line6 m13 with roadking2

[calvin1]

can you use the line6 m13 stompbox with the raodking2 amp head and roadking 4/12 cab. would mesa say anything about that. thanks for your help cal.would you plug it into the amps. input instead of the loops on the back of the head. thanks for your input on this matter cal

 

[jtroska]

I want to get an M13 to use with my Roadster, which is almost the same amp as the Road King. I can't think of any reason it wouldn't work.

Ideally, I'd hook it up to my amp using the "4 cable method". That is: Guitar>M13 / M13 Effects Send>Amp / Amp Effects Send>M13 Return / M13 Output>Amp's Return. This way, I would have the option of placing any of the M13's effects either before or after the Mesa's preamp. The M13 lets you assign the position of it's Effects Loop per "scene". So you could, for example, place an M13 wah before the loop, go to the amp for the real tube amp gain, and return to the M13 for delay or modulation effects.

I'm hoping I can use the M13's Scene Mode with a Mini Amp Gizmo to automatically switch to the appropriate amp channel with M13 patch changes.

 

[ned]

You should be able to do that. I'm currently using my M13 with an Egnater Mod 50 in 4 cable, in scene mode I can switch channels on the amp.

 

[jtroska]

To follow up...

I just scored an M13 from eBay and tried it with my Roadster. It works perfectly. I'm using the 4-cable method so that I can assign various effects to be either pre or post the amp's gain stage.

But like most Line6 products, it promises to do everything but can really only do some things competently. For example, if you have your heart set on synth effects and intelligent harmonies, you're going to be disappointed. The M13 just doesn't track well enough for those kinds of effects. But if you're mainly looking for standard delays, choruses, phasers, tube screamers, etc... the M13 is perfect.

 

[Neptical]

That Line 6 M13 looks pretty tempting. I use some TC Electronics,Boss, and EH pedals in my rig but it would be nice to have everything in one package as well. Doesn't hurt to have both..of course coming off as a gearhead.

I really love my TC gear. Their really transparent in the loops of my amps.

What do you folks think of the transparency of the M13?

~Nep~

 

[ned]

With my Eggie it's pretty transparent, doesn't do well in the parallel loop but works really well in the serial loop.

 

[jtroska]

I tested the transparency in the following way and results were very good to my ears...

I put the M13 with all its effects bypassed in the Roadster's Effects Loop and, without looking, stomped the Effects Loop in and out via the foot controller several times until I didn't know whether the Effects Loop was active or not. Then I played while continuing to stomp the Effects Loop in and out and tried to guess when I was going through the M13.

I really couldn't hear any difference. And I was using cheap 9ft Hosa cables. I did guess it right sometimes, but it was admittedly a guess. And better cables could only improve the results.

I was using the M13's digital bypass (not true bypass) as its true bypass does not work with the 4-cable hookup. So I was really testing the M13's A/D and D/A conversion.

My M13 is a keeper.

 

[calvin1]

thanks for all your help guys i just got my roadking2 and a roadking4/12 cab i was not sure how to hook up the line6 m13 stompbox. do you plug the m13 send into the input on the front of the amp thanks cal

 

[jtroska]

I do it this way...

Guitar > M13 Input
M13 Send > Amp Input
Amp Send > M13 Return
M13 Output to Amp Return

This way, you can place any effect in the M13 either before or after the amp's gain stage. For example, you could place a Tube Screamer or wah effect from the M13 before the amp's gain stage while keeping the delays and modulations after the gain stage.

 

[calvin1]

thanks jtroska i will give that a try after i get home from the hospital. i will be getting an operation on sept.7/10 thank you for all your help. cal