[Nik]

So I was at the local music store trying out their 7-strings (they actually had 3 7-strings ) when I walked past the PA section.

I'm in the market for a new amp cause my Spider II just isn't cutting it in terms of tone. Now, I have a PodXTLive that I absolutely love, and I'm interested in amplifying that. Atomic amps sound nice, but aren't as powerful as I'd like them (at least not yet).

So, I couldn't help but notice that PA speakers are fairly cheap compared to amps. I can get two nice, big, decent-quality PA speakers for a fairly good price (and I'm trying to learn vocals, so a PA would help there, too.)

I'm just curious, the PodXT has a special setting for PA, and it's supposed to sound really nice through a PA. Is a PA a viable alternative to buying a guitar amp? Is it a good idea, if I plan on using my PodXT, to just buy a really nice PA to amplify it for concerts?

[nyck]

Yeah, a PA would be a good option for a podxt, but it won't feel like a tube amp(duh)

I run my Podxt with a Rocktron Velocity 120 poweramp and an Avatar 4x12. It works really well and the rocktron is pretty transparent. I don't get the feel of a tube amp though, so I think I'm gonna get a tube head or something like that soon.

What do you mean by amplify guitar for concerts? If you're in a band, any reputable venue should have a PA that you could plug directly into with the Pod. My poweramp and cab cost me around 500 total.

[Nik]

Originally Posted by nyck

Yeah, a PA would be a good option for a podxt, but it won't feel like a tube amp(duh)

I run my Podxt with a Rocktron Velocity 120 poweramp and an Avatar 4x12. It works really well and the rocktron is pretty transparent. I don't get the feel of a tube amp though, so I think I'm gonna get a tube head or something like that soon.

What do you mean by amplify guitar for concerts? If you're in a band, any reputable venue should have a PA that you could plug directly into with the Pod. My poweramp and cab cost me around 500 total.

The feel of tube amps doesn't concern me too much right now--I love my tone plugged-in directly into my computer, and if I can amplify that signal accurately for live shows, then that'd be perfect

For concerts, I mean live playing in general. We're not doing concerts yet, but we are getting there (we actually got offered a gig the other day, but I had to turn it down cause bassist broke his wrist ) Anyhow, not all places have PA, and for places that do have PAs, I can have that extra Ooompf.

Just curious, how powerful is your poweramp and cab?

[Popsyche]

Originally Posted by Nik

So I was at the local music store trying out their 7-strings (they actually had 3 7-strings ) when I walked past the PA section.

I'm in the market for a new amp cause my Spider II just isn't cutting it in terms of tone. Now, I have a PodXTLive that I absolutely love, and I'm interested in amplifying that. Atomic amps sound nice, but aren't as powerful as I'd like them (at least not yet).

So, I couldn't help but notice that PA speakers are fairly cheap compared to amps. I can get two nice, big, decent-quality PA speakers for a fairly good price (and I'm trying to learn vocals, so a PA would help there, too.)

I'm just curious, the PodXT has a special setting for PA, and it's supposed to sound really nice through a PA. Is a PA a viable alternative to buying a guitar amp? Is it a good idea, if I plan on using my PodXT, to just buy a really nice PA to amplify it for concerts?

You will be missing the tactile response of a tube amp on full throttle, as it interacts with the the guitar and pickups. This is the phenomenon known as touch. You can generate a cool but unvarying tone from your modelers, but tube tone touch is a tool that has only one source. [/rant]

[nyck]

Originally Posted by Nik

The feel of tube amps doesn't concern me too much right now--I love my tone plugged-in directly into my computer, and if I can amplify that signal accurately for live shows, then that'd be perfect

For concerts, I mean live playing in general. We're not doing concerts yet, but we are getting there (we actually got offered a gig the other day, but I had to turn it down cause bassist broke his wrist ) Anyhow, not all places have PA, and for places that do have PAs, I can have that extra Ooompf.

Just curious, how powerful is your poweramp and cab?

How powerful is my rig? It's super loud dude. I could take on any venue with my rig, although I'm not in a band at the moment. At high volumes, nothing clips harshly, or starts getting muddy or annoying. It's just really punchy and clear. The thing I miss is the tube touch, like Popsyche said.
As long as you have some efficient speakers(I got 2 Vin30s and 2 G12H30s) in a good cab with atleast a 100 watt SS poweramp, then you're good to go.

[Nik]

Thanks fellas!

Are the Flextone's tube powered?

There are a lot of Line 6 modellers out there. I suppose I've never experienced 'touch' since I've been cranking my Spider II modeling amp. Would a PA work like my Spider II in terms of tone amplification (except, more accurately)?

[nyck]

Line 6 doesn't have/or haven't ever made a tube amp.
The PA is going to take your Podxt tone you hear in your headphones and amplify it pretty much very similarly.

[Nik]

Originally Posted by nyck

Line 6 doesn't have/or haven't ever made a tube amp.
The PA is going to take your Podxt tone you hear in your headphones and amplify it pretty much very similarly.

So is there any difference between buying a big Vetta amp, or buying a nice, powerful PA and using that to amplify your Pod?

[Popsyche]

I tried out one of those Spider II amps, and it does have some touch to it's modeling. A PA system will sound like playing through your stereo, usually not good!

[Nik]

Originally Posted by Popsyche

I tried out one of those Spider II amps, and it does have some touch to it's modeling. A PA system will sound like playing through your stereo, usually not good!

Yeah, but doesn't the PodXT also apply some touch to it's modelling? I would assume that if the Spider does it, so would the much superior PodXT.

Thanks for your help guys!