Posted: 2/26/2010 11:43:38 AM EDT
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I just picked up a used line 6 Spider II, 75 watt modeling amp. I admit I didn't really know much about them other than occasionally playing one at the music store. I got a great deal on it, so I jumped. I brought it home and began messing around with it. The modeling styles are pretty good, but overall I am disappointed in my purchase. It is in like new shape and came with a pedal board complete with volume/wah.
What I don't like is the fact that while all the factory settings are adjustable, you can't shut the modeling off and just run it clean or with a little drive on it. You have to adjust all the factory settings to find something you like. While it has fantastic metal and crunch settings, I play mostly coffee house stuff, mostly clean with a little chorus and reverb. A few songs I add some overdrive. I can't seem to get anything close to what I need with it. I should have messed with it more before I bought it. For someone who plays rock or metal, this is an awesome setup, but not for the amateur, play in laid back bar guy like me. 
Anyone have any tips or tricks to using this amp? 
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| I have a 75W Line 6 Spider III, and while I mostly play rock/metal, I can usually scroll through the presets, or banks to find something that works for a particular song/sound. No problems finding reverb, chorus, clean. I will admit I don't know what the differences are between the Spider II, and Spider III though either. |
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Quoted:
I have a 75W Line 6 Spider III, and while I mostly play rock/metal, I can usually scroll through the presets, or banks to find something that works for a particular song/sound. No problems finding reverb, chorus, clean. I will admit I don't know what the differences are between the Spider II, and Spider III though either. I think you have artist profiles/presets don't you? |
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I bought a Spider back when they first hit the market. Never did warm up to it. Dumped it on a su... uh, sold it to a friend who didn't keep it long either.
I have a POD XT now with every effect I could possibly ever need and then some, and a much more user-friendly interface. But mostly I play guitar-cord-amp through a pre-MIM Fender Hot Rod DeVille. A pair of 6L6 tubes and four ten-inch speakers are my favorite effect. 
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Quoted:
I bought a Spider back when they first hit the market. Never did warm up to it. Dumped it on a su... uh, sold it to a friend who didn't keep it long either. I have a POD XT now with every effect I could possibly ever need and then some, and a much more user-friendly interface. But mostly I play guitar-cord-amp through a pre-MIM Fender Hot Rod DeVille. A pair of 6L6 tubes and four ten-inch speakers are my favorite effect. I was messing around with it more today. It is growing on me, but I have an old, but great Korg A3 Effects processor which for being 20 years old, still sounds as good or better than the line 6. I think I will put it on Craigslist and sell it with the foot pedals for $225 - $250 or trade it for a nice amp. |
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Unless you're playing through headphones, NEED the modeling and speaker sim for direct recording,
or use LOTS of effects and patch changes, I'd scrap the all in one amps. Get a decent tube amp and couple of pedals (or a tube amp with a good effects loop for the A3), and you're done. |
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Quoted:
Unless you're playing through headphones, NEED the modeling and speaker sim for direct recording, or use LOTS of effects and patch changes, I'd scrap the all in one amps. Get a decent tube amp and couple of pedals (or a tube amp with a good effects loop for the A3), and you're done. This. I tried my hand at digital amps and never warmed up to them. |
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Like others mentioned, you'd probably be happiest with a tube amp. A Fender tube amp & a Tube Screamer would be right up your alley. But if you still want to give modeling amps a try, go mess around with a Peavey Vypyr. I have one & it sounds suprisingly good for what it is & I love it for a practice amp. |