My take on the Lowdown

renegiust · #1 03-02-2010, 12:33 AM

I first heard of the Lowdown series through magazine ads and forums and loved the concept. My first thought was, "why didn't they make a head only version?". Regardless, I went to my local GC to try out the combos with the thought of possibly replacing my current rig. First, I was very impressed with the SVT model. If that was the only model in the amp, I would still consider it an excellent value. Just loved it! Everything else was a bonus. The big letdown for me was the weight of the larger combos. I really think Line6 dropped the ball there. Maybe it was because Neo speakers and Class D amps were still relatively new in the market and possibly expensive at the time? Don't know. However, I wouldn't be surprised if those smart folks at Line6 were working on a light-weight version right now.

Long story shorter, I bought a Studio 110 to use around the house and for learning songs and practicing. Over the past couple of years my band situation has changed, and I started taking it to a small room for low volume rehearsals with the drummer using brushes or other non-standard drum sticks (I don't know what they're called, and frankly don't really care.). I still like this amp a lot and find myself rediscovering the sounds all the time. That is, the first months or even years (lost track) of owning it, I only used the SVT model with the factory settings. It didn't seem to matter which bass I used, that sound just 'worked' for me, and I was satisfied. Then I started to check out the 'Clean' setting and decided I really liked that a lot too. So, for a while I was switching between Clean and SVT (mostly sticking with SVT). Lately, I've been tinkering around with the 'Grind' and 'R&B' settings and came to a couple of conclusions.

1) These models are really quite good. Do they respond EXACTLY the same as the real SVT and Fliptop I once owned? Feel-wise, well probably not exact, but pretty close. Sound-wise, I don't think I would be able to tell the difference in a blind test.

2) The great thing about the Studio 110 (and I assume the others in the line) is that after owning this amp for quite a while now I continue to draw inspiration from it. That is, I notice that by simply changing sounds and spending a few minutes tweaking I can discover new sounds that cause me to play slightly different. I can't think of too many pieces of gear I've bought in the years of playing that still deliver like that.

Is it perfect? No, there's some weird, very subtle hissing artifact that's always there. It doesn't bother me enough to notice once I'm playing. I'm also still struggling with the synth sounds and trying to tweak in something I can find useful. I just can't seem to get it to 'track' my playing like I want it to.

Lately I'm considering trying out the Studio 110 live. The band I'm in was originally only going to mic vocals and kick drum, however that's been changing. We started adding bass, guitar and now we've decided to mic the entire drum kit. We're a three piece pop/rock cover band. I'm a little apprehensive, so I may bring my regular rig as a backup. I'll be running the Studio 110 DI out to the mains and then feeding my IEM from the board (I use one ear for IEM and the other I keep open.). The Studio 110 will be mainly for the drummer and guitarist to hear. I'm also considering migrating to the Bass Floor Pod at some point...using it with a small single space amp and my cab or a powered speaker (for stage sound only).

I saw another thread where people were suggesting improvements. I REALLY like the 'kick back' positioning idea. I do that now at rehearsal and sometimes wish this thing was shaped like a wedge. A built-in tuner would be helpful. Also, I really wish it had an external speaker cab jack...even if it disabled the single 10. I've thought of adding one so that I use it with my cab. (That's how desperate I am!) But, I realize that the amp/mic'ed cab models may be adjusted to take that single 10 into consideration. Opening it up to a wild card cabinet option could screw with the algorithm. Dunno. Where was I? Oh, and a simple footswitch option for live use with the tuner/mute available via footswitch. Maybe sort out the synth issue. The compressor is perfect. Maybe a few effects like those found on the new Bass Floor Pod.

Oops, a long post nobody will read.

Line6Aaron · #2 03-02-2010, 11:11 AM

Thanks for the feedback below Renegiust. It is extremely helpful to hear our customers describe their experiences as you have below (which I know takes additional time). Promise ya we're reading these posts closely

Cheers,
Aaron

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegiust

I first heard of the Lowdown series through magazine ads and forums and loved the concept. My first thought was, "why didn't they make a head only version?". Regardless, I went to my local GC to try out the combos with the thought of possibly replacing my current rig. First, I was very impressed with the SVT model. If that was the only model in the amp, I would still consider it an excellent value. Just loved it! Everything else was a bonus. The big letdown for me was the weight of the larger combos. I really think Line6 dropped the ball there. Maybe it was because Neo speakers and Class D amps were still relatively new in the market and possibly expensive at the time? Don't know. However, I wouldn't be surprised if those smart folks at Line6 were working on a light-weight version right now.

Long story shorter, I bought a Studio 110 to use around the house and for learning songs and practicing. Over the past couple of years my band situation has changed, and I started taking it to a small room for low volume rehearsals with the drummer using brushes or other non-standard drum sticks (I don't know what they're called, and frankly don't really care.). I still like this amp a lot and find myself rediscovering the sounds all the time. That is, the first months or even years (lost track) of owning it, I only used the SVT model with the factory settings. It didn't seem to matter which bass I used, that sound just 'worked' for me, and I was satisfied. Then I started to check out the 'Clean' setting and decided I really liked that a lot too. So, for a while I was switching between Clean and SVT (mostly sticking with SVT). Lately, I've been tinkering around with the 'Grind' and 'R&B' settings and came to a couple of conclusions.

1) These models are really quite good. Do they respond EXACTLY the same as the real SVT and Fliptop I once owned? Feel-wise, well probably not exact, but pretty close. Sound-wise, I don't think I would be able to tell the difference in a blind test.

2) The great thing about the Studio 110 (and I assume the others in the line) is that after owning this amp for quite a while now I continue to draw inspiration from it. That is, I notice that by simply changing sounds and spending a few minutes tweaking I can discover new sounds that cause me to play slightly different. I can't think of too many pieces of gear I've bought in the years of playing that still deliver like that.

Is it perfect? No, there's some weird, very subtle hissing artifact that's always there. It doesn't bother me enough to notice once I'm playing. I'm also still struggling with the synth sounds and trying to tweak in something I can find useful. I just can't seem to get it to 'track' my playing like I want it to.

Lately I'm considering trying out the Studio 110 live. The band I'm in was originally only going to mic vocals and kick drum, however that's been changing. We started adding bass, guitar and now we've decided to mic the entire drum kit. We're a three piece pop/rock cover band. I'm a little apprehensive, so I may bring my regular rig as a backup. I'll be running the Studio 110 DI out to the mains and then feeding my IEM from the board (I use one ear for IEM and the other I keep open.). The Studio 110 will be mainly for the drummer and guitarist to hear. I'm also considering migrating to the Bass Floor Pod at some point...using it with a small single space amp and my cab or a powered speaker (for stage sound only).

I saw another thread where people were suggesting improvements. I REALLY like the 'kick back' positioning idea. I do that now at rehearsal and sometimes wish this thing was shaped like a wedge. A built-in tuner would be helpful. Also, I really wish it had an external speaker cab jack...even if it disabled the single 10. I've thought of adding one so that I use it with my cab. (That's how desperate I am!) But, I realize that the amp/mic'ed cab models may be adjusted to take that single 10 into consideration. Opening it up to a wild card cabinet option could screw with the algorithm. Dunno. Where was I? Oh, and a simple footswitch option for live use with the tuner/mute available via footswitch. Maybe sort out the synth issue. The compressor is perfect. Maybe a few effects like those found on the new Bass Floor Pod.

Oops, a long post nobody will read.

nickwills · #3 03-05-2010, 08:06 PM

kickback design on the studio 110 would be great!

trkkazulu · #4 09-25-2010, 02:03 PM

Kickback or not, i'm loving the Lowdown Studio 110! I used a Hartke Kickback 12 for many years. A fantastic amp. I have to admit i miss the kickback wedge form-factor. Still, the Studio 110 is truly amazing. I use mine with an NSD four string WAV bass. My main preset is based on the "RnB" model. I also use the SVT factory preset and the synth. Since the Studio 110 only has the one memory location for user presets, i dial in the appropriate synth sound on the fly. It's pretty simple as often it's just a matter of adjusting the cutoff or selecting another waveform. The sound of this amp is wonderful. I'm very impressed with the quality and detail of it's sound.

This amp is plenty loud. I'm currently playing in the house band for a weekly jam session at a pub here in town and have managed to keep up with even the loudest of drummers. Of course, we all know that loudness is a matter of frequency and being heard isn't the same thing as shaking the walls like an eight by ten cabinet would. So, depending on what kind of music you're doing, this amp will serve you well on a live gig.

Thanks a million! If Line 6 does decide to do a kickback version of this i hope that they don't change the insides because they really got this one right the first time.

JPW

CamiloDíaz · #5 09-27-2010, 08:42 PM

Besides what I posted a few days ago (a picture of my daughter using the Lowdown 110 as a sit), and all jokes aside, I find this little amp the most intelligent piece of gear I've owned. I'm astonished by the tone and the features, how the attention to details shows that this was designed by and for bassists, and the sheer technology inside it. But most of all, I love when your gear makes your life easier, which is quite rare this days: here you could just plug and play. This amp is almost flawless, were it not for the insane impedance required on your headphones (150 ohms wich means spending more than half the amp's cost just to get there) not to hear a hiss. But the models, the tone, the portability and features are just right. Oh, almost forgot: I love the fact that Marshall Superbass model sneaked in.

greets!

steveksux · #6 12-25-2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegiust

I'll be running the Studio 110 DI out to the mains and then feeding my IEM from the board (I use one ear for IEM and the other I keep open.).

I have heard the one ear thing is REALLY a bad idea. Something psycoacoustic phenomenon that requires you to turn the IEM in the one ear much much louder than it would be if you had both ears IEM. Maybe because with one ear open you don't blank out the background noise, not sure the details. Should really use both ears, or none for IEM. I haven't used them, so I can't confirm or deny this is true. But worth investigating before you ruin your hearing in that one ear..

Quote:

Oops, a long post nobody will read.

Hey, I had to read it to pick out the IEM thing, so you never know...

Randy

cybersnyder · #7 12-25-2010, 08:05 PM

I've heard of other people using just one ear. I believe the latest Bass Player cover story mentions it. But I've noticed a huge difference while driving and using my headphones. We have to use hands free cell in Maryland, but can't have both ears plugged. Listening with one ear is not half of listening with both ears. But if you know that and EQ accordingly, it can work. If I were a singer I'd use both ears with the IEM. Unfortunately, I have a terrible voice.

okcrum · #8 12-26-2010, 11:39 PM

Isn't there a factory fix for units with the hiss issue?

Thumpking · #9 12-21-2011, 10:27 PM

I love mine. I use a Fender P Deluxe and J Deluxe with active EQ and I do not even have to use the pad button. It sounds incredible, and I am learning to tweak it more each day. I shopped for Fender, Ampeg, Acoustic, and Markbass small practice amps, and ended up with this. Glad I bought it.