HCBF weigh in: Should I get a Bass PODxt with the money I saved?

[Mind Riot]

Those of you that have read my other threads know that I recently returned a Schecter Stiletto Elite 5 and bought an OLP MM3. I will probably put a bit more money into the OLP, but even so I saved a couple hundred dollars and was prepared to upgrade the Schecter's pickups, which would have cost me a couple hundred more.

 

So, given the fact that I've saved so much money by finding a tone and feel I really like in such an inexpensive bass, I was thinking about what I could do with some of the extra green. First and foremost comes the work on the OLP, naturally. But another thought I had was perhaps picking up a Bass PODxt for recording.

 

See, my setup is pretty much all about recording. I'm not in a band anymore (was for six years or so), and have a decently equipped, acoustically treated home studio I've put together. With all of the equipment needed to set up a one man band home studio things were spread pretty thin. I had my old bass, a Hamer Chaparral Slammer five string, which was my first bass I ever owned. I just recorded it direct or through my guitar PODxt, on the Fender Bassman model. These options worked decently well, but I didn't really have a dedicated bass recording unit.

 

Now that I've gotten a decent bass that I *hope* to keep , it occured to me that perhaps I should spend some of the sweet moolah with Uncle Rico on a bass recording solution. My experiences with the guitar PODxt have been outstanding, and I hope the bass PODxt would be just as good.

 

So those of you that have tried it out, what are your impressions? Like it, dislike it, use it, discard it, how does it work for you? Is there something better I could look into for around the same price range?

 

I gotta be honest, I don't need all the tones in the world, for either instrument. I only use about four of the seventy two available amp models in the guitar PODxt, but it's totally worth it to me because it allows me to get such a great sound direct in my apartment. One or two great sounds is enough for me. But I hope that the bass PODxt would do the same for my bass recording as the regular PODxt did for my geetar recording.

 

I appreciate any and all thoughts, thanks in advance!

[Darkstorm]

Try it before you buy it. And let no one, other then your own two ears, be a deciding factor in wether to purchase it for sound qaulity.

 

Myself thinks theres better units out there for both direct recording and for processing signal to feed amp with. And that theres better units which do both direct recording, and processing to amp better with one unit. Myself prefers Zooms higher end floor processors. Conciders their lower end processors the same as everyone elses $200 & under units, which is poorly. Least liked competitors bass processers are Korg & Digitech.

[Conformer]

 

Originally posted by Darkstorm Try it before you buy it. And let no one, other then your own two ears, be a deciding factor in wether to purchase it for sound qaulity. Myself thinks theres better units out there for both direct recording and for processing signal to feed amp with. And that theres better units which do both direct recording, and processing to amp better with one unit. Myself prefers Zooms higher end floor processors. Conciders their lower end processors the same as everyone elses $200 & under units, which is poorly. Least liked competitors bass processers are Korg & Digitech.

 

 

I find I can get tones out of my digitech unit. For the money the BP-50 ain't bad. Thier higher end units take more time too fiddle with.

[gunslinger]

If you "try before you buy" REMEMBER tweak it!!!!!

 

The pods are GREAT but they are for tweakers, If you try it based on the presets you'll hate it, the presets SUCK!!! but there are ALOT of killer tones to be had in it. If you like "fiddling" with your tone the XT is for you if not look elsewhere....

[4string]

Had it and returned it. I think the GT-6B is better for recording and for live use. It has alot more connections on the back.

[LanEvo]

I have the Bass Podxt, which I bought off E-Bay for $200 including a nice padded gig bag. I find it much more useful than my similarly priced Tech21 Bass Driver.

 

You can get a huge variety of sounds. Most of the amp and speaker models are dead on. Many of the effects are quite impressive (especially the modulation effects).

 

But...you need to basically scrap ALL the cheesy pre-sets and sit down and make all your own. If you make that commitment, then it's a very powerful tool.

 

Emre

[Mind Riot]

I am a tweaker, no doubt about that. All my guitar patches on my regular PODxt are completely self made, none of the factory presets are worth anything.

 

In general, I've liked Line 6 stuff alot and I'll probably get it at my semi local GC so I can take it back if I don't like it. Gotta love GC's thirty day, no questions asked return policy.

 

Any other thoughts? I actually printed the section of the PDF manual that discusses the amps that were modeled and it looks like a nice selection. I know I won't use all of them, but I was wondering. What amps on there do you guys like for getting a fat, monstrous bass sound?

 

Thanks for the responses everybody!

[LanEvo]

 

Originally posted by Mind Riot What amps on there do you guys like for getting a fat, monstrous bass sound?

The SVT model is my favorite for that sort of thing. It's one of the best IMHO.

 

Emre

[Darkstorm]

Conformer > Sure, digitechs can provide the desired tones for some. But myself goes for the equivalent of a very articlate, crunchy, wonderfully sustaining, heavy saturated, bass guitar version of deliscious to me electric guitarists oversasturated monster overdrive or distortion tones. With bass still retaining great level of bass content. Kind of a marshall distortion pedal stacked into a marshall amp but for bass, and no loss of vibrate your butt bass content. Unit also has to be able run comp, od, extensive eq, & reverb together with each individualy adjustable and in that order. So yeah, its a matter of what works best tone wise and effects availability/grouping & order wise for the peep.

 

I do like digitechs & korgs upper line floor units for guitar. Allmost as well as the Zooms. Just not a fan of their bass processors.

 

 

Does agree getting the best sounds out of a multi effects unit ussually requires tweaking most everything. Even with the Zooms.

[Mind Riot]

Originally posted by LanEvo The SVT model is my favorite for that sort of thing. It's one of the best IMHO. Emre

 

Sweet. I'm going to have to post one of my big review threads for it when I get it.