I've always wanted to test drive one of those Line6 DT-50 heads. I do know that the Line6/Bogner relationship did not come without some unfortunate technical hicc-ups, but the DT series seemed totally legit at the time. I'd love to see a demo of one FYI. Cheers!
@@steveclark9934 Agreed, I have honestly been pondering getting one or it's other brand variants. I've been using a discontinued Vox Nu-Tube Silk Drive as a clean preamp to liven up amp sims and to use analog Boost/OD/Distortion/Fuzz pedals with them, but an IR loader/amp sim for $30?!! Seems to good to be true, but a small investment to toy with IMO. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
*_I love the Vetta. Anyone who is interested in owning one of these today, note that if the original battery is still in it, you will have to replace it. It’s a ticking time bomb at this point. This requires disassembly of the head and desoldering of the original contact points of the battery holder to remove the battery. It’s not as hard as it sounds, and there are a couple visual guides online that can walk you through this process step by step. Ribbon cables are prone to become disconnected, as shown in this video, so making sure those are locked in is good practice, too. Lastly, the original Vetta can be completely upgraded to the Vetta 2’s firmware for free, so the only difference between the two heads is that the original is 200w and doesn’t come with the Variax connection by default, but can be purchased and installed separately if needed. 😎_*
Not having user replaceable batteries is stupid. I get that it saves money not to. I guess they figured they'd all be in the landfill by the time the battery needed changed.
Great products from Line 6 - to control the "fizzyness" the EQ block needs to be used and experiment with low cut around 150hz and high cut at around 3.5khz to 6Khz. Try it !
Just sold my Vetta 2 last year. I used it for a very very long time and had the battery replaced and everything.. I ended up reaching out to meshuggah guys and getting their presets for the vetta 2s they had. The big bottom model/screamer/EQ combination in those amps are the bee's knees and stand up to most current high gain amps today.
This. I’ve often wondered why Line 6 never made a standalone pedal or an analog head for the big bottom model. It’s easily one of their best sounding amps.
I always wanted one of those two - the idea of blending two amps in one box sounded so cool. To this day I am constantly playing with my boss line selector to run two dirt pedals in parallel - it’s such a fun way to discover new tones!
12:36 Think again, what audio problems create things you described - thin and grainy? My guess on phase cancellation from amps that have different phases on output. I think there should be a way to flip one of amps and see. When I had Pod HD 500X I noticed phase cancellation problems between some amps. One of preamp eq effect has phase invert.
I bought my Vetta 1 when it released 23 years ago. I still have it, still use it, recorded 4 albums with it, found my sound and have never looked back. I run it through 2 Vader cabs now. I used to run it through 4...You want to talk about a wall of death. I love it.
The ground wire coiled around the ferrite is 100% intentional, by the book, and from the factory, its a very common technique that acts as a filter and reduces electromagnetic interference. You see it a lot in industrial electrical panels where it looks like what you have there, but also on consumer USB cabling (called a ferrite bead and is that plastic pill shaped thing on the cable).
Great video! I have been using Line6 VETTA2 HD since 2006. At that time it was the best option on the market. It's a very reliable and versatile amp. I have recorded 3 studio albums with it. The last one in 2013, when the VETTA2 stopped competing in the HI-Gain section with new simulations. I have a few demos on my channel.
I have had my Vetta II 212 combo with fvb longboard since 2008. It's my main amp since. I used to own many amps including vox, bugera, peaveys (i do miss the peavey vtm60 head) marshalls, fenders...but i only kept 3. Marshall DSL40, Fender HRD3 and Vetta II. I use my vetta 90% of the time. The direct outs are great for recording or going into the PA . It does so much. Still love it after all these years. It works for ME. Nice review.
That was fast! It still sounds glorious 🤘 Never owned one myself, but a friends dad owned a Vetta II and a Rocktron Taboo Twin that we got to use when we were young. He also had a JCM800, Fender Bassman 100 (that I played bass through) and a Mesa Studio .22+, but for a bunch of 11-13 year old kids those tube amps were just annoying and not as fun to use 😄 The joy of scrolling through crazy guitar patches/presets and writing songs based on them is something I'll never forget.
i have very mixed experience with line 6 but the old m-line stompbox modeler like m5, m9 and m13 are real hidden secrets, you can replace a whole bazillion bucks pedal board with it and the build and sound quality is top notch imo. cheers! 🎸🎸
Can you stack overdrives (within the unit) with any of those models? I’m assuming it plays well with real pedals. As you and the user who replied to your comment, have such deep love for the unit. Appreciate the informative comment.
@@MC-dj7ri hi, yes this is possible and you can insert other (real) pedals with the build in fx loop in the m13! they all have midi, various kinds of tuners, expression pedal insert, stereo and software update feature..
I get why people like the m series but when you can get a used hx fx around the same price or even just a few bucks more it seems thats a better option imho you get alot more for your money and better features imho
Had an old Vetta combo...didn't stayed too long with me. I was a fan since the beginning, worked many years using a Pod xt floor unit. Sold almost everything after some settlebacks. Still have my pod 2.0 working 100%. Thanks to your videos I recently bought an Ampero II stomp.
The vetta 412 cab is my favorite,sold all my boogie cabs and 5150 cabs and other cabs when I did side by sides comparisons with 2 engl special edition heads and a pb2 and pb1 and the vetta can had the best over all tone and low and loud volumes.
I remember these and wanted one back it the day as well. I think this head came on my radar screen because DJ Ashba played them in Beautiful Creatures (great band).
i still have my vetta 2 head, vetta cab, and a very oxidized/rusty looking floor controller. havent used it in forever but for a time i just used it as a 300 watt solid state power amp for the line 6 cab for newer modellers. i dont know why i cant let it go.....it went everywhere with me and went through so many bands. Turning cab sim off and just going through the cab raw was incredible. The update that added all the old pod amps was pretty sweet too.
Yep,I have the vetta 2 combo.First thing about these.. insanely loud! A lot of options and very versatile.I still do the occasional gig with mine and it performs well. Still a gig worthy amp IMO
I remember wanting one after seeing the faceless live, I thought they sounded so amazing and close to the album tone. Was pretty blown away by how they sounded compared to the other bands. A lot of cool bands on that show too, but thought they sounded best.
I still have my Vetta HD1, still awesome to this day! I also have the Helix, Headrush Prime , etc it still holds its own and easy to use. I wish that L6 would put out a Helix head as well!
I had the Vetta I combo. Once you spent hours deep diving you could get a multitude of Insanely complex tones. Once you realize that almost all models are gained and volumed much higher than needed with the od's,eq's and boost's it became a complete Tool box for me in a 70's and 80's cover band.
Hey Taylor. Great demo! I have one since 2010 and it is my main amp. I have put a lot of time in finding the sweet spot but when you find it it’s a very brutal metal amp. I play death metal in standard B on six string guitars with 12 to 52 gauge and it sounds massive. I have used 4 4x12s and it powers them effortlessly. Normally I use 2 4x12s and I set the power amp to half power 😂. Someone said that the original power cell battery should be replaced, I think that’s a good plan for I still have the original in the head. Greetings from Holland.
Dude, I’m so glad you made this video! I had this head 15 years ago and LOVED it! I got it because The Faceless used them lol. I just came across one used on my local Facebook marketplace and I’m contemplating buying it after this video solely for nostalgia reasons.
The only Line 6 I would ever own even as old as it is. *The ultimate solution to a lot of digital amps and even floor modelers is simply plugging in a good analog pedal into it, using the digit for a minutes amount of gain, and overdriving it heavily with the analog source.* I've been doing that for 20 years to great satisfaction. *I can't imagine this thing could be so bad, I think even new Line 6 gear sounds terrible and would take this over one.*
I wish my Soider V head-which has all of the amp and effects models as the Vetta II- had that dual signal chain feature. Line 6 keeps that feature for higher end products only (Pod Go doesn’t have it either).
When I was playing bass in my band the guitarist bought the hd147 head which basically only had the metal amps from the vetta 1. It always sounded great. I later bought and noticed that with the vetta s and hd147 they sounded very well if there was only one guitarist in the band. But if you had two guitarists and the other was running a recto or 5153 there tone just always over powered the line 6 stuff. No matter how you played with the eq's they got lost on stage.
My Vetta 2hd combo has been my bedroom amp for a decade and nothing else I’ve tried in that time has taken its place….just had the best feel to it by a long shot.
The Vetta was essentially the X3 head, hence the dual amps and some fx. As a longtime X3 user I've always felt the dual amp thing was kind of a gimmick really causing more trouble than anything. The only way it made sense was for a dual cab effect in order to get a decent IR direct (essentially same amp, same settings, diffente cab and/or mic)
I bought this amp in 2005 brand new, because of Meshuggah, after 3 years a guy asked me to trade my Vetta II for a 2000 Dual Recto, first year of production of the 3 channel line. Never regretted even if at that time it was a great piece of gear.
Have the Vetta 1 and its upgraded to the Vetta 2 software. Killer amp for back then and definitely fun. I bought mine for $700 back in the early 2000's. Most were selling for over a grand and found it at gc one day walking by the used section. We've come a long way since then and even though in my mind it sounded great I know it would get blown away by the new Axe fx's and Kempers and modern day modeling/cloning. Line 6 was the pioneer in those days. I remember wanting a Hughes and Kettner Zentera modeling amp too.
I have the Duoverb which was more or less a version of this with the amp models and no effects... It is a superb amp and was only produced for around two years... Very organic
Still only at the demo/mix part of the video but this is a perfectly acceptable mix tone. If you just recorded something (before this video was released) and let people hear it without them knowing what you used, I don’t think anyone is going to ever guess that it was this amp. Ever.
The fact this is about 20 years old and you could run dual amps on one head is absolutely crazy to me. I'd love to see some Line 6 reissues someday (even though the amp head economy sucks atm), like if you could combine Line 6's DSP prowess with components like the Orange Super Crush (which people say is supposed to be more "tube like" despite being solid state). Overall awesome vid, thanks for getting me more into Line 6 history! Also any plans on checking out the newer Helix updates? They added things from the Metallurgy collection like the Sunn amp and the new cab system
I had a Pod X3 i got in 2008 and it had a full dual amp signal path, which was a complete game changer for me. I didn't know how to dial tones well like i do today but i managed to get what were very good sounding ones, to my ears back then anyways.
The x3 was my favorite thing ever i wanna buy one now. I had one a long time ago when ax fx first came out, i borrowed an ax fx and couldn't get any heavy tones that where any better than the x3. Wich was a disappointment cause i was excited to have an ax fx in my hands but relieved i dont have to buy an ax fx. Then i had the pod HD after that and it just wasnt the same. After these Amps line 6 had its downfall for sure
Yeah it's funny because my first dive back into modeling was a POD xt and I also felt like the Pod HD wasn't a big upgrade, other than the screen not being obnoxiously orange anymore 😂
I used the Pod XT for years, when my nostalgia kick hit, I went with a Pod X3 off ebay. Fun unit to pull out every now and then, for those early 2000's tones.
Had this Amp in about 2004 / 2005. First with the original Line 6 4x12 cab, which was not so good. It vibrates that much that the speaker plug got loose all the time. Then, according to some recommendations on "harmony central" (OMG how many hours I spent there back in the days!) I combined with the H&K "Warp 7" 4x12 cab which sounded better. But the main thing was: That Amp sounded so great via Headphones and also when playing alone. But it never really cut through the band mix when rehearsing, I sold it and ended with a Koch Amp and a Bogner Uberschall cab. I was always on search for that chunky low end. 2006 then I switched to bass, until today :-)
Рік тому+2
i love the vetta :) have you turned off the cab sim ? the vetta cas a cab sim that is tuned to the vetta cab so when using normal cabs it is ultra important to turn that sim off i also made a review of that amp a while ago doing this
I used a Vetta 1 (upgraded to a Vetta II) for nearly a decade. It was my go-to. What it lacked in tone, it more than made up for in features. I only stopped using it, because as I was scaling back my gear, they introduced the Helix, which fit into my lifestyle much better (IE no more neighbors complaining about the 300 watt power amp). I will say that having used both the I and the II, there was no difference at all between the amp models and tone quality. There was just a lot of new models on the II.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, I would imagine that a lot of that was marketing hype. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the same models made it to the HD as well!
I think this demo sounds really good compared to some of the other real tube amp demos you’ve done. I would think the blending of amps, could be one of the main reasons it sounds good. It’d be nice to know how the POD HD500 pro X dual amp ability compares to this. I’ve been contemplating a hx stomp but if the Hd500x sounds this good or better. I think I’d be good with that. The price on a used hd500 pro x is definitely better.
Loved these amps back in the day. Very cool concept and great, intuitive UI. Sounded great at lower volumes, but they got lost in the mix pretty quick. Would've sounded great if paired with a stronger power section which other companies and even Line 6 solved for with their modeling amps years later.
Taylor. If you go into system settings you can adjust the contrast on the lcd screens. Mine was the same way and adjusting the contrast cleaned it right up. I’ve been waiting to see your review of this since you posted a video online and I’m glad you put a video together for this amp!
Thanks for the tip! I tried, I think the LCD screens viewing angles are just super narrow. Maybe these are toasted. The preset screen especially is bad.
I never got my hands on one but I was always interested in the Spider Valve MKII (the original doesn't have it) because it's a tube amp that is also wired for MIDI controls - it's a bonus that it was designed with Reinhold (Bogner), but I have no idea how close it would sound to anything Bogner-ish once I got it home.
I only got rid of mine earlier this year. Got it 2nd hand and didn't properly test it out. The tone part was fine, power amp was bust. Expensive lesson learnt. Also, the 5150 in the vetta destroys the 5150 on the hx stomp.
Every time you change the amp it turns the cab sim section back on for the “matching” cab. If you take the time to turn the cabs off it will sound a hell of a lot better
love the sound of this actually, sounds good and sludgy for death metal. I wonder if you upgraded a few components like tubes and caps it would make it sound a bit more clear and a better tube screamer. But honestly loved it. the spinal puppet one sounded super crunchy and thicc. I think it needs another video in a while. The helix still uses the basis for the big bottom actually but I guess the converters are better in the newer versions, so might be why it sounds clearer from the helix. Sure yeah axe fx is more HD quality, but the big bottom definitely has a sound--it's like you said a mesa recto with a touch of hm2--which is a bad ass combo. And the noise gate actually worked really nicely and good for slams with stops in them
I honestly preferred the sound of the weird tube power amp with a Spider preamp shoved in front of it, made in tandem with Bogner. I am pretty sure you already made a video on that, though.
I have a Vetta II that I’ve been thinking of selling. I have the handbook and maybe the longer footboard. Not a bad amp! You can really dial in settings with the Line 6 monkey software.
I absolutely loved this amp...it was my first return to the digital realm after I got over my tube purist bullsh*t. While it's not really useful these days with all of the advancements in modeling technology, it showed me how much I had to gain (no pun intended) from being open minded about gear.
I'm a big fan. I've got a couple Line 6 heads, the Flextone HD I got used unfortunately needs a main board, pretty sure, but aside from that it'd be perfect for me. We're a garage punk band but we get all tf over the place, I'll have to play punk, metal, country, classic rock, all in the same set. I need a lot of sounds. And we're loud as f. This thing is 300 watts if I run two cabs. And it worked briefly (like a week maybe) after I got it, and sounded killer, it emulates tube sag, so feels like a tube amp under your fingers. I have a Line 6 Pod HD500X pedalboard, I have a Variax, several other amps and effects units, I think they do great work a lot of the time.
Looks more like the X3 system with a massive power amp system and an excellent design layout. I’ve said it before but the Spider V 240HC is essentially the same system again but without the stereo amp blending and a slightly weaker power section in terms of specs.
285 mph is fast, but that doesn't mean that 210 mph is slow. If something sounded great in 2004, it likely will still sound great. Technology can certainly make more realistic tones when comparing them to the originals but some of the most iconic tones in the history of music were made with amps older than your father. Amps like Zentera and Vetta can still deliver the goods.
I remember Meshuggah and Nine Inch Nails used this back in the day. Ps. I didn't know the faceless used it, even cooler is the nin shirt in the photo..
I've recorded and played live with this amp, and the Line 6 modeling guitars. The amp sounds great in the small studio/bedroom, but completely lacks on the stage and studio; the tone just doesn't translate. It is my favorite practice amp, but stays in that arena. The modeling guitars, they do extremely well on stage and studio... a couple tours and two albums with Mesa amps.
Does anyone know what the differences are between the Flextone/Vetta lines and the development of the Pod from 2.0 to XT? I'm wondering if they are the same in terms of the actual sounds. I'm a big proponent of the older Pods, great tones if you just tweak them a bit.
I had the Vetta II combo and played it for a few years as my main amp. I loved it till the mother board died on me. There was only one licensed technician in the US at the time and I sent it him to fix it. Got it back and half the functions didn’t work. Ended up selling it for parts. Great amp though
The problem with the high gain tones to me when using my Vetta was the TS effect. When you crank the volume like you would with a TS it introduces a really harsh clipping, kind of like a HM2 but way shittier. Backing it off to 2 o'clock and raising the amp gain. Also the gate is pretty crap
Early Faceless anyone? Edit: you mentioned the faceless. lol. I remember when Keene got his. Also you did your unboxing on my birthday. Nice gift you got.
Gostaria daquel spider 100 hd , esse ai e bem parecido com uma pod x3 live a cor do display, gosto dos produtos da line 6 e tive um spider iv 75 por 6 anos sem dor de cabeca , mas tive 2 pod x3 live que nao duraram nada, agora tenho uma pod hd300
It never occurred to me why they had called the 5150 model the "Mississippi Criminal" until George Lynch's comments about Peavey's labor practices. Sounds like Line6 knew what was going on in Mississippi. I had this in both combo and half-stack form. I loved them at first - they're fun to mess with, but in live applications they never satisfied me. I ran the Bogner/Boogie blend for rhythm tone. I ended up selling both, but kept the stereo cab. I now have a Boogie Mk5-35 head atop the cab.
The “criminal” nomenclature is because 5150 is the California police code for someone who is criminally insane. 5150s/6505s were still made in the USA up until around that time that episode of Undercover Boss aired.
@@AdrianNWB 5150 is code for Involuntary Psychiatric Hold. Its a Temporary Hold for people like for example (Steve-O) when they ate in a manic or psychotic state and is to ensure they come down off whatever they were on or to do an alleged proper evaluation. No personal experience here ! Just an FYI. 🤘🏻
First Gen had better knobs and was far more reliable than 2nd Gen and the HD tones are from the vetta not the other way around. A HD is just the vetta preamp set up a little different. I currently have 3 first gens in my studio. To this day I still think if I was trapped on a desert island and could o ly have 1 Amp a first Gen vetta combo would be it
Help me make more videos like this! www.patreon.com/taylordanley
Have you seen the $30 rechargeable LEKATO Multi Effects Guitar Pedal, with IR Loading, Bluetooth? Seems like an awful lot of features for very little.
I've always wanted to test drive one of those Line6 DT-50 heads. I do know that the Line6/Bogner relationship did not come without some unfortunate technical hicc-ups, but the DT series seemed totally legit at the time.
I'd love to see a demo of one FYI.
Cheers!
@@steveclark9934 Agreed, I have honestly been pondering getting one or it's other brand variants. I've been using a discontinued Vox Nu-Tube Silk Drive as a clean preamp to liven up amp sims and to use analog Boost/OD/Distortion/Fuzz pedals with them, but an IR loader/amp sim for $30?!!
Seems to good to be true, but a small investment to toy with IMO. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
*_I love the Vetta. Anyone who is interested in owning one of these today, note that if the original battery is still in it, you will have to replace it. It’s a ticking time bomb at this point. This requires disassembly of the head and desoldering of the original contact points of the battery holder to remove the battery. It’s not as hard as it sounds, and there are a couple visual guides online that can walk you through this process step by step. Ribbon cables are prone to become disconnected, as shown in this video, so making sure those are locked in is good practice, too. Lastly, the original Vetta can be completely upgraded to the Vetta 2’s firmware for free, so the only difference between the two heads is that the original is 200w and doesn’t come with the Variax connection by default, but can be purchased and installed separately if needed. 😎_*
Thanks for the info!
Not having user replaceable batteries is stupid. I get that it saves money not to. I guess they figured they'd all be in the landfill by the time the battery needed changed.
Something tell me this is what happened whit this amp they put the new battery and forgot to put it together 😂
Hot glue on the ribbons will keep them in place. Use alcohol to firm it up when needed to remove, it'll pull right off.
Great products from Line 6 - to control the "fizzyness" the EQ block needs to be used and experiment with low cut around 150hz and high cut at around 3.5khz to 6Khz. Try it !
Just sold my Vetta 2 last year. I used it for a very very long time and had the battery replaced and everything.. I ended up reaching out to meshuggah guys and getting their presets for the vetta 2s they had. The big bottom model/screamer/EQ combination in those amps are the bee's knees and stand up to most current high gain amps today.
This. I’ve often wondered why Line 6 never made a standalone pedal or an analog head for the big bottom model. It’s easily one of their best sounding amps.
@@djentmaster33 hey man do you still happen to have the meshuggah patches I’d love to check those out on my vetta
I always wanted one of those two - the idea of blending two amps in one box sounded so cool. To this day I am constantly playing with my boss line selector to run two dirt pedals in parallel - it’s such a fun way to discover new tones!
12:36 Think again, what audio problems create things you described - thin and grainy?
My guess on phase cancellation from amps that have different phases on output. I think there should be a way to flip one of amps and see. When I had Pod HD 500X I noticed phase cancellation problems between some amps. One of preamp eq effect has phase invert.
I bought my Vetta 1 when it released 23 years ago. I still have it, still use it, recorded 4 albums with it, found my sound and have never looked back. I run it through 2 Vader cabs now. I used to run it through 4...You want to talk about a wall of death. I love it.
The ground wire coiled around the ferrite is 100% intentional, by the book, and from the factory, its a very common technique that acts as a filter and reduces electromagnetic interference. You see it a lot in industrial electrical panels where it looks like what you have there, but also on consumer USB cabling (called a ferrite bead and is that plastic pill shaped thing on the cable).
Just goes to show Line 6 we’re ahead of the curve and still rock.
Great video!
I have been using Line6 VETTA2 HD since 2006. At that time it was the best option on the market. It's a very reliable and versatile amp. I have recorded 3 studio albums with it. The last one in 2013, when the VETTA2 stopped competing in the HI-Gain section with new simulations. I have a few demos on my channel.
I have had my Vetta II 212 combo with fvb longboard since 2008. It's my main amp since. I used to own many amps including vox, bugera, peaveys (i do miss the peavey vtm60 head) marshalls, fenders...but i only kept 3. Marshall DSL40, Fender HRD3 and Vetta II. I use my vetta 90% of the time. The direct outs are great for recording or going into the PA . It does so much. Still love it after all these years. It works for ME.
Nice review.
Is it normal that when I turn the amp knob, the display shows the message “bad model default”??
@@packo666 I don't think that is normal at all. I'm sure someone can answer your question in the vetta group.
That was fast! It still sounds glorious 🤘 Never owned one myself, but a friends dad owned a Vetta II and a Rocktron Taboo Twin that we got to use when we were young. He also had a JCM800, Fender Bassman 100 (that I played bass through) and a Mesa Studio .22+, but for a bunch of 11-13 year old kids those tube amps were just annoying and not as fun to use 😄 The joy of scrolling through crazy guitar patches/presets and writing songs based on them is something I'll never forget.
i have very mixed experience with line 6 but the old m-line stompbox modeler like m5, m9 and m13 are real hidden secrets, you can replace a whole bazillion bucks pedal board with it and the build and sound quality is top notch imo. cheers! 🎸🎸
I have the M9 and I’ll literally never get rid of it.
Can you stack overdrives (within the unit) with any of those models? I’m assuming it plays well with real pedals. As you and the user who replied to your comment, have such deep love for the unit. Appreciate the informative comment.
@@MC-dj7ri hi, yes this is possible and you can insert other (real) pedals with the build in fx loop in the m13! they all have midi, various kinds of tuners, expression pedal insert, stereo and software update feature..
@@Turbo-D Great to hear man! Thanks for your reply. Can't wait to try one.
I get why people like the m series but when you can get a used hx fx around the same price or even just a few bucks more it seems thats a better option imho you get alot more for your money and better features imho
Had an old Vetta combo...didn't stayed too long with me. I was a fan since the beginning, worked many years using a Pod xt floor unit. Sold almost everything after some settlebacks. Still have my pod 2.0 working 100%. Thanks to your videos I recently bought an Ampero II stomp.
Man i love that you can combine amps!! 🤘🤘🤘
Me too, it's fun!
The vetta 412 cab is my favorite,sold all my boogie cabs and 5150 cabs and other cabs when I did side by sides comparisons with 2 engl special edition heads and a pb2 and pb1 and the vetta can had the best over all tone and low and loud volumes.
I remember these and wanted one back it the day as well. I think this head came on my radar screen because DJ Ashba played them in Beautiful Creatures (great band).
i still have my vetta 2 head, vetta cab, and a very oxidized/rusty looking floor controller. havent used it in forever but for a time i just used it as a 300 watt solid state power amp for the line 6 cab for newer modellers. i dont know why i cant let it go.....it went everywhere with me and went through so many bands. Turning cab sim off and just going through the cab raw was incredible. The update that added all the old pod amps was pretty sweet too.
Yep,I have the vetta 2 combo.First thing about these.. insanely loud! A lot of options and very versatile.I still do the occasional gig with mine and it performs well.
Still a gig worthy amp IMO
I remember wanting one after seeing the faceless live, I thought they sounded so amazing and close to the album tone. Was pretty blown away by how they sounded compared to the other bands. A lot of cool bands on that show too, but thought they sounded best.
Saw them in 2010 and they were amazing, so was Veil of Maya. I remember hearing the Vetta Keene used was heavily modified though.
There really aren’t any mods that can be done to these amps since they are software/firmware based so that’s probably unlikely.
I still have my Vetta HD1, still awesome to this day! I also have the Helix, Headrush Prime , etc it still holds its own and easy to use. I wish that L6 would put out a Helix head as well!
I had the Vetta I combo. Once you spent hours deep diving you could get a multitude of Insanely complex tones. Once you realize that almost all models are gained and volumed much higher than needed with the od's,eq's and boost's it became a complete Tool box for me in a 70's and 80's cover band.
I've been running my Vetta II since 2005 and still sounds killer!
Appreciate your take on this classic Line 6 man
Hey Taylor. Great demo! I have one since 2010 and it is my main amp. I have put a lot of time in finding the sweet spot but when you find it it’s a very brutal metal amp. I play death metal in standard B on six string guitars with 12 to 52 gauge and it sounds massive. I have used 4 4x12s and it powers them effortlessly. Normally I use 2 4x12s and I set the power amp to half power 😂. Someone said that the original power cell battery should be replaced, I think that’s a good plan for I still have the original in the head. Greetings from Holland.
Dude, I’m so glad you made this video! I had this head 15 years ago and LOVED it! I got it because The Faceless used them lol. I just came across one used on my local Facebook marketplace and I’m contemplating buying it after this video solely for nostalgia reasons.
The only Line 6 I would ever own even as old as it is. *The ultimate solution to a lot of digital amps and even floor modelers is simply plugging in a good analog pedal into it, using the digit for a minutes amount of gain, and overdriving it heavily with the analog source.*
I've been doing that for 20 years to great satisfaction.
*I can't imagine this thing could be so bad, I think even new Line 6 gear sounds terrible and would take this over one.*
I wish my Soider V head-which has all of the amp and effects models as the Vetta II- had that dual signal chain feature. Line 6 keeps that feature for higher end products only (Pod Go doesn’t have it either).
When I was playing bass in my band the guitarist bought the hd147 head which basically only had the metal amps from the vetta 1. It always sounded great. I later bought and noticed that with the vetta s and hd147 they sounded very well if there was only one guitarist in the band. But if you had two guitarists and the other was running a recto or 5153 there tone just always over powered the line 6 stuff. No matter how you played with the eq's they got lost on stage.
My Vetta 2hd combo has been my bedroom amp for a decade and nothing else I’ve tried in that time has taken its place….just had the best feel to it by a long shot.
I had one of the Vetta amplifiers as my first guitar amp head and I loved it!
Thanks for the history and the test!
The Vetta was essentially the X3 head, hence the dual amps and some fx. As a longtime X3 user I've always felt the dual amp thing was kind of a gimmick really causing more trouble than anything. The only way it made sense was for a dual cab effect in order to get a decent IR direct (essentially same amp, same settings, diffente cab and/or mic)
Thanks Taylor, i also came to the vetta II late but have since got rid of it. Please do the better HD 147 at some point!
I bought this amp in 2005 brand new, because of Meshuggah, after 3 years a guy asked me to trade my Vetta II for a 2000 Dual Recto, first year of production of the 3 channel line. Never regretted even if at that time it was a great piece of gear.
That's a really good trade.
Check out the measurements and see if you could fit the AXE FX iii in that chassis it doesn't look wide enough
No, the dimensions are off. Too shallow and wide and tall.
Johnson Amps had something very similar to this. I used to love that amp!!!
Have the Vetta 1 and its upgraded to the Vetta 2 software. Killer amp for back then and definitely fun. I bought mine for $700 back in the early 2000's. Most were selling for over a grand and found it at gc one day walking by the used section. We've come a long way since then and even though in my mind it sounded great I know it would get blown away by the new Axe fx's and Kempers and modern day modeling/cloning. Line 6 was the pioneer in those days. I remember wanting a Hughes and Kettner Zentera modeling amp too.
I have the Duoverb which was more or less a version of this with the amp models and no effects... It is a superb amp and was only produced for around two years... Very organic
I still want one of these
Still only at the demo/mix part of the video but this is a perfectly acceptable mix tone. If you just recorded something (before this video was released) and let people hear it without them knowing what you used, I don’t think anyone is going to ever guess that it was this amp. Ever.
Probably not!
Man, the high mids on this thing are harsh. Though, not too suprising for a 20yr old digital amp!
Glad your doing old grear, sounds good to me! Some old jems can still rock!🎉
This tone sounds really good to me. I remember these!!
Man I love Line 6 stuff, I still have my pod 2.0, It's perfect for some random jams! Oh man, you had to fix the thing! Sounds cool dude!
I did have to fix it. Comes with the territory sometimes lol
Ah the Spinal Puppet amp model. That was my go to model when using Line 6's old Amp Farm 2 plugin.
It's a good one!
I want a real life Spinal Puppet tube amp!
The fact this is about 20 years old and you could run dual amps on one head is absolutely crazy to me. I'd love to see some Line 6 reissues someday (even though the amp head economy sucks atm), like if you could combine Line 6's DSP prowess with components like the Orange Super Crush (which people say is supposed to be more "tube like" despite being solid state). Overall awesome vid, thanks for getting me more into Line 6 history!
Also any plans on checking out the newer Helix updates? They added things from the Metallurgy collection like the Sunn amp and the new cab system
I had a Pod X3 i got in 2008 and it had a full dual amp signal path, which was a complete game changer for me. I didn't know how to dial tones well like i do today but i managed to get what were very good sounding ones, to my ears back then anyways.
never get tired of Taylor especially when he gives underdog brands the real attention they deserve
The x3 was my favorite thing ever i wanna buy one now. I had one a long time ago when ax fx first came out, i borrowed an ax fx and couldn't get any heavy tones that where any better than the x3. Wich was a disappointment cause i was excited to have an ax fx in my hands but relieved i dont have to buy an ax fx. Then i had the pod HD after that and it just wasnt the same. After these Amps line 6 had its downfall for sure
Yeah it's funny because my first dive back into modeling was a POD xt and I also felt like the Pod HD wasn't a big upgrade, other than the screen not being obnoxiously orange anymore 😂
I used the Pod XT for years, when my nostalgia kick hit, I went with a Pod X3 off ebay. Fun unit to pull out every now and then, for those early 2000's tones.
It's the orange screen!
Had this Amp in about 2004 / 2005. First with the original Line 6 4x12 cab, which was not so good. It vibrates that much that the speaker plug got loose all the time. Then, according to some recommendations on "harmony central" (OMG how many hours I spent there back in the days!) I combined with the H&K "Warp 7" 4x12 cab which sounded better. But the main thing was: That Amp sounded so great via Headphones and also when playing alone. But it never really cut through the band mix when rehearsing, I sold it and ended with a Koch Amp and a Bogner Uberschall cab. I was always on search for that chunky low end. 2006 then I switched to bass, until today :-)
i love the vetta :) have you turned off the cab sim ? the vetta cas a cab sim that is tuned to the vetta cab so when using normal cabs it is ultra important to turn that sim off
i also made a review of that amp a while ago doing this
100 percent lol. Sounds very bizarre if you don't.
@@TaylorDanley but overall i love the amp, i miss it! it is such a unique amp :) I made also a review of it and idk i think i will buy it again
I used a Vetta 1 (upgraded to a Vetta II) for nearly a decade. It was my go-to. What it lacked in tone, it more than made up for in features. I only stopped using it, because as I was scaling back my gear, they introduced the Helix, which fit into my lifestyle much better (IE no more neighbors complaining about the 300 watt power amp).
I will say that having used both the I and the II, there was no difference at all between the amp models and tone quality. There was just a lot of new models on the II.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, I would imagine that a lot of that was marketing hype. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the same models made it to the HD as well!
Both Vetta 1 and Vetta 2 use the Pod Xt/X3 generation of amp models. You could also update the firmware on Vetta 1 to get the same firmware as Vetta 2
I think this demo sounds really good compared to some of the other real tube amp demos you’ve done. I would think the blending of amps, could be one of the main reasons it sounds good.
It’d be nice to know how the POD HD500 pro X dual amp ability compares to this. I’ve been contemplating a hx stomp but if the Hd500x sounds this good or better. I think I’d be good with that. The price on a used hd500 pro x is definitely better.
They really should drop the catalyst line and bring these back with some of that helix magic.
the Vetta II is actually very underrated
Flextone 1 and flextone 2 are great line 6 amps. They are kind of forgotten relics at this point.
There's a reason that Meshuggah and Dino used these. It's an awesome sounding amp.
I'm pretty sure the Vetta II came out well before the HD generation of PODs, so I doubt they used the HD algorithms.
Loved these amps back in the day. Very cool concept and great, intuitive UI. Sounded great at lower volumes, but they got lost in the mix pretty quick. Would've sounded great if paired with a stronger power section which other companies and even Line 6 solved for with their modeling amps years later.
Really? This thing was so loud to my ears. I wonder if that's why they added the extra 100 watts between the 1 and 2.
Taylor. If you go into system settings you can adjust the contrast on the lcd screens. Mine was the same way and adjusting the contrast cleaned it right up.
I’ve been waiting to see your review of this since you posted a video online and I’m glad you put a video together for this amp!
Thanks for the tip! I tried, I think the LCD screens viewing angles are just super narrow. Maybe these are toasted. The preset screen especially is bad.
I have the vetta one in a combo. Sounds good enough run it with a splitter to a duo verb
I never got my hands on one but I was always interested in the Spider Valve MKII (the original doesn't have it) because it's a tube amp that is also wired for MIDI controls - it's a bonus that it was designed with Reinhold (Bogner), but I have no idea how close it would sound to anything Bogner-ish once I got it home.
That riff at the 14:29 mark was sick.
Ive always wanted one of these amps
I only got rid of mine earlier this year. Got it 2nd hand and didn't properly test it out. The tone part was fine, power amp was bust. Expensive lesson learnt. Also, the 5150 in the vetta destroys the 5150 on the hx stomp.
Every time you change the amp it turns the cab sim section back on for the “matching” cab. If you take the time to turn the cabs off it will sound a hell of a lot better
I had the cab off in the global settings
love the sound of this actually, sounds good and sludgy for death metal. I wonder if you upgraded a few components like tubes and caps it would make it sound a bit more clear and a better tube screamer. But honestly loved it. the spinal puppet one sounded super crunchy and thicc. I think it needs another video in a while. The helix still uses the basis for the big bottom actually but I guess the converters are better in the newer versions, so might be why it sounds clearer from the helix. Sure yeah axe fx is more HD quality, but the big bottom definitely has a sound--it's like you said a mesa recto with a touch of hm2--which is a bad ass combo. And the noise gate actually worked really nicely and good for slams with stops in them
Used one for years with my old band...
Brutal amp...
Still have it but no really being used since i got my Peavey xXx... ;P
Wasn't this the amp meshuggah used?
I honestly preferred the sound of the weird tube power amp with a Spider preamp shoved in front of it, made in tandem with Bogner. I am pretty sure you already made a video on that, though.
I have a Vetta II that I’ve been thinking of selling. I have the handbook and maybe the longer footboard. Not a bad amp! You can really dial in settings with the Line 6 monkey software.
These riffs remind me of the mid to early 2000s melodic death metal/ metalcore bands where every band had they're own unique sound. Sounds awesome. 🤘🏻
Same
I absolutely loved this amp...it was my first return to the digital realm after I got over my tube purist bullsh*t. While it's not really useful these days with all of the advancements in modeling technology, it showed me how much I had to gain (no pun intended) from being open minded about gear.
I'm a big fan. I've got a couple Line 6 heads, the Flextone HD I got used unfortunately needs a main board, pretty sure, but aside from that it'd be perfect for me. We're a garage punk band but we get all tf over the place, I'll have to play punk, metal, country, classic rock, all in the same set. I need a lot of sounds. And we're loud as f. This thing is 300 watts if I run two cabs. And it worked briefly (like a week maybe) after I got it, and sounded killer, it emulates tube sag, so feels like a tube amp under your fingers. I have a Line 6 Pod HD500X pedalboard, I have a Variax, several other amps and effects units, I think they do great work a lot of the time.
Big problem with Line 6 is they don't support anything. Once they discontinue it you're on your own.
Dude, if you just solved the problem with my head I'm gonna owe you big time. That's exactly what mine is doing, popping noise and nothing else.
Looks more like the X3 system with a massive power amp system and an excellent design layout. I’ve said it before but the Spider V 240HC is essentially the same system again but without the stereo amp blending and a slightly weaker power section in terms of specs.
285 mph is fast, but that doesn't mean that 210 mph is slow. If something sounded great in 2004, it likely will still sound great. Technology can certainly make more realistic tones when comparing them to the originals but some of the most iconic tones in the history of music were made with amps older than your father.
Amps like Zentera and Vetta can still deliver the goods.
I remember Meshuggah and Nine Inch Nails used this back in the day.
Ps. I didn't know the faceless used it, even cooler is the nin shirt in the photo..
Sounded awesome dude!
I remember the dude from the Faceless told me he hacked his and was able to change the impulse responses and stuff.
I don’t anything about this model of amp but can say without a doubt that my Line 6 DT50 is seriously just KILLER!
I've recorded and played live with this amp, and the Line 6 modeling guitars. The amp sounds great in the small studio/bedroom, but completely lacks on the stage and studio; the tone just doesn't translate. It is my favorite practice amp, but stays in that arena. The modeling guitars, they do extremely well on stage and studio... a couple tours and two albums with Mesa amps.
HD algorithms did not exist when the Vetta II was released :). The Pod X3 used the same models as tthe Vetta II years later.
Does anyone know what the differences are between the Flextone/Vetta lines and the development of the Pod from 2.0 to XT? I'm wondering if they are the same in terms of the actual sounds. I'm a big proponent of the older Pods, great tones if you just tweak them a bit.
I think Flextone is XT tech. HD147 is Pod 2.0.. Vetta is X3.
I had the Vetta II combo and played it for a few years as my main amp. I loved it till the mother board died on me. There was only one licensed technician in the US at the time and I sent it him to fix it. Got it back and half the functions didn’t work. Ended up selling it for parts. Great amp though
I've still got my Vetta 2 combo. Powers up, but no sound :(
The problem with the high gain tones to me when using my Vetta was the TS effect. When you crank the volume like you would with a TS it introduces a really harsh clipping, kind of like a HM2 but way shittier. Backing it off to 2 o'clock and raising the amp gain. Also the gate is pretty crap
The gate is total garbage 😂 I mean, it's fine if you want a slow AF gate lol
The vettas were always out of my reach, but I gigged the HD147 for several years.
My AMPLIFi fx100 has the same software in it. All the same effects and amps and such
Its like a spider v mkii but this had the dual amp option.
I've got one as well but it's the amp/cab version with the longboard controller. Snagged it all at a pawnshop years ago for $300.
Not a bad deal!
Early Faceless anyone?
Edit: you mentioned the faceless. lol. I remember when Keene got his.
Also you did your unboxing on my birthday. Nice gift you got.
Great amp for slam tones
Which one you like better.? This one or the valve hd100
Gostaria daquel spider 100 hd , esse ai e bem parecido com uma pod x3 live a cor do display, gosto dos produtos da line 6 e tive um spider iv 75 por 6 anos sem dor de cabeca , mas tive 2 pod x3 live que nao duraram nada, agora tenho uma pod hd300
Sounds like a lofi fuzz 12:34
It never occurred to me why they had called the 5150 model the "Mississippi Criminal" until George Lynch's comments about Peavey's labor practices. Sounds like Line6 knew what was going on in Mississippi.
I had this in both combo and half-stack form. I loved them at first - they're fun to mess with, but in live applications they never satisfied me. I ran the Bogner/Boogie blend for rhythm tone. I ended up selling both, but kept the stereo cab. I now have a Boogie Mk5-35 head atop the cab.
The “criminal” nomenclature is because 5150 is the California police code for someone who is criminally insane. 5150s/6505s were still made in the USA up until around that time that episode of Undercover Boss aired.
That never occurred to me. If it's just a coincidence, it's a hell of a funny one!
@@AdrianNWB 5150 is code for Involuntary Psychiatric Hold. Its a Temporary Hold for people like for example (Steve-O) when they ate in a manic or psychotic state and is to ensure they come down off whatever they were on or to do an alleged proper evaluation. No personal experience here ! Just an FYI. 🤘🏻
I had a friend choose this amp over a jcm900 or a Mesa triple rec lmao.
First Gen had better knobs and was far more reliable than 2nd Gen and the HD tones are from the vetta not the other way around. A HD is just the vetta preamp set up a little different. I currently have 3 first gens in my studio. To this day I still think if I was trapped on a desert island and could o ly have 1 Amp a first Gen vetta combo would be it