New to Modeling and Want to Dip my Toe in the Water

[mbenigni]

Someone elsewhere posted that the QC high end all sounded like it was coming from a piezo pickup

 

[mbenigni]

Seriously though, QC is too expensive, and even HX Stomp sounds like overkill. POD Go would seem to fit the bill. Does the POD Go really sound that different than an HX Stomp?

 

[Frodebro]

Seriously though, QC is too expensive, and even HX Stomp sounds like overkill. POD Go would seem to fit the bill. Does the POD Go really sound that different than an HX Stomp?

Not really, but remember that modelers are not just about the amp sounds. There is also the effects and hardware (meaning I/O) in addition that all contribute to the final price. For your situation, based on the information you supplied, I would think that a Pod Go would work quite well for you.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Does the POD Go really sound that different than an HX Stomp?

When you've got eagle eyes, you can hear the difference

 

[Frodebro]

When you've got eagle eyes, you can hear the difference

He has yet to become cursed with our affliction.

 

[ragingplatypi]

Seriously though, QC is too expensive, and even HX Stomp sounds like overkill. POD Go would seem to fit the bill. Does the POD Go really sound that different than an HX Stomp?

No. I have both. There is a difference but it’s at cork-sniffing level. Once you’ve got effects going and it’s going through an amp or PA there’s no real difference.

 

[Jarick]

1. Budget $500-$750
2. Live only, for recording will use presets built into DAW
3. Both P.A. speakers and guitar amps
4. Not really a lot, just basics like delay, reverb, chorus, phaser, auto-wah and tremelo
5. Not at first maybe after using it awhile

I’d start with the pod go. QC would probably be best match for you but three times your budget.

 

[JiveTurkey]

No matter what, if you are someone that wants to dial things in for 5 minutes with no modeling experience through whatever random speaker; you have laying around and expect instant gratification from factory preses; you aren't going to be happy with anything.

 

[maguchi]

No matter what, if you are someone that wants to dial things in for 5 minutes with no modeling experience through whatever random speaker; you have laying around and expect instant gratification from factory preses; you aren't going to be happy with anything.

I'm easy to please

 

[Aleksi]

The IK anticonsumerdia patented Toan Seks pedal is worth a look, I think. The software blows, however. Just bring your own effects and go find that needle in a haystack profile/toan model/capture you love.

 

[mbenigni]

Not really, but remember that modelers are not just about the amp sounds. There is also the effects and hardware (meaning I/O) in addition that all contribute to the final price. For your situation, based on the information you supplied, I would think that a Pod Go would work quite well for you.

I’m not the OP. I’m leaning toward recommending POD Go here in light of the OP’s budget, and straightforward effects requirements.

 

[JCW308]

No. I have both. There is a difference but it’s at cork-sniffing level. Once you’ve got effects going and it’s going through an amp or PA there’s no real difference.

I also have both. The HX Stomp wins over POD GO 100% of the time sound-wise. There's a huge difference.

 

[came the rain]

HX Stomp has better upsampling than the Pod Go.

Aka as squirrel removal.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

HX Stomp has better upsampling than the Pod Go.

Aka as squirrel removal.

Ah, yeah. Forgot about this. Then, having never heard a PodGo before (but having heard Helix before and after the oversampling update), I will say there is a noticeable sound difference, but still leagues beyond Logic stock guitar presets. For someone that is super averse to editing stuff, 6 knobs and 6 parameters in view at a time seems like a bigger deal than oversampling, but who knows.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

For someone that is super averse to editing stuff, 6 knobs and 6 parameters in view at a time seems like a bigger deal than oversampling, but who knows.

I think this is the clincher in the Stomp vs Pod Go debate for OP along with the bigger screen and visual details.

 

[la szum]

I don't do "advice." My experience is no one ever listens, and people always have
their mind made up (at least 90% of people) beforehand anyways.



That said, there are great platforms at virtually EVERY price point. Hard to go wrong.

 

[maguchi]

That said, there are great platforms at virtually EVERY price point. Hard to go wrong.

Trufe dat!

 

[maguchi]

The IK anticonsumerdia patented Toan Seks pedal is worth a look, I think.

Say wha-a-at?!

 

[maguchi]

pod no and Head flush

?

 

[OneEng]

1. Budget $500-$750
2. Live only, for recording will use presets built into DAW
3. Both P.A. speakers and guitar amps
4. Not really a lot, just basics like delay, reverb, chorus, phaser, auto-wah and tremelo
5. Not at first maybe after using it awhile

Great information.

What I would recommend a Kemper Stage Used (~ $1100) as my first choice.

1. Hands down the best real tube tone for the types of amps you are used to
2. Has independent outputs for the PA and for your monitor
3. Great gigging capabilities all around for a pelthora of reasons
4. VERY easy for a traditional tube amp player to understand quickly

Additionally, if you don't like it, you can very likely sell it at or near the price you paid for it.

Honestly, for live gigging (which is what I do too) there isn't anything out there that is better IMO. I have tried them all.

Here are my counter thoughts to all other recommendations:

• Why not the new Kemper Player? At $750.00 new, it is nearly at the price of a used Kemper Stage which has way more capability. The player doesn't have enough buttons to be a good gigging partner.
• Why not a Fractal FM3 or FM9? While it is absolutely possible to get great low gain sounds out of these products, it isn't easy for an old tube player to get there. Additionally, the FM3 is again, just too few buttons to be a decent gig partner. Also, they are a fairly expensive solution in comparison.
• Why not Helix HX Stomp XL? Delay time between patches makes this solution unacceptable for live IMO. Yes, you can avoid the delay by simply making a bigger patch and taking parts in and out of it; however, you need to know how to do this (it isn't that simple), you are limited in processing on this platform which makes it even harder, and the Helix doesn't have the same sound quality for the amps you are used to as the Kemper or Fractal units.
• Why not the quad cortex? First and foremost, the buttons are TOO CLOSE TOGETHER for gigging. It isn't as good a solution for live as the Kemper stage either. It is also not an easy unit to learn IMO.

Be careful of the different recommendations given as some people like to gig (like you and I), some people like to plunk around in the basement and control things with their fingers, and some like to record. Additionally, there seems to be a good percentage of people using modeling/capture units who highly prioritize lots of effect processing over raw tube tone.

The Kemper is also built like a tank and was obviously designed for nightly gigging.