« Great first edition »

I am a little biased towards all things Line6 when it comes to effects units....not amps. I have used the POD live, POD rack mount, and the XT unit. There is a common operation that flows throughout the POD series that makes effect tweaking pretty smooth and effortlessly. Once I got the first POD unit which was the live rig I learned how Line 6 tailored their units. However, this unit flows more line there floor boxes such as the DL4 or FM4. This is the first edition ad the tone of these things haven't really changed at all from generation to generation. Just tweak-ability and functionality has changed.

The screen isn't going to be like regular PODs where it is mostly digital screen editing. You do have a solid screen but somewhat limited if you have use the POD Pro products. You will have to twist the knobs and look where you control is to know where your at. The new POD X3 conquers this issue and is more digital screen editing. Even though you have midi capability so if using with a Ground Control Pro or some other floor midi switcher you can set up your chain of effects and click your foot control for quick on the fly present changing.

UTILIZATION

Both PODs for guitar feature 32 Amp Models, 16 Cab Models, Effects, & more, with A.I.R. direct outs for recording and live setups. POD Pro is the perfect POD for your rackmount system, and supports a slew of additional pro features. All POD family products feature:
• Award winning Line 6 Amp Models that emulate an all-star collection of legendary amplifiers.
• 36 user memory locations so that you can create your own customized collection of killer sounds. Organize them to match your set list, your session needs, or any doggone thing you want. After all, it's YOUR POD!
• Stereo Balanced or Unbalanced 10 TRS outputs, so you can plug it into anything from your home stereo to a really expensive mixing board.
• Separate Stereo Headphone output to keep your neighbors (or your spouse, for that matter) from staging a counterattack when you're writing that first big hit in your apartment at 3am.
• Chromatic Tuner, because playing out of tune isn't cool.
• Cabinet Tuning Mode. The Amp/Direct switch allows POD to be optimized for different applications. Select Direct when running POD directly into a mixer or recorder. Select Amp when using POD as a tone-shaping front end for another amp. POD delivers several tuning modes for the Amp position, selectable at power-up. For example, by default, POD products for guitar expect to be plugged into the guitar input of an open-backed combo. Other tuning modes allow POD to be optimized for connection to the power amp input of a closed-back system, or into closed-back cabinets.
• ToneTransfer Compatibility. Line 6's ToneTransfer Web Library, is constantly expanding. The sounds you collect transfer seamlessly between POD, POD Pro, and Flextone II series amps, so wherever you go, all your sounds can make the trip.
As if all this wasn't enough, we also include the POD Tools CD which contains:
• Emagic™ SoundDiver™ software (PC/Mac) for expanded feature access via MIDI. You can get at additional effects parameters, do strange things with the wah functions and lots of other fun stuff..

SOUND QUALITY

I was using this with a Strat and a Les Paul into a Marshall JCM2000 into a vintage Marshall 4x12 with blackbacks. The effects such as delays and choruses sound fantastic! This is where I lived with this unit. Did not even bother with the amp sims. The range of delays, flangers, choruses give you most everything you will use in a recording or live situation. If you rely on mostly effects with your guitar sound then I would recommend then stepping up to an X3 or the POD Live units.

OVERALL OPINION


The thing I enjoyed most about this unit was the cool delay and flanger sounds. This is a unit I would use sparingly when I needed to color my natural amp tone with some delays or flanger. I would never use this to get an amp sim or sound that I did not normally have.

The is a great intro to the POD family. They run about $200 used and online give or take. For someone who does not use effects that much or someone who would like to get started in the effect tweaking arena who is on a budget I would highly recommend them to this product. You are going to get some great tones to add to your rig for well under what most companies charge for one stomp box.

I think Line 6 is one of the best if not the best companies out there who provide solid effect units for the all-in-one consumer who wants to keep things simple and clean. I would play this unit any day of the week. I don't use too much effects so something like this is perfect for me and it is perfect for home use!