Preamp Dilema - Pod gets really bright when loud

Shane Regal · #1 10-05-2001, 03:28 AM

Ok, ok, I know some of you guys are gonna dog me about this but here goes.

A couple years ago I had a killer mesa rig... *the same one alot of you guys would like to have: Mesa Triaxis, Intellifex, 2:90, & Dual Recto 4x12. I had this setup for about 3years.

For some retarded reason I got tired of the sound, and in my moment of weakness some guy offered me a ton of cash. ( I made the regretful decision to sell.)

So, after wondering around "tonally" lost for about 2years I ended up with a Line6 Flextone II(for practice & small gigs), a Pod Pro(for home recording), and a Carvin Legacy Half Stack(to rock.). * Well, a couple of months ago I sold the Legacy head because my buddy that I play guitar with had a Legacy half stack too. *Not a bad sound but, we had the same tone.

To make matters worse I teach at a local guitar store... not a good place to be if you have G.A.S..
So, 2 weeks ago a mesa rig, like I used to have, came walking in the the door. *Well, I bought the poweramp and cabinet. *I figured I'd use the Pod Pro with it, so I didn't bother buying the Triaxis. * (bad decision!!!) *The Pod sounds great at low to medium volumes, but when I turn it up it gets so bright I can't seem to dial out enough of the highs. *Now I'm aware of the "Fletcher-Munson curve", but this is beyond that. *I don't use a scooped sound... I like midrange. *I tried rolling the treble/presence completely off on the pod to no avail. *I'm not sure why this is happening. *Do you think if I insert a graphic/global eq between the pod and pwr amp I can rectify this? *It's likely I'll just get another Triaxis, but I do really like the pod and would like to be able to use it this way. *Suggestions?

Gresh · #2 10-05-2001, 05:58 PM

I replied before but I guess the post didn't go through.

I don't have any answers for you, all I can really think of is that your power tubes could be reacting abnormally as you run the vol up. *But I am sure you have thought thru the bad tube issues. *Only other thing that I can think of is that maybe the POD doesn't like 6L6's very much. *My 20/20 has EL84s, granted it isn't as loud as your 2:90, but the 84s have a different character that doesn't get shrill, just nice, warm and toasty compression...it tends to get fatter and juicier the louder I go.

Only other thought, play with the AIR switch and the cab and microphone sims in the POD. *I know it says to turn AIR off when running through guitar gear, but I have found that it can sound better if you customize it a little. *I'm sure you've played with that too. *Please let us know if you find the problem.

MorbidAngel · #3 10-05-2001, 07:55 PM

Cough

buy a Mesa Quad

Cough

:angel:

heheheh

later dude

:shoot::angel:

Shane Regal · #4 10-05-2001, 09:37 PM

I'll have to play around with it a little more. *I didn't turn the air off. *I did turn off the speaker simulations. *I spoke with Greg Howe today about it. *He's going to do the same thing (POD into pwr amp). *I'm sure we 'll figure something out.

However, I did score a Triaxis today for $700. *I guess I won't be getting the quad... sorry Chris.

MorbidAngel · #5 10-05-2001, 10:45 PM

No sweat dude play on.

I'll just ebay it.

:shoot::angel:

diek · #6 10-06-2001, 02:45 AM

Hey Shane,
* *You're having the opposite problem that I'm having. My POD sounds too warm at high volumes. And the rectifier setting sounds like death metal 5X over. The PODs are fickle in my experience, and you'll have to do some testing to get a good amp for it. The beat amp I've used so far with the POD is the Mackie 1400i. Go Figure!

rosskoss · #7 10-08-2001, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Quote: from Shane Regal on 8:37 pm on Oct. 5, 2001
I'll have to play around with it a little more. *I didn't turn the air off. *I did turn off the speaker simulations. *I spoke with Greg Howe today about it. *He's going to do the same thing (POD into pwr amp). *I'm sure we 'll figure something out.

However, I did score a Triaxis today for $700. *I guess I won't be getting the quad... sorry Chris.

You know Greg Howe??(are you talking about the guitarist?)

Shane Regal · #8 10-08-2001, 06:22 PM

Quote:"You know Greg Howe??(are you talking about the guitarist?)"

Yeah, *I studied with Greg a few years back. *I just spoke with him the other day. *He just got off the road with NSYNC. He's now using the Pod Pro. *

Well guys.... *I traded my POD Pro in for a H&K ACCESS preamp. * I didn't think to check the output pad(adjusts the eq of the output signal for different applications) when booting up. *That might have been the solution. * It's too late now... but, on the other hand I now have a Triaxis and an Access. *I should be able to get enough sounds out of those 2 to keep me happy for awhile.

It's a sickness I tell ya!