I figured that most people preferred the original "POD", and it seems to be true.

I figured that the models would be cheesy and the tone would be pretty lousy......and that also seems to be true.

BUT.......I think that if it were used just as a headphone amp then it would be pretty fun.

I have a VOX headphone amp (Classic Rock model). I have some issues with it*, but it really is nice for sitting alone and picking out songs when people are sleeping (when they are awake I play LOUD!).

Mine was about $35.

I often find myself thinking...."Boy...just a little reverb or chorus would really smooth things out"....but mine doesn't have any of that, so it would be pretty cool to have those things....not $40 cool, but cool.

Personally, I think that $35 is too much for what mine does.......and $75 is too much for what the pocket pod does but I suppose that is how much they cost.

If I had it over again, I would have got the little VOX metal model....why not have more gain if you need it?

In summary.....here is my review of something I have never even laid eyes upon...

OK for a headphone amp; lousy as an effects preamp. Amp Models are ****, effects are a nice added feature not common on headphone amps.

*The issue I have with the VOX is that it has the plug (male phono) is integrated in the design......so when you plug it in you have a big lever that can split the wood around your jack plate if you set the guitar down wrong or bump it hard enough. Also, when plugged in to a guitar with the jack on the side of the body, you can't even see the thing and it is hard to play with the guitar on your lap. I plan on making a short M-F cable so I can tape the thing to my strap and use it that way.

VOX Metal

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Amplug-Metal-Headphone-Amp?sku=481678 

VOX Classic Rock

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Amplug-Classic-Rock-Headphone-Amp?sku=481677 

Pocket Pud

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Pocket-POD-Express-Multi-Effects-Processor?sku=500309 

I have the bass version of the Pocket Rock-It for when I want to play quit, but 9 times out of 10, I've got headphones on, plugged into my amp.

I started out using DigiTech pedals and because they're made of metal, you can throw them around and they'll take a beating. I've paired down a LOT from what I had equipment wise and only have a BP200 now. It too is metal, but the effects it can throw out makes it a lot of fun to keep playing.

The Line6 amps are a different story. They offer a ton of punch with their onboard processing that will give you a lot of combos that you'd have to have 3-4 different footpedals to get. Yet, some of them aren't that powerful to rise above a drummer that goes into a Bonhamesque tirade or the thundering bottom end of even the Ampeg BA115 that I have.

Bugera is making some really good equipment and then theres one that I REALLY like...Top Hat. That rig is L-O-U-D!!! Oh wait, we're talking about headphone kinda stuff...my bad.

What I'm really looking for is a combo where I can get a death metal type distortion with a noise gate, and add-on a reverb / delay, and maybe chorus or flange. The all-in-one units seem nice.

The distortion / overdrive / amp simulator of the Pod seemed to have the distortion sould that I liked, however, I was looking basically for the downsides of the device.

Here's my situation:

When I have the time and the inclination (mainly the inclination part is my biggest problem), I'm presently designing my own effects. I'm really at the point of just setting up a low-end Linux box, and developing audio-processing software with JACK. I've already done it with Windows, but the latency (without spending the cash to get a ASIO sound card) is a BIG problem. Making a bunch of analog effects requires a lot of experimentation (especially if you want a high-gain overdrive), and I ain't spending $100.00 for a frickin' death metal pedal high-gain, especially if it does not incorporate a noise gate.

The only way I can eliminate propagation delay is to analog. If I go the "make your own" route, a simple high-gain distortion will require (I think) a 4-stage overdrive section, and three-band EQ, and Twin-T notch filter / buffer stage on the input. Hand-wiring that stuff on a protoboard is a b*tch, fabricating my own PCBs can be just as annoying, and breadborading all the stuff takes a lot of time and fiddling.

Or - and I have a capability to do this - I can "create" a full-fledged DSP, and program the thing. Of course, since most of the chips have over 40 pins on them, you almost have to have the circuit board prefabricated, and populated before I write a lick of code. And I better hope that - a novice like me - didn't screw up anywhere in the circuit or PCB design. This costs hundreds of dollars just for one lousy prototype.

Or, I can buy all discrete pedal effects, at about $100.00 a pop. After a distortion, noise gate, chorus, reverb, and maybe something else, I'm up in the $400.00 range.

Or I can buy one of these all-in-one, inexpensive effects. Ergo, my query.

I guess, my question should be: are the Line 6 Pods worth the money, and (specifically) can I get a Sevendust-like sound out of the guitar. Or are there other / better - INEXPENSIVE - rigs I can get. I want to keep the cost under $200.00.

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/ 

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/?pwfilter=guitar 

http://www.digitech.com/products/Multi-Effects/RP500.php 

I've been eying up the Korg Pandora........looks pretty "better" than the mini pod.

Let's see.......headphones are about $200.....and for that I get to hear my amp's effects (which are tuned to the speaker)........OR..........$80 for a gently used Pandora, which I can velcro to my strap and still walk around...and also it has a tuner......and also rhythm......and also more effects.......and also it can be used in my effects loop........and also I can just use my **** earbuds.

(no brainer)

If you look on Korg's website, they have players reviewing the Pandora. Two of the guys from Sevendust endorse it. Theirs is the sound that I want to emulate.

Done deal, I think. I'm putting it on the Christmas Lis.

Aside from the fact that I had to twist splice a 1/8 plug to a 1/4 cable (my soldering iron I left at my dad's place) it seemed sort of cool for the money.

Then, once I convinced the cord I jury rigged to stop broadcasting hard drive sounds, I noticed a terrible latency that I can only attribute to my sound card not having the ass for this sort of thing.

Sorry man......I don't like stuff that sucks.

:)