Members Kungsgeten Posted September 13, 2009 Members Posted September 13, 2009 Hi everybody! First time posting in this forum, don't kill me In my rig I use an electric octave mandolin -> pedals -> amp. The thing is I do not own a gig amp (only a small 15w practice amp I use at home). When I play gigs I just use whatever amp the venue has available. So, I've been looking on buying an amp which can be used at rehearsing and at gigs. Then I thought "Hey, maybe a amp simulator would do. Seems easier to carry!". So, does anyone have any tips on a hardware amp sim, which responds good when putting effect pedals before and/or after it? Preferably it would have stereo outs (and maybe even in) and it would be cool if it could be controlled by MIDI. I guess I could buy a laptop and use software amp sims, but it seems a bit troublesome. I appreciate any tips!
Members robertkoa Posted December 26, 2009 Members Posted December 26, 2009 A pod XT might work if you can run the stereo outs into the PA or Mixer, you have 24 different cab impulses and you can set the Amp models to any one of them or Amp Models " OFF" The delays and reverbs are very good- I use the XT with an ADA MP1 or Hughes and Kettner Tube pre into the CAb Impulses and EFX. with " No Amp"setting. So it sounds like the tubes NOT the POD. The POD supplies efx and cvab sims ONLY. Suggest you borrow one and try it-if you like it-you can get a used one for 100 to $150. An old Hughes and Kettner Tubeman pedal also sounds great into the POD this way- will sound warm and clear, not digital when you get it right.A very polished recorded type tone thru the PA or into the board.
Members MusicalSchizo Posted December 28, 2009 Members Posted December 28, 2009 If I were you, and wanted the stereo input, I'd go for a POD X3 Live - it has two inputs, and you could process each side individually. It's in pedalboard form, but can be controlled via MIDI as well (the bean-shaped POD X3 does not have MIDI ports, even though earlier versions did). Brian V.
Members 3gstring Posted December 28, 2009 Members Posted December 28, 2009 If you have the money to spend, get a Palmer amp simulator, one of the best there is and you can get it in stereo - about 700 I think.
Members Nik Posted December 31, 2009 Members Posted December 31, 2009 Vox Tonelab works for me. Also, n the past, Roleand/Boss GT5, GT6, GX-700.
Members lwclaypool Posted January 10, 2010 Members Posted January 10, 2010 I run a POD X3 Pro in a 4U rack with a Furman M8L power conditioner and a FBV Express on the floor. The unit has stereo ins, outs, and effects loop. I have a Korg KP3 in the effects loop. For what I'm doing this config allows for a lot of flexibility and works well for me.
Members WRGKMC Posted January 11, 2010 Members Posted January 11, 2010 If you depend on the house PA you're at the mercy of the owner of the PA and basically have nothing for your own use, thus you never get to know or develop your own sound. Get an acoustic amp for a mandolin. Probibly sound much better than a standard guitar amp which are more midrange oriented. Still take your current instruments and effects to a guitar shop and try a few amps out so you know for sure.
Members burningsg Posted January 11, 2010 Members Posted January 11, 2010 Sansamp Classic and/or Sansamp Character Series... http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/characterseries_PG.html
Members Kungsgeten Posted January 12, 2010 Author Members Posted January 12, 2010 Thanks for the tips, even though the thread is pretty old by now. I bought an AdrenaLinn, and I like it so far. I have been thinking about using a laptop, but we'll see about that. If you depend on the house PA you're at the mercy of the owner of the PA and basically have nothing for your own use, thus you never get to know or develop your own sound.Get an acoustic amp for a mandolin. Probibly sound much better than a standard guitar amp which are more midrange oriented. Still take your current instruments and effects to a guitar shop and try a few amps out so you know for sure. Well, I guess that as long something is miced and run through the house PA, you're always in their hands? The same is true for regular amps. I'm a bit concerned however about that I will have to hear myself only through the monitors, but we'll see how it works out (I'm a singer too, so it's the same case there). My instrument is a five stringed, solid body, electric octave mandolin (tuned an octave below the mandolin) so it is about the same range as an electric guitar and it has about the same kind of sound characteristics. If I were to play acoustic or semi-acoustic mandolin however, I agree that an acoustic amp would be nice.
Members WRGKMC Posted January 12, 2010 Members Posted January 12, 2010 My instrument is a five stringed, solid body, electric octave mandolin (tuned an octave below the mandolin) so it is about the same range as an electric guitar and it has about the same kind of sound characteristics. If I were to play acoustic or semi-acoustic mandolin however, I agree that an acoustic amp would be nice. Got you. I'd still get myself something like a fender amp and have that on stage like all the other instruments. Like the guy said in that movie crossorads, "You aint no man if you aint got a pontiac" It doesnt have to be a huge amp, but I'd have at least 30w happening. anything louder and you can mic it. Unless you got a great monitoring system and sound guy working those monitors, your stage sound often compeltely dissapears for the other players. Dit on a drum stool and see how hard it is to hear the front monitors. An opend backed amp in front of the drummer is his monitor to hear your playing. If you play key parts that provide timing or do solos, guys like drummers or bassists may not even hear you change parts and you come off sounding like an ass on stage when everyone completely misses your part. An amp insures you have "Your" sound every time and insures mistakes made by others isnt because you sound like a tinny transistor radio in the distance. When you have the same sound the band rehurses and live people can count on you as being consistandt and can focus on their own parts. The only option like I eluded to, is if this is an acoustic band where everyones going through the PA then that would be a different thing to a point. Personally. Even in that case, I'd have a separate amp because it gets the instrument out of the way of the vocals and lets bothe the vocals and instruments be heard clearly without interference, and adds to the 3D effect of a live band.
Members cincy_cosmo Posted January 22, 2010 Members Posted January 22, 2010 The best amp sim I know of is the Boss Amp Factory (I think it is a GP-20). It was one of the first twin pedals and has decent clean (JC-120) emulations. It has been manufacture discontinued for some time now though. People didn't take to it, because Boss never did come out and say it sounds best when plugged into a house signal...but it is what it is.
Members cincy_cosmo Posted January 22, 2010 Members Posted January 22, 2010 The best amp sim I know of is the Boss Amp Factory (I think it is a GP-20). It was one of the first twin pedals and has decent clean (JC-120) emulations. It has been manufacture discontinued for some time now though. People didn't take to it, because Boss never did come out and say it sounds best when plugged into a house signal...but it is what it is.
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