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heads on fire « Decent practice amp if you don't like metal. »
Published on 09/09/11 at 10:37Modelling amp - built in China
30W power
10" Special Design speaker
Teacher input on rear panel
Easy recall of guitar tones
Special effects
85 preset drum loops plus metronome
100 Performance Presets (50 factory, 50 user)
Special Composition Mode
Internal synthesizer with MIDI
MIDI song file storage
Guitar tuner
CD or MP3 device input
28-second Phrase Sampler with overdubs
Future software upgrades loaded via MIDI
Optional footswitch allows remote access to select features
Left and Right line outputs with speaker-emulation
External speaker output
19.5 lbs.
17"W x 15-3/4"H x 8-1/4"D
UTILIZATION
The G-Dec 30 can be a bit of a chore to get a good sound from. The factory preset sounds are a bit much, like most products with tons of models and effects. To find usable tones, I had to edit most of the presets, which was a somewhat intuitive process until I wanted to save the sound I had created. Then I couldn't because the "save lock" feature was on - what? Why would it come from the factory with the ability to save preset changes blocked? It was a chore to figure out how to take that feature off, and once I did, the tones were easily edited. But the initial annoyance and user-unfriendliness of it knocks the rating down significantly.
I will say the practice jam tracks and looper function are incredibly handy, but not implemented to the best way possible. The jam tracks all vary in volume from one present to the next, so some can blare at you, and some are too quiet. Also, the looper is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to use without a footswitch, as there is no count in. I got and used the footswitch later, but it stopped working correctly. Arrrgh!
SOUNDS
The built in presets are terrible, quite frankly. After editing, I created some usable tones. But there is nothing I could do in the settings that would make a good metal rhythm tone. At all. The amp has too pronounced a midrange spike and too weak of distortion settings for it to work with heavy music.
OVERALL OPINION
Despite all its short-comings, I'll call it a 7 out of 10. As a practice tool, having backing tracks to play with, as well as the ability to loop, one can advance in one's playing quite quickly.
If all the annoyances were addressed by Fender, this product could be outstanding.
30W power
10" Special Design speaker
Teacher input on rear panel
Easy recall of guitar tones
Special effects
85 preset drum loops plus metronome
100 Performance Presets (50 factory, 50 user)
Special Composition Mode
Internal synthesizer with MIDI
MIDI song file storage
Guitar tuner
CD or MP3 device input
28-second Phrase Sampler with overdubs
Future software upgrades loaded via MIDI
Optional footswitch allows remote access to select features
Left and Right line outputs with speaker-emulation
External speaker output
19.5 lbs.
17"W x 15-3/4"H x 8-1/4"D
UTILIZATION
The G-Dec 30 can be a bit of a chore to get a good sound from. The factory preset sounds are a bit much, like most products with tons of models and effects. To find usable tones, I had to edit most of the presets, which was a somewhat intuitive process until I wanted to save the sound I had created. Then I couldn't because the "save lock" feature was on - what? Why would it come from the factory with the ability to save preset changes blocked? It was a chore to figure out how to take that feature off, and once I did, the tones were easily edited. But the initial annoyance and user-unfriendliness of it knocks the rating down significantly.
I will say the practice jam tracks and looper function are incredibly handy, but not implemented to the best way possible. The jam tracks all vary in volume from one present to the next, so some can blare at you, and some are too quiet. Also, the looper is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to use without a footswitch, as there is no count in. I got and used the footswitch later, but it stopped working correctly. Arrrgh!
SOUNDS
The built in presets are terrible, quite frankly. After editing, I created some usable tones. But there is nothing I could do in the settings that would make a good metal rhythm tone. At all. The amp has too pronounced a midrange spike and too weak of distortion settings for it to work with heavy music.
OVERALL OPINION
Despite all its short-comings, I'll call it a 7 out of 10. As a practice tool, having backing tracks to play with, as well as the ability to loop, one can advance in one's playing quite quickly.
If all the annoyances were addressed by Fender, this product could be outstanding.