Help with guitar setup?

Question

My setup is a Fender Fat Strat, PODXT LIVE and a Fender Stage 160 DSP.
Currently I have cable from the guitar to the POD then fom the POD to front of the amp.
The effects can be a liittle disappointing. Is there a way to connect it up differently for a better sound as the jack only sends signals to the ampthrough a mono output. Could the amp receive stereo signals or get the the signals another way?

Suggestions.

Answer 1

Not having experience of that amp I cannot say for certain, but from the information available on the internet, it seems that your amp is not capable of stereo operation.

You do not state in your question as to whether you are using the effects built into the amp, the POD or both.

Probably the best way to set up your rig is to first plug your guitar straight into your amp. Turn the controls on yur Strat all the way up and select your favourite pickup(s). Switch your amp on, but disable all effects and set to 'clean' mode. Turn all EQ (tone) controls to their middle positions and set the volume to the loudness level you are comfortable with. Play a few notes, chords etc. See how it sounds. Adjust your EQ controls to see how they affect the sound. Mid(dle) affects how 'forward' the sound is, for instance. Also try adjusting the pickup selection on your guitar. The clean channel is probably the most important or versatile, as it is easy to 'dirty up' a clean channel but you cannot 'clean up' a dirty channel.

Once you have the clean channel adjusted how you want it, switch to the 'dirty' (distorted) channel and do the same. However, here you also have athe 'gain' (distortion) control to play with. Make sure to spend time getting these how you like them, as they are the 'core' of your sound.

Next you will set up your effects. I suggest you try using the amp's built-in effects before adding the POD. Start with the clean channel and add something like reverb or echo. Set these to the depth, timing, repeat etc. that you like. Again, adjust to taste. Then add things like chorus, flanger or phaser Adjust and see how one effect can add or detract from the impact of another on the sound. The same applies for the POD once you decide to add it into your rig again.

Some final tips:
- As a rule, less is more when it comes to effects. If you have a highly overdriven sound with maximum chorus, flanger and a 3 second delay for instance, your sound will probably be bad. Try to keep to less than 4 simultaneous effects.
- Add something else only when you are fairly happy with everything else.
- Start with the things more central to your tone, like your pickup choice and distortion and EQ settings. These are the foundations to your tone and everything else is just icing. Remember that a good guitarist can make many different sounds from very few controls simply by adjusting how they play.

I'd also like to point out that there is sometimes a limit to how good your equipment can sound. I'm a bit of an analogue (and valve) snob TBH. If you are really unhappy with how your equipment sounds after much fiddling, get down to a good music store and have a play with anything that takes your fancy. Also you can try hanging out on forums like guitargeek.

Answer 2

Another way is to figure out if your amp does have an effects loop return input jack (usually located at the back of the amp) if it does, use it. The output from your pod xt live should go to the effects return jack instead of the normal guitar amp input. Also, do remember that if you do use it, you will be bypassing your amp's eq, i'm not sure if you can bypass the built-in fx of your amp by using the amp's fx loop. Don't forget to select the proper amp simulation from your pod xt live, goodluck...

Answer 3

I'd really have to hear it to help. However, you can't rewire it to get a better sound. Some things you might want to try if your tone is rather iffy is to push the mid a little bit. If you want more bite, increase the trebble and if you want to get heavier, increase the bass. However, never drop the mid below maybe 5. It's a mistake a lot of guitarists make. Also tweak with the POD's settings and see if you can't do some manual adjustments. Finally, play through some other guitars with different pickup settings to see if you need something a little hotter.

Answer 4

Heres a link to get you connected to some other guitar players that will help you out,,What about Line 6 the manufacturer of the POD..try their website for patch suggestions..
For a better dynamic range try a second amp if you can lay your hands on one,,and run the POD in a stereo configuration.
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com

Answer 5

it is not elementary to declare precisely how they botched the job. i've got performed a gaggle of set ups, and there is particularly some variables, so right this is the questions that your question brings to thoughts, and a few questions develop a subset of questions (-) and a risk solutions (*), i think of it particularly is sensible (possibly): the place replaced into it humming at the beginning? -Low frets? *could want a truss rod adjustment, possibly a some distance better nut. -intense frets? *could want a saddle adjustment, possibly there's a difficulty with the attitude the place the neck meets the physique. -Random places? *uneven frets, possibly one desires to be pressed down, possibly they're worn and it desires a be concerned job. ...they fastened the undertaking, so... What do you advise you may no longer play intense notes on intense strings? What occurs? -Is it that as quickly as you get to a definite be concerned, it performs a word way greater? *it particularly is generally uneven frets, led to by capacity of that one intense word's be concerned sticking up too intense. -or possibly this is that the action's too intense so you might press it down? *don't be a wimp (kidding.) *action too intense, particularly on the saddle end of it. *I doubt this theory. the two way, i'm perplexed right here. something's off... What changes did they make? -Truss rod? *probable -New nut? *Nah, you may point out that, this is going to be on your bill. -Saddles? *would not clarify the undertaking... so because it particularly is my handle what's befell. Will they restore it for you returned? a much better question is Do you have confidence them? the two you do, admit it to be an honest mistake, and cause them to end the job (right this is the substantial area) which you ALREADY PAID FOR. do no longer enable them to cost you a dollar greater. Or, you do no longer, wherein case you ***** an outstanding purchase, call for a refund, coach them that they did no longer do their job as assigned, and take your business enterprise someplace else.

Answer 6

there are a couple of things you can do...1 you can go from the output from the pod into the effects return directly..this allows you to use the power amp section of the amp...or hook it up in the effect loop combined...effects send to pod input...effects return for pod output...but you may not be happy with the pod ...i have heard alot of bad sound come from pods...but it is a matter of preferance...you may love it

Answer 7

ask a pro at a guitar center for help.