Tonelab SE or POD XT live?

captsandwich · Post by **captsandwich** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:23 am

Opinions?
I have read that the Tonelab doesn't do clean sounds well. I've also read that it does do clean sounds well. I have read that the POD is very sterile. I have also read that the POD has the most realistic amp modelling sounds on the planet.
In short, I am confused. I have not had a chance to try out the SE, but I have tried the XT and it sounded pretty good to me. Anyone have experience with both or why you chose one over the other?

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:10 am

Reviews from different people are always going to differ. It's best to try them both out for yourself, then decide.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:20 am

Greg, I have the Tonelab desktop, not the SE (I already had the VC-12 foot board with my AD120VTH/AD212 rig - it controls both the amp and the TL simultaneously). I use it live all the time. I have no problem with lots of headroom in the clean tones. I use it through our Yamaha board and Crown 1200 monitor amps. With 12" or 15" stage monitors, it is very good. It is the best for taking to jam nights.

I don't like it through a regular guitar amp at all. The differences are night and day to my ears. Through a pa or keyboard amp, the TL is very tube sounding and emulates it's models well. Although through an Atomic 112 it is pretty incredible (all tube power amp, no pre-amp).

Our other guitar player uses an SE through a Little Lanilei. Not great for clean tones, but very good with mild through screaming distortion.

We both tried the XT. I found it's tones too much like a Boss SE50 through a Crate G60 amp, no matter what amp or PA I tried it through. It did nothing for me. Not that the tone was terrible, just not what I look for.

Honestly, I did not like the presets in my TL when I got it. However, it did not take me long to set the tones up I wanted. Getting the cleans I wanted required tweaking. None of the presets were quite right. But I have great clean tones now from fat and clean Bassman styles through AC-30 cleans. The Dumble clean model is nothing short of stunning.

I like using it in parallel with my AD120 and frequently use cleans through the PA with over the top distortion through the amp.

...Dean

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:06 pm

I've tried them both and wish I still had them to do an A-B test. I no longer have the SE but instead a Pod XT Pro (just the rackmount version). I've been very impressed by the pod xt pro but I also liked the SE. I didn't feel strongly one way or the other....both fantastic pieces of equipment.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:13 pm

I have an SE but have hardly used it - must find some time and inclination.........

I tend to use the Korg AX1500G that's sitting there already hooked up to my practice amp. Lazy SOB, ain't I?

captsandwich · Post by **captsandwich** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:10 am

I was asking because I was bidding on a Tonelab on eBay and the local shop didn't have any for me to try out. Unfortunately I was outbid. I called another shop today just to see what the price was, and they told me that another store in the same chain had a couple of used ones in stock. Long story short, I got a Tonelab SE today for less than I would have paid on eBay.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:19 am

Good one, Greg! Have fun exploring the possibilities..........

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:26 am

Excellent! I always enjoy "I found it cheaper than Ebay" stories.

Lots of patches (some good some bad) at valvetronix.net and patchtronix.com.

Set up the Boutique Clean model, front pickup on your Ric, and play with the tone settings until your happy, then add the chorus but turn all the chorus settings to their lowest and play it through a stereo PA. Heaven.

... Dean

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:30 pm

I have been wanting to sell my never used POD XT Live but I can't seem to locate the power supply. It is like it had legs......... I'd let it go for 250 if someone would get the ps on their own. Still have registration card....

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:28 am

Found the power supply!!!!!