POD HD500 opinions?

[Steinmetzify]

I know its low end here, but I just wanted some different flavors to mess around with, maybe record some clips. Got a good deal; be here next week.

I know its not gonna compare to an Axe, but I'm hoping its got some good points. Anybody mess around with them? What did you love/hate?

Thanks!

 

[glassjaw7]

I've been gigging with one for over a year now. I feed it into a tube power amp and through a Carvin 412 with Eminence/Carvin BR12s and it kills for what I do. The clean tones, effects and mid-gain to hot plexi type of gain levels sound really, really good. I mean good to the point that if any of you guys came to see our band, I doubt you'd think it was a modeler.

The one thing it can't quite do is nail the authenticity of a high-gain amp. The Recto and Fireball models are pretty cool, but they don't have the same huge, pummeling feel or sound that the real deal does. Running directly to the board sounds ok I suppose, but for this unit to really shine it needs to be used with a tube power amp, IMO. But the clean and mild-breakup tones sound pretty good direct. I've also had pretty good luck with the "Engl pre" model.

It sounds as good as some of the Axe clips I hear, but I've also heard the Axe sound noticeable more realistic as far as high-gain tones. The Kemper seems to do a much better job than the HD also, but the Pod has all the extra fx and goodies. It's a great tool for someone in a cover band, as it can come close enough to emulate most tones, and it's also a cool addition to any rig. Fun to play with the looper too.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Nice dude.....was going to run it into the power section of my 6505. 4cm maybe, just for the simplicity of switching between lead tones and something cleaner with effects.

Bummed about the hi-gain stuff, as I was looking forward to it, but maybe there'll be something useable in it.

Thanks, man!

 

[shred-o-holic]

I've been using mine in my Classic Rock band (I'm an extreme Metalist at heart lol) for over a year and it kicks ass. Was running thru an Atomic powered cab which it sounded very good, but I upped to the Line 6 DT 25 combo and man it just kills now. The digital link and integration between the two is just ridiculous. The cleans are just killer now (they were good before) and the wahs are just plain sick! The high gain is also amazing now that I am using natural amp gain....but the amp models are great as well. I also use the synths for some of the Styx stuff we do and it sounds very good. I don't think for the price point you can go wrong with the HD 500. I know that new Roland piece is out which is cool but I have been tremendously happy with the HD. Plus it takes the beating that my Axe-FX and now Kemper don't have to...

 

[shred-o-holic]

Nice dude.....was going to run it into the power section of my 6505. 4cm maybe, just for the simplicity of switching between lead tones and something cleaner with effects.

Bummed about the hi-gain stuff, as I was looking forward to it, but maybe there'll be something useable in it.

Thanks, man!

I think the high gain stuff is very usable.....the newest firmware is very good. For whatever you are doing it will be just fine...

 

[threadkiller]

What they said. I've been using one direct to the board for almost a year now. In my cover band, it's a great tool. The cleans and mid gain stuff is great. The high gain is a little lacking but we don't really cover much that requires that tone. It sounds better through a tube power section as stated but for my purpose direct to the board was the way to go and it works fine like that. I don't do any recording but i've heard some good clips recording directly from the unit. You'll be pleased. Just don't expect it to do everything perfectly. It does most things really well. And it is about 1/4 the cost of an Axe Fx.

 

[jlbaxe]

I use the Pro Hd through an RT 2/50. Great unit, easiest to program but I do not use hi gainers. I have the Axe 2 which is great but the Pro Hd still has a spot in the rack. Even if you use the Hd500 just for effects its a win/win. You can't beat the price compared to the Axe and the Hd500 has the built in exp pedal.

 

[JackBootedThug]

i would love to try one. also one of the variax guitars as well.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I think it does compare to the Axe-Fx, but just has a lot less options.

 

[JackBootedThug]

check out ola's comparison video of the podhd and axefx. pretty suprising results imo.

 

[jlbaxe]

i would love to try one. also one of the variax guitars as well.

I wanna try the Variax also and maybe the HT25 or HT50 head

 

[glassjaw7]

Just have to add- When I said its weak point is high-gain, I didn't mean it flat out can't do it. It actually does a pretty good job! I'm just saying that the clean to mild breakup tones are where it's at. The /13 and Dr. Z models for instance are really amazing. The JTM and plexi/Park models also sound stellar and take the (emulated) pedals very well. I AB'd my setup to my buddy's 800 and while it didn't sound exact, it sounded just as good. Same with my plexi and JTM patches. They sound amazing and I get more compliments on my tone than my other guitarist's real Marshall.

Compared to my old modded recto or my Mark IV, it just doesn't have that authenticity to it. Don't know how else to describe it. I mean, it gets pretty close, close enough for most players probably, but I'm just being picky here. It's a great tool as I said earlier and the Engl and recto patches will make many metalheads very happy, I think.

 

[sandman]

I wanna hear some dokken/ratt/ozzy clips with the hd500 ha ha...seriously

 

[Anonymous]

I use one live on occasion with tech 21 power engines for a small bar rig. I play a whole gamut of cheesy metal and it works fine.The key factors for me are portability and a range of sounds. It has great effects and sounds great direct. I use the tech 21's for stage monitoring only and they sound decent..

 

[MKibanez]

Hey guys, can someone explain me how to used it with the power section of an amp? Do you plug it in the loop? Heard a lot of wery good clips with the pod and I could'be interest to try it in my recto!

 

[polaris20]

I have an HD500, and I really like it. Sure, teh Axe is amazing and all, but for a fraction of the price, I can't complain. I've also found that going to Line6.com/customtone and sorting by rating yields a lot of great results. Just find a patch that uses an amp model you like, tweak to taste, and you're there. A lot of great patches to be had.

 

[Spaceboy]

The HD500 never really clicked with me. It was decent, but had some annoying vibes in the high gain models.

 

[MKibanez]

Hey guys, how do you used it with the power stage of the amp? You plugg it in the line in and used the clean chanel or you need to mod the amp?

 

[rlord1974]

I wanna hear some dokken/ratt/ozzy clips with the hd500 ha ha...seriously

Cue up 'Lay It Down' and 'Bark At The Moon'.....

 

[glassjaw7]

Hey guys, how do you used it with the power stage of the amp? You plugg it in the line in and used the clean chanel or you need to mod the amp?

I've had the best luck running mine into the fx return (power section). When I use it live with my Carvin head, it makes no audible difference when I run it on the clean or dirty channel. With my Mark IV (and my Recto when I had it) it does make a big difference in tone and feel when switching channels. Not a techy guy when it comes to amps but I guess the power amp circuitry changes on the Boogies when switching between channels.

I tried the 4CM with high hopes and I just couldn't make it work. I'm sure it can work great, but I didn't put the time into tweaking levels. Eventually, I'd like to have the HD on a looper/switcher so I can use the models through a seperate power amp and then use my amp and pedals for my main tones.