[budda]

Originally Posted by Lankles

Isn't the best thing about modelling gear the fact that you don't have to buy new tubes?

Why would you take that away from yourself?

*sigh*... No!

the best thing about modelling is the vast amount of tones you can get out of 1 unit instead of 50 amps and 100 pedals and 30 cabs.

[Cancer]

I liked it. It had an amzing amount of thump to it. Drop the price 200$ (or give it a pod xt engine) and I'd take it.

[darren]

I'll be very surprised if Line6 doesn't do a Vetta Valve. That would add the dual-amp capability and MIDI control, and it would also likely be stereo. It would also end up costing probably 2x what the Spider Valve costs.

[Lankles]

Originally Posted by budda

*sigh*... No!

the best thing about modelling is the vast amount of tones you can get out of 1 unit instead of 50 amps, two of which you use and 100 pedals, 8 of which you use and 30 cabs, two of which you use, and the models all suck in comparison.

Fixed.

Next time I'll remember to add emoticons, k? I use plenty of modelling gear when the time is right.

[unconventional]

This is a fascinating discussion as I was researching the line 6 sv hd100 head. I already have mesa recto pre and 2:100, but would like something that has more variations on sound for home use and whatnot. I originally bought the mesa stuff for live situations, but I'm a tad disappointed with the tonal variations. It's sort of like one tone.

Now I'm researching the HD100 head as it's only 700 bucks or 800, I forget. Mostly, what I'm hearing is bad stuff. Now what in the price range of this amp would be equilivent to this?

[Ibanezra]

I own a Spider Valve 2x12 combo. I like it. It's far better than the Spider II, and better than all those solid state amps I've owned in the past. Having said that, it's not a Mesa by any stretch. It's a nice sounding amp that can be used in the bedroom, on stage, or in the studio. You'll need the Line 6 footboard that is sold separately, especially if ya want to use it live. Again, it's a very nice amp, not a great amp...like a Mesa Dual or Mark IV. It's a nice modeling amp and would also work very well with the Pod XT or PodX3 Live....because you can drive the pod through the Spider Valve's tube power section. It's kinda like having a Tubed Vetta II.

[rectifryer]

I bought one today after playing a 6505, marshall mode 4, a marshall jcm 2000 and a mesa dual rectifyer. I find that the line 6 spider valve head is really clear and fluid. People who say its not a true tube amp dont understand electronics. It may not sound as good as your favorite tube amp but that doesnt magically anihalate the tubes from the amp and create transistors in their place. Sure theres a digital signal processor on there. Use a digital pedal? (IE boss metal zone, tube screamer) Then your using one as well. Theres 2 12 ax7 preamp tubes and 4 6l6 power tubes. It is a class ab tube amp. Just like most other popular guitar amps. Theres no solidstate high power amplifcation goin on here. Its not even a hybrid amp. Its purely a tube amp with built in effects that have presets. You dont even have to use them. You can use just the preamps distortion and the power amps distortion if you wanna turn it up.

IMO, this amp is not only more versatile due to its plethora of features, but the distortion is articulate. I could hear every note I played on any guitar in the store(even though I detuned them to A like my K7). From a 200$ Ibanez guitar to a 1100$ les paul they all sounded great. The lead tones were full during sweep picking. I couldnt say the same for the JCM and definitely not the 6505. The mode 4 was hopeless. The mesa, however, was differant. I would of bought that, but it didnt seem as agile. It sure had its moments where it shined above the rest, but you had to play to the amp. You had to do what the amp wanted you to do. Thats not so with the 750$ line 6 spider valve 100 hd100. It may take a couple intitial moments for setup, but you can get whatever you want out of it. Ofcourse you can say taste is subjective(which it is), but, I cant justify paying twice the price for a mesa just to look like I know what I'm doing when I think the line 6 sounds better. I hate the solid state line 6 amps. I love marshall tube amps, but this is just, better.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by rectifryer

I bought one today after playing a 6505, marshall mode 4, a marshall jcm 2000 and a mesa dual rectifyer. I find that the line 6 spider valve head is really clear and fluid. People who say its not a true tube amp dont understand electronics. It may not sound as good as your favorite tube amp but that doesnt magically anihalate the tubes from the amp and create transistors in their place. Sure theres a digital signal processor on there. Use a digital pedal? (IE boss metal zone, tube screamer) Then your using one as well. Theres 2 12 ax7 preamp tubes and 4 6l6 power tubes. It is a class ab tube amp. Just like most other popular guitar amps. Theres no solidstate high power amplifcation goin on here. Its not even a hybrid amp. Its purely a tube amp with built in effects that have presets. You dont even have to use them. You can use just the preamps distortion and the power amps distortion if you wanna turn it up.

IMO, this amp is not only more versatile due to its plethora of features, but the distortion is articulate. I could hear every note I played on any guitar in the store(even though I detuned them to A like my K7). From a 200$ Ibanez guitar to a 1100$ les paul they all sounded great. The lead tones were full during sweep picking. I couldnt say the same for the JCM and definitely not the 6505. The mode 4 was hopeless. The mesa, however, was differant. I would of bought that, but it didnt seem as agile. It sure had its moments where it shined above the rest, but you had to play to the amp. You had to do what the amp wanted you to do. Thats not so with the 750$ line 6 spider valve 100 hd100. It may take a couple intitial moments for setup, but you can get whatever you want out of it. Ofcourse you can say taste is subjective(which it is), but, I cant justify paying twice the price for a mesa just to look like I know what I'm doing when I think the line 6 sounds better. I hate the solid state line 6 amps. I love marshall tube amps, but this is just, better.

Wow, this sounds like a guitar center catalog review...

A digital box in front of your amp is not going to affect your tone the same a way a digital processor in the middle of the amplifier is. And if you dont think a Recto is versatile, sit around and try tweaking it. It might have as much onboard stuff as a spidervalve, but it can do a lot of shit.

Also, i only paid 850$ for my single rec. 100$ is hardly twice the price.

[Edroz]

Originally Posted by rectifryer

Use a digital pedal? (IE boss metal zone, tube screamer)

a Boss Metal Zone and Tube Screamer (i'll take it you mean an Ibanez) are not Digital pedals. both are analog.

also, Digital and Solid State are not the same thing.

[Toshiro]

Originally Posted by rectifryer

I bought one today after playing a 6505, marshall mode 4, a marshall jcm 2000 and a mesa dual rectifyer. I find that the line 6 spider valve head is really clear and fluid. People who say its not a true tube amp dont understand electronics. It may not sound as good as your favorite tube amp but that doesnt magically anihalate the tubes from the amp and create transistors in their place. Sure theres a digital signal processor on there. Use a digital pedal? (IE boss metal zone, tube screamer) Then your using one as well. Theres 2 12 ax7 preamp tubes and 4 6l6 power tubes. It is a class ab tube amp. Just like most other popular guitar amps. Theres no solidstate high power amplifcation goin on here. Its not even a hybrid amp. Its purely a tube amp with built in effects that have presets. You dont even have to use them. You can use just the preamps distortion and the power amps distortion if you wanna turn it up.

You obviously know nothing about guitar equipment..

#1. The preamp in the Spider Valve is digital. Not just the effects. It is not a tube amp with an effects processor, it's a Spider III with a tube power section. If you took out the digital part you'd have nothing but a clean poweramp, similar to a rack unit.

#2. The Boss Metal Zone and Ibanez Tube Screamer are analog, not digital at all.

I could hear every note I played on any guitar in the store(even though I detuned them to A like my K7). From a 200$ Ibanez guitar to a 1100$ les paul they all sounded great. The lead tones were full during sweep picking.

This is quite a feat, considering most stores string their guitars with 9's tuned to standard. With how floppy they'd be in A, I highly doubt any amp would sound articulate.