Tele > POD X3 Live

[Royal Tele]

Greetings everyone! I recently bought a Line 6 POD X3 Live, and I'm loving it! I used to be one of the guys that slammed anything and everything digital, but I will slam no more. I've always been a fan of Lincoln Brewster, and a little while back I found myself pretty impressed with the fact that he got his guitar tones from his Strat going through a Line 6 POD X3 Live. (I'm sure he uses high-end amplifiers when he cuts tracks in the studio, but he says that he spends lots of time recreating those exact tones with the POD X3 Live for his live shows, etc.) On his website, there's a page that is dedicated to showing you the gear he uses and there's a YouTube video too. In the video he shows you the "secret" to his tone--the X3 Live. Anyway, after learning all of that, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. And I'm glad I did! The X3 Live is so versatile and sounds awesome! And I can't think of a better tool for a worship guitarist--you can store your favorite tones and recall them every time you play without having to hassle with mic'ing an amp and recalling your settings from the last time you played. (Not to mention the fact that there's no amp that needs to be cranked to make you happy and make the sound guy ticked off.) I also found a site created by a guy named Ben Vesco (http://tonemonster.benvesco.com/). He basically walks you through the sound patches that Lincoln Brewster created for his X3 (available on Lincoln Brewster's website). I went through and created the patches on my X3 and they sound great! Are they dead-on recreations of Lincoln Brewster's tones? Maybe, maybe not. Do I sound just like Lincoln Brewster? No. But I'm not trying to. I do love his tones, and I do love the tones coming from my X3 Live though, and they are modeled after LB's. So I'm thoroughly pleased. To be really honest, I thought the older POD products sounded pretty lame (very obviously "digital" to my ears). But as serious as I can be here--the new POD X3 line sounds incredible! I think there's a lot to gain from them. And I think most guys' disappointments come from their impatience. It is definitely necessary to sit down and spend some time tweaking if you're going to use a POD X3. But it pays off!

So, anyone else out there using a POD X3 Live? (Or POD XT/Live/etc.?) Share your thoughts!

[Parma_TeleMon]

Direct rigs can sound like a million bucks. One of our worship leaders uses and X3L and absolutely loves it. I get great results from my Vox ToneLab LE, and this past weekend I picked up a Blackstar HT distortion unit and ran it direct. The only word I can use for that is "outrageous".

Here are a couple of challenges when running direct:
1. Your guitar getting lost in the FOH mix. I've found the fix to this is a little higher treble settings to help "cut through"

2. Your guitar gets lost in the monitor mix. (NOTE: we'll have no sound guy flaming here, OK?). This one can get tricky, like any of the myriad of other monitor mix issues.

3. Getting the same tone live as you do at home and vice versa. This one's been bugging me a LOT lately, so I'm searching for the magic solution. Toying with the idea of getting a small tube amp (AC4TV maybe) and driving that with the TLLE at home, maybe mic'ing it at church, which would take care of my monitor mix issues and give me a level of interactivity with the amp (like controlled feedback) that I just don't have now.

Bottom line: congrats on your new Rig O' Joy!! Take the time to tweak it, experiment with it and you may well find YOUR signature tone, the one that is like ice cream on a hot day, in there as well.

[Royal Tele]

So, did you accidentally submit the reply above before finishing your message, or are you making the point that "there aren't any challenges when running direct" by leaving the #1 space blank? =)

[Parma_TeleMon]

Originally Posted by Royal Tele

So, did you accidentally submit the reply above before finishing your message, or are you making the point that "there aren't any challenges when running direct" by leaving the #1 space blank? =)

Fat fingered it. and then edited without notating it was an edit. Bad Johnny!!

[Royal Tele]

I used to own a KORG Toneworks AX3000G long ago. I thought it was a pretty nice processor. Don't have it any more. And, as I said, I'm loving the POD X3 Live. One thing that I've found beneficial when trying to set up tones on my own time that will prove worthy of a full band mix later is: same environment = same results. In other words, if you're going to be running your processor direct into the board on most occasions, then don't create sound patches while it's plugged into an amp at home. It won't sound the same. The amp at home will color the sound you hear, and the PA at your church (or other venue) will either not color it or will color it differently. (Hopefully the PA that you're plugging into directly will faithfully recreate the processor's tone without coloring it very much at all. And hopefully, the sound guy can EQ sparingly if your tone is good.) But if you have access to a small PA or if you have access to the sound system at your church, then take some time to go up there and plug in direct just like you would during worship and create your tones that way. If it sounds good through that PA, then it should sound pretty good through other PA systems or through that same PA later on. Most of the time, in my experience, setting up a tone patch through an amp is a waste of time if you expect it to sound the same direct into a PA later.

Also--there are many processors that have different output settings. Some of them give you the option of setting it so that you're sending it out to an amp's input or setting it so that you're sending it direct to a PA. The processor then optimizes the sound for the specified output setting. (That's how my old KORG Toneworks AX3000G was.) And sometimes, they even get as specific as offering multiple output settings depending on what kind of amp you're plugging into (open back vs. closed back cab, etc.). Luckily, the POD X3 Live has a direct out dedicated to going direct into the PA and an additional "live out" for plugging into an amp onstage (to be used a backline, and possibly mic'd as well, if you choose).

[sonserve]

I really enjoy my XT Live. I bought it when I joined the team and it was worth every penny!

[jb12string]

I play a XT Live as well, I really like it. My original theory on patches was to try to recreate the sound of the original recording for every song it our set list, my new theory is to create different rigs, and if needed, change "pedals". For instance, right now my favorite rig is saved in one bank, using all 4 channels in that bank, it is an AC-15 with a little bit of reverb, tube screamer (off by default) and I don't even remember what I have in the mod, except in the D channel, which has a optical trem on by default and a digital delay. Channel A is a clean channel, Channel B is a slightly dirty channel (50% drive) Channel C is a full drive channel (my amp is a Hot Rod, I've gotten used to the clean, drive, more drive system) and Channel D is Channel B with Trem. Currently I have an AC-30 set up the same way, and a Bassman, Champ, and 2 deluxe reverbs set up with clean and drive channels. I find using the GearBox software on my laptop invaluable in setting up patches, if I am doing much more than a little tweaking, the laptop comes out.

[scooteraz]

Originally Posted by Royal Tele

... I've always been a fan of Lincoln Brewster, and a little while back I found myself pretty impressed with the fact that he got his guitar tones from his Strat going through a Line 6 POD X3 Live. (I'm sure he uses high-end amplifiers when he cuts tracks in the studio, but he says that he spends lots of time recreating those exact tones with the POD X3 Live for his live shows, etc.) On his website, there's a page that is dedicated to showing you the gear he uses and there's a YouTube video too. In the video he shows you the "secret" to his tone--the X3 Live.

...Share your thoughts!

Well, the X3 is a great product, and as you say, Lincoln Brewster uses/used it. He is apparently converting partially or wholly to the AxeFX / Liquid Foot combination. At least according to the forum over at AxeFX (and there are pictures there of LB using that combination as well, with a X3 next to it).

Now, that is not to say that the X3 is bad (even if the folks at the AxeFX board want to trash it), and LB gets great tones from it. And you are seemingly getting great tones as well. And the price difference is pretty stunning. X3 is about 500 vs. ~3000 for the AxeFX Ultra/Liquid Foot combination. So, for most of us, the POD is the way to go.

Have fun, it is a great product.

[junk126]

I'm currently replacing my small tube amp and pedalboard rig with a POD X3, and Tech 21 Trademark 30. Before my current tube/pedalboard rig, I used a POD XTL through a Tech 21 Power Engine 60. I wanted to try out a tube amp, and missed buying/collecting pedals, so I sold the XTL and PE60 for my current setup, and have missed them ever since.

I like my current setup, but have realy missed being able to call up just about any effect at will almost. Pedals quickly got too expensive, not to mention running out of space/power on my board, and still not having everything I might want/need, so in comes a X3 Live and Tech 21 Trademark 30. The 30 should replace the Power Engine nicely as it's way lighter, and has the advantage of being a backup in case the X3 goes down. I'm also really digging that I can run bass and acoustic through the X3 if needed.

I've yet to start getting my patches in order, but I used to use jb12string's method of setting up favorite rigs in the banks. I also tried to keep the first 2 or 3 banks set aside for the songs we were going to be playing on a given Sunday. That always worked well for me with the XT. I would write down what I used and tweak, then copy them to the banks to be used in order of the set. If a song got thrown in or subbed out at the last minute, I could always go back to my banks of favorites and wing it.

I'm anxious to see how using the dual tone options will have an impact on that kind of set up. Any comments on using the dual tone option as A setup 1, A setup 2, and still having B, C, & D?

[Parma_TeleMon]

Sounds like you liked the PowerEngine. Did it live up to the hype? I'm toying with the idea for my TLLE, but nobody stocks them around here and I'd hate to toss that kind of cash around just to be disappointed.

[junk126]

I really liked it. It puts out what you put in, period. You can run direct to a PA through it, (that's what I did with my XTL) or mic it. It has a balanced in and out. I used a quarter inch to xlr cable to go into it, and then xlr out to the board. I also really liked it mic'ed up, SM57 and SM58.

I emailed Tech 21 and asked if there was any way to set the Trademark 30 flat enough to use it like a smaller Power Engine, (Guitar in case, Amp, Pedalboard, + 3 kids = any weight saved is Great) and they emailed me back saying "You could simply plug the POD's output into the TM30's Effect Return, bypassing its preamp section entirely (making it, in essence, a Power Engine 30)." That's a direct quote from Lloyd Schwartz, Product Manager (I was impressed not only with that, but that it took less than an hour to receive this answer). Having received that reply, I'm currently tossing up between between the Trademark 30, or the smaller, discontinued Trademark 10 (there's one on Ebay right now and his original buy it now price was $150).

As far as the PE60, (because you might not have concerns over weight/size like I do), I would suggest Musicians Friend Used. Like new $305, free shipping, 45 days to try it out. Shipping it back if you don't like it is still a pretty good deal.

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions.

[DonCoyer]

I've been using the X3 Live for 3 or 4 months, ever since my Roland VG-88 got zapped. I think the X3 is amazing, and the layout is the best I've seen as far as access to a lot of sounds in one bank.

One problem I had was, I NEVER like the sound of the compression in digital pedals, I always have to use an outboard compressor. I have a milkbox, which I don't like that much, it's OK though, but the DOD I'd been using for years got a particularly nasty drink spilled into it by some drunk, and that was that.

So I tried using the FX loop and the Milkbox sound more like a cat box. I've never had luck using an amps FX loop or with a pedal....so I just run the pedal on the front end, Tele into compressor, into X3, and the sound is amazing. It smoothed everything out in an unbelievable way, and of course when that happens, your guitar feels like a different instrument to your hands.

That's my main tip for the X3, and it's an important one to me. I have tweaked some, but with studio and live gigging, it's hard to take the time, but I will probably do more this week. I've used a lot of pedals since they first started making pedals and this thing is the best thing out there, in my opinion.

[callaway]

I've gone the opposite way. I had the Vetta II for over 6 years (I got one from the first production lot and finally just resold it last year), then the X3 with a small tube amp was my rig for 6 months of last year. When the M13 came out last fall, I got it right away and I'm to a homemade compressor and distortion, the M13, and a homemade tube amp now.

With the Vetta II combo, I initially used the combo speakers as my stage monitor but ran the direct out to the PA. I got fed up with not being able to get the house sound good, because you totally have to EQ your patches through the house mains in order for it to sound its best. So I started throwing a 57 in front of the combo... the sound guy liked that better too.

All that to say... I think the modeling stuff is very powerful, but if you want the house to hear how good your tone is, then you need to make time to walk off the stage as far as you can to hear and tweak your patches. Or even better, sit with the sound man and plug straight in there while you tweak.

I do love the power of the modeling stuff, but for where I'm at now (even playing lots in church), the simpler rig is where it's at for me.

[Bensen]

I tried to play direct with a Tech 21 Preamp - sounded really good, but at one point of the service the soundman accidently hit the mute botton on my channel and for one and a half songs I played my tele unplugged. That was the last time I played direct.
Think the direct stuff is great I just like to control my stage sound myself, and now that I have my deluxe reverb clone, I won't go back...

[speedy mcfeely]

I play through an xt live into the power amp in of a blues stripe bandit. I use a volume pedal in between the pod and amp. I can adjust the volume better. I go straight to the board at church, and have never looked back. I spent some time when I first got it and set up my main patches for the PA, then for the amp... 2 banks with slightly diferent eq.

I find myself playing through the pod more than my lonestar.

[jb12string]

Just out of curiosity, why a seperate volume between the pod and amp?

[speedy mcfeely]

I like to run the output of the pod at max. I leave it this way to keep everything consistant between home and church. the vol pedal acts as a master volume of sorts. Plus at jams I can give a little boost for leads.

[62Caster]

You can download Lincoln's exact patches on his website too!

[jb12string]

Not sure if you know or not, but the volume pedal on the POD can be configured so it is at the end of the signal chain

[speedy mcfeely]

the problem is that there is no way to control the volume of the amp. thus the vol pedal.

[jb12string]

Isn't the volume pedal still before the amp? I don't understand how it is different than using the volume pedal configured to the end of the POD signal chain

[speedy mcfeely]

because the chances of me getting back to the same output volume after engaging the wah would be very slim. I use the wah alot... maybe too much.