Confession of a Modeled Amp user

[Bert]

I've always favored reliable rigs such as high quality tube pres + solid state power stages. Just recently though I took the plunge and purchased a tube power amp (Mesa 20/20 -- thanks Matt!) and I'm REALLY digging it. That little bugger sure is loud and clean.

Since I'm a rack geek, how would a Pod XT Pro + solid state power amp compare to a Vetta? I still have my previous power amp (Rocktron Velocity 150) laying around, and while it's no tube amp, it's still quite good. I am considering putting together a second rig around it.

jgcable should be getting a cut of all the Line 6 gear he's helping sell

[jgcable]

I've always favored reliable rigs such as high quality tube pres + solid state power stages. Just recently though I took the plunge and purchased a tube power amp (Mesa 20/20 -- thanks Matt!) and I'm REALLY digging it. That little bugger sure is loud and clean.

Since I'm a rack geek, how would a Pod XT Pro + solid state power amp compare to a Vetta? I still have my previous power amp (Rocktron Velocity 150) laying around, and while it's no tube amp, it's still quite good. I am considering putting together a second rig around it.

jgcable should be getting a cut of all the Line 6 gear he's helping sell

Your second rig would sound good but you really can't compare it to a Vetta. The only amp on the planet that compares to a Vetta is another Vetta. For floor based modelers, the closest thing to a Vetta is the Boss GT-8. The Boss is the real deal. Its VERY good.
I thing that floor or rack based modelers sound better with a tube power amp. I have a GT-6/Marshall 8004 SS based modeling system that sounds fine but its nothing compared to the mighty Vetta.

[Bert]

Do you know what is it about the Vetta that makes it so great? Does it use a significanly different modelling engine than the Pod XT Pro?

[~K~]

Do you know what is it about the Vetta that makes it so great? Does it use a significanly different modelling engine than the Pod XT Pro?

2 amps at once is a biggie .. you can run em seperately or blend them to create hybrid amps ..

[jgcable]

Do you know what is it about the Vetta that makes it so great? Does it use a significanly different modelling engine than the Pod XT Pro?

2 amps at once and double tracking are the major differences. There are a ton more with the new 2.5 software upgrade but those 2 are the biggest.
After you use 2 amps at once and double tracking you will wonder how you ever got by without them. Stacking a Diezel and an Ubershall and running them through the treadplate 4 x 12 cabs can literally knock stuff off of the walls!! Its the heaviest amp tone I have ever heard.

[data187]

i am a vetta owner and have to say it's the best amp out there right now.
there are no amps as versatile, as reliable and as good sounding as a vetta all in one package.
i used to own alot of amps before i finally bought a vetta.
once you've used the 2 amps at once feature, you will never go back to another amp.

[jgcable]

i am a vetta owner and have to say it's the best amp out there right now.
there are no amps as versatile, as reliable and as good sounding as a vetta all in one package.
i used to own alot of amps before i finally bought a vetta.
once you've used the 2 amps at once feature, you will never go back to another amp.

+1

[texasfury]

some mp3 clips please?

[lefty]

Be specific before you bash modelling amps. What amp were you lulled to sleep using?

My bad! Didn't mean to come off as bashing modelers, per
se--hell I own enough modeling gear, and use it a lot--just that I really loved the sound of my tube rig. I was refering to a V-Ampire, so no mystery about the sound, as you can't compare it to Line 6 modelers...

As it is, when I hooked up my rack rig, I ran a Digitech Genesis 3
in the FX loop of the ENGL, and disabled the Genesis' amp sims,
just using it for its noise gate and a little flanger. So, no true escape
from modelers!

tj

[jgcable]

My bad! Didn't mean to come off as bashing modelers, per
se--hell I own enough modeling gear, and use it a lot--just that I really loved the sound of my tube rig. I was refering to a V-Ampire, so no mystery about the sound, as you can't compare it to Line 6 modelers...

As it is, when I hooked up my rack rig, I ran a Digitech Genesis 3
in the FX loop of the ENGL, and disabled the Genesis' amp sims,
just using it for its noise gate and a little flanger. So, no true escape
from modelers!

tj

Comparing the V-Ampire to the Vetta 2 HD is like comparing a solid state Park amplifier to a Marshall JCM800 #2203.
There are a few super high end modeling amps that are in the same league as the Vetta. Hughes & Kettner makes one. Vox has a pretty good one too. They are both super expensive too. Just like the Vetta.
At the local music store where I live the Vetta 2 HD is $1899.99. The floor board is $399.99 and you still have to add speaker cabinets.
Thats fairly expensive in my book. Even used.. an entire Vetta rig is going to run around $1500.00 min.

[catzodellamarina]

Since Line6 is software based, it's safe to say it should get better with each release. I've owned Spider212, Ax2, and PodPro. I think they're all cool but my live experience with them hasn't made me replace my tube rig. I still practice with an old Ax2 at home. Nice amp to jam to CD's. I'll bet the Vetta is way cool, especially for patient software guys. Personally, I hate messing with software configs. I do it all day at my job (Cisco, Windows A.D.). I don't care to take my work home with me. If golf clubs become digital, I'll freaking scream!!

[DonP]

Tubes keep working even after an electromagnetic burst LOL! If the machines in the Matrix were using tubes, they would have wooped our asses LOL!

[jgcable]

Tubes keep working even after an electromagnetic burst LOL! If the machines in the Matrix were using tubes, they would have wooped our asses LOL!

Can't argue with that.. although my PC at work has been on for around 3-5 years straight. It still works. Try that with a Rectifier!!

[horns666]

Vettas are sounding quite appealing to me..I'm going to drag my feet until I see the next big thing come out..whatever that will be..

I'm too stupid to tweak a Vetta..and too lazy and high to learn..I like playing with knobs..

knobs...

[jgcable]

Vettas are sounding quite appealing to me..I'm going to drag my feet until I see the next big thing come out..whatever that will be..

I'm too stupid to tweak a Vetta..and too lazy and high to learn..I like playing with knobs..

knobs...

My buddy who was a totally loyal Mesa Boogie Rectifier user since the 1st day they came out is very similar to how you feel about your Ubershall.
It was Mesa this and Mesa that. No matter what amp I had or anybody else had, his dual and triple rectifiers were the only amp for him. He hated the idea of a software driven amp that is more like a computer than an actual amp. He actually loathed any guitar amp that wasn't full of tubes, even if it sounded good!
I had a Spyder... he hated it
I had a Crate GFX... he hated it
I had a Flextone II XL... he hated it
I had a Flextone HD... he thought it sounded pretty good for being fake.
Randalls, GK's, newer Marshall's.... he hated them
Boss GT-6... he thought it sounded even better than the Flextone when I was using a tube power amp to power it. He still wasn't a fan.
He said you can't do metal properly without tubes. PERIOD.
He has been playing a Vetta 2 HD through oversized Mesa 4 x 12 cabinets for almost 2 years now. His Mesa amps haven't even been turned on since the Vetta arrived. For me... thats really saying something.

Bill, I really think you would dig the Vetta. Even with the learning curve and the tweaking involved.