Line6 Spider Valve - ever played one?

[turmoil]

alright, so humor me if you will. i've never actually played one of these things and i have no intention of buying one, BUT i'm really interested in hearing what people who have played these amps, particularly the head version, think about them. The idea seems like it makes perfect sense -- match some decent emulated amp tones with the power of tubes and = *magic*. It looks nice on paper, but what about in person? Do they sound good in a live situation or are they better for recording?

if you played the amp: what did you like about? what did you dislike about it? what do you wish this amp had that you feel it's really missing out on that could have made it an incredible amp?

I ask these questions because this seems like it could have been a really neat product....if it were done right. I say the last part because i've never heard much talk or hype about this particular amp. so what gives??
thanks!!

 

[NinjaRaf]

Ive never spent a large enough block of time with one to really go through everything they have to offer. They are immensely feature filled. I think if you are in a cover band, these things are fantastic. I thought the ones that I have played have sounded pretty good. Pair it with a decent speaker cab, and you are set. I think it comes down to the player. The gear is decent, but if you know how to play and dial in an amp to get the most out of it, then these things can be a VERY useful and versatile tool. I dont think they sound as good as the amps they try to model, but they are certainly MOUNTAINS above the old crate blue voodoo I had. 5 years, and I could never get a useable tone out of that....10 minutes in the store with the spider valve, and I had very tube sounding tones that I would have no problem using on stage and recording with.

 

[turmoil]

So, you think the amp can do a lot of different tones in a passable manner, but there isn't one patch or type of setting that is like, "OH MY GOD!" ?
I have the Line6 PodXT and i think there are some ok patches...a lot of junky ones, but at least a handful that i legitimately enjoy recording stuff with.

Did the amp sound sterile at all? Like, it was really noticeable that it was a digital, modeled preamp being driven by power tubes or was it actually a fairly convincing recreation of a typical analog-based tube amp?

 

[somata]

I've messed around with them in the store and I've always thought they sound pretty good. One of the guitarists in one of the local bands we play with regularly has one, and although I think he runs it too scooped, I've always thought that with some mids it could be a killer amp. I know the guitarist from Macabre uses one through a Bogner cab and he loves it.

I probably would have bought one of the combos when they came out if it had midi...

 

[Rayneman]

I have the 100 watt head and FBV shortboard. I think I paid $300 for the amp and $100 for the FBV. I don't care what anyone says, I think its a pretty neat head, and as someone said, its great for a cover band. I plan on using mine Friday for a show, paired up with a Recto Traditional 4x12, a wah pedal and my X2 wireless. I've used this set up once before for a cover show, and it performed very nicely. I have basically 4 patches I use, clean (then you can add delay and mod with the footswitches), overdrive (again, effects you can add on the fly including a gain boost!) and then two versions of a heavy tone, one more "middy" than another for solos.

I also have an XTC, Herbert, Twin Jet, Triple Rec so I'm not really "slumming" the amp without any alternatives.

Of course, I would only use the amp for a cover gig, and mostly because of convenience. When we play original shows its usually in bigger places where its more feasible to use my other amps.

Anyway, I am planning on experimenting with running an XLR from the amp to the board to see how that sounds through the monitors and mains.

In any event, I know that its a Line 6 amp, and it doesn't fool me into thinking that its not, but its a little easier to carry, and I don't have to bring a rack unit either.

 

[NinjaRaf]

So, you think the amp can do a lot of different tones in a passable manner, but there isn't one patch or type of setting that is like, "OH MY GOD!" ?
I have the Line6 PodXT and i think there are some ok patches...a lot of junky ones, but at least a handful that i legitimately enjoy recording stuff with.

Did the amp sound sterile at all? Like, it was really noticeable that it was a digital, modeled preamp being driven by power tubes or was it actually a fairly convincing recreation of a typical analog-based tube amp?

Well, again, I havent spend a lot of time with them, just a few minutes here and there in the store. Ive always been able to dial something that I like enough that I would gig with it. Not sure how they perform at higher volumes, but since the power amp is tube, I dont imagine they are worse. Better, maybe, the same, that would be my guess, but I really dont know. I dont think they sound sterile. I think they definitely sound better than the pods. I would say that it can get tones passable as real tube amps. They are definitely worth trying out, especially at how cheap the older versions are now that the new one came out...

 

[Bob Savage]

So, you think the amp can do a lot of different tones in a passable manner, but there isn't one patch or type of setting that is like, "OH MY GOD!" ?
I have the Line6 PodXT and i think there are some ok patches...a lot of junky ones, but at least a handful that i legitimately enjoy recording stuff with.

Did the amp sound sterile at all? Like, it was really noticeable that it was a digital, modeled preamp being driven by power tubes or was it actually a fairly convincing recreation of a typical analog-based tube amp?

I've got an SV MKII HD100 and there's plenty of good tones that can be pulled out of it.

As far as "sterile, noticeably digital, etc.," the blind tests that I've either done myself or seen condcted by others reveal that virtually nobody knows an amp is digital until they're told. You may or may not like what you're hearing, but I without fail people with good ears are easily "tricked" when they don't already know something is digital and/or aren't in a "which one is digital" type test. The "which one" tests give an unfair advantage because you already know there will be some digital amps which influences what you're listening for. In other words, you can guess... but even in those tests the results are inconsistent.

 

[mctallica1]

I had the MKII for a while and think it is a damn good amp. The effects are plenty useable and several of the amp models sound great.....do they sound like the amp modeled? I don't care.

What I care about is good tone and there is definitely good tone in this amp.

 

[TheEternal]

I had a Spider III 1x12 at one point... The preamp sounded a bit to digital, but with a tube power section, I would think it definitely sounds more tubey.. I wouldn't mind trying one as they probably have improved the preamp as well since the Spider III..

 

[bravedude2]

the spider vavle is fun, i wish i had access to a mark III they have some great sounds from what i hear on this board and on you tube and on cd.

 

[turmoil]

I have the 100 watt head and FBV shortboard. I think I paid $300 for the amp and $100 for the FBV. I don't care what anyone says, I think its a pretty neat head, and as someone said, its great for a cover band. I plan on using mine Friday for a show, paired up with a Recto Traditional 4x12, a wah pedal and my X2 wireless. I've used this set up once before for a cover show, and it performed very nicely. I have basically 4 patches I use, clean (then you can add delay and mod with the footswitches), overdrive (again, effects you can add on the fly including a gain boost!) and then two versions of a heavy tone, one more "middy" than another for solos.
I also have an XTC, Herbert, Twin Jet, Triple Rec so I'm not really "slumming" the amp without any alternatives.

Of course, I would only use the amp for a cover gig, and mostly because of convenience. When we play original shows its usually in bigger places where its more feasible to use my other amps.

Anyway, I am planning on experimenting with running an XLR from the amp to the board to see how that sounds through the monitors and mains.

In any event, I know that its a Line 6 amp, and it doesn't fool me into thinking that its not, but its a little easier to carry, and I don't have to bring a rack unit either.

i would love to hear the amp in a live situation. anyway you could possibly record it; even on a video camera?
my next thing was, why would you "only use the amp for a cover gig"? does it just not stack up against your XTC, Herbert, etc? If it doesn't stack up, what's it lacking for you? Not enough punch for example?

I've got an SV MKII HD100 and there's plenty of good tones that can be pulled out of it.
As far as "sterile, noticeably digital, etc.," the blind tests that I've either done myself or seen condcted by others reveal that virtually nobody knows an amp is digital until they're told. You may or may not like what you're hearing, but I without fail people with good ears are easily "tricked" when they don't already know something is digital and/or aren't in a "which one is digital" type test. The "which one" tests give an unfair advantage because you already know there will be some digital amps which influences what you're listening for. In other words, you can guess... but even in those tests the results are inconsistent.

Well that's good to know! Since i've never played one in person, i don't know how they sound which is why i was looking for some user experience with them. I was mainly hoping to hear that they didn't sound like a straight up solid-state amp with a digital pre-amp, ala old Crate combos or other Line6 spider stuff. I didn't really expect them to sound like that because of the tube input going on.
I know it's a totally different rig, but say an Axe-Fx with a tube power amp. I'm sure that thing can get some awesome tones going that would fool anyone in the analog vs. digital debate.

I had the MKII for a while and think it is a damn good amp. The effects are plenty useable and several of the amp models sound great.....do they sound like the amp modeled? I don't care.

What I care about is good tone and there is definitely good tone in this amp.

Just out of curiosity, how did the modeling stack up? I'm not sure exactly what amp models are in the Spider Valve, but if, for example, they had a 5150 or Marshall Plexi type model, could it be used as a fairly decent representation of that original tone?


Also, anyone try boosting the amp with an OD pedal?

 

[kannibul]

After I sold off all my guitar gear (to play drums!) I bought a Spider Valve 112 combo. I thought it was pretty good at first, but then as I played it more, I noticed how really the gainy stuff is just more fizz with an EQ change - and it doesn't really do mid-gain stuff all that well.

So, you're either doing nu-metal crap, or clean crap.

I sold it, and used some of the funds to buy another JVM410H, and haven't looked back!

 

[glpg80]

oh man there is this AWSOME drum backing track that you can set the tempo and the beat to, and then jam to it

the most fun i ever had on any amplifier. they had that shit down, i wish my vypyr had it

tonally though... it sounded like a great modeling amplifier. TBH the perfect bedroom amplifier.

but if you needed to use it for gigs or anything that relates to tone - it would suck. the vypr handles that tonal area much better and mics up better (for what it is)

but yeah, if i didnt have my vypyr or the choice to get one of those older transtube bandit 112's for practice, the new line 6 spider valve would be my choice - espcially for the built in drum machine

 

[stratotone]

Spider valve doesn't have a drum machine, huge difference between the spider valve and the other line6 spider amps.

Anyways, I've owned a Mk I and have a Mk II - sold the Mk I because the fx didn't have any tweakability. Gigged a few times with the Mk II - it sounds good, I have amps that sound better (read my sig) but the Mk II is a good general purpose amp. It doesn't have a single tone that would make me sell off some of my other amps, but does everything well IMHO. I really dig it because I can set it up with the footswitch in about 5 minutes tops, footswitch is powered by the amp, and I have a good variety of fx with it including wah, whammy, delays, choruses, etc. L6 also has a nice utility for it where you can save settings, download others, and tweak it a bit with your PC.

For the money, it's a hell of a deal. I bought mine when I started seeing wear on my XTC's headshell... I'd rather get a SV beat up at gigs than my 'real' Bogner, and save it for special occasions

Pete

 

[jcj]

oh man there is this AWSOME drum backing track that you can set the tempo and the beat to, and then jam to it

the most fun i ever had on any amplifier. they had that shit down, i wish my vypyr had it

tonally though... it sounded like a great modeling amplifier. TBH the perfect bedroom amplifier.

but if you needed to use it for gigs or anything that relates to tone - it would suck. the vypr handles that tonal area much better and mics up better (for what it is)

but yeah, if i didnt have my vypyr or the choice to get one of those older transtube bandit 112's for practice, the new line 6 spider valve would be my choice - espcially for the built in drum machine

Think you're talking about the Spider Jam. Easily the best $400 gear purchase I've made

 

[glpg80]

i thought it was the valve

i was surfing through the menus on it, i dont believe it was $400....

 

[jcj]

i thought it was the valve

i was surfing through the menus on it, i dont believe it was $400....

Little combo?

It has bass and drum tracks, just drum tracks, a couple of metronomes, and you can record your own guitar loops over them.

So much fun....I seriously love that thing

 

[Bob Savage]

Well that's good to know! Since i've never played one in person, i don't know how they sound which is why i was looking for some user experience with them. I was mainly hoping to hear that they didn't sound like a straight up solid-state amp with a digital pre-amp, ala old Crate combos or other Line6 spider stuff. I didn't really expect them to sound like that because of the tube input going on.
I know it's a totally different rig, but say an Axe-Fx with a tube power amp. I'm sure that thing can get some awesome tones going that would fool anyone in the analog vs. digital debate.

Glad I could help.

As far as the analog/digital debate, I posted a clip of the first Spider Valve rev (1x12 combo) on Harmony Central and here and received compliments from people with good ears, even asking if the clip was my JMP. Preconceptions can really mess with your mind and perceptions. That's why I don't care for the "which is digital" threads. I'm more a fan of blind siding.

 

[hairydangler]

Ive had the MkI and MKII and prefer the MKI oddly enough. I wanted to like the MKII and the additional features but when switching channels it would have a loud popping noise that was discusting and would never do in a live situation. Just ear popping loud. I returned them both and ended up getting a MKI off the bay for $395 shipped to my door. Fantastic bang for the buck if you ask me.

Amyone else with a MKII having switching problems?

 

[stratotone]

Ive had the MkI and MKII and prefer the MKI oddly enough. I wanted to like the MKII and the additional features but when switching channels it would have a loud popping noise that was discusting and would never do in a live situation. Just ear popping loud. I returned them both and ended up getting a MKI off the bay for $395 shipped to my door. Fantastic bang for the buck if you ask me.

Amyone else with a MKII having switching problems?

No pops on mine.