PODxt vs 2.0

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Can some of you folks give me the difference or comparison of the xt to the 2.0. Isit worth the extra $100 to go for the xt? I don't think I need all the extra bells and whistles or so many amp sounds (I don't think). I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

If you go back and read the recent posts about the POD and POD XT you will see why the XT model is the desired model.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Well, let me say that the preference for Pod XT over 2.0 is not universal. I like the simplicity of the Pod 2.0, and I don't need the extra bells and whistles of the XT. After using the Pod 2.0 for two years, I considered upgrading. I tried both, at home, side-by-side, and with the software to 'deep edit' the sounds. I can't really use the sounds on either straight out of the box, it takes quite a bit of tweaking to make me happy. And let's just say that for ME, I didn't find enough difference tonally to bother with upgrading. For low-to-moderate volume steel, Tele twangin', and Les Paul bluesin', I could dial in good sounds with either. Perhaps crunchy Marshall, Soldano and Dual-Rectifier sounds are better on the XT, I don't care. Neither gave me great jazz archtop or really loud-volume steel tone. That's why I have a Dual Showman Reverb and a Nashville LTD 400.

My main home and gig-rig these days is a Pod 2.0 through an Ampeg BA-112 bass amp, I own two Pods, which I can find used for no more than $150 each. I don't need the USB port, nor do I need all the extra options wrt amp models/effects/etc. One can 'deep edit' on the Pod XT itself, but not on the Pod 2.0. For some, that's an XT advantage, but I prefer to edit with the software, I think it's much simpler.

I'm also not a luddite nor a technophobe, and when Line 6 comes up with a really authentic pedal steel amp model with a couple of good 15" speaker models, I'll upgrade to whatever that is. But until then, Pod 2.0 is just fine, thank you. Gere, if you can find a place that gives you a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy, you could get your plastic out, buy both, and make your own A/B comparison at your leisure, and return the one you don't like as much. You may feel the XT is the way to go, great, or you may like the 2.0 just fine. All of this is just my opinion, naturally, no need to get the flamethrowers out.

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MSA Classic D-10 8+4, Sierra U-14 8+5, Sierra S-10 3+4, BMI S-10 3+4 plus assorted six-stringers;
Peavey LTD 400, Line6 Pod 2.0 + Ampeg BA 112, '64 Fender Deluxe Reverb, '69 Dual Showman Reverb + EVM Cabinet

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

No flame throwing from here, as I know Gary Morse uses (or did use) the POD Pro, which is like the POD 2.0 bean.

Opinions always vary, but ignoring the "extras" on the XT - I still find the quality of the clean amp modeling, and headroom to be just what it is - the next iteration of amp modeling. With each "new" version, or model, of anything - you expect a better level of performance, and I hear a difference that I like.

I also think that being able to access all of the XT's parameters on the unit itself, without having to use the computer editing software is a selling point too - for on the job tweaks.

In the end, these are just our individual opinions, and I don't mean to bash any other's opinions when I "talk up" the XT. In the end, go with what you think, and find what works for you.

Good luck,

David Spires

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Steel Guitarist for Jo Dee Messina: Carter D-10 8&7 / MSA Classic D-10 8&5; Line 6 Pod XT; Jagwire Artist Series Strings; Walker Professional Players' Chair; Peterson VS-II Tuner; Goodrich Matchbro & LDR Pedal; and BJS Bars

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

I got an XT not long ago for a little over
a couple hundred bucks off ebay (like new
with the warranty etc.) The sounds on this
thing are terrific! Talk about flexibility.
You can even tweek the tones, pre delay and
sustain of the reverbs. In addition to the
controls on top for bass, mids, treble, &
presence....there's a 4 band parametric EQ
as well if you need. I tried a friends 2.0
before & it was alright, but the XT seems to
have more headroom on the clean settings.

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

I "second" Mr. Spires' opinions.

Also, check the Frequently Asked Questions thread in the Feedback secion. There's some discussion there.

Rick Johnson · From: Wheelwright, Ky USA

David
What presets of the POD do you find
usefull? I've got one of these ordered
and would appreciate your input.

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Rick Johnson

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

I appreciate all you guys respponding and it may be "overkill", but I have decided to go with the PODxt. Hopefully I will be able to figure out how to set all the goobers on it to get the good sound from it and my NV112 and GFI steel and Hilton pedal. Thank all of you for your input, I regard it very highly.
Gere

[This message was edited by Gere Mullican on 10 March 2005 at 12:43 PM.]

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Rick,

I'm not sitting in front of my XT, but I use the Jazz Clean amp model (Roland Jazz Chorus Amp) for all my clean stuff, with the drive set at the lowest, bass around 9'o'clock, mids - I have really been experimenting with, but lately at 1 o'clock, treble around 10 o'clock, and presence at 8 or 9 o'clock (this is just off memory - so, I hope I am close!).

I think I am using the U67 mic model, and been playing with more room - 50%?.

I use a touch of compression - a couple dB, and use the gain of the compressor to get my volume level back up some, since the drive is set so low.

Delay - 361ms, all mixed to the left, 15% feedback, mixed at 15-22%.

Reverbs - been messing with a lot, from chamber to vintage plate...

I love using the TubeScreamer model on the Stomp button for overdriven slide steel... like Paul's work in Jo Dee's song "Downtime". I love that thing!

I hope that helps a little, but your volume pedal, pickups, and guitar can make so much difference too.

Gere - good luck! My basic advice is that there are many ways to hook the POD up to your 112. If you want the POD to "do it all", which is what I do - connect it to the "power amp in" on the 112, and set the destination of the XT to direct, or power amp. If you want to use the tone controls of the 112, you might want to bypass the amp modeling all together, and use the XT as an effects unit instead. Either way you go, you have to get the volume/destination/gain structures set right, or it may not sound the way you want.

Probably too much advice... Let me know if I can help.

Just another gear-head,

David Spires

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

I sorta like the "Double Verb" amp (models the
Fender Twin) better. It's crystal clean and
the tone is a bit richer. With that setting,
the tone controls behave more like the typical Fenders do.
But....what the heck, check 'em all out when
you get one. There's no end to the stuff
going on in that thing! A tweeker's delight!

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have some effect only programs and a couple of preamp programs. Several have mentioned they liked the "preamp 2" program.

Here is the link. http://web.tampabay.rr.com/jstoner1/podxt.htm

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Can somebody help me figure this out please?
I have the 2.0, and it makes no difference which amp/cab model I try, I get waay to much distortion. I can put it in manual mode and it's a lot better, but I still get a little.
I have the drive all the way off, so that's not the problem. I have the direct-AIR/amp mode on amp. I really like this thing, and hate to send it back, but everybody else that I've talked to don't have this problem.
any suggestions?
Thanks

Terry

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Terry, I emailed some starting suggestions to get a clean steel tone out of the Pod 2.0. Dave

------------------
MSA Classic D-10 8+4, Sierra U-14 8+5, Sierra S-10 3+4, BMI S-10 3+4 plus assorted six-stringers;
Peavey LTD 400, Line6 Pod 2.0 + Ampeg BA 112, '64 Fender Deluxe Reverb, '69 Dual Showman Reverb + EVM Cabinet

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Terry,

I am aware of all the "hidden" drive settings, and how to turn them down on the 2.0 - but I experienced exactly what you have.

Now, it may be that with the different levels of pickup output, and with the active volume pedals a lot of us use, that I/we still overdrive the front end of the 2.0, where another player's gear doesn't inherently drive it as hard.

Dave is right though, if you haven't learned how to turn the drive down on the computer editing software, or through extra button manipulations, you may not have it setup as optimally as you could.

Best of luck,

David Spires

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

David, that's a good point. I use a passive (Goodrich) volume pedal - just the pure steel signal (minus whatever attenuation occurs from the pedal and cables) hits the input section of the Pod. One can overdrive the input section of any device if that input signal is amplified sufficiently. Don't the active volume pedals have a pot to pad (lower) the overall output level? That seems like a pretty startling omission if true, particularly if the pedal has significant gain.

As I told Terry in my email, my Sierra 14 3-way pickup has a very hot setting (wound to 26K), no problems overdriving the Pod 2 with the settings I sent. But one does need to make sure "Black Panel #2", not #1, is set and the "Drive Boost" is off, a lot of the pre-fab settings have it on. I recommend starting out in 'Manual Mode' to avoid this.

One thing to keep in mind, these boxes (including 2.0 and XT) were really designed with the typical electric guitarist in mind, not steel players. Sometimes I need to circumvent 'features' to get the steel tone I want. Ultimately, I'd have a hard time with this if I didn't use SoundDiver (or Line6 Edit for XT) software to do the DeepEditing. I've had real good luck with this, but I acknowledge this may not work for everybody. I admit, I'm more of a techno-geek than the average guy.

The good part of the 2.0 is that they can be picked up used even more cheaply than I stated earlier. On ebay, almost all the items listed (that have bids) are $100 or lower. On the other hand, that level for Pod XT is more like $250, might as well buy a new one right now. Note that I'm emphatically not against the XT, I'm just waiting until they have serious steel amp models, the subject of a different thread.

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Thanks Dave and David, and thanks Dave for the e-mail. I'll try your suggestions.

Terry

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

I do recall having to turn the gain down on my volume pedal output when I first got it, because it was overdriving the POD.

Tom Diemer · From: Defiance, Ohio USA

For a PODxt:

This is one I've been using with my Carter D-10. Seems real clean, a touch brighter than some of the steel tones I've tried. I borrowed David Spires's delay settings for this - credit where credit's due, really like those stereo delay settings David, thank you.

Built around a Fender twin model. Sometimes use it set to "live 2x12" as well as normal output. Adjust the tone controls to taste. Works nice with my Tele too.
http://www.dataeclipse.com/tdiemer/steel.l6t

[This message was edited by Tom Diemer on 11 March 2005 at 04:36 PM.]

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

David, thanks for the advice. I know it will come in handy when I get my xt next week. I am going to give Billy Robinson a chance to find out if he wants to keep his or not. If he does, I will get a new one. Found a dealer at Guitar Heaven here in Nashville. Thanks again/
Gere

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Terry and others:

I spent quite a bit of time with the 2.0 and my computer and never could get rid of the harmonic distortion -- whenever playing two or more notes together and ascending or descending a harmonic artifact would be heard going in the OPPOSITE direction of my slide. This is enough to rule out the POD 2.0 for the clean ShoBud sounds I crave.

By all accounts the XT has a much cleaner sound, but as I have already found an amp that I like A LOT (an old Randall Steel Man 500 with an Accutronics Type 9 long decay spring upgrade), I never tried the XT myself for any length of time.

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Well, I had the xt, it was extremly quiet. not so with the 2.0, the xt had good clean amp sounds, no distortion. I sent it back and got the 2.0 because I really didn't need all the bells and whistles on the xt, and the 2.0 was more simple to use. BAD decision. This 2.0 is noisy, and distortion is very bad!!
NOT worth $200 to me!

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Terry, what some of us have been trying to tell you...

If you go back over the many POD posts, you would have found the XT is the desired model. I did a lot of checking before I bought mine and everything led me to the XT model.

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

Jack, that's the reason I bought the xt, most of the forum members recomended it. But I had no idea it was that much difference in the two. I'd heard good reports about the 2.0 also, and me being electronicly challenged, to say the least, I thought I'd give the 2.0 a try. If I had known there was that much difference in the two, I'd have kept the xt, and learned to use it.

Terry

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

OK guys. I took the plunge today and purchased a POD xt. I hope I didn't throw 300 bucks away. If any one in this area can lend me a helping hand on how to work this goodie I am ready and willing to listen. Been reading the manual but unable to make a lot of sense out of it. HELP !!
Gere

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

There are some steel programs on my web site. Some of them are just effects only and others are preamps.

I use mine as an effect processor between the volume pedal and the amp.

Use the Line 6 Edit program to load them into your POD XT.
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/jstoner1

Actually, the first thing you need to do is go to the Line 6 site, register and then download the "LIne 6 Monkey" and the driver for the POD XT. Install those then connect your POD XT and the Line 6 Monkey program will detect it and also present you with any updates that need to be done. After you get it updated, download the Line 6 Edit program and you are in business as the Line 6 Edit program allows you to save programs, save the entire set of programs, load different programs, sets and finally edit programs. (I use the USB interface for mine).

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