So, I went to a Guitar Center today in search of some better tone, since unfortunate circumstances have left me only with a piece-of-shit solid state Crate amp. I looked at getting a Pod XT Live and focusing more on recording than live performance, but they only had the X3 Live. I tried it out, but was either unsuccessful in working it, or it just doesn't have the tone I'm looking for. Some of the Line 6 modeling amps seemed decent, but nothing thrilled me.

I'm looking for something that can absolutely crush and devastate, but that can also let the clean tones breathe--I want something big and full that doesn't sound confined or in-a-tin-can. Also, my price range is pretty low at the moment, so preferably somewhere around $400 or less. Any ideas?

Much appreciated!

Unfortunately, you're probably not going to get ALL you want for under 400 dollars. If really all you care about it recording, get something such as the pod or the new boss GT-10. Although many will probably disagree with me, pretty much any solid state amp you will get will sound almost the same in quality...some will just have more eq range and the bigger ones obviously sound beefier. If you're willing to wait and save up a little bit, I would suggest the Carvin V3 combo which is an all tube 3 channel amp. Check out all it can do at carvinguitars.com There is a lot of versatility in the amp and it's cheaper because there is no middle man in the selling process. I have a carvin V3 head with a 4x12 mesa boogie cabinet and I would say it is almost as versatile as the mesa boogie road king. If you're lucky, you might be able to find a used one on ebay for about 700ish dollars.

Unfortunately, you're probably not going to get ALL you want for under 400 dollars. If really all you care about it recording, get something such as the pod or the new boss GT-10. Although many will probably disagree with me, pretty much any solid state amp you will get will sound almost the same in quality...some will just have more eq range and the bigger ones obviously sound beefier. If you're willing to wait and save up a little bit, I would suggest the Carvin V3 combo which is an all tube 3 channel amp. Check out all it can do at carvinguitars.com There is a lot of versatility in the amp and it's cheaper because there is no middle man in the selling process. I have a carvin V3 head with a 4x12 mesa boogie cabinet and I would say it is almost as versatile as the mesa boogie road king. If you're lucky, you might be able to find a used one on ebay for about 700ish dollars.

I'm well aware that I'm not going to get all I want for $400. The point is to get decent tone for that much, which should be doable. If I had a few thousand laying around, I could get the tone that I want easily. At present, I really shouldn't be spending this much--school is incredibly expensive and I don't get much help in paying for it,--so I can't really wait and save up, because I'd just be doubling my irresponsibility. Thanks for the input, though, and I'll check out the V3.

X3 Live has done nothing but good things for me.

The best you're going to get for modeling is probably the FractalAx if you are willing to shell out 1500 dollars.

Otherwise the POD or maybe a Digitech are what you should go for.

X3 Live has done nothing but good things for me.

The best you're going to get for modeling is probably the FractalAx if you are willing to shell out 1500 dollars.

Otherwise the POD or maybe a Digitech are what you should go for.

Honestly, I feel like I didn't get the hang of playing around with the X3 Live that I tried in the store. What settings do you typically use?

I've really been considering the XT Live, though, for quite awhile. I wish I could try it out to see if I'd like it for recording & live playing. In the end I might just break down and get it--everyone raves about its quality, so there might just be a learning curve I have yet to cross.

The X3 has a much steeper learning curve for sure, it has more shit.

You can run 2 amp chains/effects chains at once, or you can switch between those 2 chains on the same set patch, pretty awesome stuff IMO.

I use a few amp models that are really typical. The Big Bottom amp(line 6 original) is what I and Bulb and countless others have used to get that crunchy, beefy tone you can hear on my song "Biotica"

My more recent Baritone test and Blood and Thunder cover were done with the Treadplate dual amp model(aka Mesa Dual Recto)

It's all about the cab you use and the stomp box effect you use. Some amps sound better with the Boost+EQ stomp(Big Bottom for example) while the Treadplate can sound much better with the Screamer stomp(very typical metal set up lol)

As for cleans, the X3 is LOADED with awesome clean effects. As I said before, you can run 2 full chains on one patch, so 2 different delays, mod effects, reverbs...The possibilities are pretty damn endless.

I absolutely love my X3 Live and honestly think it's the best piece of equipment I've ever bought.

If your going for an all-in-one effects modeling unit like a POD or Digitech, dont get a digitech, especially the GNX3000. Although you can get some good varying tones and high gain metal sounds, everything else about the unit is dog shit. If anything I would go with a POD. The effects sound more analogue and full, its clean and easy to use. Not that great for producing metal (high gain) sounds as its a bit too organic.

Have you considered just getting some pedals, or a preamp? You can pick up a JMP1 or ADA of evilBay pretty cheap.

If you have a very limited (no one said making music was cheap! ) budget I'd go for the Pod XT Live. Obviously it's not pro gear, but it will get you a very reasonable tone at an even more reasonable price. It's fairly easy to use. Check out YouTube or something for some examples.

You should also consider your pick ups. I don't know which guitar you use, but pick ups can make a VERY big difference in tone. It might be feasible to hook your guitar up with some nice EMGs.

It might be feasible to hook your guitar up with some nice EMGs.

Now youve gone and done it! If AlucardXIX reads that your in for it

No sense in fighting over it again. You guys came to the conclusion that it's preference, and my preferences include some EMGs. I was thinking about outfitting my gih-tar with some, too. But likely in addition to getting the POD.

So I've got a few options on the table.

EMGs + POD = super typical metal tone.

EMGs + POD = super typical metal tone.

Well, I'm not jumping at the EMGs right now, just because I don't have an extra $200 or so sitting around. But I might just hold off until it comes time to get a new guitar, and then make sure what I get has great pickups. My Ibanez RG has been treating me well since I bought it several years ago, but soon I'll probably go for something a little more high-end and versatile. I play much more than just metal.

True. I was being facetious with the "EMGs + POD" thing. I do enjoy EMGs for some tones, but with a POD most pickups and guitars sound pretty decent.

It might be feasible to hook your guitar up with some nice EMGs.

Now youve gone and done it! If AlucardXIX reads that your in for it

Haha, I'm by no means a EMG fanboy, but they are capable of making a crap guitar sound 'METAL ' without spending big bucks on a new guitar. I still love my Gibson LP Classic stock pick ups.

EMGs + POD = super typical metal tone.

Like uncle Devy makes

For me EMG's do it as far as metal goes. Dimarzios do it for me dynamically.

All other pickups are shit!

JOKE