[Hopeful]

Originally Posted by Hellfighter

Okay, I don't want to sound like a jerk, I am all for people finding a signature tone(s) and being their own guitarist (instead of sounding like another three doors down), so I do know that POD XTL is the best for some of you, but I feel as though there is a 'one size fits all' going on. If anyone starts asking about effects, the answer? "Buy an XTL!"

However this is unfair, I realize that when I read "What Amp Should I get" I automatically think "TUBE AMP!" I think that both sides will work in different situations, so therefore I will try to be more accepting of the "POD Nation" as much as I would appreciate your respect (which I am grateful for)


I am somewhat hurt about the comment on my setup. I worked over 50-60 hours a week the last four summers, all summer doing construction and over 25 hours a week during the school time. I do not have parents who buy me things, I have worked my tail off for everything I have, and I don't want it to seem like I'm a spoiled rich kid

Don't sweat it, you're cool.

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Hellfighter

Okay, I don't want to sound like a jerk, I am all for people finding a signature tone(s) and being their own guitarist (instead of sounding like another three doors down), so I do know that POD XTL is the best for some of you, but I feel as though there is a 'one size fits all' going on. If anyone starts asking about effects, the answer? "Buy an XTL!"

However this is unfair, I realize that when I read "What Amp Should I get" I automatically think "TUBE AMP!" I think that both sides will work in different situations, so therefore I will try to be more accepting of the "POD Nation" as much as I would appreciate your respect (which I am grateful for)


I am somewhat hurt about the comment on my setup. I worked over 50-60 hours a week the last four summers, all summer doing construction and over 25 hours a week during the school time. I do not have parents who buy me things, I have worked my tail off for everything I have, and I don't want it to seem like I'm a spoiled rich kid

That's awesome dude. And congrats to you. But I was making the point that the majority of the users on here still do not have the money to spend on that kind of setup. I said what I did because you respond as if the answer is crystal clear and that you simply can not believe that instead of buying a boutique amp tailored to a person's dream tone, they opt for the XTL.

It's just not feasible for most.

[Steve Lowe]

I've been blessed to be able to buy several tube amps over the years and have a decent lineup on my pedal board. For playing MY music and sounding the way I want to, it's all I use. However, I recently bought an XTL - before joining this forum or else I probably wouldn't have - I'm SO not into doing what everyone else does!

I got it for two main reasons. First, playing in the worship band, I'm expected to cover a large variety of sounds. I've spent a small fortune in different distortion, overdrive, and boost stompboxes to cover wide range of sounds (could be a whole 'nother thread!). I settled on the XTL because it's a good way to cover a large amount of tonal territory, even though it IS a compromise. The second reason I bought a modeller is that our church is going 'ampless'. Our sanctuary was never designed for a band acoustically, and our worship leader has decided that we to eliminate the stage noise and go with an in-ears monitoring system - so I had to do *something*. The XTL gives me the versatility i need and the ability to go direct, so it fits a need and does it well.

HOWEVER, it will NOT replace my tube amps (Peavey Classic 30 with several mods, Fender BF Pro Reverb and a Magnatone Custom 260) because I get a lot out of playing WITH an amp as part of the instrument. That feel and responsive is diminished with the modeller, especially when using it to run direct because there's interaction between pickup and speaker - and it's not all feedback Someday I might use some of the XTLs effects (chorus, delay, etc) in the loop of a tube amp, but it just doesn't interact with an amp the way good boost and od pedals do.

[Hopeful]

Originally Posted by Steve Lowe

I've been blessed to be able to buy several tube amps over the years and have a decent lineup on my pedal board. For playing MY music and sounding the way I want to, it's all I use. However, I recently bought an XTL - before joining this forum or else I probably wouldn't have - I'm SO not into doing what everyone else does!

I got it for two main reasons. First, playing in the worship band, I'm expected to cover a large variety of sounds. I've spent a small fortune in different distortion, overdrive, and boost stompboxes to cover wide range of sounds (could be a whole 'nother thread!). I settled on the XTL because it's a good way to cover a large amount of tonal territory, even though it IS a compromise...

HOWEVER, it will NOT replace my tube amps (Peavey Classic 30 with several mods, Fender BF Pro Reverb and a Magnatone Custom 260) because I get a lot out of playing WITH an amp as part of the instrument. That feel and responsive is diminished with the modeller, especially when using it to run direct because there's interaction between pickup and speaker - and it's not all feedback Someday I might use some of the XTLs effects (chorus, delay, etc) in the loop of a tube amp, but it just doesn't interact with an amp the way good boost and od pedals do.

I have taken a similar route over the years and love the versatility of my Digitech which I got last May. I just picked up a new Rivera and I have found that very same thing you are talking about. The amp responds best to my old pedalboard with my BD-2 and Tonebone Classic. The gain channel on the amp is pretty much useless with the Digitech unless I bypass it.

But, either setup works for me and I can live playing through whatever one I want to. So, if I didn't have the $ or the venue had serious limitations, I would say get a ME pedal/processor to run directly through the PA and get a cheap amp for a stage monitor.

[ibanez_dude]

Originally Posted by Hellfighter

I am somewhat hurt about the comment on my setup. I worked over 50-60 hours a week the last four summers, all summer doing construction and over 25 hours a week during the school time. I do not have parents who buy me things, I have worked my tail off for everything I have, and I don't want it to seem like I'm a spoiled rich kid

Don't sweat it dude. Yeh, it probably was a little harsh. But, he was trying to make a point, which is that not everyone can afford to buy that kinda stuff, which is why a lot of us buy the XTL, cause you great tone, and a ton of flexibility. I work 50 hours myself this week (6 full days), fulltime in the summer, and 25 hours a week during the school year, and occasionally 40-50 hours on top of a full school load, and I still can't afford the kind of rig you have.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

I would look at Peavey, perhaps outside the classic line even. I own several Peavey Tube amps and they have a nice clean channel most of the time and some great distortions. Personally, I like a 3 channel set up. It gives me more options. My personal favorite amp is rackmounted and is a real beast to move. I play a peavey Rockmaster at church.

how many watts? my guess would be under 30.

Some amps to look at would be...

Peavey Triumph or Ultra. (higher gain)
Peavey Classic 20, 30, or 50. (50 might be a bit much)
Traynor makes some beautiful amps in your price range
Vox AC 15 maybe
carvin has some tube amps that sell used in your price range as well.
If you are feeling adventurous and want to go head and cab in a miniscule package, the Hughes and Kettner Cream machine is a little one watt beast. it doesn't really like clean, but I can be heard over drums through a cab with the little beast. (It is roughly the size of a binder, though slightly smaller)

I personally do not like modeling. But you have a lot of options, especially in the used market.