Line 6 floor pod vs sans amp

funkybass · #1 07-26-2010, 05:47 PM

We got a new PA system at church with lots of power, subs, and new speakers. I've been running direct with great results, but want a little more control over my sound. I'm going to get a floor pod or sans amp. Anyone use either or can give some input?

MNAirHead · #2 07-26-2010, 08:27 PM

They're different beasts...

My preference is the Multi floor boxes.. with DI and a volume pedal (like a Zoom --- cause I'm cheap)

What is your budget?

MNAirHead · #3 07-26-2010, 08:30 PM

OVERALL..

I've not had an issue using an MXR-M80 (used about $65) or Zoom B2.1U (about 90 used) for church gigs... Yes I've tried and owned more expensive stuff.. the reality is the congregation can care less about the differenece from Good to Excellent in bass tone ---

IF given a chance I pick the multi direct as I can use a volume pedal (dork I know)..

Zooberwerx · #4 07-27-2010, 08:03 AM

Lots of excellent choices available but I'd go with the BDDI, RBI, whatever. They're pretty straight-forward, offer tone control, and allow you to match gain with the board quickly. Add a decent pedal compressor and you'll be good to go.

Riis

PJSShearer · #5 07-27-2010, 08:31 AM

I have a Libne 6 flor Pod and highly recommed it - great value at the price (around GBP 115.00 in the UK). The only downside to it is that you can't back up your patches to a memory stick or similar in case of accidents!!.

JimmyM · #6 07-27-2010, 08:35 AM

they're both fine. i prefer using a sansamp vt (about to be a vt deluxe when the fedex truck gets here), but the line 6 is good, too.

F-Clef-Jef · #7 07-27-2010, 10:49 AM

I've been using a Line6 Pod Xt Live with the Bass model pack... it's been working beautifully, just a little hard to decide which amp model to use sometimes (30 different amp models and 20 cab models)...
Not sure what the floor pod offers, but the built-in tuner and effects are nice to have if you need 'em.

craig.p · #8 07-28-2010, 10:03 AM

I've been using a BDDI for a couple of weeks now and I'm totally, totally in love with the thing, with the caveat that you've got to spend lots of time with the controls to find "that sound." But once you find it, you'll be a BDDI junkie just like me. I can take my bass and the BDDI and plug into any power amp anywhere and have it sound like a just-retubed Bassman 100 -- but with far more tightness and authority.

For me, it was a choice between the BDDI and the Line 6, but I went with the BDDI based on a shedload of online reviews. To be fair to the Line 6, since I've never played though one, I have NO reason to suspect I'd not prefer it over the Sansamp. But the BDDI is what I bought, and I love it.

Somewhere in the Effects forum you'll see a thread I started about BDDI familiarization time; it may help you dial in your sound, maybe not. I'm still using more or less the same settings. Bass and drive up maybe just a tiny bit from what I stated, but still not at 12 o'clock.

Hope this helps.

newwavefrank · #9 07-28-2010, 10:55 AM

I have used a POD pro and sansamp. I have a POD pro for sale. I just prefer the sans amp, but it depends on the sound you want. My sans amp is just basically a preamp, no effects like the POd, but I dont use effects.

TimmyP · #10 07-29-2010, 01:32 AM

I prefer the sound of a nice DI with no monkey business (Radial Pro48 or J48, Audiopile.net active, GT Brick).

Medford Bassman · #11 07-29-2010, 10:07 AM

I own a BDDI and have played a Pod XT. I prefer the BDDI.

groove pump · #12 08-05-2010, 03:52 PM

Make sure that you've got the connections you need in whatever unit you're eyeballing. I think I was just reading up on the Bass PODxt Live and someone noted that there was no balanced output like you'd find on the Sansamp BDDI or other direct boxes. I could be wrong, but I know that my old guitar POD only has 1/4" input/outputs for signal routing.

jaywa · #13 08-05-2010, 03:59 PM

Depends on what you're looking for.

The POD gives you a ton of tonal options (too many for my taste, but that's just me). The BDDI gives you basically one sound (or at most, variations on one sound)... but it's one damn good sound that is appropriate and desirable for many situations.

If you're the type that enjoys spending hours exploring your sonic options and your gigs require a wide range of sounds, you'll want a POD. OTOH if you're more of a plug-and-play type doing mostly guitar rock/blues/country gigs (or in your case, gospel & contemporary worship), I'd get the SansAmp.

Disclosure: extremely satisfied BDDI user for the last four years.

funkybassinator · #14 08-05-2010, 03:59 PM

groove pump's got a point: afaik, the pod (xt live, the only one I have experience with) lacks a DI, so you have to have a DI box to run through available.

cableguy · #15 08-21-2010, 04:40 PM

I started with a line 6 bass pd XT live. After a year I realized I only used one sound. Just too many choices for me to deal with. If you have a lot of time I'm sure you can dail in plenty. One gig I played through a samsamp DI I had but haven't used in years. I realized that was the sound I liked. Sold the pod bought a Sansamp RBI. I couldn't be happier with my tone. I do miss the tuner and volume pedal. But in the end I've found I prefer anolog tube emulation (Sansamp) to digital tube emulation (Line 6) Someday when I grow up maybe I'll get a head with real tubes. Hope this helps

Steve Dixon · #16 08-22-2010, 01:28 AM

I used to use a Sansamp RBI (the rackmount one), and now I use a Pod XT Pro (the rackmount pod)

I much prefer the Pod... I never quite found a sound that I loved with the Sansamp.... it always tended to 'scoop' my sound more than I wanted unless I dialled in a LOT of direct tone

what do they say? 'YMMV'... but I love the Pod

Lync · #17 08-27-2010, 07:58 AM

I've had the SABDDI, the PBDDI, I own the Zoom B2, and the Hartke Bass Attack.

I honestly like the Hartke the best out of all of them. It is not very popular, but it honestly sounds great (I keep the blend at noon). Plus, you can run 3 tones from it (Hartke "shape", Drive (SVT/Tube/Grit), or just with onboard eq).

I don't use it for straight distortion though, so I can't comment on that.