with the digital effects at all.  I used it as a clean headphone amp only until I got a Yamaha THR10C for the same purpose, but since abandoning the POD, I exclusively play all analog effects through a real tube amp.  In my opinion, although the digital sounds may be similar to analog, the feel is totally different.  Definitely try before you buy!

[burningyen]

My thoughts as a long-time modeling user (RP355, Kemper, now Helix):

1. Don’t expect instant gratification. There is a learning curve to all of these units.
2. The part that gets people hung up the most, that makes them eventually decide that “digital isn’t there yet,” is the cab emulation. If you’re looking for studio-recorded sounds at home then standard close-miked cab IRs into a monitor will work just fine. If you’re playing live and/or want the sound of an actual cab then there are some hoops you have to jump through (play through a real cab, or use reflection-free far-field IRs into a monitor, or EQ the heck out of close-miked IRs).
3. Don’t sell your existing rig until you’re sure that your new digital rig can make you happy.

 

[BillW]

OK, so I've been using a modeler live for a few years now (Kemper). I was a long-time tube amp user - for cover gigs I used a Triaxis/GMajor/tube power amp/cab setup, I also had a nice Marshall I would use from time to time with a basic pedal board. When I went to the Kemper, I noticed a few things (on top of what @burningyen listed above - which I fully agree with)

1. It will not sound as good as a close-miced tube amp. It just won't. But...it can get pretty close. If you are a tone-purist, in say a semi-original Blues band, or original rock band, or something like that - use an amp (IMO). But for bar-band covers - trust me: no one will notice the difference if you set it up well.
2. Despite LOVING in-ear monitoring (which I do), I have found having a FRFR (or other) monitor for the modeler very helpful with feel/response, especially if you're going direct modeler to FOH.
3. Different modelers sound different/better/what have you ... than others. Having said that, I bet you can tweak lower priced modelers to sound very good if you work at it. The higher end ones sound very, very good even initially.
4. At my age - I just really like having my rig basically in a 10-ish pound over the shoulder case - plug in and go ... no more 2X12s/4X12s/heavy power amps, etc....

Again, just my .02

- Bill

[jisham]

I wish modelers were around when I was slugging it out on the cover band scene playing four-hour gigs and having to load out at 2 am over and over and over.  I agree with the above: no reason to really use tube amps live at this point.  Most major touring acts use them too.  

Over the past years I've only played at home and have tried a bunch of the low watt amps.  As great as they are/were, I could never turn up enough to make it worthwhile.  I recently tried again with an Orange OR15 and 112 -- killer but again, too loud.  

Now I'm rocking this setup into studio monitors (or headphones) and am as happy as I could be for aimless noodling and recording, especially after adding some great IRs. And if I was still playing live, you can bet this would be in one hand and the guitar in the other.