Skip to main content

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but it doesn't really fit anywhere 100%.

I currently use my POD for playing live- usually 2x a week. I fold it back thru a monitor to hear it onstage. And I HATE it. I want an AMP on stage. I'll be working with a new band soon and he has amps on stage- so I HAVE TO have an amp onstage. How silly it will sound to have me in the PA only and 75% of his sound from the stage. Total mismatch.

So I'm going to have an amplifier built for the stage.
Has anyone done this before? I could just use one of the amps I have laying around, but I want to reproduce the virtual sound without coloring it (as much as possible).

I was thinking of getting a low power (100w) poweramp and runnign it thru a 10" and a piezo tweeter. I have the skills to make the think look like a real amp (I like the look of a marshallBluesbreaker!).

Some things I'm not clear about are the size of the speakers- do I need a tweeter if I use a 10"? Should I go with a 12" and a piezo (I like the piezo because no need for a crossover).

All input and ideas are appreciated.

Thanks.
ROCKit Queen

Comments

rhydian Fri, 07/01/2005 - 02:46

:D
Hi

I've used my pod XT live with an 80W Marshall 1x12 combo, with all the tone settings at zero and a slight amount of crunch on the clean channel. Sounded good to me. DI'd out the back of the pod to the pa, and had an awesome stage sound that contributed to the mix in the hall. We went out over a festival radio, we were doing the morning slot....

I think it's easier to play better if you have a good sound happening right next to you from your amp...inspiring

moonbaby Fri, 07/01/2005 - 15:06

GCR:
I play through a POD (an early one,at that) and while I don't like the sound of it plugged directly into the board or even headphones (too harsh on the topend), I LOVE it through a clean Fender tube amp. I have a couple to choose from, depending on the gig, and they all seem to "soften the blow" of digital harshness. You might look around your region for a nice Traynor MkIII (like a Twin, but not nearly as much $$$), a Traynor Bassmaster (like a 50-watt Marshall, but less $$$), a Marshall JCM800 (they go cheap around here), a compact Fender Princeton (you can still find them around and don't let the size fool ya-mine will hang with a live drummer because I put a 10" Eminence in it), or (my fave) a silver-faced '68 Fender Bandmaster Reverb. Or a Sunn 100S, a Tremolux, even a real Bassman. In fact a bass amp can do what you want at a lower price than the more expensive reverb models. Look around and....wanna gig building cabs? (re:tablesaw and tweed)

anonymous Fri, 07/01/2005 - 15:25

There is an "amp" ouput switch on the pod. I believe when switched to this function it removes the "cab emulation" filters and turns the signal back into one more suitable for running into a guitar amp.

I'm a huge fan of Mesa tube amps, so I would probably use my Mesa 2:90 into a Mesa speaker cab. But if you want less color, what you might want to do is find a nice FET power amp/speaker cab setup, or a combo amp that lets you completely bypass the preamp section. Either way, I think it would sound a heck of a lot better than trying to build your own. But of you do, let us know how it comes out! 8)

CoyoteTrax Fri, 07/01/2005 - 16:22

Great amps listed above for sure.

I'll second the Fender Princeton especially. I love the Princeton with it's clean, sparkling highs and tight, thumping (spanking) bottom end. I even adore the Princeton Chorus combo with 2 X 10's. It's solid state but has a classic Fender sound and with a good tube pre between the guitar and the amp it can drive beautiful tones...clean AND dirty.

The 10" Eminence speaker Moonbaby mentioned is a jewel too, IMO. An absolute jewel. One of my favorite speakers of all time.

If you're shopping for amps locally, I'd recommend taking your rig in with you (guitar, processor, everything), and hear onsite what it sounds like with what they have in stock. You have a goal and know what you want to hear and that's the best way to do it in my experience.