The Watering Hole

www.line6.com/spideriv

They really stepped it up for these...sort of the same interface, but 3/4 closed-back cabinets, much more extensive effects (and better programmability), and what could be better sound, overall (more detail).  Plus a fun little looper, whammy-style pitch bend, and much better effects routing.

Plus the new FBV Shortboard MKII and FBV Express MKII are completely programmable via USB and can send MIDI messages on your computer (so they can easily be used with POD Studio, Amplitube, etc.)

With this stuff out, I sincerely wonder what's on the horizon for Line 6 - maybe they will figure out a way to come out with a new flagship amp...or not.

I've never held out much hope after they sort of abandoned the Vetta...
Tripper

Wait for the Spider Valve MK2!! Now THAT should be an amp to be reckoned with!

cgtrox  8-)

Modelers schmodelers. In the immortal words of Handy Randy on the WH long ago, if it ain't all tube it is a goob.

Trip, did they improve the amp models themselves?  Just curious.  Dar has a Vypyr and LOVES the thing.

Yes Howie, they did improve the models AND added four more! Divided by 13 is one and Orange is another, I think. The effects are not unlike the POD's, deep editing and it has an INTELLIGENT HARMONIZER!!!  :'(  tears of joy!!

Now, the one I am waiting for is the Spider Valve MKII.... same thing but with the Bogner tube power section!   ;)

cgtrox  8-)

sounds interesting!  

DreamTheaterRules — Aug 24, 2009Trip, did they improve the amp models themselves?  Just curious.  Dar has a Vypyr and LOVES the thing.

I dig the Vypyr. It's so much fun. If I needed a practice amp, I'd buy one. I find myself playing them every time I go to Guitar Center. But alas, I have no need for one. And Peavey needs to learn how to make a foot controller, because the Sanperas are FUGLY AS HELL and barely functional. Line 6 smokes pretty much every other company in quality of foot control for their amps, in my opinion, especially when you're talking about Vetta...

I can't wait to hear the new Spider...and I'll be really disappointed if it's a letdown, because there are so many cool new features. Again, not that I'd buy one, but if the Spider IV innovations end up carrying over into the stuff I own (like the X3 Live) via updates and added/improved effects and models, then I'm pretty stoked.

Tripper

Dar LOVES his Vypyr.  He said the amp models are STELLAR!  He said he can match knobs with his JSX, JVM, Fender, etc, and it sounds almost dead on the real thing.  

Yeah Trip, the thing is going to be able to update via USB. It also has MIDI ports! As long as it has a USB port, then they can update it all day! I just wanna hear it in person.

+1 on that butt fugly ass controller from Peavey. Peavey has actually let me down a couple of times in the past. I had a Triumph 120, anyone remember those? Three seperate channels and 120 watts of pure tube power!!

cgtrox  8-)    

cgtrox — Aug 26, 2009I had a Triumph 120, anyone remember those? Three seperate channels and 120 watts of pure tube power!!

cgtrox  8-)    

Had a Triumph 60.  Still have the carcass.  Still use some of the preamp tubes.  I had put all US made Groove Tubes in it and I also kept the original 6L6GC's (< 10 hours on them) which were also American made - Peavey stamped Sylvanias I believe - they sounded nice in my SV.  The tubes had to be worth more than I paid for the amp.  :)

The cast frame speaker looks like an EV, but I don't recall what it actually is.  It seemed to reproduce the brash buzzy amp tone well.  I will have to try it with the Reb.

Played a Spider IV at my local GC for about 20 minutes...definitely a HUGE improvement - the models are much more complex and "touchy" than in the last Spider, and don't have near the amount of inappropriate honk and fizz. And it's a really fun amp to play, like the VYPYR (still the dumbest name ever, especially spelled Skynyrd-style)

Watch out, Peavey...Line 6 is competitive again.

Well, at least at this price point...
Tripper