Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live

[Neil_G]

I'm wondering if anyone owns or has tried one of these. I'm thinking about getting one, as I gig from time to time in a cover band that does everything from jazz to metal. In other words, I need many different sounds. I can get one for $300 US and have heard good things. Opinions?

[Jools4001]

I've used a Bass Pod for a while as a versatile pre-amp.

The modelling won't satisfy the purists, but will give you a passable imitation of lots of different amp and cab combination. When you select an amp model the tone controls also emulate the chosen amps tone controls.

My only problem with it is that the tones you want are far from straightforward to find, there are just so many options available it can be difficult to configure for a crucial sound and I've found that after going through countless alternatives I get ear fatigue and can't remember whether the sound that I've arrived at after all that twiddling is better than some of the sounds I found at the begining or in the middle of all that twiddling.

However, if you persevere, you can set up sounds in different banks to suit most styles and flick quickly between the programs on stage. The effects sound a bit gimmicky to me, but then I'm not a big effects user

[HogieWan]

It sounds great IF you spend the time to tweak. I'm using an X3 and, with that, I can use the PodFarm plugin, and with the dry channel over usb I can record my bass as it hits the x3 and tweak my sound without having to play to hear it. Then, when I get the sound as I like it, I can save the patch to my x3 to use live. I think you can use the older gearbox plugin free when you own an XT

[Johnny Crab]

Been using the XTLive since 2006 for shows & practice. It quit once after being rained into heavily but worked fine after 24 hours of being opened up to dry out(easy to DIY). IF I get an X3, this unit will go with me as a backup.

Tweak a LOT as the factory patches(except SUNSHINE) are not good.
Having owned & used an SVT with two 8x10's AND an Acoustic 370 with two 18" cabinets for a decade+, the "tweaked" SVT-clone set so when you play hard it distorts but doesn't when played normally and the "tweaked" Acoustic 360 clone allow me to have a very close version of both of those that I can carry anywhere.

Negative factors:
No XLR DI but a 1/4" one is available
Not stereo

Rules of tweaking:
1) KNOW where you want to go to soundwise
2) Pick a channel to experiement(tweak)
3) Save often and even write down settings before proceeding in case you preferred the way it WAS before that last change
4) Layout channels(now tweaked sounds) in a logical way so the most-used ones are together and least used elsewhere. Example: In bank 7 my XTL has
7A = ALL basses(a full-sounding tone, SVT clone, with mid & some high boost)
7B = BASSY sound(Acoustic 360 with mid & high boost so the 18" speaker rolloff is defeated giving one a gut-punching bass on every fret)
7C = Creme/Jack Bruce distortion sound(tweaked SUNSHINE patch)
7D = distorted. Over-the-top dirt similar to that in "Should I Stay or Should I Go"

About 11~16 patches are used LIVE in my current band.
The rest are for fun.....

[jgroh]

I just got one and I am loving it so far. I didnt have time to tweak it before taking it to practice last week, so I just used some of the stock settings and wow, it sounded great. I was using the Tom Sawyer setting primarily and my bandmates were raving over tone I was getting. I found that editing it on the computer is easier than doing it on the board. Its all about tweaking.

[Neil_G]

Thanks for info, guys. I do have another question or two, though. How are the effects? I know Jools think they sound gimmicky, but I would like other opinions. I would also like to know how it sounds recorded, as I also do some amateur recording for some fun once in a while. For that do you guys recommend recording straight into computer through USB (I don't think I would do that) or miking the amp?

[ga_edwards]

The only thing I would be concerned about using different amp models and tones live is how you mix in with the rest of the band. As mentioned, on the line6 gear, the controls change for each model. Whilst this is great for accurate emulation, this *may* cause problems with your mix. I mean, if the eq centres change, you're going to be cutting and boosting in different areas. Whilst this isn't a problem in a studio environment, it could prove problematical live. Remember, the drums eq and tones don't change (unless they're using electronic drums) and you have to mix in around them to form the musical foundation. If you have a sound man controlling your FOH mix, this is just going to annoy him every time you change amp model.

IMO, you need to put in a lot of time tweaking your patches so they all mix nicely with everyone else, and your other patches. I would advise to use amp modelling live to colour the tone, and be conservative with eq differences between patches so they don't jump around too much.

This is all my opnion of course, YMMV.

[rasthedoctor]

Originally Posted by Neil_G

Thanks for info, guys. I do have another question or two, though. How are the effects? I know Jools think they sound gimmicky, but I would like other opinions. I would also like to know how it sounds recorded, as I also do some amateur recording for some fun once in a while. For that do you guys recommend recording straight into computer through USB (I don't think I would do that) or miking the amp?

For a taste of what some of the effects sound like from the studio and live (Thieves only), check out the link in my sig*

Synth with the Sub Dub model (intro Thieves. Also use a phaser when the verse comes back around, res delay and phaser at the end)
Fuzz & Flanger (Billy - fuzz throughout, flanger around the 2min mark)
Tremolo (intro Big Bad Wolf)

All of the songs on there were recorded with me using the BODXTLive. I should mention, however, that my experience with the pedal has not been entirely positive. The expression pedal has ceased to function about 90% of the time, and there is a VERY significant change in volume when it decides to re-engage. If it functioned the way it ought, I wouldn't have a single complaint.


*not promoting my band, I promise, especially since we're probably breaking up sometime this week

[BrentSimons]

Originally Posted by rasthedoctor

For a taste of what some of the effects sound like from the studio and live (Thieves only), check out the link in my sig*

Synth with the Sub Dub model (intro Thieves. Also use a phaser when the verse comes back around, res delay and phaser at the end)
Fuzz & Flanger (Billy - fuzz throughout, flanger around the 2min mark)
Tremolo (intro Big Bad Wolf)

All of the songs on there were recorded with me using the BODXTLive. I should mention, however, that my experience with the pedal has not been entirely positive. The expression pedal has ceased to function about 90% of the time, and there is a VERY significant change in volume when it decides to re-engage. If it functioned the way it ought, I wouldn't have a single complaint.


*not promoting my band, I promise, especially since we're probably breaking up sometime this week

Wow! Those are some great tones. I especially like the fuzz you are getting. Would you be willing to share your insight?
Brent

[Neil_G]

Nice tones. What bass are you using for them, just wondering?

[rasthedoctor]

Thanks! I use a Carvin LB70P (however, the active circuitry is messed up, so I run it passive). I will post my settings and what not when I get a chance tonight (I hope), though I lost the original fuzz setting for Billy - I've been trying to re-find it since to no avail

[Neil_G]

Bump

[ehque]

Personal opinion, since the X3 is out, get that instead. The effects are a lot less digital sounding, because of the higher processing power (6 times more, i think).

If it's too expensive for you, then getting the XT Live used, from people who are dumping them for the X3, is also a good idea.

[Neil_G]

I don't want the X3 for two reasons. First, it's too expensive. Second, while it does have more effects, it has all the guitar stuff that I do not need at all, which I have a feeling contributes to the price.

[Ric5]

I use the older bass pod as part of my effects pedal. I run 4 parallel chains of effects.

First I split the signal into 4 parallel signals with a rolls mixer.

1 - I run one into the Line6 bass pod where I model an acoustic 360 with a rat distortion pedal. I use this to get a retro growlly distorted sound. Or I also model an Ampeg fliptop with the Rat Distortion pedal.

2 - The second signal goes into a Mxr bass di+. I use this pedal to get a clean modern sound. It also has a distortion button that can give a moderate to extreme amount of modern distortion.

3 - The third signal goes into a Marshall Guv'nor. This gives me an old 60s marshall stack sound. This can go from a small amount of distortion to an over the top marshall sound. This effect can give you a Chris Squire Yes sound or a heavy metal sound, or just a subtle amount of distortion.

4 - The fourth signal goes into a Tech21 vt bass pedal. With this effect I get a slightly dirty Ampeg SVT bass amp sound with a tube like growl.

Then I remix the 4 signals back together and run it into a bass amp, or pa, or studio mixer. Because the signals are parallel I can mix clean and overdriven sounds together and still get effect and a sound that punches through the mix.

[jufros]

I borrowed an XT from a friend for a while. I bought a Sansamp RBI and started a pedalboard afterwards.

[Ric5]

The pod is good for dirty sounds but not so good if you want a clean tone.

Try running a MXR bass di+ parallel with the bass pod. It will fill in the holes the pod leaves. The bass di+ has a parallel out that you can run into the pod.