HELP gt10 vs pod xt live

shadow1 · 2009-10-13T15:50:43+00:00

Ok i know this has been discussed before but hear me out. comparing gt10 - pod x3 live or gt8 to pod xt live... I perviously owned a gt6 and got rif of it...

HELP gt10 vs pod xt live

inflames

I have not played on any of the 2 toys, but did allot of research on them.
I would get the GT10 hands down!

Renesongs

I had a GT6 for a couple of years and sold it in favor of Guitar Rig + Rig Kontroller 3. I have had to play out over the last few month and I found that the Rig Kontroller is a bitch to use on stage, besides having to lug a laptop around where ever you play the damn foot kontroller is to small to be accurately used on stage.

I bought a GT10 last week and I feel like I've been reunited with an old friends. The GT10 is extremely versatile and stage sturdy. Even a complete technophobe can get a decent sound out of it in a couple of minutes. The control lights and displays are bright and clear - you might want to put on sunblock and shades before you operate this machine.

The Cons. well as per usual - ~~Rolands~~ The Boss manual is up to sh*t . They kind of event new words and terminology all the time so you got to be able to understand Roland-speak to get through it.

The other big con is that the USB interface is almost useless because Boss doesn't have any software to support it. BUT help is at hand.
Partheus make software called GT- Manager (free to download and try about R300 to license) This is a serious must have for all GT 3,5,6,8,10 owners. Not only does it help you manage and tweak your patches to perfection but it's interface is a major breakthrough in understanding the full capabilities of your GT pedal.

shadow1

Renesongs wrote:
The other big con is that the USB interface is almost useless because Boss doesn't have any software to support it. BUT help is at hand.
Partheus make software called GT- Manager (free to download and try about R300 to license) This is a serious must have for all GT 3,5,6,8,10 owners. Not only does it help you manage and tweak your patches to perfection but it's interface is a major breakthrough in understanding the full capabilities of your GT pedal.

YES! agreed, that is the very reason the POD appealed to me, the user interface on the pc ? For my mixture of music genres, i often finding myself needing many different amps as that creates most of the tone, so maybe the pod is the beter option for me, however i definately see everyone rating the GT over the pod. i would want to run the pod/gt into my amp becuase i have played MANY shows and our sound guys (and venues) are often not trustworthy to rely on them to give me enough monitor for my guitar,so hence why i want to run through my amp- use it more as a monitor than anything else.

4 cable method - surely if you use this you cant use the amp sims (or maybe you can but they sound like crap) that would immediately rule out this method for me.

I would probably just end up using 90% amp sims and distortions and only a few effects i think.

Many peeps say the GT series kicks But I know the gt6 somewhat lacked in the distortion department? it just always seemed thin/digital to me...

I am loving collecting stomps BUT live its abit unpractical when you need to switch from say overdrive into a clean effect with 2 effects - say digitech whammy octave and a delay over it...abit too much tap dancing, secondly the price of stomps are going through the roof! its a tough life for a GAS'er ?

AlanRatcliffe

4 cable method - surely if you use this you cant use the amp sims (or maybe you can but they sound like crap) that would immediately rule out this method for me.

The beauty of it is you can use the amp sims or the guitars preamp ...or even both together - all written into a patch. You can also have the amp's channel switching (or boost switch in the case of the C30) controlled by the switch jacks - also written into the patch.

Many peeps say the GT series kicks But I know the gt6 somewhat lacked in the distortion department? it just always seemed thin/digital to me...

You're talking about a ten year old example of modelling technology. Lower bit and sampling rates, lower resolution modelling. Excellent for the time and still usable (cheap to pick up too), but can't compare to the latest generation stuff.

shadow1

thanks Alan, so it seems the best method for me would actually be the 4 cable method?

doing the amp sims or the guitars preamp ...or even both together - is this achievable with both units?

i am considering going for the older pod xt live (not x3) as its more affordable and besides that i still really want a decent fuzz (probably the ZVEX FUZZ FACTORY) then rock out the univibe from the multifx pedal ?

I sold my gt6 and never looked back when getting stomps, however somehow i find myself stuck between the 2 again... stomps VS multifx ... perhaps incorporating both would be the answer.... i am really ANAL about TONE

BMU

I see the POD XT live is actually cheaper than the GT10. Personally I'd go for the POD then, especially if amp tones are really what you're looking for. But then again I've been a Line 6 fanboy since the original POD 2.0, your mileage may vary. Also with the POD you have the additional modeling packs you can download that are fairly affordable - even MORE fx and amps! I have the additional fx pack and the metal amp pack, very nice.

AlanRatcliffe

shadow1 wrote: thanks Alan, so it seems the best method for me would actually be the 4 cable method?

At least to try. If you find after a month or two you have not written any patches using the amp's preamp, you can drop the send/retutn cables from the FX unit and carry on just using the C30 as a power amp and speaker.

doing the amp sims or the guitars preamp ...or even both together - is this achievable with both units?

Yup. As long as both the the FX unit and amp have an effect send and return, you're golden.

i am considering going for the older pod xt live (not x3) as its more affordable and besides that i still really want a decent fuzz (probably the ZVEX FUZZ FACTORY) then rock out the univibe from the multifx pedal ?

I don't know how others feel, but the XT Live really annoyed the hell out of me trying to tweak it - but I only used one for half an hour. I'm not biased against the PODS, I used a POD Pro for years - even after getting a GT-Pro (GT-pro ended up on piezos, where I wanted Effects, POD pro stayed on the electric guitar side).

I sold my gt6 and never looked back when getting stomps, however somehow i find myself stuck between the 2 again... stomps VS multifx ... perhaps incorporating both would be the answer.... i am really ANAL about TONE

I know exactly what you rare going through. I flit back and forth between the tonal bliss of real amps and the flexible effects powerhouse of Guitar Rig. An amp setup and stomp effects that could replace GR for me would be way too unwieldy (three amps for a start). So I use them for different things - an amp and overdrive for jamming and quick plug and play enjoyment, but GR for when I'm recording or need FX. Horses for courses.

To be honest, If I were in your situation, I'd probably go exactly the same route as xcpointx - http://www.guitarforum.co.za/your-gear/xcpointx-rack-gear/ - G-Major, Tri-Axis and a valve power amp and speakers. Only problem being that's a huge investment.

Garth-S

I have a POD Xt Live, and it doesn't have send/return jacks, so if u going to use the 4 cable method you'll probably have to use something else. At the moment i've been using the following: Guitar -> Boss OD-20 -> amp -> Pod Xt Live (in the loop) then output.. I'm mainly using my pod for delay, reverb, and mod effects. I would consider selling my XT Live if there is any interest, but i'm not in any huge hurry.

shadow1

Garth S wrote: I have a POD Xt Live, and it doesn't have send/return jacks, so if u going to use the 4 cable method you'll probably have to use something else. At the moment i've been using the following: Guitar -> Boss OD-20 -> amp -> Pod Xt Live (in the loop) then output.. I'm mainly using my pod for delay, reverb, and mod effects. I would consider selling my XT Live if there is any interest, but i'm not in any huge hurry.

What price you looking for? I am in Cape Town so i would need it posted

Garth-S

Hey Shadow i've pm'd you the details

Mr-M

shadow1, have you ever considered using a True Bypass Effect Looper pedal to help you manage your single pedals live? It's what I use and it makes life a bunch easier. For instance in loop 1 you set up an overdrive and chorus for rhythm, loop 2 a distortion and a delay for lead etc.
Basically any combination of effects can be chained in the loops and turned on with a single stomp. Perhaps that might be another route to look at if you already like your sound and it will be way cheaper.

I'd recommend exploring that option as it makes your life easier live.

shadow1

Mr M wrote: shadow1, have you ever considered using a True Bypass Effect Looper pedal to help you manage your single pedals live? It's what I use and it makes life a bunch easier. For instance in loop 1 you set up an overdrive and chorus for rhythm, loop 2 a distortion and a delay for lead etc.
Basically any combination of effects can be chained in the loops and turned on with a single stomp. Perhaps that might be another route to look at if you already like your sound and it will be way cheaper.

As it happens I'm selling my 3-Loop Will Sledge FX Looper. PM me if you're interested. Even if you don't want mine (like if you need a bigger looper), I'd recommend exploring that option as it makes your life easier live.

MR M - thanks, i have never actually considered that... i will google it and check it out.I am pretty happy with my tone,not 100% but i think you can never get that "illusive tone" that you 100% love! i acutally heard a live dvd of a dude WALTER TROUT ...oh my!!! thats my perfect tone i would love! will let you know...

Skywalker

shadow1 wrote:
Mr M wrote: shadow1, have you ever considered using a True Bypass Effect Looper pedal to help you manage your single pedals live? It's what I use and it makes life a bunch easier. For instance in loop 1 you set up an overdrive and chorus for rhythm, loop 2 a distortion and a delay for lead etc.
Basically any combination of effects can be chained in the loops and turned on with a single stomp. Perhaps that might be another route to look at if you already like your sound and it will be way cheaper.

As it happens I'm selling my 3-Loop Will Sledge FX Looper. PM me if you're interested. Even if you don't want mine (like if you need a bigger looper), I'd recommend exploring that option as it makes your life easier live.

I've been looking at something like this recently as I've got a similar dilema as shadow. I looked at the Carl Martin Octaswitch -dig those little DIP switches ? Does anyone else bring these in locally? How would you hook this up if you didnt want ALL your pedals on the board?

Mr-M

Skywalker wrote: I've been looking at something like this recently as I've got a similar dilema as shadow. I looked at the Carl Martin Octaswitch -dig those little DIP switches ? Does anyone else bring these in locally? How would you hook this up if you didnt want ALL your pedals on the board?

Carl Martin is done locally by Andy McGibbon's Guitar World. I've seen the Octaswitch in their store before so they do definitely bring it in - http://www.andymcgibbons.co.za/
If you don't want all you pedals on your board you'd have to look at a small rack setup with a remote loop switcher and a controller pedal. Check out the Voodoo Labs GCX + Ground Control System:
http://www.voodoolab.com/gcx.htm
http://www.voodoolab.com/gcontrolpro.htm
You can get Voodoo Labs at Marshall Music CT - http://www.marshallcape.co.za/

Hope that helps!

Tokai-SA

BMU wrote: I use a POD XT but not BOSS GT. The way I understand it is like guitarboy2828 said; the POD is primarily an amp. The insides are different, computer algorithms instead of valves, but that is it's purpose in life, to be an amp. You wouldn't primarily plug a POD into an amp, because it already is an amp. It goes straight to the PA/mixing desk. It has some effects added of course. (Ok a lot of effects.) And yes you CAN plug it into an amp...but why would you pay for the amp simulation part of it then, if you just want a multi-effects unit. (Unless it's actually cheaper.)

Keep in mind the Pod and all other digital modellers are Pre-Amps, not amps...that's the problem, there's no poweramp modelling in any of these units.
Now Line 6 might tell us that they're modelling the poweramp as well as the Pre-amp in their Pods, but they're not...that's their 'kak' story. ?

Plugging a Pod into the Effects Loop of your amp bypasses the Pre-Amp and only uses the amps poweramp, which is a legitimate way to use any Pre-Amp modeller.
Plugging into the input of the amp is a definite no no, because that's a Pre-Amp into a second Pre-Amp, which will colour the modellers tone for sure.

Having said all that, I find the Pod/Line 6 amp modelling is way better than the COSM Boss stuff, but the Boss modellers are way better when it comes to FX...and the Vox Tonelab has the most 'organic' tubelike amp modelling of them all.
A friend of mine, great great guitarist, plugged his Tonelab SE into my Rivera Fandango the other day and blew my mind, his patches sounded awesome.

AlanRatcliffe

Tokai SA wrote: Keep in mind the Pod and all other digital modellers are Pre-Amps, not amps...that's the problem, there's no poweramp modelling in any of these units.
Now Line 6 might tell us that they're modelling the poweramp as well as the Pre-amp in their Pods, but they're not...that's their 'kak' story. ?

No, they model the entire amp. They model in preamp, power amp and even the power supply. Then they model the speaker and cabinet as a separate unit. What they don't do, is allow you access to mix and match the different sections from different amps. If they didn't model the power amp, there would be no difference between a JTM45 and a Bassman.

Tokai-SA

Alan

They say they model everything, but I have my doubts.

Line 6 said they'd never use tubes in their amps, they said they dont need to, and then along came the Spider Valve with a tube poweramp...funny thing is the Spider Valve is basically a Pod 2 Pre-Amp, in fact the DI's are completely Pod 2....and I'm betting there's a Vetta Valve sitting waiting to be released as soon as the time is right.

They also say they modelled different mic placements, no ways, all they did was create different EQ presets and called them different mic placements.
Of course the speaker sims are based on where the Line 6 engineers decided to place the mic in front of the speaker, and many believe they placed the mic in the wrong place, thus all the speaker sims are very "honky", very nasal sounding.
Listen to the clip, listen how honky and nasal the tone is when the EQ turns off, and how much better it is when the EQ is on...it starts with EQ on (lowering round about the 2,5K frequency)...no doubt in my mind they positioned the mic wrong when doing their speaker sims.

Another thing, how does one get poweramp distortion with a Pod running into a PA, if they modelled the poweramp then surely turning up the master should get poweramp distortion like we get when we crank our tube amps?

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