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Line 6 Bass Pod Express

On the Line 6 POD Express Bass, the AUX-in backing track signal is summed directly into the headphone output with no separate volume control. If your phone is too loud, the track drowns out your bass.

Have you tried lowering the phone volume before it hits the POD via the volume button or the track's volume slider? That should rebalance the track vs bass.
 
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I’ve found the phone volume to be too loud to play along with. Can barely hear the bass.

Any fix? I’m sure I’m missing something. Got to be a way to adjust the phone volume without lowering bass volume.
You can adjust the usb input level in the global setting on the unit, but it’s easier if you have the pod express connected to a computer and you use the software. Check the manual in the global settings section.
 
You can adjust the usb input level in the global setting on the unit, but it’s easier if you have the pod express connected to a computer and you use the software. Check the manual in the global settings section.
After toying with it all day, I think I will be returning it. I don’t care for the effects. The different amps/cabs are cool and I like the compressor. Don’t have any use for the other effects. Thinking I just need to get a decent preamp/DI or combo amp. I like the tonal options. And the comps aren’t bad.
 
my Line 6 POD Express Bass suddenly stopped changing presets. I mean, when I press the foot switch, it will change the preset, but the outgoing sound is always the same. Even when connected to the editor this happens, and the editor crashes. Has this happened to anyne else yet?
 
Disconnect all cables and power and let it reset after a full power cycle restart. You can also try a factory reset: you hold two buttons (check manual for which ones) while powering on and LEDs will flash indicating a successful reset.

Since the editor is crashig you can also reinstall firmware using the updater app while connecting the unit to your computer via USB.
 
I have not played over 2 years and got the Pod Express Bass because it looked like it checks all the boxes. I had a Zoom B1 Four a while ago and bought a GP-200. I sold the B1 Four because of the hissing sound that it had and it always sounded somewhat Meh Fi (not Hi Fi nor Lo Fi)

After a few days with it, I can say:

Pros of the Pod Express Bass
  • great for practicing (just like the B1 Four)
  • recording interface like my GP 200
  • good portability like the Zoom B1 Four (if plugged in for power / Compared to the GP 200)
  • ease simple to dial a quick sound (Easier than the Zoom B1 Four or the GP 200).
  • compared to the Zoom B1 Four, it does not have the constant hissing. and better fidelity better when dialed in
  • Sound fidelity is better than the Zoom B1 Four in general
Cons of the Pod Express Bass
  • batteries only last about 8 hours or so (less than the B4) Zoom lasted way longer
  • cannot download new Ir or nam files into (B1 Four does not but the GP 200 can now do nam files).
  • hard to dial in a great sound without the Edit Software. Zoom B1 Four was a bit easier without the software
  • higher learning curve to get a specific sound than the B1 Four and the GP 200.
  • GP 200 is more robust in getting a specific sound than the Pod Express Bass because of all the extra guitar options (my opinion)
  • hardly any community made patches for presets out there (the other HX devices have a plethora and Zoom as a lot of post here on this forms for patches)
I think I will keep the Pod Express for practice and playing without the cables needed with the GP 200 (while vacationing at the summer home). Moneywise compared to the the B1 Four, when the Pod Express Bass is on sale at $129 (9/2025) is a better deal than the full cost of the B1 Four at $99. However, if the B1 Four can be scored less used or on sale and/or the sale for the Pod Express Bass goes away, then the value is not there for this device.
 
my Line 6 POD Express Bass suddenly stopped changing presets. I mean, when I press the foot switch, it will change the preset, but the outgoing sound is always the same. Even when connected to the editor this happens, and the editor crashes. Has this happened to anyne else yet?
I had something similar happen today. It only be fixed by putting in fresh batteries and it fixed everything. I used an analog battery tester and it landed on the line between yellow and green. About 8 hours of battery time. Plugging in a power supply to the device also fixed it.

I thought using the USB would power the device without batteries. It really did not like it with the Editor open.
 
I haven’t played my Pod Express in a few months as I’ve been mostly practicing with my MX5, but after responding to a couple of comments I thought I should get reacquainted. A common complaint I see is that the auxiliary audio is too loud. I can report that connecting the Pod Express to my Windows 11 laptop that both the computer volume controls and the Pod’s audio pad functions work for me. Playing along with backing tracks from YouTube was not an issue with the Pod responding to both the bass volume controls and the laptop volume as expected.

Most of the complaints seem to come from people trying to connect their phone via usb and stating that their phone volume controls are not working. My assessment is that this is most likely a limitation of the phone or its software. If the problem is on the phone side of the equation, line 6 is probably not able to resolve this issue alone. I don’t have the right cable to test this out with my phone, but I will get one and report back after I test it out.
 
Anyone using presets with modulation on/off? I set ON(FS1) to stomp FX3 and TAP(FS2) to stomp FSX4 to use in normal mode.

I have found that saving a preset with the modulation ON doesn't work as expected. When I switch to that preset the modulation is off. I can see in Express Edit that the modulation settings are saved as I set them, but it is greyed out and not on. I cannot turn on the modulation while in preset mode (without adding extra switches) because I am using On and TAP to change presets during the same song.

I saved 3 presets in a row (copied and pasted to have the same amp and compressor settings) using banks 18,19,20 to switch effects for the intro of one one song. I start with bank 18 which I configured a fast flanger for a tremolo type effect, then I switch to bank 19 that uses a chorus effect, then I switch to bank 20 that has no effect for the rest of the song.

So when we come to this song in our set list, I hit ON and TAP to get into preset mode, rotate the knob to bank 18, however the modulation is not ON. I then have to exit preset mode, stomp TAP to enable modulation, then ON/TAP to get back into preset mode. Then the modulation is turned on (and only one now) in the presets. Switching to my bank 20 does not turn the modulation off (as I saved the preset). So I set that mod to NONE to compensate.

The manual states:
"Selecting and tweaking an amp, cab, or effect is all well and good, but saving presets with all your model settings makes recalling your favorite sounds even easier".

My expectation is to recall "favorite sounds" that have modulation on or off based on how I saved the preset. I know I can add switches and assign them but I am not looking to do that.

Another example of this use case would be to play a solo where you change presets to one that has say, fuzz and delay on.

Anyone have experience with this? All in all, it does not seem to work like Snapshots in the Stomp.
 
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Hey folks! I've been using Line 6 and Zoom stuff for years, and I've only ever used the amp/cab sims. How do the amp sims sound on this? Are there cab sims? Would this be a good unit for just amp/cab sims?

Also, I'd pretty much be setting and forgetting or pushing switches with my fingers.

Thanks!
 
That's a little like asking how the rolls are at the steakhouse since that's all you eat.

If you're just looking for amp modeling in the same price range or less I'd look at other options, like the TONEX One, or the NUX Amp Core, or Zoom MS-80IR. Or even the $80 Valeton GP-5.

 
Are there cab sims?
Yes.
1758311458507.png

No balanced out, afaik, however.
If you're just looking for amp modeling in the same price range or less I'd look at other options, like the TONEX One, or the NUX Amp Core, or Zoom MS-80IR. Or even the $80 Valeton GP-5.
I would disagree with this: while the Pod Express’s effects are kind of limited, there’s no reason to think that the amp models are subpar in any way. And, more importantly, its UI is better than the Tonex or Valeton. The NUX’s only bass model is the Melvin Lee Davis preamp, which, honestly, is the least desirable sim on the Melvin Lee Davis preamp. The Zoom seems completely inappropriate here.

As a dead simple to use amp sim with a compressor and drive, it seems a great option. The other options might be more versatile but that’s not necessarily useful.
 
Yes.
View attachment 7325410
No balanced out, afaik, however.

I would disagree with this: while the Pod Express’s effects are kind of limited, there’s no reason to think that the amp models are subpar in any way. And, more importantly, its UI is better than the Tonex or Valeton. The NUX’s only bass model is the Melvin Lee Davis preamp, which, honestly, is the least desirable sim on the Melvin Lee Davis preamp. The Zoom seems completely inappropriate here.

As a dead simple to use amp sim with a compressor and drive, it seems a great option. The other options might be more versatile but that’s not necessarily useful.
Thanks for this! I currently have a Zoom B6 which has great sounds but is not very tweakable on the fly. Looking at this I like that I can get things set up at home on the PC or phone for how I think it should sound and then adjust at church for how it actually sounds either with the knobs or my phone. I don't use a pedal board and am not a stomper so I'm not worried about fiddly knobs or plastic housing - just the ability to come up with great amp/cab sounds.
 
Also, what's the consensus on using this as a headphone amp? I'm assuming I could connect headphones to one off the outs. Could I connect my phone to the USB using a type c/type c cable?
It’s great as a headphone amp. This is how I use mine almost exclusively. It has a dedicated headphone Jack and can playback audio using usb c. Some people report that audio playback through their phone is too loud, but I don’t have that issue using my laptop.
 
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