I've only had a week or so to play with my POD (hmm ... sounds a tad naughty), so here are my initial impressions. If you know nothing about POD, suffice it to say I've simply scratched the surface. What I like about POD is that while it's stuffed with options, a guitarist can enjoy it practically right out of the box.
Assuming the guitarist in question takes at least a moment to look at the manual (ie., the first chapter: "Quick Start Guide").
To begin, the POD offers up 32 different amp models. I'm not going to tell you that these sound better than the real things, largely because I've tried few of the real things. Also, POD is set up so that 16 of the amp models are accessible right off the bat. The other 16 require you to hold "tap", and so I haven't really gotten to the Back 16 yet.
Among the amp models I have tried, "Black Panel" may be my favorite. It's based on the Fender Deluxe Reverb, and has a marvelous "clean" tone which is rather Fender-like in its quality. Crank up the Drive control, and I'm in heaven! I don't think the tone quite compares to my 1965 Princeton, but at least I don't have to crank POD up to floor-shaking volume to get a recordable sound. And that's the beauty of POD. I've been recording already, and it's a complete treat to get swell tone straight into my hard drive without having to mess with mikes and amp volume. Plug into POD, play with a few knobs, and you're set.
When I tried POD out at a music shop, I was bowled over by the "Rectified" model. Based on a '94 Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, this baby has a truly distinctive metal monster tone. Although I don't know if I'll use this model often, merely its presence along with "Black Panel" convinced me to buy the POD. I figured that any box which could provide two such distinctive and vastly different sounds was worthy of purchase.
Hold on. There was one other setting which sold me on POD. During my in-shop test, I clicked onto a setting labeled "Tube Preamp". I was incredibly underwhelmed, and decided I'd better look at the manual to see why Line6 would include such a seemingly useless model.
According to the manual, "The Tube Preamp Model lets you warm up any sound source the way producers and engineers often do in the studio with vintage tube gear."
Hold the phone!
In other words, I could run my vocals through POD? And instrument tracks generated from my PC? And be able to add POD effects to them? Hello, anyone here ready to take my money please?
I have tried recording vocals with POD, and it was a treat! For the first time ever, I had no problems with volume settings - POD let me set up a workable and easily recordable sound just like that!
Speaking of effects, POD gives a wide range of effects. Personally, I love the reverb, but if Line 6 could have left off the effects and cut about $150 off the price, I wouldn't have complained. Of course, I'm speaking as a fellow who has a load of effect pedals at hand. From what I've heard to date, the online effects aren't bad. I haven't looked at the manual with regards how to best control the effects yet.
But it's the amp models that are the stars of the show here. "Modern Hi Gain" is based on a Soldano X88R preamp and it made my Strat sing with sweet rich sustain. Marvelous!
There are a few Marshall models on hand as well, and I especially loved the "Brit Classic". Line 6 went to some pains to make these models accurate, so with this model, one has to crank up ALL the controls to get that Marshall wall of sound.
In summary, I've no regrets with POD, and only wish I had more time to explore all the many tonal possibilities of this baby. Oh wait ... I OWN this POD. Which means it'll be around whenever I want to play ...
Like right now. See ya!
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