Line 6 Pocket POD Express

Line 6 Pocket POD Express, with input and output jack, a headphone output, input transformer type effects pedal, and possibility of batteries: a GAIN button EFFECTS REVERB / ​​DELAY, and VOLUME. Warning no equalizer or bass / treble adjustment.

UTILIZATION

Simplicity itself. I use the gain knob "clean" to "crunch", judging the simulations "rock" and "metal" too saturated for my game. effect button is nice but loads fast, so use sparingly. The reverb is very successful but the same: it loads fast mule so caution!
Tap Echo function is nice: no need to adjust the delay times on the tempo, and if ever the tempo of group fleet a little (but it never happens ^^), a small Tap Tap and you're off again.

SOUND QUALITY

The headphone, RAS: simulations are effective and intuitive settings. Caution: if you're used to using it with headphones, you can expect totally different reactions on an amp or on a table. From experience, I've found that on the table Pod tends to no longer issue as acute, which can ring your best strat like a saucepan.
I for one live in a situation of no possibility of going through an amp, I use an equalizer pedal and tube overdrive types. The pod then I use reverb, volume and possibly chorus.

OVERALL OPINION

Of course, at that price it does not expect a revolution. Yet it Pod Express can be quite useful, if one knows the capabilities and limitations. This is a good value, but it does not replace an amp.

Simplified version of the Pocket Pod.
Dimensions 13cm x 9 cm x 2 cm + black clip détachable.Rouge grenat.Plastique tough.
Digital. Inputs: guitar in jack 6.3, 3.5 CD/MP3 in jack, Output: 6.3 amp jack and headphone / line (stereo) jack 3.5.
4 knobs for the settings:
top left by-pass, clean (Fender Twin Reverb 1964), twang (Fender Deluxe reverb 1964), crunch (Vox AC30 top boost), rock (Marshall JCM800), metal (Mesa-Boogie Dual Rectifier tremoverb 1994).
Top right: volume.
Bottom left: off, chorus Pod 02, Fender style tremolo, flanger a Pod 02.
Bottom right: stereo delay, reverb spring (spring Fender style), stereo hall. All from the Pod 02.
Tap down the middle for accurate tuning and adjusting delay.
Power supply: 9 V adapter not supplied or 4 AAA batteries for several hours of play.

UTILIZATION

Basic instructions in French. For more information you can load the site in English. Simple and intuitive. The Pod is made primarily for mobile use and work at home: headphones, sound system, computer, stereo, amp. It goes to the essential but like any music gear you need to know to use it wisely.

SOUND QUALITY

I tried it with a telecaster on several media types to judge properly. Generally the sounds are quality pêchus and above the competition.
Bypass headphone / line good for all media except guitar amp (normal). Guitar amp output is horrible because of serious losses and mediums, is better output sound system ... Clean good close to Fender but steep, twang disappointing less successful than Roland, JCM 800 crunch close in overdrive, metal rather "nice" Mesa-Boogie in the softness.
The Express responds well in general and is close to lampes.J 'I was surprised by the warmth of the chorus, such analog-based two settings: rate and depth, yet digital. The remaining effect is classic and rather well made without the excess.
The media used:
High-end computer speakers Altec-Lansing: super! Especially at high volume.
"" Medium "" 3 DMax w: not bad at all, as well as or better than most small amps modeling.
PA 2 X 300 Watts: very pleasant surprise.
Headphones: well!
Rivera all lamps (Yes I know I have bourgeois taste) awful loop or direct effect, the Pod is not for that!
Fender mini twin amp 57 w RMS 1: surprising because the two go well together if you know how to juggle two volumes. It is in the nature or on a desk.
Laney electro-acoustic better than most multi-effects cheap as punchy enough.
I also use from time to time, clean with a pedal-board to House.The Express cash fine.
Some regret the lack of a tone.

OVERALL OPINION

Good product, practice. Rockman descendant of 80 years but with digital technology more efficient. No wonder the great bands like U2 are interested in Line 6. However, if you can not stand the digital sound buy something else.
Most:
qualities of sounds and effects especially for a device so small.
General design.
Intuitive.
Versatility up to the point.
Takes very little space
The -:
by-pass very disappointing for most guitar amps.
No dial tone.
Volume poorly calibrated.
Disappointing spring reverb
Fragile.

It produces a nice and convenient.
Value for money good enough: € 65.00 at the Woodbrass performance.

ADDITION OF 31/08/11
I had two failures with this Pod still under warranty except that the time 2sde Line 6 can not fix it and neither me exchange it because it no longer produced, probably because of its fragility.
So I have received. So beware: really fragile!

Line 6 Pocket Pod Express. 5 amp models: - clean: 64's fender twin reverb, twang: 64 Fender Deluxe Reverb, crunch: Vox AC30 Top Boost, rock: Marshall JCM 800, metal: Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier tremoverb. 3 effects: chorus POD 2.0, classic Fender tremolo, flanger Pod 2.0. A digital delay with tap tempo Pod 2.0, a spring reverb fender of Pod 2.0, stereo reverb hall of Pod 2.0. + A tuner. Operates on battery or mains. Connectors: guitar ins, in, headphones (recording), amp out. master volume control, adjustable gain or depth-specific effect of each of them. Supplied batteries, belt clip. Simple instructions (there are more complete on the site of Line 6).

UTILIZATION

The setup is very simple, you plug headphones and guitar, turn the volume and it's ready to play! After there is a dial to select the amp, in fact it turns + the more gain then it goes to the following amp (not serrated). Same for the effects. There is a tap tempo for the delay. A bypass to agree (not very practical).

SOUND QUALITY

The effects are good, I prefer clean sounds in general and they convinced me but I am persuaded by the rock and metal are very good too. After the adjustments are very precise and it's still modeling but it's better than my old Zoom G2 (especially for distos). The effects are nickels and do not breath. Only the flanger that I will not, not that bad either but I do not need. The delay is the big positive surprise since there is a tap tempo! It changes everything! The reverb is perfect to expand the sound. Nothing to throw except that I'm not too utility model and the metal flange. And the tuner is useless!

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it yesterday. Before I had a G2, which is not really in the same category, and that's why I bought a pocket pod espresso, I wanted something simpler, smaller and independently. But it is also its most convincing level and there is a little surprise! I had a Vox amPlug headphone to play but it was much worse. Sound Waves is the true conccurrent IGTR but it is hard to find and from what I hear really rotten. His big brother Pocket POD can be compared to him is much more comprehensive but this is not the same use, there was the sound right away, you can play 5 minutes, it's great practice. I got it for 59 euros so very happy, I would do the same choice because I found what suits me, little effect but simple and convincing!

The pros: - easy to use headphones to play
- All sounds are convincing
- Cool effects and delay with tap tempo
- Portable and lightweight batteries supplied
- Volume control and gain effective
- Good build quality (eg knobs are precise alignment)
- No competition at this price if you want a simple way to get sound on
- Auxiliary input for playing on a playback
- Even amp it sounds pretty good

the -: - no mini-jack cable or AC adapter included (and it eats into the battery!)
- No on / off but you must disconnect the plug
- The tuner is only for troubleshooting
- LED's tap tempo never stops flashing, drunk

Overall: it's great, but some defects as small details so I highly recommend it.
Edict of 13 November 2010: after having sold the first time, I have to buy one because after almost tried everything I found nothing that sounded better to play with headphones.