Line6 Spider Valve HD100 - is it a good deal?

[Instant_Noodles]

Hi everyone,
Is there anyone who's really tried this product or any model of this Valve series?
How do you think of it? I don't have chance to try it in the real situation, I don't believe much at demo files. Looked for true close-miking of it in youtube but I didnt find any video except the GuitarWorld's video.
For that range of price, do you have any suggest for other head? I play mostly metal.
Compare with HD147 or Vetta II, what do you think?
Thank you very much.

 

[Joematthews]

The one I heard I didn't like. Sounded like a spider to me.

Joe

 

[Kazrog]

The HD147 is (somewhat surprisingly) a much better amp for metal than the Spider Valve, if you must go with something Line 6. But I'd recommend any tube amp (used 5150, XXX, etc.) for metal over any Line 6 amp.

The Spider Valve is simply NOT capable of delivering chunky, tight, aggressive high gain rhythm tones. No matter what, it sounds wooly and woofy and buzzy, with a lot of harsh top end fizz that you'll get with Line 6 anyway, but without any of the positive tonal qualities of the HD147, Pod XT/X3, or Vetta. It does, however, sound much better for vintage, mid-gain, classic rock style sounds (Jimmy Page, etc.) than any previous Line 6 product.

I owned an HD147 for a few years and was very happy with it. It's a very convenient amp for live use, especially if you want to have effects, built in noise gate, etc. The sheer simplicity of it is beautiful - especially with the FBV shortboard controller - and it definitely gets some very gratifying metal sounds with the right articulation most of us here crave - but sadly the tone just doesn't cut it next to a real tube amp.

 

[Lazzari]

it sucks.. really ! it doesn't have enough balls to get that metal tone imho

 

[AudioPhile777]

The HD147 is (somewhat surprisingly) a much better amp for metal than the Spider Valve, if you must go with something Line 6. But I'd recommend any tube amp (used 5150, XXX, etc.) for metal over any Line 6 amp.

The Spider Valve is simply NOT capable of delivering chunky, tight, aggressive high gain rhythm tones. No matter what, it sounds wooly and woofy and buzzy, with a lot of harsh top end fizz that you'll get with Line 6 anyway, but without any of the positive tonal qualities of the HD147, Pod XT/X3, or Vetta. It does, however, sound much better for vintage, mid-gain, classic rock style sounds (Jimmy Page, etc.) than any previous Line 6 product.

I owned an HD147 for a few years and was very happy with it. It's a very convenient amp for live use, especially if you want to have effects, built in noise gate, etc. The sheer simplicity of it is beautiful - especially with the FBV shortboard controller - and it definitely gets some very gratifying metal sounds with the right articulation most of us here crave - but sadly the tone just doesn't cut it next to a real tube amp.

+1 to all that...i have owned the hd147 and I own the spider valve 1x12... its a great bedroom/practice amp... but definitely not great for gigs/ recording metal

 

[Metaltastic]

HD147 without a doubt, reliability is one of the biggest reasons to go Line6 IMO, and the thing has so much power (and thus headroom) you don't have to worry about harshness!

 

[slashvanyoung]

The Spider Valve is like taking your favorite t00b amp, putting a strange diode clipping stage in there and putting some blankets over your speakers... you might as well buy a 4100.

 

[Instant_Noodles]

thank you all for replying me very quickly. I also searched for more options some hours ago. HD147 seems to be very nice amp to pick.

I've watched some videos on YouTube. On that range of price (about under 1250$ of HD147), I saw more 2 options for metal are: Krank SST and Randall V2, T2. Especially the Randall V2 and T2, I was very impressed by its tightness and brutality. But Randall product seems to have problems with Reliability (I really care of this issue). Could you give some advices? I just have enough money for this amp after 2 years of saving money @_@ God bless me T_T

@metalastic: I remember that I've read one of your topic which was related to HD147

 

[Metaltastic]

I've never heard of problems with Randall reliability, but then again I haven't heard much about them in general. The Randall and especially Krank would probably sound better than the Line 6, but the thing is, none of them will sound as good (especially in a recording) as an all-tube 5150, Dual Rectifier, Rev 1, etc., so to me it seems like you'd either wanna go all-tube or all-digital (Line 6).

Cuz with the HD147, all you need is the head, a cab, and one of these, and you've got a rig with a built-in floor tuner and 4 footswitchable presets that can sound TOTALLY different from one another (or not, your call) with built in FX and volume level differences; there's no contest for live playing IMO! And for the love of god, buy it used; they're super-reliable, and I got mine for $480 shipped!

 

[t-rave]

I have a Vetta HD I use occasionally...it's realy good tone wise...with a ton of shaping options..in fact for the djenty Meshuggah and tech stuff, it's a really killer amp ( not that I play that stuff...I am not good enough!)...with stereo panned high dual high gain amps and pretty lush effects ( with 2 separate fx chains for each amp model) and pre and post eq options...it's a virtual smorgasboard of metal tones..and it's devastatingly loud!

perfect example of Vetta High gain

 

[Instant_Noodles]

@Metalastic: ye, reliability of HD147 seems to be very good :d Thank you so much.
@t-rave: thank you, I really like Vetta II, too. But the price is out of my budget T_T

 

[t-rave]

you should be able to find a used vetta 1 ( you can upgrade the soft to 2 for free!) for under $700

cheaper than a spider Valve and much better....

 

[Instant_Noodles]

oh, very helpful information! Thank you very much! :d