Tonelab or Pod? What do you think?

[stratmanuk]

Hi everyone

After a few years of completely resisting modellers, I'm prepared at last, at least, to give them a try. The ones that look the best seem to be the Vox Tonelab LE and the Line 6 Pod X3 Live (the pro one costs more than I'd like to pay for something that might be in the classifieds in a month or so).

I recall many Guitarist magazine reviews using the Tonelab and I was often impressed with the sound. The soundclips on the Vox site, I reckon, probably don't do it justice. Plus it has a valve/tube, and I've always gone for valves because, well, to me at least, they sound good! (Incidentally, what I've been doing lately is using a tonebone into the interface, which is quite good. I really do recommend Radial products.)

The POD on the other hand -- and this is the reason for this thread -- sounds pretty good on the website. I don't mean the older ones, but this new X3 thing sounds pretty okay. Its distortion tones are pretty cool.

On top of this it's clear that the POD offers more for slightly more money. It's for bass and vocals too, which for me is pretty useful because I tend to do everything but the drums myself, on recordings at least!

I bet there are loads of musicians out there who've gone for a similar experiment: can I really get even just 80% of the tone of an amp, in the middle of the night, with one of these thingies plugged into my laptop?

So if you use either Vox tonelab or Line 6 X3s, please let me know what you think, and how it works for you.

As a sort of punchline, I should add that the tones I most love are those of Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, and Larry Carlton. These players play the most rare, and/or the most expensive amplifiers known to man, so I've got to say I'm not expecting to sound like them with this little bit of computer gear... Just something a bit better than a stompbox into my computer interface or a Fender Twin on .5.!

cheers everyone

[Amberience]

tonelab over a Pod, Orange Crush over modellers.

[Fretwired]

The Line 6 POD X3 is an awesome bit of kit - it's packed with more amps and effects, it has better control over the effects chain, it has better EQ, and the two amps at once feature allows you to do some really cool things.

Best thing to do is to go and try them both and buy the one that sounds the best in your opinion.

[Sir Axeman]

I've got the old Pod XT Live with the model packs added...which apart from the fact that you can mix 2 amps together simultaneously on the X3 Live its all the same sounds. Its very good....more for the higher gain sounds IMO. On the other hand I also have the Tonelab LE and thats great also...fewer amp models but really when the chips are down you really dont need 70+ amp models really do ya? Espesh when loads of them are so similar to others that it sorta negates them. The Tonelabs 16 are plenty for most people and the FX are also plenty. The Tonelab excels more at the more subtle drives - you know the older amps like AC30's and the like...were the i see the Pod more at the Mesa types!

Like Fretwired said go try 'em all out for yourself - thats always the best thing to do. Pay attention to patch change times as some modellers have a definate delay when changing patches over which could be relevant if your gonna use it onstage in a live setting...but I know that both the Pod and the Tonleab have pretty fast patch changing...fast enough for it not to be an issue...but if you do look at some others bear it in mind. For example my GNX 3000 has about half a second delay between patch changes! Now for me personally if I was in a live setting this could become annoying...but its sounds are fantastic! In a studio setting it wouldnt matter.

I would definately consider trying out the new Boss GT10 cos that looks very impressive at least watching the demos on youtube.

[Fretwired]

And for those who think Line 6 gear is hard to use here's a great demo from a Line 6 forumite (not a Line 6 employee). This one is for a Metallica style rhythm tone - watch out for the dog ...

http://www.glenndelaune.com/MetallicaVideoDemo2.wmv

[jonboyrob]

I have had a Pod2 and a Tonelab, much prefered the pod. And i prefer the Pod2 to the newer ones, am i odd?

jon

[Fretwired]

I have had a Pod2 and a Tonelab, much prefered the pod. And i prefer the Pod2 to the newer ones, am i odd?

jon

Actually no - there was a campaign on the Line 6 forums to get a few of the much loved POD 2 tones back onto the XT platform. And don't forget that the Spider range and PocketPOD are based on the POD 2 amp sims.

[jonboyrob]

Actually no - there was a campaign on the Line 6 forums to get a few of the much loved POD 2 tones back onto the XT platform. And don't forget that the Spider range and PocketPOD are based on the POD 2 amp sims.

PHEW!!!!