I bought a modeling amp...

[ER]

I bought a Fender Mustang V head, and so far I have to say I like it. I never thought I'd own a modeling amp after hearing the typical crap that's out there (my nephew had a line 6 that made every guitar sound exactly the same), but while scratching my head on how to put together a wet/dry/wet rig with limited funds I came across the mustang V which is 75 watts per channel stereo with a bunch of tweakable effects that sound pretty good and some really decent amp models as well.

So with my tube amp in the middle and this thing stereo as the wet channels, it sounds really nice. I'm splitting the signal with a panning volume pedal and can vary how wet or dry and even get some delay loops going, switch over to the built in tuner etc.

The cool part was that I saw one on E-bay for cheap, sold a delay pedal I never liked and an octave pedal and it covered the cost of the amp, I have to say the delays and octave built-ins on the amp sound way better than the pedals they replaced and there's a ton more besides.

The thing is super tweakable and can plug into the computer USB for tweaking and recording, and you can save all your presets, change speaker cab models and even tube match, sag, and bias modeling. There's a cool mode where you can run the amp model of your choice and use the foot pedals to turn on and off the stomp box models.

I've been able to get pretty close to some of my favorite tones tweaking this thing. Really flexible.

It will never replace a good tube amp on stage but I could never afford all the amps it models and it sounds great recording and weighs like 25 lbs.

If you're looking for a wet LR add on, a recording modeler/interface, a grab and go studio tool, it's worth checking out.

Time to slip into some nomex.

[Reeltarded]

Ever try a pod plugged into an effects return on a pair of 100w amps?

I have used different types of transistor amps in my rig as the clean/split for a long time. Anything additive that is different can be really good.

[ER]

I've never tried a pod before, I have to say I'm guilty of being an analog snob in the past. I'm slowly coming around.

This last time we moved I kept apologizing to my friends that helped and we were joking that my entire record collection would fit on a single I-pod. Maybe I can find some hipster who will trade my record collection for an I-tunes gift card....

[Reeltarded]

LOL!

[selloutrr]

Ever try a pod plugged into an effects return on a pair of 100w amps?

Yes! Three doors down

[Reeltarded]

Aha!

I have liked the Marshall hybrid 800 30w amps for power... actually those amps sounds like Gary Moore Corridors of Power period with the gain channel wiped and they don't vaporize kids. (shame really hah)

[Leo_Gnardo]

Get together with Big Bob (of the Marshall Warehouse) & get it to model lingerie - perfect together!

But seriously, those modelers are catching up, getting better tones & more versatile all the time.

[ER]

These are the amp models on mine; '57 Deluxe, '59 Bassman, '57 Champ, '65 Deluxe Reverb, '65 Princeton, '65 Twin Reverb, Super-Sonic, British 60's (ac30), British 70's (plexi), British 80's (jcm800), American 90's (boogie) and Metal 2000 (?).

The V.2 has 5 more than that.

I remember reading in the dumble guitar player article that David Lindley wanted the overdrive to sound like a cranked deluxe but with more power to play with a band. Well I'll be darned if the '57 deluxe cranked doesn't sound like a first gen dumble. Throw a compressor in front and add in spring reverb (tweakable for level, decay, dwell, diff, tone, and placement in signal chain) with a closed back celestion cab and it's Lowell George in spades.

'65 twin, stiffen up the power section, add a t-wah and octave, fender closed back 2-12 cab and it's Jerry city.

Tommy Bolin= hiwattish amp tweak, fuzz and tape delay, room reverb.

You set everything up on a preset and then you can turn on and off all the effects using the 4 button foot switch. Even cleans up with the volume control.

The vibratone cab is the best sounding fake leslie I've heard, especially in stereo. Just so much fun stuff to play with.

So far it seems I've been able to get in the ballpark on any tone I can imagine and there's a user forum where you can download preset others have put together.

Oh well enough blabbing...

[vibratoking]

I've never tried a pod before, I have to say I'm guilty of being an analog snob in the past. I'm slowly coming around.

I was an analog snob. Then I spent quite a while with many different digital amp platforms... I is an analog snob...and happy to be one.

[HeeBGB]

I feel modeling has its place. At low volumes I can't really hear or feel the difference so for me.....low volume practice they are OK. At band volume though there is nothing yet that beats a good tube amp for me. Now all I have to do is get a 10 watt amp that acts and sounds like a 100 watt plexi at full bore. Yea I know....not gonna happen if I am not moving the air.