Atomic - tubePre - KX1200 ???

[jisg]

Kewl and others -

What do think of the Atomic?
I know you're into your @ KX1200's.
What about the notion of using a Behringer ultragain Mic 100/200 or the Presonus TubePre for getting some more warmth into the FRFR rig. There was another post - at Line6: in the general catagory; "PodXT & Atomic amp or Vox AD30VT?"
I'm very interested in getting your thoughts on the above. You seem like you've tried many set ups and I'm surprised that I never see your opinions @ Line6 on the Atomic.

Can anyone address these questions please?

I'm a POD XTL user.

Thanks
jisg

[kewlpack]

Actually, I haven't posted anything on the Atomic because I've never had one. From what I hear, they are very effective. They aren't FRFR, still tons of folks love 'em.

The tube pre's are questionable IMHO. Like all this gear, some people swear by them and others say "I couldn't really tell any difference." Any opportunity to add a little more punch, warmth and dynamics is a good thing.

For output rig additions... I'm most interested in the Harmonic Converger (hotly debated at Line 6 forums). I have spoken with Radley a few times, and to people who own them and they are very satisfied... without exception. I'm just not sure I "need" to spend $250 on it at this point. I'm not even playing in a band or in a P/W setup right now.

The website is consuming a lot of time and energy and most of my playing is centered around that, my own tunes, demos for MFXs, online jams (kewl), and weekly sit in jams.

I just don't "need" to spend another $500 on a new amp. Plus we're saving for holiday trips/expenses.

I would like to get a more portable, lightweight FRFR rig... the KX1200s are heavy and bulky to carry up/down stairs, etc.

Sorry I'm not much more help today. :|

[dmw]

A good friend of mine just ordered a Harmonic Converger from Hadley Hockensmith (aka Radley) and uses it with his PODxt. Another Christian guy he knows just bought one to use with his GT-8. They rave and rave about how much better both units sound with the H.C. I'm thinking about getting one before he stops making them.

By the way, if you haven't heard of Hadley Hockensmith, he's a Christian and a well-established session player. He used to be in a Christian jazz group called Koinonia with Abe Laboriel, Alex Acuna, and some the Christian session players. He's also just a monster guitarist.

[jisg]

dmw -

thanks,

I didn't know Rad was a brother.
I have been following lengthy threads on the Line6 forum about him and his HC.
I guess that's why he holds up so well to all the darkness spewn upon him there.

I also didn't know that Abe and Alex were into Jesus. I've been listening to them for years.

Man, I have to buy a FRFR amp before the HC. If I go Kewl's way, the HC will cost $50 more than the KX1200.

Oh how I wish I had the money for all these goodies but the Lord has other plans right now...
My wife just lost her 8 year old job last week and I have just been diagnosed with 2 fractured vertebrae.

At least it doesn't cost to pray and it never HURTS when I play.

Thanks for the replies guys.

[kewlpack]

Oooo... Get well! and may the Lord bless you guys with enough finance to get by!

[dmock66]

Absolutely - guitar playing is a hobby (obsession according to my wife) but God IS LIFE!!! Get well - and I'll pray for you and your family!

[jisg]

Thanks for the thoughts. My wife starts a new better job Monday.
She prayed for a new job and phase one of the Lords answer was termination of the present one. Man, is HE great!

But does anyone else have anything to say about the original topic.
It's going to be time to play live again soon and my XTL needs a mate.
Just interested for the sake of opinion exchange. But it looks like the KX1200 is it. The price is unbeatable, the power is almost too much and intuition tells me that the 12" + 5" and horn should be a little bit better than the Rolands.

Bye for now,
Mark

In case anybody ever wondered about my screen name, it's just an abreviation of the truest truth jisg=Jesus is God

[dmock66]

... maybe this is just me - but if Kewl has the Behringer, that's probably how I'd go too. I got rid of my modeler because I couldn't make it sound worth a darn through my amp. I'm VERY HAPPY with my tube amp and stomp box tone today - but had I known then I probably would have tried my modeler through a Behringer - saved some $$$ over what I've now spent.

Cool screen name - and you're right - absolute TRUTH!!! It is awesome how He is always looking out for us, even if we're not always looking to Him to do so. God RULES!!!

[kewlpack]

the KX1200 actually has a very massive 15" woofer... big tone.

[jisg]

Oh ya. I meant 15.

[stephen]

Hey jisg, welcome to the forum bro!

I just got back from a blues-jam, and one of the guys brought an Atomic, with (ithink, dont quote me, cause I dont really follow all the modelers), a POD XTL plugged into it (the red one).

That amp sounded really good! I have to say it was one of the best sounding rigs there! Several different guitars got plugged into it, and it handled em all really well, both single coil and humbuckers, Fender's and Gibson's.

From what little info I got from the guys was, its a clean tube amp with 6L6 tubes, and I'm not sure what else (probably 12ax7's). The POD handled all the EQing. Did a great job.

It can plug in almost every type of modeler like the POD, Pandora, or whatever. I think it was a really good idea whoever came up with it!

[kewlpack]

I just got a Presonus TubePRE last night and threw it down in front of my MFXs to see what effect it would have...

Here is a demo of an AC30TB w/2x12 vox cab. The guitar is a Parker P38 and the tone is intended to be a bright blues tone (maybe suitable for a lead similar to SRV or something). The playing is sloppy and there are sour notes - sorry... this was just a test...

Here's the tone. Take a listen - can you name the MFX I used?
http://www.kewlpack.com/misc_files/tempmusic/VoxAC302x12Demo.mp3

I think I had a couple of settings out of whack, but ultimately the tone with the TubePRE was more punchy, sparkly, dynamic... and full. The demo doesn't really do it justice.

I noticed that the TubePRE does help with high gain tones in that it takes some of the fizz off the top and gives some fullness.

Let's talk about it.

[kewlpack]

BTW - I also ran several MFX through the poweramp of my new Crate Palomino V32 and it brought some incredible mojo to the tones... particularly with tones that were pretty flat to begin with.

[jisg]

Alex -

Well, I gave it a listen. Sounds like a bright AC to me. Not particularly digital.

With out hearing pre/post TubePre it's hard to tell over my fabulous sound system here at work.

I can say that I am glad that somebody has responded to my idea of the pretube with a FRFR as a poor man's Atomic or possibly even better than, with the KX. Better - who knows what that means?

So what did you think Alex? You said warmer and less fizz. This is good, right?

It's no Atomic but the KX1200 is no Atomic. So, what now? Keep it? Buy a BBE and add to the chain? Then a HC? No really - I'm interested if you find it better or useful to have or NO BIG and your going to return it.

If it's good in your opinion I think I will get one with the KX and just not use it on my GR-20 channel.

I hope it was a good idea to try.

Mark

[kewlpack]

That's the POD XTLive actually. :-s

I will do some more testing and playing through the KX1200 tonight. Reducing the fizz is ALWAYS a good thing - particularly in the XTL's case. I don't think I'd go with a BBE for the FRFR as some people report it accentuates the fizz (digital high end shrill yuck)...

I did try numerous preamp models and a few different MFX and the XTL gained the most benefit from the TubePRE. It helped to give a little more life to the plunkier tones. It didn't give as much dimension as the Palomino does... but that's the difference between a poweramp with 4 EL84s and the TubePRE's single 12AX7... not really the same effect, but similar.

I need to do a decent tone demo too... with and without the PRE just for example.