In his katana 3 review video from today, Justin shows how to use the modeler without going into the complicated options.
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I have the HT5R-ii. As far as I know (but you should check yourself), the main difference between ii and iii is that they put a pretty advanced digital cab modelling into the headphone output. In mine, the headphone out has a switch between 1x12 and 4x12 cab emulator. They both sound good, but I prefer the 4x12 setting. For your reference, i use Audeze planar magnetic headphones.
The amp can play very soft while retaining good sound both on the clean and drive channels. I can record a few samples with my phone later today and upload here.
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I havenāt played electric in years, but just like getting a new guitar, this is usually the best approach, I think.
And Iād suggest you be a little flexible with your budget, if possible. If you find an amp that really āspeaksā to you, and itās 20% or 30% more than you planned to spend, stretch a bit and buy it anyway.
In my experience, you will be happier in the long run.
And if itās a reputable store, you should be able to exchange it or return it if doesnāt perform well when you get it home.
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Bit late to the party on this one but apart from the GAS, have tried to find your own sound on the POD or just using the stock factory pre-sets. Since the last firmware upgrade you pretty much have a warehouse of amps cabs and FX at your finger tips.
Not sure what sound you are looking for but there some great free Presets out there and some not so expensive package to add to your user preset library. It will save you a fortune unless you are set on a new amp ?
If you have not added any new presets to the POD Iād suggest checking out the guy
https://www.youtube.com/@JoshGordonGuitar
or take a look at https://www.choptones.com/
Most of the factory presets are a bit naff, can be tweaked but not saved. But the world is your oyster in the User Preset arena !
Just my 2 cents - a happy POD user !
No, itās fine. Although, partly because of how our ears work, it wonāt sound as good as when itās cranked a bit.
I would also warn that it is, physically, quite big which may not be best for an apartment.
May I ask why you are dead set against modelling?
Is it the concern about option paralysis because there are great options which donāt have tonnes of options, like the Yamaha THR series, which are very apartment friendly and which will sound as good as any tube amp (and better than most) at TV volumes.
The other thing I would recommend is taking a structured approach to your Pod:
As @TheMadman_tobyjenner suggested, ignore the presets. Start with a clean, empty patch and just add an amp model. I would start with a simple Fender or Marshall model. Then play with the gain and tone controls on that.
Aside from some reverb, donāt add any effects. Just stick with one amp model and play with that until you get used to the various settings.
This way, you get pretty much the same experience of using the real amp in something you already have, without the option paralysis of choosing something else to buy.
Cheers,
Keith
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I have the lower power version of that head, the T5 5W infinium head, it has 1W and 0.1W settings also. Going into an Orange 1x8ā Cab itās not too loud fully cranked but it sounds good. Into a 1x10ā or 1x12ā Cab it gets a bit loud even at 0.1W, itās just the amount of air it moves but it still sounds good at lower volume levels so for me itās a big winner. If I want to use FX I just set up a good clean tone up and plug my Sonicake Matribox in the front end, it works very well!
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Almost from day one, Iāve never used the factory presets. I have quite a few presets (most where free to download) that I either downloaded or made myself.
I think I have fallen into a trap trying to mimic artists tones, instead of trying to find my own sound. Maybe itās time for a preset clear out!
Thanks for sending the links, btw.
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Iām not looking for a modelling amp because I already have the Pod Go.
I did try the THR once but only briefly when checking a Yamaha guitar. It was sometime ago but it didnāt struck a chord in me but I was more focused on the feel of the guitar and the THR. Maybe Iāll give it another shotā¦
And yes, I probably need to clear most of my presets and start some new from scratch.
This for sure with the POD or half a dozen go tos for different styles.
That is a trap. Especially when, if you get a chance to listen to the tracks in isolation before they have been processed by the mixing and mastering, very often they donāt sound anything like you think.
Cheers,
Keith
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Hi Kostas,
I have been watching this thread for a couple days. I generally agree with what you have been told about using what you have. I have a Helix LT, so am familiar with a lot of the options you have.
The problem of too many options can quickly be solved by you telling yourself āI want to play on a plexiā and simply setting up a simple chain - donāt think about adding anything more than maybe a reverb. This is one thing I learned early on - and it is aligned with Keithās comment about hearing tracks before mixing. Just keep your chain simple. Choose a famous model to work with and donāt add more than some reverb at first. Play with it. Iāll bet you will find new enjoyment with your POD.
Additionally, I found that the speaker I was using was important to the sound in the room. My purchase was the PowerCAB, but I think I paid a lot of money for a design not quite as advertised and I could have been as happy with something like the Catalyst. I find myself mostly using the speaker models in the PowerCAB. These are not cabinet models, these are just the loud speaker. I found 3 I like and donāt often look at others.
The most important thing about that amp is that it used a larger diameter speaker than I had previously. This seems to make the difference in fullness. I also think that a speaker for a guitar is going to sound more closely to what I expect over the studio speakers. I do see a likely problem in that you may get a louder low frequency range and this will be more easily heard by your neighbors.
I think you now have what you need. Adding another amp will ADD to the number of options you have, not reduce them. If GAS is not your primary mindset, then choose to simplify the use of what you have now.
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The Peavey Vypers are amazing analog amps. Their ātranstubeā stuff sounds unbelievable. I went through several before landing on Peavey.
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Hi John.
Which version Peavy Vyper do you own?
Whatās your favorite aspect of the amp?
Tod
I donāt know the vypers, but I do know the silver stripe bandit and red stripe bandits. The silver stripe was my 1st real amp. While Iāve now got into the tube amp thing, I still play my red stripe bandit daily. Itās sitting right in ft. of me right now. You donāt lie when ya say the transtube stuff sounds unbelievable. It really is that good imho. Peavey really nailed it with their transtube stuff I think.
They donāt sound solid state, theyāre not boxey sounding at all. The transtube really does make it so these amps behave similar to a tube amp. I play the clean channel mostly, transtube full engaged. At about three on the vol., which is starting to get loud, it does start to get to edge of breakup. The more ya turn it up, the dirtier it starts getting. I love the smooth tones I get from this amp. Very hi fi sounding compared to many solid state amps Iāve encountered, including other peaveys that are not transtube equipped.
When I got my red stripe bandit, I had the option of getting the studio pro instead. A bit smaller amp and less wattage, though I donāt know what it is. But the studio pro impressed me as well. It sounded near as good a the larger cab bandit. Since I was shopping bandits, thatās where I went and Iām for sure glad I did. I really do like that amp. Only thing I donāt like about a bandit is they are heavy. About 50lbs.
While I aināt said much about the dirt channel of the bandit, it is there if ya want. It can be very high gain sounding if thatās your thing. Studio Pro was the same. Or they can be in between clean and high gain too. Very versatile amp.
If ya get the chance to try one of these transtube, especially the red stripe ones, give it a try. My guess is youāll be impressed.
Best yet, they aināt real expensive. Used prices for either bandit or studio pro in my area is 2-300 USD. I gave 200 for the one I got 3 or so years ago.
Last comment, the red stripe bandit I got really does go from volume of can hear the strings on the guitar over the amp to, window rattling, paint peeling, air moving loud.
No headphone jack though. But both have fx loop. The loop works real good imho.
If I had to have only one amp, the bandit might be the one Iād keep, solid state or not.