POD X3 Live - cheap sub for full rig/stage use

[Bit-Crusherrr]

Hey all,

I've currently been trying to budget myself in terms of buying a new bass rig, and I'm limited to around £550. I haven't needed a bass amp in a long time due to not being in a band/being supplied one by other members. At home I've just been practicing using Guitar Rig 3 through my interface and speakers.

I've been considering buying a Pod X3 Live as it'll save me at least £150, and it'll save me having to cart about and store a horde of amps and heads, and it'll do for recording and general play until I can afford a new full bass rig.

My only question for all those out there, is what is it like, on its own, for live use? Will I need a power amp to give it a bit more of a signal boost before it reaches the PA? Or should a good PA give me a loud enough signal?

I only really ever need an amp as a monitor for myself on stage, and I'm not picky about my tone as long as it's relatively smooth, so it seems ideal that I can just D.I. everything to a desk and route it out of the stage monitors.

Any and all advice appreciated.

Cheers!

Edited October 25, 2009 by Bit-Crusherrr

[velvetkevorkian]

The Pod line is designed so that you should be able to plug it directly into a PA without using an onstage amp; how effective that will be for you will depend on the monitoring that's available from the PA- I think most people would say that wouldn't be enough for them. I've gone direct and relied on stage monitors in the past, and it was fine, but YMMV.

Maybe better getting a small combo to use as onstage monitoring just in case?

[Dood]

My only question for all those out there, is what is it like, on its own, for live use?
>> As with any Line6 unit - when set up properly, It's really good. The X3 is a great improvement in sounds and flexibility over the XT and previous models. There's far too much to describe - so I'd suggest downloading the user manual and have a look at exactly what the system can do.

Will I need a power amp to give it a bit more of a signal boost before it reaches the PA?
>> No, you'd use a power amp to 'power' a speaker cabinet should you want some backline too - which could even be as little as a wedge monitor, should you so wish

Or should a good PA give me a loud enough signal?
>> Hmmm!!!! This is wher ethe fun comes.. Yes - in a perfect world, you will play a venue with a nice big PA with sets of subs and monitors that as a system is completely capable of supplying you with lush bass reinforcement. ..Well, in reality, down at the 'Dog and Camel', the PA monitors can only handle vocals and the 'front of house' is the speakers the DJ uses on a friday night and are shot to pieces.

I only really ever need an amp as a monitor for myself on stage, and I'm not picky about my tone as long as it's relatively smooth, so it seems ideal that I can just D.I. everything to a desk and route it out of the stage monitors.
>> Sounds like a plan! - Maybe see if you can pick up one of those 'kick back' style bass combos that you could use as a monitor for yourself? GK, Hartke, Ampeg all do them 'of sorts'. Or even buy a really good PA wedge monitor? Then send your POD signal straight to the PA for them to sort out. It can work really well - but I'd defintely get used to setting the unit up for the configuration you are using, as the X3 (and XT) and different modes to work in.

Thinking ahead further - if you are pretty much wanting to set up and leave - and you dont use effects and the like, how about a Sansamp BDDI, Hartke Attack pedal or similar?

[Bit-Crusherrr]

[quote name='dood' post='636422' date='Oct 25 2009, 07:56 PM']My only question for all those out there, is what is it like, on its own, for live use?
>> As with any Line6 unit - when set up properly, It's really good. The X3 is a great improvement in sounds and flexibility over the XT and previous models. There's far too much to describe - so I'd suggest downloading the user manual and have a look at exactly what the system can do.

Will I need a power amp to give it a bit more of a signal boost before it reaches the PA?
>> No, you'd use a power amp to 'power' a speaker cabinet should you want some backline too - which could even be as little as a wedge monitor, should you so wish

Or should a good PA give me a loud enough signal?
>> Hmmm!!!! This is wher ethe fun comes.. Yes - in a perfect world, you will play a venue with a nice big PA with sets of subs and monitors that as a system is completely capable of supplying you with lush bass reinforcement. ..Well, in reality, down at the 'Dog and Camel', the PA monitors can only handle vocals and the 'front of house' is the speakers the DJ uses on a friday night and are shot to pieces.

I only really ever need an amp as a monitor for myself on stage, and I'm not picky about my tone as long as it's relatively smooth, so it seems ideal that I can just D.I. everything to a desk and route it out of the stage monitors.
>> Sounds like a plan! - Maybe see if you can pick up one of those 'kick back' style bass combos that you could use as a monitor for yourself? GK, Hartke, Ampeg all do them 'of sorts'. Or even buy a really good PA wedge monitor? Then send your POD signal straight to the PA for them to sort out. It can work really well - but I'd defintely get used to setting the unit up for the configuration you are using, as the X3 (and XT) and different modes to work in.

Thinking ahead further - if you are pretty much wanting to set up and leave - and you dont use effects and the like, how about a Sansamp BDDI, Hartke Attack pedal or similar?[/quote]

Some great advice again dude! (or Dood =] ) I think I probably will get a smaller amp to borrow to bi-amp with, maybe just a combo or something, but I won't be playing small bar gigs for a while considering the stuff we play (not exactly radio friendly).

But I'm glad my fears about buying an X3 have been killed. I'll probably buy one over the Sansamp due to me wanting to use it for guitar and songwriting work too, it's a great bit of recording gear to own.

How would I go about bi-amping the X3? Can I send one of its outputs into the effects loop of a combo so I have a "powered monitor" on stage with me?

Edited October 26, 2009 by Bit-Crusherrr

[Dood]

[quote name='Bit-Crusherrr' post='636630' date='Oct 26 2009, 12:34 AM']How would I go about bi-amping the X3? Can I send one of its outputs into the effects loop of a combo so I have a "powered monitor" on stage with me?[/quote]

Yes you can.

Not so much 'bi-amping' as that's something different - but the X3, like the XT have dedicated outputs that can be configured for your application. There are a set of XLR sockets for your DI to PA and a pair of 1/4" sockets for plugging straight into your amp. In the Output menu, you can choose how you have connected the amp in question. Either to the front input, or to a power amp directly. In the case of connecting to the effects of a combo, I would select the 'connect to power amp' configuration - as the effects loop is bypassing any preamp section on the combo (in *most* cases but not all).

[Bit-Crusherrr]

[quote name='dood' post='637152' date='Oct 26 2009, 06:24 PM']Yes you can.

Not so much 'bi-amping' as that's something different - but the X3, like the XT have dedicated outputs that can be configured for your application. There are a set of XLR sockets for your DI to PA and a pair of 1/4" sockets for plugging straight into your amp. In the Output menu, you can choose how you have connected the amp in question. Either to the front input, or to a power amp directly. In the case of connecting to the effects of a combo, I would select the 'connect to power amp' configuration - as the effects loop is bypassing any preamp section on the combo (in *most* cases but not all).[/quote]


Thanks to the advice, I think I have now found my ideal setup for the meantime:



LINE 6 X3 LIVE



T.MAN TA600 MK-X POWER AMP, 300W/4OHMS, 200W/8OHMS



PEAVEY 115TVX 8OHM 200W/8OHM, 30-3.5kHz (need as low as I can get considering I'm down to F# =/ )

A bit over budget at £679, but with a "head" that I can use for noodling on guitar with, and a superbly clean signal, it ain't bad is it?

Edited October 26, 2009 by Bit-Crusherrr