Amp/Speaker Simulator through PA as backup 'amp'?

**Tom Karol** · 08-22-2011, 09:02 AM

I don't want to bring 2 amps to gigs, but I do want a backup available, and all of the folks I play with have good PAs. So, I'd like to get some kind of amp/speaker simulator to use to run into the PA in the event of an amp emergency. The PA's have reverb, and I won't need any other effects. Any suggestions? Thanks!

**BrightSizeLife28** · 08-22-2011, 09:25 AM

Jim Soloway sounds pretty good through this set-up with the new POD. He talks about it about 5 mins into the video.

**kamlapati** · 08-22-2011, 01:07 PM

Depends on what kind of guitar and music you play of course.

FWIW, I plug my L-5 with a Lollar Johnny Smith PU directly into the PA via a DI box and it sounds great.

**Anandbhat** · 08-22-2011, 02:38 PM

ultrasound DI plus,direct to PA.

**Stackabones** · 08-22-2011, 03:09 PM

On some gigs, I've used a Line 6 Pocket Pod Express (which fits in my case) directly into the PA (often I have my own, a Fishman SoloAmp). Sounded just fine.

It's really cool to just walk in with a case and a cord and pull the Pod out and get a good sound.

**spiral** · 08-22-2011, 03:22 PM

I've been researching this for late night practice and here has been my conclusion:
Budget: Pod HD
Price-no-object: Axe-FX

I've also used the amp sims in GarageBand on the iPad and have a Zoom G3, and while both are passable--fine for a backup plan, the above tools are far superior if sound is a priority. I think the Pod HD desktop is the best price vs. sound option.

@BrightSizeLife: Yeah those Soloway clips are great.

ps. there are longer Soloway clips with the Pod here: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...d.php?t=924959

**cosmic gumbo** · 08-23-2011, 12:10 AM

Digital amp/cabinet modelers are definitely a viable solution, and some pros are already switching to these to use as their guitar rig. Even the cheaper ones by established guitar effects makers have all sounded great to my ears.

**danel59** · 08-24-2011, 04:35 PM

Check out the Ethos by Custom Tones Inc. It has a great speaker simulator with 2 channels that are based on the Dumble Overdrive Special amp. Its pricey but very good. I play primarily direct to PA now and I really like it. Very responsive to your dynamics as well as volume changes on the guitar.

Dan

**danel59** · 08-24-2011, 04:37 PM

Sorry I forgot to add in the previous post, another contender to check is the Carl Martin Rock bug. Its a very clean platform that you could run pedals into it. I have both the Ethos and Rock Bug. The Ethos on its own with speaker sim sounds great and I have run the normal out of the Ethos into the Rock Bug with good results as well. Different tone but still good

Dan

**Tom Karol** · 08-24-2011, 05:13 PM

Hmm ...
I recently acquired a Carl Martin Quattro and have been extremely pleased with it, so the Rock Bug is something I'll look into. Thanks!

**jzucker** · 08-24-2011, 07:24 PM

the ethos is the best I've heard of the analog devices. There are some pretty good digital ones though like the pod hd, axe fx, digitech 2101 (which pat metheny uses) , etc.

**Tom Karol** · 08-24-2011, 07:44 PM

I've only had an amp die on me at a gig once. Abrupt dead silence in the middle of a song! (Actually the speaker blew, but I didn't know it yet.) At the time I had a MicroCube with me and plugged its headphone-out into the PA with entirely reasonable results. Turned out to be a pretty good and cheap solution. Hmm ...

**ronjazz** · 08-25-2011, 10:12 AM

Most modern multi-effects pedals will do the trick. Even the lowly Digitech RP50 gets several very impressive sounds through a PA once tweaked to your liking. Coupled with a tube preamp, you're in very good shape, for about $100, and the total weight is a pound or less.

**fep** · 08-25-2011, 10:31 AM

Here's an Eastman thru a Digitech GNX3000 to a mixing board to a computer for recording. There was no processing except for the Digitech. This is a proxy of the sound of playing straight to a PA. When I play live, I use the digitech straight to a powered pa speaker (tweeter and 1 12" speaker, that way I skip the mixer) and have a spare digitech in the trunk of my car

Eastman test.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

I'm seeing these go for $46 to $140 in the last couple of weeks on ebay

**tonyknight** · 08-25-2011, 11:31 AM

That Ethos unit sounds intriguing. Any ideas how is is positioned against say the Sansamp PSA, another analog unit? The Axe is amazing from what I've heard, but hugely expensive!

I'm (still) really impressed by Frank's (Fep) Eastman sound through that GNX3000 but the best price I've found over here was well in the 200s!

**jzucker** · 08-25-2011, 11:40 AM

The ethos doesn't really have speaker emulation. It's simply got a low pass filter. The PSA has some sort of speaker emulation.

**cosmic gumbo** · 08-25-2011, 12:47 PM

Another option is a small, low priced modeling amp like a fender mustang I that has a speaker emulated line out to go to a PA. I bet that would be a lot of versatility for $99...usb for computer...hmm...I like that idea...must resist before GAS sets in...