1978 Speak and Spell |
Since then digital signal processing technology has advanced by leaps and bound. It is used today in mobile phones, video and audio equipment, even the computer your are viewing now. It’s use in the music industry has resulted in a dramatic change from recording music on magnetic audio tape to recording music on computers, making analog tape almost obsolete, (Though I think it still sounds great.)
Digital Signal Processing. |
It works when the electric guitar sends an analog signal to the DSP board, and the board converts it to a digital signal making the necessary modifications and adjustments to it to provide the desired effects. The user controls the selection of effects and their intensities through a graphical user interface, or GUI. Once the signal is processed, it is converted back to an analog signal and sent to a guitar amplifier for the user and others to hear.
From a historical prospective, guitar amplification came about in the 1930’s, when the guitar was part of the rhythm section of a big band, but could barely be heard above the horns and drums. Musicians and companies that produced guitars converted or modified radios, and public address systems of the day to be used as guitar amplifiers. Most of these early attempts only produced at most 10 watts of power. As early as 1928, the Stromberg-Voisenet Company was experimenting with guitar amplification.
1941 Supro (National) amplifier |
The First Transistor |
It was in 1947 that the transistor was invented by Bell Laboratories. By 1954 this technology was applied to audio as first the first transistor radio was introduced by Texas Instruments.
1960's Kustom K-100 |
Two years earlier, in 1964, Charles “Bud” Ross introduced Kustom Amplifiers.
In my opinion, with the exception of Kustom, most of the transistor amplifiers of that era sounded thin and cold compared to tube amplifiers.
The first integrated circuit |
EPROM IC |
The use of integrated circuits in guitar amplifiers has brought down their price considerably. But the one factor in my opinion that has greatly improved their sound is the introduction of Digital Signal Processing. Many companies use this technology, but in my opinion one company stands out; Line Six.
Marcus Ryle and Michel Doidic |
By the late 1980’s they turned their sights to DSP based guitar products. The name Line 6 came about since the Fast-Forward Company only had 5 telephone lines, and at the time, the guitar business was being done in secret. They didn't want any of the clients that hired their services to know about this venture. So if their receptionist paged them and said, “there is a call on line 6”, this was code for them to stop any guitar or amp related sounds that could be overheard on the phone.
1996 Line 6 AxSys 212 |
1997 Line 6 Flextone |
In that same year, Line 6 the introduced a new amp call the The Flextone. This was a 60 watt amp, with a 12” speaker and a different layout that the AxSys models.
Line 6 Flextone |
Flextone II HD |
In 2001 Line 6 introduced the Flextone II HD. This was a stand alone stereo amplifier head that produced 100 watts per channel. It had dual outputs, and a flexible switching system for an effects loop.
In 2003 Line 6 produced the upgraded Flextone III, which included a 75 watt amp with a 12" speaker, that modeled 32 amps, and 16 cabinets, plus 12 different effects called the Flextone III.
Flextone III Plus |
Another version called the Flextone III Plus included and extra power amp designed to power a separate speaker cabinet.
Flextone III XL |
The Flextone III XL boosted the power up to 150 watts and had two 12" speakers. The company offered an optional foot switching system.
Line 6 Amp Farm |
One of their most useful products was the Amp Farm, which was highly touted in guitar publications from it's creation in 1998.
This was a computer program for use with Digidesign Pro Tools audio workstations to use to create virtual amplifier and speaker sounds within a computer. This technology was put to use on many, many recordings.
1999 Line 6 Spider 112 |
In 1999 Line 6 came out with a new amplifier; the Spider 112 with its distinctive red panel. This was a 50 watt amp with a 12” speaker. It had 6 amp models, and 7 effects models, and was compatible with the Line 6 Floorboard and was affordable.
1999 Line 6 Spider 210 |
The following year, Line 6 came out with a stereo version of their Spider amp, called The Spider 212. This one had all the original features and pumped out 100 watts (50 watts per channel).
Line 6 Spider II |
The Spider II 210 had 120 watts of power with the same features as the 112 model, but going into twin 10" speakers.
This amp also came as the Spider II HD, which was a head.
The Spider II 212 had 150 watts of power going to two 12" Celestion speakers.
Line 6 Spider 111 15 watt |
It had on 4 amp models, a Smart Control FX, which allowed two effects to be used at the same time out of the choice of six effects.
It also came with a built-in boost, and noise gate, tap tempo for the effects, a CD/MP3 input, headphone and direct output.
The Spider III 30 offered a similar format with a 30 watt output into a 12” speaker. The Spider III 75 was their 75 watt version, which offered 12 amp models, seven Smart Control FX three of which could be used simultaneously. It came with a 12”speaker and 200 presets.
That years Spider III 120 offered the same features in a 120 watt stereo amp (60 watts per side) in combo with two 10” Celestion speakers.
Spider III 150 |
The Spider III HD 75, and Spider III HD150 were head units.
Line 6 Spider 112 Valve |
Line 6 Spider Jam |
In 2008, the Spider Jam was offered. This was 75 watt, one 12" Spider amp, with the addition of well over 100 CD quality jam tracks. Included was a 24 minute on-board recorder.
Line 6 Micro Spider |
This same year brought the Micro Spider; a 6.5 watt battery powered amp going into a 6.5" speaker. It had 4 amp models, plus an acoustic model, and 6 effects.
Line 6 Spider IV 112 |
2009 brought out a new series of Spider amps called the Spider IV series, going from 15 watts, to 150 watts with various speaker configurations.
Line 6 Valve MK II 112 |
The Spider Valve MkII amps came out that same year, with one 12" or two 12" speakers, and a head only model.
Line 5 Spider V |
The following year, 2017, Line 6 offered a head only stereo unit called the Spider V 240 HC.
Line 6 Spider V 20 |
2018 brought the Spider V 20, which is a 20 watt amplifier, into an eight inch speaker. It had 16 preset sounds and 20 amplifier models, with the ability to utilize three effects simultaneously, It also had a USB outlet for recording and editing the sounds.
2001 Line 6 Vetta |
The next year, 2002, the Vetta HD was offered as a 200 watt head.
Line 6 FBV Shortboard |
A new version of the FBV controller, called the Short Board was offered this year. This was slimmed down from the original FBV controller.
2003 LIne 6 Vetta II |
The next year, 2003, the 150 watt Vetta II stereo amplifier was introduced. This amp had over 70 amp models, 27 cabinet models, and over 50 effects and many other features. This amp was also issued as the Vetta II HD; head only.
2006 LowDown LD150 |
In 2006 a new series of bass amps were introduced. The LowDown LD150 featured five classic bass amp models, 36 programmable presets, 5 synth bass models, compression, into a 12” speaker. The amp produced 150 watts and had other features.
The LowDown LD175 was an enhanced version with similar electronics, but it produced 175 watts into a 15” speaker and a hi-frequency horn.
LowDown LD300 |
2008 LowDown LD 15 |
2008 brought us the LowDown LD 15; a 15 watt bass amp with an 8" speaker that had 4 bass amp models, 3 effects, plus other features.
2010 Line 6 DT50 212 |
In 2010 Line 6 introduced a new series of tube based amplifiers known as the DT50 series, with one 12" speaker, two 12" speaker, or as a head and a separate speaker cabinet with four 12" spearkers.. Speakers were made by Celestion.
Line 5 DT25 112 |
The next year, 2011, Line 6 offered the 25 watt DT25. This came with modeling effects, twin EL34 power tubes, and a 12" Celestion slpeaker. This was also offered as a separate head and speaker cabinet with a 12" speaker.
On December 20th, of 2013 Line 6 was acquired by the Yamaha Corporation in an agreement that provided benefits for the original company and founders, as well as Yamaha. Under the contractual guidelines Line 6 would remain a wholly owned subsidiary.
In 2014 Line 6 introduced a new line up of perhaps their most advanced DSP amplifiers to date; The Amplifi series.
Line 6 Amplifi 75 |
Amplifi 75 speaker system |
The speaker system is most unique. This amp comes with an eight inch custom speaker plus two mid range frequency drivers, and two high range frequency drivers. The Amplifi series amps all come with stereo capability.
The Amplifi 150 is a 150 watt version of the Amplifi series. It comes with a 12" Celestion speaker plus two mid frequency and two high frequency drivers, and all the accouterments found on the 75 watt model.
Line 6 Amplifi FX 100 |
Line 6 Amplifi 30 |
In 2016 Line 6 introduced a smaller version of the Amplifi series. This was a 30 watt Amplifi, which came in a compact cabinet. In it were housed four 2.5" speakers, four onboard presets, plus the ability to access 200 different tones, and the same the bluetooth capability of the larger versions.
Line 5 Firehawk 1500 & (speakers) |
The cabinet housed six speakers, which included a 12' sub-woofer, two 5.5" stereo coaxial drivers, and two 1 x 1" high frequency compression drivers. It had four preset locations, plus the ability to access 200 amplifier and cabinet models. Plus 128 built-in presets, plus Bluetooth capability via the Line 6 app.
Line 6 Spider III - $39.99 |
Line 6 Flextone II - $149.99 |
I have run across Flextone II selling for $150.
Line 6 Vetta II 300 $449.00 |
The Vetta amps seem to fair better. I ran across a 2003 Vetta III was selling for $450.
Now for the good news. Even the Line 6 Spider III that was going for $40 was a little road worn, but the electronics, and speaker are in great shape. Some of these Line 6 amps come with Celestion speakers. So in the secondary market Line amps are excellent bargains.
Spider Classic 15 1x8" - $99.99 |
The current Line 6 Classic Spider 15 watt, makes a great practice amplifier and the street price for a new one is only $100.
Click on the links under the pictures for sources. Click on the links in the text for further information.
©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only)
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing, nice post! Post really provice useful information!
Giaonhan247 chuyên dịch vụ ship hàng từ mỹ về việt nam với dịch vụ mua sách trên amazon cùng với bảng giá ship hàng từ mỹ về việt nam và dịch vụ mua nước hoa pháp chính hãng trên web ebay việt nam uy tín.
Post a Comment