Line 6 M13

[Panda]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has had any experience with the Line 6 M13? it incorporates all 4 of their modelers into one unit with tap delays, hard bypass, tuner etc. i was keen on getting the DL4 but when i heard they have built this bad boy i thought it would be worth checking out! any feedback would be appreciated, Panda

 

[Tfunk Ian]

I have one and I like it. Easy to use, sounds pretty good from the real limited amount of time that I have really worked with it. I've actually found some pretty cool "effecty" sounds, which I dig a lot. Definitely worth checking out. The one nice thing is that it behaves like a stompbox so when you change a setting and step on a different pedal and step back, the setting of the original pedal is still there, you don't have to go in and save anything as it happens automatically.

 

[jpdennis]

Hello,

I am new to this board as I just signed up this morning. I have the M13 with the 2.01 flash update and it is working very well. I am still getting to know its capabilities. The effects seem cleaner when not using the Mesa Lead channel. I did find by TAE there is a classic distortion FX setting which almost matches the Mesa Lead channel on both my Mk III and 50 Cal. This makes the multiple use of the other various FX units work better. With the Mesa lead channel there are still several of the filters that work very well. And when set in balance the Mesa lead channel does have a crisper bite. I am using the Mesas as my baseline for the various scenes I have created to date so my non-mesa amps will come in to play later. The Acoustic seems fine but the Fender is a little bright still. I am still adjusting, but so far that is my take. But again, everything is personal taste and what I like others may find unusable for their sound.

Dennis

PS: My Heartbreaker will arrive sometime this week or early next week. I will know more about the HB interfacing with the M13 after about a few weeks of TAE.

 

[gummx97]

I also like the M13. Got many compliments on it's sound during my gigs. Plugged it through Fenders (Blues Deluxe, Blues Junior), SMF 15 Watter, and Mesa Mark 4 though 4 cable method and everything sounded decent. M13 is very practical especially for live use. Bear in mind that most audiences will probably be oblivious to whether effects are modeled or the real thing since its all in the mix and band context.

If you're really into it, might want to dedicate scene folders for each amp you have since tone varies from one amp to the next.

Overall, I think M13 is very useable for live use (gigs) and it's sound is very good. In my humble opinion.

 

[jpdennis]

I must agree with gummx97 about creating scenes for each amp. I am only in the first scene folder (folder 1) and have the Scene FX1 screen for 3 50 Cal scenes, the FX2 for 3 Mk III scenes, the FX3 for 3 Fender scenes, and the FX 4 for 3 Acoustic scenes. Having somewhat nailed (as close as one can with a emulated sound) the lead tone of the Mark III via one of the FX dists it has been a benefit to the 75 & the 165; no need to simulate that for the Mesas :lol: I am of a mind to leave folder 4 pristine; I have all the global scene channel settings to manual instead of auto so I do not mess with my current TAE settings. Of course I am thinking about devoting all of folder 2 to the Heartbreaker if it turns out to be the amp I have been reading about. :wink:

Dennis

 

[jpdennis]

As a follow up, I have my Heartbreaker and have set up two of the 4 folders for my amps. Most of folder 1 is filled (about 80%) and I am about 50% done with folder 2. I have just scratched the surface but have found great uses for the EQs, the Wahs, the volume pedal, the scene specific noise gate, the Growler, using expression pedals for "secret" echo effects I only heard in studio recordings, the harmonizer, setting multiple echos and phasing with the ol' Leslie rotating drum, and many more. My goal is to leave folder 4 virgin ... but :shock:

It is addicting even when done tastefully. :wink: 8)

Panda, did you get one? If not did you get something else and what would that be?

Dennis

 

[gummx97]

You guys use the M13's distortion? Sometimes I find the levels when the distortion is engaged needs to be adjusted depending on your amps volume when playing live. Once the volume for the amp is set for live playing, then try the distortions one at a time and set the level correctly. When using my MK4 with the M13 (4 cable method), volume control is so much easier once all channels are evened out. Just use the GEQ for solo boosts and you're set for the entire gig.

 

[jpdennis]

You guys use the M13's distortion? ...

I tried many of them and actually settled on using the Tube Drive and the 5 band EQ. I set two to three Tube Drives up depending upon how much variance using the expression pedal I want and whether I use one of them with one of the Wah wah FX. The EQ is more for (again using the Expression Pedal) dropping the highs or boosting the overal tone while using the EQ with the Mark more then with the other amps. Now that I am extremely close to having my amps all fine tuned (or is it fine-tubed actually :mrgreen: ) for the sound I like AND I just got my Power Conditioner I can't wait to start figuring out how I want the 4CM to work for my rigs.

Dennis

 

[gummx97]

When using 4CM, i split the effects on the M13. The first 2 effects before the input and the last 2 effects in the loop. Setting is "post fx2" on the M13. This way, i am able to place a compressor/boost compressor on effect 1, an overdrive for effect 2 into the input of the amp. In the loop, i place my reverb, choruses and delays. this gives the most flexibility since you can choose between the M13 overdrives or the amp's overdrives. delays and modulations in the loop to me sounds best rather than in front of the amp. the drawback is too many cables when setting up and breaking down... :wink:

 

[jpdennis]

When using 4CM, i split the effects on the M13. The first 2 effects before the input and the last 2 effects in the loop. Setting is "post fx2" on the M13. ...

Well, I finally have setup the 4CM using both my Mark III & the .50 Caliber. Once I moved my power unit for the M13 far right, all my signal cables far left, and my Expression Pedal on the right side has the cord looped high and at 90 degrees to the power unit [not really sure if it is important but ... :idea: ] AND using my Monster Power Pro 3500 I have no hum at all .

This sounds outstanding. I have only used two scenes with one split the FX post FX1 and the other post FX2. I also use the global noise gate. The 50 Caliber is for the clean under tone against the Mark III clean and high gain solo as well as the many effects (distortions included) that the M13 has. Plus, I have made what I call a "Super Growler" using the Attack Synth with the Vetta Wah and one of my two expression pedals. :mrgreen:

So now more live stage possibilities are opening up. :wink:

Dennis

 

[kingston11]

I had my M13 for 3 weeks and then returned it. Got my money back.

 

[gummx97]

I had my M13 for 3 weeks and then returned it. Got my money back.

unfortunate to hear, then again, tone is subjective and it depends on the end-user of what their purpose is for the unit. i have a g-force and the effects are outstanding!!! but for a gigging musician, M13 is convenient and i think is a good compromise between tone, portability, ease of setup, and the dreaded pack up time after a 3 hour set. must be part of getting old...

 

[jpdennis]

... for a gigging musician, M13 is convenient and i think is a good compromise between tone, portability, ease of setup, and the dreaded pack up time after a 3 hour set. must be part of getting old...

+1 and +1

Yep, normally the studio has some fairly extensive effects available anyway. It is the musician packing for light road gigs or the once to twice a week setup/teardown which benefits from gear like the M13. As to the old part, did my bones creak that loud? :lol:

I still have to say that the 4CM using multiple amps is quite a great feature as well as the ability to place effects in many combinations, run them in reverse order, multiple loop pre/post placement, etc. I am extremely grateful the line level was closely matched better in the latest firmware version. Seems to make my life easier with quick setting changes during stage rehearsal. 8)

Dennis

 

[brianvalve]

How are you guys connecting using the 4 cable method. I have just purchased a single rectoverb. I was hooked up to a spidervalve. On the spider valve i had to hook the send from the m13 to the input, the return to the power amp out, and the output to the preamp in on the spidervalve. That setup made no sense to me but it worked.
Also with the mesa having what appears to be a midi jack for the footswitch, can I use the M13 to switch channels on the recto???