Line 6 Pod Pro Review

History:

Purchase: To be frank, I took this unit out on apro, with no real intention of buying it. (I hope Coastal Music doesn't read this). The Idea was to use it for a recording project, and take it back. I couldn,t take it back, however hard I tried. It's too darned good. I'm from South Africa, and our exchange rate against the dollar makes this unit EXPENSIVE. Our rand is worth about $9, and I paid 7000 of our Rand. Please work it out for yourself- it's too depressing for me!

What I Like About This Unit: Killer sounds. It works great plugged straight into your soundcard, into your guitar amp or into a recording or live desk. I used it a couple of times at outdoor concerts with the local symphony orchestra, and the sound-man came over to tell me the guitar sounded great, and he didn't have to do a thing to the sound once it was plugged in. It wasn't even D.I.d- he just treated it like a mic. Great looks. It really brings a sparkle to your rack. It's easy to change settings at a gig, as the front panel looks and acts like a normal guitar amp. If you don't yet know what the Pod Pro does (where have you been)? it models 32 guitar amps in software. Being pretty ancient now, I tried to simulate the sounds of the bands I remember from the 60's. I managed a Shadows tone that would have had their lead guitarist Hank B. Marvin asking "Is that me?". It was much closer to his sound than I ever managed on my genuine 60's Vox AC30. Likewise the twin reverb simulation is stunning, and as good in most ways as the real thing (I had one). And you don't have to worry about the bias! On their website they have a large number of simulations that are quickly downloaded in a winzip format. Although you can set up most sounds from the front panel, software is supplied that makes setting up sounds easier, and of course you can store as many tones as you like. There is a full range of inputs and outputs, and you should find everything you're ever going to need.

What I Do NOT Like About The Line 6 Pod Pro: The file names of downloaded sounds don't tell you what they are, and it's a major head-ache sorting them out and re-naming them. The effects, tho of good quality, are a bit basic. I would have liked a multi-tap delay, for example. F.X. combinations are provided, but there's no way to choose your own.

Pod Pro Quality: Housed in solid metal, this thing is pretty rugged. Mine has been subjected to a lot af abuse over the year that I've had it(I use it for eserything), and there's not a mark on it! However, the display on mine has been faulty from the start. All the inputs and outputs are first rate. The tone controls etc. are good looking and as smooth as glass. I've never been stupid enough to open the thing up, so internal construction is a mystery to me. Having said that, my Pod has never glitched or let me down- which is more than I can say for my computer, which has stayed in the same place and I've had for about the same length of time. Thanks, Bill.

Summary: Don't EVER try this thing if you don't have the money to buy it. The need to have it may well cause you to sell one or more of your children. You have been warned. Seriously, this and a great F.X. unit- and, of course a great guitar or three, will give you everything you'll ever need for a huge range of killer sounds. Of course that's until the next great modeller comes along!

Rating of this product: 5

This Line 6 Guitar Accessories Review Submitted By: Bruce Boome

Date: 2001-08-09