GrumpyRocker

In this Gear Page thread I suggested folks running the POD HD500 as a pedalboard before an amp can reduce hiss and get a better signal to noise ratio by making sure the mixer pan controls are both set to centre.

I've been fiddling around with HD Edit and headphones this evening and I came up with some other things I thought worth sharing away from that thread, because they apply whether running amp models or just FX.

It seems a lot of the hiss you may be hearing is actually coming from inactive inputs adding noise into the signal chain. Most default empty patches seem to be set as follows:

Input 1: Guit+Aux+Varx Ch1
Input 2: Same

And this seems to introduce hiss and unwanted noise.

I've read quite a few comments online about folks finding it hard to get a good metal chugging tone out of the POD HD's Bognor Uberschall model. Even with the presence on full - they say - there's a lack of high-end in the tone.

There's a good reason for this - the real Uberschall has quite an interesting presence control which Line6 has gone to the bother of modelling. Check out the Uberschall manual online and pay attention to the section on the presence control.

One of the most unique items is our "Presence" control. It's an amazing combination of a midrange-presence control. As you sweep through its range you will notice an incredible variety of tones this one control allows. For an extremely aggressive sub-harmonic bass and scooped-midrange sound, keep the presence off or very low. A huge 3-dimensional tone can be found by running the presence around 2 o'clock. Pushing the "Presence" control to maximum will allow you to cut a sonic path through the mix by reinforcing your midrange and slightly rolling off the sub-bass. Trust us: REALLY check out the presence control to unleash the hidden secrets of the UBERSCHALL.

The practical upshot is that putting the presence control on full is a better setting for lead tones - with bags of midrange for cutting through the mix. However for your rhythmic chugging I'd suggest rolling the presence to 12 o'clock and working backwards from there. You'll be amazed how much difference it makes.

Update: Following the 1.2 firmware update this is no longer relevant. Line6 has replaced the Uber's mid-presence control with a regular presence control. The company hasn't said yet whether this was deliberate or a mistake. My money is on this being an error in the update. One hopes it will be fixed soon.

Over the last few days I've been trying out the HD500 set up in the four cable method which I used to use with my Line 6 M13.

I thought that way I could make use of my Bugera's pre-amp when I wanted to rather than the modelling and also bung my Blackstar HT-Dual into the mix too.

At first I couldn't quite get it to sound as good as the M13 did but some trial and error has got things sorted out. Hence my post - for anyone else trying to set up a HD500 to do the same (one caveat being I'm going to continue assuming you've got a regular serial FX loop without a line/stomp switch).

I've been using the new Line6 POD HD500 for a week or so now and I've worked out a few tips and tricks you may like to try with your own unit.

Some of these tips may work with the HD300/HD400 models too.

I've just completed my little Squier Bullet project. I've used this cheapo Strat to learn the basics of guitar modification as it's not something I've really done before. I'm quite happy with the resulting cheap yet good sounding guitar.

It was a regular SSS guitar when I bought it. I replaced with the pickguard with one that's cut for a humbucker and the bridge. The pickups are all from IronGear - two single coil Pig Iron models with a Rolling Mill humbucker.

The trem is a Wilkinson model with the solid steel block - this along with the addition of a graphite nut have worked wonders for tone and tuning.

So that's that done. No really major work - I've not had to modify the wood as thankfully Squier had already routed the body for a HSS pickup layout already. I'm not going to go further with a new neck or tuners of anything like that. But I'm very happy with the result.