Podxt Pro. Is it time?

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 24 Nov 2005 11:05 am

Well it's been a couple years of using the Podxt. Live gigs almost every weekend, and no end in sight.

I give it an A.

A+ would be if it accepted a Volume Ext for my Hilton, but that's probably not to be, and a cobbled together Midi processor type thing ain't gonna cut it. So, the using of overdrives and compressors before the VP is just not going to happen...

Now. The Plusses I see for the Podxt Pro Rack Mount would be these:

1.Rack Mount, in a case large enough to carry cords, VP, etc, SKB has one. GC will probably throw it in at cost, as like Hilton, Dealers are forbidden to give discounts on the products themselves..

This will keep it off the floor, and away from gravity powered liquids, and Bipedal compression. ( Beer and Pop in the buttons, and getting stepped on). Also will allow chords to come directly out of the back of the rack, and into the PA (XLR) to the amps (1/4") and probably I'll use the two button extension pedal to choose between presets.

2. Improved USB and other connections, allowing the boosting of the DigSig before editing in Cool Edit and other Programs.

3. No separate Power Supply.

4. ?

Minuses:

1. Price, but considering the World will probably end by 2007, I probably won't have to worry about paying for it.

2.?

Anybody with one, that can answer the ?s is invited to comment.

Either that, or I'll just get a 300$ spare Podxt.

They're really good solid trouble free rigs, though a little cluttery with the chords and Power Supply. I tried a leg mount, but it wobbled around and looked stupid.

Thanks for any input.

Happy T-day.

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 24 November 2005 at 11:26 AM.]

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 24 Nov 2005 2:38 pm

Well it seems to me that ya pay a lot more for those rack ears and a couple more I/O's. Really--as far as I can see the pro doesn't really give you much more for twice the bucks. I'm probably missing something. If you go that way though I'll buy your XT (settings included of course). I've got the old POD2 and am a little underwhelmed for steel use. BTW I was whistling through Salem the other night and caught Jon K and Larue at Boone's Treasury. Always a treat. Didn't have time to stay & see if that was your pic in one of the bands playing at Jubitz. Maybe next time!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Nov 2005 3:02 pm

Well, I went from a rack mounted processor to the POD XT to keep from carrying around a rack case. Just as I've went to a Nashville 112, for smaller/lighter the same way with the POD XT.

I still have the excellent rack processor (a T.C. Electronic G-Major) which I have installed in my rack system. But the rack system mostly sits at home taking up space and collecting dust lately.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 24 Nov 2005 4:04 pm

I went to Jr High with John K, and I'm not at Jubitz in the near future, but am working most weekends around in another band in venues I like better. I got fired from one band there, and it's changing there overall. If for the better, I'll be back more, but it's gotta be better than it's been.

I think Scott, youre right about the couple extras not being worth twice the price, and it is pretty easy to set up etc.

I'm heading over to GC tommorrow AM and probably end up getting yet another Fender.

It's getting to be an addiction...

2 Squires in two months, and I rebuilt a strat copy last week.

Damn, guitars are getting cheap.

Happy T Day.

EJL

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 24 Nov 2005 4:37 pm

As far as leg mounts, you might check with Tommy Dodd. He's got a beautiful clamp, that adjusts all around, made just for the Pod.

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 24 Nov 2005 6:49 pm

Eric (maybe I shoulda started a new topic for this but....) I picked up one of those Squire Strats just to screw a synth pickup into. I got it home & dang if it didn't sound like a real strat! They were out of tele's that day. Considering what the real ones go for I've thought about rebuilding one too. Probably a tele. Any suggestions on pick-ups & hardware? As far as I can tell that's where they really skimp. Then I guess I'd take a sander to it. OR- beat it up & put some ciggy burns on it and sell it for $800.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 24 Nov 2005 8:30 pm

SG. FINALLY finished the Shelby Foote Trilogy. What a mind.

Wow!. That was a REAL year's worth of reading. My constant thanks.

More on it later I guess.

I did check out Mr Dodd's clamp, and it's as good as it gets, but I just don't feel right with a "control panel" on a leg, and then there's all the wires.

I'm finding some dealer sales of slightly used Podxt Pros for around 500, and SKB 2 bay cases for 50$. I'll probably wait til next week and get one.

Scott.

When I got my CIC Squire, After tuning one of each, I had the sales guy hand me each one blind. I tried a MIM, Hwy1US, and the CIC. I was ready to sprung for the one I liked, and it was the CIC.

I'm not a fan of overwound pickups, and the CICs, I like better than the overwound ones I have on my "Wayne Pro2" Strat copy. I did a mod on it though and only have a tone control on the bridge PU, and it closer to the strings than the V.

The Strat copy I bought off the floor at GC with a couple dings for HALF Price ( of 149.00) (75$). I put a 3ply pickguard on it, and it played and sounded as good as anything I saw on the rack that day.

I took both of them down to the premier luthier here in Ptld, The Twelfth Fret, and handed both of them over to be crowned and set up. I had intonated both of them to my liking, and the right amount of "quack". The tech fooled with both of them and handed them back saying that they were fine the way they were, and maybe bring them back in a year for fine tuning. Pretty amazing. Good folks.

Anyhow, I really like them.

We'll see what I come back with from the Early Bird Sale at GC tomorrow...

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 24 November 2005 at 08:31 PM.]

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 24 Nov 2005 9:11 pm

Eric,

Like you I had the PODxt. I went to the PODxt Pro rack mount unit.

I was tired of having to carry around a special case for the POD ....it barely fit into my seat and would not fit behind my amp (WEBB 6-14E or 65 BF Twin Reverb).

At least with the rack unit I can go back to carrying it in a rack case.

I like the set up in the rack.

It was some extra coin but after I sold my PODxt (to b0b) I had enough to offset the investment.

Feel free to e mail me with anymore discussion in this.. I love talking shop and sharing and gaining experiences of others.

sfcharr@hotmail.com

Thanks,

------------------
Tim Harr
Carter D-10 8/9 w/ BL-705s, Hilton pedal, PODxt, SGBB, Webb 6-14E Amplifier, 65 Twin Reverb

http://groups.msn.com/TimHarrWebPage

David Spangler · Post by **David Spangler** » 24 Nov 2005 9:19 pm

Being obsessive about equipment, I now own the XT, XT Live and XT Pro. First one was the Live for use with 6-string and a combo amp. Then designed a combo cab for the XT Pro in the top and a ported cab for a BW 1501-4 in the bottom. In the back of the cab, I installed a Parts Express PA 250W @ 4 ohms plate amp. Also have the Line 6 "Short Board" for a floor controller. The cab is dovetailed oak with top and side handles and removable casters. Turned out pretty nice. The really cool thing about the XTs is that you can set up presets on one, back them up on your PC hard drive and restore them to the other XTs. Also, they just really sound good. I've tried most multiple-effect/preamp units and believe the XTs are the best value for the price. Is the Pro worth the extra bucks? I like it because it does not use the transformer power supply, has the XLR, 1/4" and digital outs and enjoy being able to leave all the cables hooked up for quick setup. The XT Live and XT Pro also have a connector for the Line 6 Variax guitars. My only cons for the Pro are that I wish it was 1 rack space tall like many other brands. Also, the display is very small. However, the "Short Board" floor controller has a nice large display of the same information.

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David Spangler

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 24 Nov 2005 11:42 pm

I've been using an ART SGX 2000 for about at least 15 years now. It even survived my house fire 2 years ago.

I've considered several times upgrading to something new like the Line 6 Pod XT Pro, or even the Behringer equivalent V-Amp Pro. Have you tried the V-Vamp at about half the cost? You can get one on ebay for under $200 delivered. I never really checked into it but I think it's the same thing as the Pod.

I just though about adding one to my studio rack so I don't have to drag my gig rack into the studio room when I want to track guitars, basses and steels. What do you think? If it's good enough, I'll just sell the SGX 2000.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 25 Nov 2005 3:07 am

Avoid the Behringer's. I tried a Vamp and it was noisy and not near what the POD XT, that I have now, is. The Behringer's, being "reverse engineered" copies of others, are a couple of models/revisions behind the POD XT.

Same way I had a Behringer Virtualizer Pro rack effects unit. I hate to admit it but it wasn't a bad sound, just not user friendly and very limited on what programming you could do. I bought a T.C. Electronic G-Major rack effects processor which is light years ahead of the Behringer Vitrualizer Pro.

Buddy Griffin · Post by **Buddy Griffin** » 29 Nov 2005 3:20 pm

Eric, I also have a POD XT and tried the leg bracket and I agree it works fine but just looks silly. I needed a new Pack seat anyway so I got one with a side covered section. The POD fits in the seat with the AC adapter and all my cords. I opened the side cover and stuck four small pieces of velcro on the POD and the inside top part of the side cover. The POD fits in there like a glove with great left hand access to all the controls. Much better than the leg bracket and it's not noticeable from the front. I even installed little reusable cable ties on my cords and they double as strain reliefs if you clamp them to the side cover latch. The seat was a little pricey but my old one was beat.