[Shannon]

Well, I've been dealing with a "certain" high-end amp manufacturer for the last couple of weeks now. They have offered me an endorsement. Now that I've thought about it for a bit, I'm now having 2nd thoughts about doing the endorsement deal with them. I think my initial excitement had gotten the better of me.

As much as I'd like to go back to a head, I think I'm gonna stay in rack land. I just enjoy the hell out of switching all my tones & effects with 1 touch of a button. In all honestly, my current tones CRUSH! I'm pretty happy with it & so I don't really need a new amp.

I'm currently using the Line6 PODxt Live, but I'm thinking of upgrading to the PODxt Pro rackmount & getting the seperate footcontroller. Although the Live is portable, I'm in constant fear that someone will accidently dump a beer on it during a show and then....POOF! The main brain of my rig will be fried. The Pro is basically the same thing with a few extras & it'll be safe in the confines of my rack.

So bottom line, am I being an idiot by passing on an endorsement or should I just upgrade my rig?

* Shannon shrugs.

[Vegetta]

NO Shannon I wouldn't say so. Having an endorsement would be nice but if your happy with what you have and plan to continue using it then stick with your Line 6 stuff (Who knows they might endorse you sometime).

Congrats on the offer

[Shannon]

I have entertained the idea of contacting Line6 & BBE Sound. Their components are the core of my sound.

Rocktron would be cool too though. I LOVED the tones I had from my Chameleon before it died. The PODxt Live was its replacement & I've gotten "nearly" identical tones from it.

[NewArmyGuitar]

If you're happy with what you've got, I'd say pass unless it's something that's just ridiculously expensive that you've always wanted.

On a side note, what extras does the rackmount PODxt Pro have over the PODxt Live? I've been entertaining the same idea lately about upgrading.

[DSS3]

Well, for me, it would depend on the endorsement deal. I know you can't post who it is, but could you PM around? :p

OT: your avatar is way too fucking distracting, who is it?

I honestly think that you'd be getting better tones if you upgraded to an all-tube setup, but I'm a tube snob. I have an XT, and I love it for demo's and quick recording, but nothing beats the sound of my Mesa.

Why not take this deal, snag a rack case for the head and the BBE/an effects processor, and control it all via midi? It'd give you the same flexibility (besides maybe so many tones being offered) as the XT, but you'd have an all-tube rig.

[David]

Yeah, I wouldn't say your crazy. The tones I heard at Studio 7... were so original and powerful, and I don't think you could replace them with anything better. RACK gear all the way!

[Drew]

I have a feeling Roctron would be a little more willing to work with you than Line6 as they seem like more of the sort of a company that would work with up-and-coming artists, but I have absolutely NO basis to say that, so that's pure speculation.

Tone's a funny thing, Shannon... We all spend so much time tweaking ours, and you almost never find anyone who's 110% enthralled with their sound (I love my rig, but I'd only say I'm 90-95% there, myself). I'd say the fact that you've been so happy with your current rig for so long means that I'd be hesitant to jump into anything binding without thinking long and hard about it, but then again maybe this new setup would be that last missing peice to your "tone in your head."

[eaeolian]

My personal feeling is: Don't take an endorsement just to take it. However, Drew's got a point, as well - but you don't sound too enthralled with the idea...

So I dunno. Helpful, isn't that?

[rogue]

am i the only person who likes heads and cabs, with a big multi-effects processor on the floor infront of him

[Shannon]

One big motherfucker of a reply!

Originally Posted by NewArmyGuitar

On a side note, what extras does the rackmount PODxt Pro have over the PODxt Live? I've been entertaining the same idea lately about upgrading.

Just look on www.line6.com & do the comparisons. Or better yet, take a trip to your local Line6 dealer & compare them in person. There's hardly any differences...expect the price.

Originally Posted by DSS3

I honestly think that you'd be getting better tones if you upgraded to an all-tube setup, but I'm a tube snob. I have an XT, and I love it for demo's and quick recording, but nothing beats the sound of my Mesa.

Why not take this deal, snag a rack case for the head and the BBE/an effects processor, and control it all via midi? It'd give you the same flexibility (besides maybe so many tones being offered) as the XT, but you'd have an all-tube rig.

Well, the tube debate, as we all know, is completely subjective. I've gone down the tube amp path before & it just wasn't for me. 99.9% of the tubes amps I've tried still sounded too spongy in the low end. Since I'm in Drop A tuning, I absolutely require super tight & FOCUSED low end. Think "Dimebag" tight & then some. I'm an absolute stickler for this & solidstate has provided it to me way more than tubes have. HOWEVER (this is a big "however"), the one and only amp that made me completely cream my jeans & made me say "I will own one of those one day!" is the Genz-Benz El Diablo 100 through a G-Flex 412 cab. WOW!
I've done numerous full-length recordings with my Chameleon/BBE setup & they all came out amazing. But anyway, enough on that. Are all amp heads midi switchable? And, what would you need for that (i.e. midi converter of some sort)? I'd like to know more.

Originally Posted by David

Yeah, I wouldn't say your crazy. The tones I heard at Studio 7... were so original and powerful, and I don't think you could replace them with anything better. RACK gear all the way!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Drew

I have a feeling Rocktron would be a little more willing to work with you than Line6 as they seem like more of the sort of a company that would work with up-and-coming artists, but I have absolutely NO basis to say that, so that's pure speculation.

Tone's a funny thing, Shannon... We all spend so much time tweaking ours, and you almost never find anyone who's 110% enthralled with their sound (I love my rig, but I'd only say I'm 90-95% there, myself). I'd say the fact that you've been so happy with your current rig for so long means that I'd be hesitant to jump into anything binding without thinking long and hard about it, but then again maybe this new setup would be that last missing peice to your "tone in your head."

I'd be willing to work with Rocktron, definately. Although I loved my Chameleon, I'd be more interested in the Prophesy because of how quick you can change parameters on the fly (knobs vs. the Chameleon scrolling menus). My Line6 has spoiled me in that aspect.
I've spent a lot of time with Rocktron & Line6 processors. Couple those with a BBE & I can get "my tone" within minutes. It's all about manipulating the onboard parametric EQs. That's the secret to my sound.

Originally Posted by eaeolian

My personal feeling is: Don't take an endorsement just to take it. However, Drew's got a point, as well - but you don't sound too enthralled with the idea...

So I dunno. Helpful, isn't that?

Well, I am very excited about the amp & I've wanted to try one out for quite some time now. Although I can't say the manufacturer name, I did post a thread on a "certain" high-wattage head with subwoofer cabs not long ago. I think y'all can figure it out from there.

It's weird though. The simplicity of a head really appeals to me, but I also like dedicated effects on cleans, rhythms & solo patches. I guess I'm just a confused individual who doesn't realize that his ideal setup is what he already has. The grass is always seems greener on the other side. We guitarists are such tools to the gear industry.