FeAture
7. Are there any plans for a lower-wattage
version of the Bogner Spider amps? Many
people do not need a full 40 or 100 watts,
but a 15-watt, affordable version with
maybe a 2x10 cab would be awesome.
The Spider Valve Mk II is our newest version
of the Line 6 partnership with Bogner, which
combines Line 6 digital modeling and Bogner
tube design. The great thing about these
amps is that because of the modeling and
tube design, they sound great even without
pushing the tubes. For these amps you don’t
need a lower wattage to get a great sound at
a lower volume.
The ultra-portable Pod revolutionized recording and performing with a smorgasbord
of impressive amp and effect models for a rock-bottom price.
3. With all the developments in modeling
technology by other companies, what do
you guys have planned to take things to
the next level?
8. Do you plan on releasing just the Variax
guitar hardware sometime in the future,
so players can just install it in the guitar of
their choice?
As pioneers in this space, we like to think we
are continually pushing the limits on what
our gear can do and what we deliver to our
customers. We are continually refining and
developing our amp and effects modeling
to deliver more than what the competition
does. The most recent examples are a free
software update we just released for POD
X3, which includes 12 new effects, including
a Vocoder (because the POD X3 Live has a
mic input, how cool). We’ve also recently
introduced Spider IV and Spider Valve MK II
amp lines, which in addition to offering 16
amp models, up to 4 Smart FX simultaneously, and hundreds of presets, has our new
Smart Harmony effect that can perform diatonic harmony for any root note (A through
G#) from a unison to a ninth interval above
or below the root note. You’ll definitely want
to check that out.
digital modeling through friends and fellow
players and are surprised by the quality of the
modeling and convenience and flexibility of
our gear. These are people who don’t believe
it until they see it, and we hope to expose as
many of these people to our gear as possible.
Wow, you guys are really into the Variax. We
really wish we could say something, but we can’t.
5. Many of us feel that amp emulation is the
future of electric guitar, but that it isn’t 100
percent there yet. When do you think amp
emulation will be so good that even the
old-timers will give it their stamp of approval, and what will it take to get there?
9. What is the reason your Spider series
comes without a Variax direct digital input?
At Line 6, we recognize that tone is subjective, and the gear you use to get your tone
is a personal choice. In other words, nothing
is right for everyone, but we are never content with ourselves and are always striving to
improve our gear to make it as appealing to as
many players as possible. We are overwhelmed
by the number of players who rely on Line 6
gear across all genres, ages and levels—from
amateur players we see on You Tube to touring
pros like Brad Paisley, Trent Reznor and The
Edge—to get the tone they want.
In order to keep our Spider amps as affordable
as possible, sometimes we have to make tough
decisions about what features to include and
exclude. This is a feature we have included on
some of our higher-end—and more expensive—
gear, but felt it was a smart trade-off to make in
order to keep the Spider amps priced in a range
where the most people could afford them.
10. Are you going to release new Variax
models include 24 frets and an advanced
tremolo system?
4. Does Line 6 intend to pull people away
from analog effects and tube amplifiers over
time, or is the intent to focus on selling better and more gear to players who are already
fans of digital and modeling equipment?
6. I’m wondering if it is possible to combine a Variax, an X3, a Backtrack, and a
Relay into one single monstrous, cohesive
system of gear (to go with my own amp of
choice)? Are you guys working on this?
All right, we get the picture… you guys want
a new Variax. Well we’re about to announce
something that has been in the works for several years, and it is going to make you very
happy. Check Line6.com for updates.
The answer is not either/or. There are a lot of
players who are immediately drawn to digital
modeling for the ability to have access to a
vast array of authentic-sounding tones and
effects. Then there are those who reluctantly
come around when they are exposed to our
Hmmmm… a guitar that models everything,
captures everything and then transmits every-
thing wirelessly to an amp. That sounds cool.
We’ll call it the GuiPODiaX3TrackLay. We’re
going to get right on it.
Next month:
For next month’s “Go Ahead and Ask,” head
online to premierguitar.com/goaheadandask
and let us know what questions you’d like to
ask Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars.
www.premierguitar.com
PREMIER GUITAR APRIL 2010 45
