TGP inspired: how do you like modelers for live use?

[Commodore 64***]

This thread is blowing my mind. I'm a noob, I know. But I can't understand how one would play live with out an Amp. How does the audience hear the guitar?

[Jimi75]

Here's my experience:
I have played about 120 gigs with my Line6 Flextone I plus a Line 6 1x12 box. So it was 2x12. This set up moved a lot of air! We were playing in a trio, playing Texas Blues and man it sounded great and I could cut through the band effortlessly.

In this vid, you can hear my 2001 set up (you can hear me play, but can't see me, because the drummer only filmed his a**!) Anyways, I was in love with the sound I had at that time and it was all MODELING.
http://www.box.net/shared/nprxh7ia8e

I have also tried a deskmodeler (Line6 POD - the kidneybean) played directly into the P.A. at a live gig. The sound was lush and I didn't like it.

I hated my FlextoneIII. I bought it, because I thought it would be better, but Line6's technology went worse at that time and it was no comparison to my old Flextone, which I still use. As I couldn't cut through, I sold the III.

Here's the conclusion though:
When I bought my Marshall JTM45....let me tell you....this was like somebody hitting me saying "see my boy, this is the real world"! Only then I knew what I was missing all these years.

For practical reason I still gig with my Line6 FlextoneI (sessions, rehearsals etc.)
But at a gig, I want to have the best sound poossible and this can only be achieved with my JTM45 tube amp.

I am convinced that modeling technology is superb for home and also studiorecording. Once you've heard an axe fx....but that's another story...

Never compromise on live sound. Tube is still the sh**!

[Eric***]

Here's my experience:
I have played about 120 gigs with my Line6 Flextone I plus a Line 6 1x12 box. So it was 2x12. This set up moved a lot of air! We were playing in a trio, playing Texas Blues and man it sounded great and I could cut through the band effortlessly.

In this vid, you can hear my 2001 set up (you can hear me play, but can't see me, because the drummer only filmed his a**!) Anyways, I was in love with the sound I had at that time and it was all MODELING.
http://www.box.net/shared/nprxh7ia8e

I have also tried a deskmodeler (Line6 POD - the kidneybean) played directly into the P.A. at a live gig. The sound was lush and I didn't like it.

I hated my FlextoneIII. I bought it, because I thought it would be better, but Line6's technology went worse at that time and it was no comparison to my old Flextone, which I still use. As I couldn't cut through, I sold the III.

Here's the conclusion though:
When I bought my Marshall JTM45....let me tell you....this was like somebody hitting me saying "see my boy, this is the real world"! Only then I knew what I was missing all these years.

For practical reason I still gig with my Line6 FlextoneI (sessions, rehearsals etc.)
But at a gig, I want to have the best sound poossible and this can only be achieved with my JTM45 tube amp.

I am convinced that modeling technology is superb for home and also studiorecording. Once you've heard an axe fx....but that's another story...

Never compromise on live sound. Tube is still the sh**!

Very useful stuff as usual, Jimi -- thanks!

Your tone in that vid is pretty kickin'.

I feel like this thread has raised more questions than it's answered, but at least I have a few ideas. I think there might be some EQ crap going on at the mixer end; since I'm pretty much OK with the tone in my headphones, I might ask him to give me a flat EQ.

BTW, what did you mean about the AxeFX comment? That it's good for studio, or that it's good for live use, or what?

[Jimi75]

Very useful stuff as usual, Jimi -- thanks!

Your tone in that vid is pretty kickin'.

I feel like this thread has raised more questions than it's answered, but at least I have a few ideas. I think there might be some EQ crap going on at the mixer end; since I'm pretty much OK with the tone in my headphones, I might ask him to give me a flat EQ.

BTW, what did you mean about the AxeFX comment? That it's good for studio, or that it's good for live use, or what?

Thanks Eric.
Well the Axe FX makes every guitarist wet his pants. Studio, live, no matter what, this thing is the best sounding modelling device ever built. Check it out...but don't hold me responsible for possible GAS attacks ;-)


Some Blues:


Axe FX live, with balls, cutting through the band's sound easily:

[t_ross33]

I might ask him to give me a flat EQ.

Remember that there is often more than one EQ in the signal chain to FOH. Tone control on your guitar -> Tone or EQ controls on Amp or sim -> EQ on the channel strip on the board -> graphic EQ before amps to FOH etc.

If you are getting lost in the mix, you need to find the frequency range that your guitar sits best in and boost that a bit - but it won't matter much if you boost it at the channel and cut the same frequencies at the FOH EQ. Everything has to work together. If you like what you are getting through your monitor mix, then the EQ at the channel is probably OK - look farther down the chain.

[Eric***]

If you like what you are getting through your monitor mix, then the EQ at the channel is probably OK - look farther down the chain.

The tone in my headphones isn't just the monitor mix though -- the guitar I'm hearing is primarily my direct board signal being passed through to FOH via the headphone monitoring unit.

[BigJD]

I play through a modeler only.
The PA rig is mine and all the monitor gear is mine.
I love it, live in stereo my delays and other effects sound great.My floor monitor in front of me is cranked so I get feedback from my guitar just like I would my 4x12's and power amps, but I only have the weght of a 2 space rack to lug around.
Our audience members that have been around us for awhile say that the FOH has never sounded better,balanced ,clearer, cleaner.
Theres alot to be said for modelers used live from a sound guys point of view.
It was just another learning curve and adjustment to get used too, but now I prefer to go this route, AND the owners keep on booking us!

[Eric***]

It was just another learning curve and adjustment to get used too, but now I prefer to go this route, AND the owners keep on booking us!

That's good to know. I think I might just need some more patience, in addition to what's already been mentioned in this thread.

I guess my mind might not be made up just yet, but it's always easier not to spend money, so I guess I'll do that and try to make it work in the meantime.

[t_ross33]

This thread is blowing my mind. I'm a noob, I know. But I can't understand how one would play live with out an Amp. How does the audience hear the guitar?

Modeller -> PA or Front of House mixer. Guitar comes back to you via the monitor mix either through wedges, or in-ear monitors.

[Eric***]

This thread is blowing my mind. I'm a noob, I know. But I can't understand how one would play live with out an Amp. How does the audience hear the guitar?

To expand on t_ross' point, my setup is guitar -> pedals -> direct box (which makes the signal mixer-friendly) -> personal monitor -> house/mixer

What the personal monitor does is take the XLR cable from the DI box and put it in my in-ear monitors (ear buds), with another XLR output to go to the house PA/mixer. I also have a monitor feed from the house with whatever mix of instruments the bassist and I want (we have a lot of aux loops on our mixer), and the personal monitor lets me tweak the levels of me vs. everyone else in my headphones.

As far as people hearing it, that's all from the house speakers and house amps. I'm giving the mixer the signal that I want put through the house speakers, and that's what's making it out into the mains for the place.

I guess that still might not make sense, but hopefully it helps.