Line 6’s very first Spider digital modeling amplifiers helped make amp modeling easily accessible to the masses. With a couple of twists the a knob, a beginner might conjure a convincing (for the time) Boogie-style tone, the bark of an AC30, or a smooth blackface twin Reverb sound. Those beforehand Spider amps were a revelation because that many. And the Spider V 120 may set a new standard—yet again—for amp-modeling bang for the buck. However to think of the Spider V 120 solely as a modeling amp would be a disservice. It’s packed to the gills with features that help composition and also recording, too.

You are watching: Line 6 amp review

More here Than Meets the EyeBehind the amp’s sleek black and also silver grille towel hides a bi-amped full-range speaker system consisted of of a 12" and also a tweeter, i beg your pardon serve plenty of of the same attributes as flat-response monitor speakers. Most of the “speaker” coloration friend hear indigenous the Spider originates from the models themselves. Unconventional speak arrays are likewise a function of heat 6’s more expensive Firehawk 1500 and AMPLIFi products. And though the principle is probably counterintuitive to football player that worry over differences in between regular guitar speaker types, the is crucial to Spider’s capability to reproduce everything from acoustic-electric etc sounds to thick base tones.


Digital high-gain sounds in affordable modelers deserve to inspire dread, but many of them sound spot-on right here at middle volumes.
The front of the amp is clean and also attractive v relatively couple of controls (drive, 3-band EQ, volume, and master volume), which helps keep the streamlined look. The downside is that the clean control surface calls for players come navigate menus via the push-button range to discover tones. It’s no a challenging process, but it means the Spider could not be the sort of amp you desire to obtain to recognize onstage.

In the an ext relaxed environs of your house or studio, friend can also take benefit of the totally free Spider Remote application (available because that iOS and Android) for her smartphone or tablet device. You just plug her phone or tablet into the earlier of the amp, open the app, and also tweak away via the easy-to-use interface. The application makes number of of Spider V’s finest features, choose switching effects order and saving presets, much easier. You can also use the app to re-publishing presets and settings with other Spider users.

*
Line 6 additionally makes record easy. The amp’s USB calculation hooks directly to a computer and worked flawlessly v the cost-free version of Cubase LE that Line 6 gives after registering the amp online. Friend can likewise run directly out of the XLR or phones outputs come your user interface if you choose.

Another way to record concepts is by making use of the Spider V’s “quick looper” function. A single button allows you come loop your ideas, play castle back, overdub, and erase. Girlfriend can also use it through a heat 6 FBV 3 foot controller (sold separately) for on-the-fly changes.Speaking that the FBV 3, I definitely recommend picking one as much as unlock the complete potential the this amp. The pedal can instantly access your favourite presets—32 banks of four presets every to it is in exact—and still be able to engage and also bypass each impact individually. The expression treadle and also footswitches room durable, and also have color-coded LEDs that make navigating her tonal changes a cinch top top dark stages. The Spider V 120 is wireless-ready and also can be provided with heat 6’s Relay G10T wireless transmitter (also offered separately).


Ratings

Pros:Tones much surpass ahead Spider amps. Easy-to-use Spider Remote app for editing sounds. Full-range speaker are an excellent for a wide range of instruments. Cubase LE conveniently bundled in.

Cons:Traces that digital modeling become evident and affect amp response at power volume. Editing and enhancing sounds native front panel have the right to be challenging.

Tones:

*

Ease of Use:

*

Build/Design:

*

Value:

*

*

Street: $399

Line 6 Spider V 120line6.com


Tones by the TonIt’s an excellent practice to never judge the ability of digital gear based on factory presets. However the sounds I acquired right the end of the box—and in ~ moderate practice volumes—bucked that logic. The breakup in one old-school Marshall preset was an extremely convincing. A model called “1964 Blackface ’Lux” (I’ll allow you type out the inspiration) responds v a quick and sparkling top, and, even better, several of the touch-responsive sag that a real tube amp. Digital high-gain sounds in affordable modelers deserve to inspire dread, but many of them sounded spot-on below at middle volumes.There are many excellent result simulations, too. The standard distortion, based upon a agree Co Rat, to be perfect because that fattening up a gritty amp tone. The phase 90 model swooshed with an proper amount the modulation, and an altering the cabinet and also microphone models not only nailed the attributes of each piece of gear, but readjusted the amp’s responsiveness in ways that feeling authentic.Many the the Spider’s sounds are efficient in according to live settings.I provided the amp on a full-band gig (although i ran straight to the board quite than exploring the borders of the full-frequency speakers). For the show, ns pulled increase the amp’s 1967 AC30 optimal Boost-style model, and placed the Rat-style classic overdrive, a DynaComp-type compressor, a memory Man-style modulated analog delay, and a thick room reverb in the signal chain. The amp handled everything without a hitch, eliciting compliments on tone from the other musicians onstage. If there are any complaints to be leveled versus the Spider V 120 in the gigging context, it’s the I started to listen discernibly much less of the headroom and also open, airy top-end that i hear in my tube amplifiers together volume increased. Many of this nuance will be lost on the typical listener. For part players, though, the differences in dynamics and sensitivity in ~ volume might influence their in its entirety playing approach.

See more: " Neural Nets Pretty Patterns, Neural Nets And Pretty Patterns

The VerdictThe Spider V 120 combo amp is therefore full-featured that I deserve to only file a fraction of its ability in this review. Though there space some young shortcomings at power volumes, over there are few tones the amp can not approximate, and also most sound pretty terrific—especially given the wallet-friendly price the this amp. Factor in the ease through which you can customize, save, and record sounds, and also the Spider V 120 to represent a real modeling value.

Watch the testimonial Demo:


featured-stories amps april-2017 videos review-demo evaluate special-videos line-6 gear digital special-featured-stories modeling combo whats-new