Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Jeff,

Sorry, sold already... I posted it here on the Forum.

I was out of town for a few days ...

Jeff, I have been out of town non-stop myself lately, preventing a good test of my new Bass PodXt. It seems like I have been on the road or catching up nonstop lately - Ohio last week, Arizona this week. I fully intend to give that thing a full-on test drive as soon as I get a good Saturday afternoon type block of time to do it. I'm hopeful it will work; will post one way or the other at any rate.

I was just in Arizona a few days ago ... it was nice and warm ...

Too warm! I'm in Phoenix. I can't wait to get back to the Midwest, no offense to the desert dwellers!

it was in the 80's in Phoenix and when I got home it was in the 30's ...

I was in Las Cruces, NM last week. I kind of enjoyed the sun after 16 feet of snow this year!

The verdict is in. I love my new Bass PODxt.

I have read the manual a couple of times and spent a few hours experimenting with the presets and all of the adjustable parameters, both with my 4003 and my Jazz bass with replacement EMG's. I was able to get great direct tones out of both basses, which is saying something (the Jazz can be lifeless; the POD made it sparkle).

The POD is as complicated as you'd care to make it. I like that, though. My previous direct recording effect was a SansAmp, which is good, but limited in options. The POD does everything I wanted plus more, and some wacky stuff, too. I think I came up with a synth fade-in intro for one of our songs that will be cool.

I still haven't even tried the POD for live playing; at some point I might, but right now, as I've been posting, I am 100% interested in using it as a direct recording tool. I think it's great for that. As a live preamp, I'm going to defer to Mr. Rath for now.

It's probably not for everyone, but it is going to make me much more versatile than my first time in the studio, 3 years ago.

So what settings/amp models do you like?

Jeff, I like several of the setups, depending on what I'm going for.

My #1 favorite (not suprprisingly, I guess) is the Ampeg SVT 8x10 model - it is the first preset, called "Classic Rock." The tone I was REALLY looking for, though, was a modification of the Geddy preset, "Tom Sawyer" - I backed off the distortion 5-10%, juiced the bass a smidge, and that was the Exact direct tone I was looking for for one of our new original songs.

I also really like the Sub Dub amp in general, as well as the Fender Dual Showman model (which was a big surprise). It really depends a lot on the song. I know it's almost blasphemy to mention models of some of these amps, but I went into it with the attitude of - I will let my ears be the final judge, preconceived notions be damned. I really liked what I heard for those models, as well as a couple of presets that I never would have guessed I would like, like the "Spinner" model, which is based on the Leslie Cabinet, and I love it! Who woulda thought?

I don't wanna sell this thing as a panacea to anybody, but I absolultely love it as a Direct Recording Device - if that's what you're looking for, it rules.

it sounds like the XT model has some features my old one doesn't ... I like the model based on the acoustic 360 with a distortion effect added ... on my bass pod the svt model doesn't do it for me ... I love real svt's but not the model on the pod 1 ...

I agree. The SVT just doesn't sound like I think it should on the kidney bean model. The California (Mesa) model isn't bad for some things, but the 360 does most of what I need done. I haven't recorded with it yet, so other models may shine there.

I'm going to go back and give the 360 some more time, based on you two both mentioning it. I thought the California was a little dark (if I remember correctly).

I'm just happy to have so many options. It's fun.

I really like the 2X15 cabinet model with the 360.

another thought about the bass pod and sans amp ... using a device like this essentially makes your bass like an active electronics bass ... except it is a better sounding preamp with more flexibility and features and it is outside your bass ...