A modeling example that I think you guys might find interesting.

[Jim Soloway]

Well said! I have the same approach (150W Peavey PA head with 3-way PA speakers). Having speakers split apart gives a nice spread of sound and can minimize feedback - often I can have the PA head on an amp stand nice and close with the speakers some distance away. Also works great with standard acoustic guitars, mandolins, etc (using the PA as a PA for instruments). Often also use a direct out to the main PA.

=> Should have mentioned before - Thanks to Jim Soloway for taking us in the modeling direction. the samples he linked sound great and highlight the possiblities of this "non-standard" rig. //mike

I'm really pleased to see how open everyone's been to the idea. I'm like a lot of us. I've tried a huge number of amplifiers over the years and I never felt like I was getting everything I needed. It became even more frustrating when I started doing a lot of recording. Recording a guitar amp is difficult and potentially very expensive. I know that a lot of folks here have to be going through the same frustrations. Modeling is the first thing that's worked for all of my needs. I'm getting a live sound that inspires me to play and my recorded sound has made me happy enough to give up on using studios. That's an experience that I really thought was worth sharing.

[pingu]

Thanks for sharing this method Jim
Do you plug the Pod directly into the XLR input on the RCF
with no impedance matching issues ?

ta

[cosmic gumbo]

+1
What power mix are you use?

The one I tried was a cheap little behringer. A transparent acoustic guitar amp should also work well with a modeler. I've really been enjoying the voice model of a clean Marshall, very full and warm, rich mids, very tube sounding. I would have a tough time getting that sound out of a small combo. I find using two small cabs spaced apart a bit really give a much fuller sound at a lower volume.

[Jim Soloway]

Thanks for sharing this method Jim
Do you plug the Pod directly into the XLR input on the RCF
with no impedance matching issues ?

ta

Yes. I have a 1/4" to XLR male that connects from one channel of the POD directly to the RCF cab.

[Nuff Said]

Direct recording has always been easier for me too, micing an amp and recording a great tone is difficult.

Nuff

[kris]

Direct recording has always been easier for me too, micing an amp and recording a great tone is difficult.

Nuff

+1...

[jorgemg1984]

Direct recording has always been easier for me too, micing an amp and recording a great tone is difficult.

Nuff

Although micing and recording has provided so many great guitar tones (as I am sure direct recording will)

[Jim Soloway]

Although micing and recording has provided so many great guitar tones (as I am sure direct recording will)

Absolutely, but at the very least it requires equipment, expertise and possibly even an acoustically treated room. The benefits of direct recording through a modeler are cost, convenience and ease of use. For most of us, to get a really good sound with a mic, means going to a studio. Recording direct from a modeler means I can do it myself and there are a host of benefits to that approach.

[jorgemg1984]

Yes Jim - couldn't agree more. I was just thinking that going direct could have a very good advantage over micing: when you record everyone in the same room (which is common in jazz to get the vibe of the band better). By going direct one would have much more control over the sound of the guitar in the mixing stage right? When you mic in this situation you always end up getting a lot from the rest of the band.

[MikeConner]

I use one patch about 99% of the time...

That's my situation too. It's interesting to have the variety of amp models, but I do find that I am using one patch as a basis now. Since the RP500 can operate in a pedalboard mode, I have saved copies of this basic patch on the unit, each with "wetter" versons of the chorus and distortion effects. This gives me a good range for the contemporary worship tunes. For older hymns it's more of a straight jazz tone - neck pickup and only light reverb for effects.

However, this thread is inspiring me to hook the laptop back up and play around with the amp models some more!

(I have used the RP500 into a 50W Marshall acoustic amp and it sounds good for smaller rooms).

[Jim Soloway]

Yes Jim - couldn't agree more. I was just thinking that going direct could have a very good advantage over micing: when you record everyone in the same room (which is common in jazz to get the vibe of the band better). By going direct one would have much more control over the sound of the guitar in the mixing stage right? When you mic in this situation you always end up getting a lot from the rest of the band.

You're right of course. I've been playing solo for so long that I don't even think about the implications of recording with other players, especially after spending the last two months buried in the process of recording a solo album.

[jorgemg1984]

You're right of course. I've been playing solo for so long that I don't even think about the implications of recording with other players, especially after spending the last two months buried in the process of recording a solo album.

Hopefully you'll worry about that in the future Good luck with your new record, if it sounds as good as your youtube clips it will be great.

[Russ Kapp]

Thanks, Jim, for the post and ideas. I have the Tech 21 Sansamp Modeler and the Yamaha PAS 500. I've used my Roland Cube 40XL ( also modeling...lol ) for so long now on the road it never occurred to me to think outside the box and put these two units together.....duh..... :^)