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Line 6 G50 wireless packed up - what next?

Baker69

Baker69

Mar 24, 2008
2,048
1,149
UK
#1
After about 10 years use my Line 6 G50 packed up at the gig on Saturday.

I had experienced issues on previous occasions with the transmitter (the on-off slide switch) but this time the receiver just stopped working, it worked ok on the first of our sound check songs but then just died.

I’ve been in touch with Line 6 support but they’ve basically just said that unless the unit is in warranty you’re on your own.

So, what next? I’ve been really happy with the Line 6 system, but it is an expensive item to replace as a like for like item, I’ve been looking at the Lekato GS-50 wireless systems and at only around £60 they have fairly good reviews. They seem to have about 6 hours use out of a battery charge for both receiver and transmitter. Apart from that I have been considering the Boss WL-50?

Any other suggestions? I don’t want to outlay too much money on a new system.
 
#2
I've had A LOT of success with the Lekato and Nux line of products. The 5.8G seems to work best for my application. The 'dongle' can look a bit weird (if that is of concern) but there are ways around that. They seem to charge 'kind of' quickly. Its really just a matter of remembering to charge them.
 
#3
Charging is never an issue as I always charge the batteries for my wireless transmitter and IEM receiver pack before each use, whether they be part charged or not.

The 5.8 Lekato seems to be top of my list at the moment.
 
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#4
I just received my Line 6 G-30 a couple weeks ago. Love it. I bought it a the urging of our BL who has had the G-50 for at least ten years. Maybe the G-30 would work for you. I got mine for $229 at Sweetwater. I had a Sennheiser rechargeable unit before and had bad experiences with increasingly short battery life, so, I am done with anything that has non replaceable batteries.
 
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#5
N Scott Shaw said:
I just received my Line 6 G-30 a couple weeks ago. Love it. I bought it a the urging of our BL who has had the G-50 for at least ten years. Maybe the G-30 would work for you. I got mine for $229 at Sweetwater. I had a Sennheiser rechargeable unit before and had bad experiences with increasingly short battery life, so, I am done with anything that has non replaceable batteries.
Click to expand...

I bought the G50 and not the G30 because it has a metal transmitter case not plastic, better operating range etc but yes the G30 would work for me but there are more options out there nowadays so I a would like to consider what’s best out there for the least outlay.
 
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#6
I had the Line 6 wireless years ago and never used it much. I bought two of the rechargeable systems the last few years and like them both.

I don’t know the model number but this Lekato system never failed me and sounds great. And I got it on sale for something like $33. I’d say best bang for the buck:

https://a.co/d/fNHYPFJ

I also have a Boss WL-20. I bought it before the Lekato and with more serious gigging, I use it all the time. Is it substantially better than the Lekato? No. In fact the only time I ever got interference on stage it was with the Boss system, not the Lekato. But I like how you pair the WL-20 to ensure it’s optimized for each venue (which I didn’t know how to do the one time I got interference). But is it worth more than 4x the money….???

Considering that I play every weekend and many are big paying private events and weddings, I’m happy to use the Boss. But the Lekato is definitely a better value and I still have it and wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
 
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#7
Core Creek said:
I had the Line 6 wireless years ago and never used it much. I bought two of the rechargeable systems the last few years and like them both.

I don’t know the model number but this Lekato system never failed me and sounds great. And I got it on sale for something like $33. I’d say best bang for the buck:

https://a.co/d/fNHYPFJ

I also have a Boss WL-20. I bought it before the Lekato and with more serious gigging, I use it all the time. Is it substantially better than the Lekato? No. In fact the only time I ever got interference on stage it was with the Boss system, not the Lekato. But I like how you pair the WL-20 to ensure it’s optimized for each venue (which I didn’t know how to do the one time I got interference). But is it worth more than 4x the money….???

Considering that I play every weekend and many are big paying private events and weddings, I’m happy to use the Boss. But the Lekato is definitely a better value and I still have it and wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
Click to expand...

I like the reviews on the 5.8ghz Lekato and at only £60 I think it seems a worthwhile pursuit.
 
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#13
Pro-rated over 10 years + steady use, I decided last month it was worth $165.00 to have a backup.
That transmitter takes more "abuse" than any other piece of equipment I have....
(and I'm fairly well invested into the G50 system - I have receivers mounted on a couple different pedal boards.)

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/V55-BP--line-6-v55-bp-bodypack-transmitter

And these are the cables I use: (they were just 15% off last week)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00076XOXM?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details


Baker69 said:
I always get tangled up in guitar leads! Wireless is the way to go (for me anyway!)
Click to expand...
:thumbsup: same. Wireless since '88.
 
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#15
J-Bass RMR said:
Pro-rated over 10 years + steady use, I decided last month it was worth $165.00 to have a backup.
That transmitter takes more "abuse" than any other piece of equipment I have....
(and I'm fairly well invested into the G50 system - I have receivers mounted on a couple different pedal boards.)

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/V55-BP--line-6-v55-bp-bodypack-transmitter

And these are the cables I use: (they were just 15% off last week)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00076XOXM?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details



:thumbsup: same. Wireless since '88.
Click to expand...

The VP55 transmitter looks very similar to the one on my G50 unit (possibly GP12??)

It has took some abuse over the years and there is barely any black paint left on the casing! I’ve had some issues with the on/off slide switch but after dismantling cleaning and reassembly it has been ok, also I use rechargeable batteries in it which aren’t quite the exact size as an alkaline battery and my Panasonic Eneloop batteries are a tight fit in the compartment and very slightly shorter in length which has caused problems in the battery not making a good enough contact with the connector.

I’m really surprised that it is the receiver that has failed, I always expected it would be the transmitter that would give up eventually.
 
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#17
Shure wireless.jpg
s-l500.webp


I HAD TWO OF THE OF THE OLDER MODELS (DISCONTINURED...OF COURSE!) AND HAD ZERO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THE NEW ONE IS A DUAL BAND AND IS PROBABLY JUST AS RELIABLE.
 
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#18
I tried a couple of the cheaper rechargeable units but ended up going with a UHF "set-top" style AKG.

I can get up to 30 hrs for the transmitter pack on two AA and the receiver plugs into a standard outlet. No charging woes = peace of mind for me.

It may not be as small and portable as some other types, but I've mounted it to my board and it runs off my pedal power unit.
 
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#19
Trailertrash74 said:
View attachment 5470014
s-l500.webp


I HAD TWO OF THE OF THE OLDER MODELS (DISCONTINURED...OF COURSE!) AND HAD ZERO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THE NEW ONE IS A DUAL BAND AND IS PROBABLY JUST AS RELIABLE.
Click to expand...
I bought one of these and returned it. I decided I didn’t want to carry something that big. The benefit of the small rechargeable wireless units is they fit in the front compartment of my gig bag. In fact, I can fit almost all my accessories there.

The only real downside is one day they just aren’t going to hold a charge anymore. That might even happen on a gig. But the small size is worth the risk for me, and I always have a backup cable.
 
#20
Read an article a couple years ago with Will Lee where I'm certain he said he used a Line 6 G50 for live. If it's good enough for Uncle Will, it's good enough for me. So I bought a used one off Reverb, IIRC. Have never had a minute's trouble with mine.

Have tried the Lepanto and Xvive models. Couldnt get either of them to work with my active basses.

If I was buying again, prolly go back with a G50.

My $0.02.

dcr
 
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