I. The Elusive Pure Clean Tone

The PodHD doesn't offer any pure clean amp models (yet? as of 7/18 there is a Soldano SLO Clean model available for the 300/400 that may fit this bill), like a Roland Jazz Chorus. This doesn't mean getting a pure clean tone is impossible though.

If you are not using Input 2: Variax (null), I suggest you start with that adjustment. One of its benefits is a lower signal level, which allows clean tones to instantly be a little cleaner. But there are other benefits.

The cleanest amp model is the Blackface Dbl, based on a blackface Fender Twin Reverb. Line 6 modeled it in "warts-and-all" fashion, meaning it can get a little nasty sounding when running modern high-output humbucker pickups into it, rather than the 60's era single-coil pickups it was designed for. Still, there are a number of ways to tame it. Here's a list, ordered by what I prefer to preserve tone, which applies to getting a cleaner tone in general on all the amps.

1. Change input settings - input 1:guitar, input:2 variax

2. Put a Studio EQ in front the amp, and set gain to -X db.

3. Use no amp model, using compressors and EQ effects to simulate one

4. Try turning up bias or bias X

5. Try turning down Master Volume

6. Use a Parametric EQ to find which frequencies really push the amp to nasty breakup, then reduce those frequencies (you can dial them back in after the amp)

7. Use pre-amp models instead of full models

8. Change input impedance - lower values will be softer, darker, and looser but less likely to distort

My favorite tone from the amp comes from a dual amp tone combining the Blackface Dbl on one channel with no amp on the other. I use a compressor and some EQ on the "no amp" channel. Then just set the volume so that they complement each other. You get the shimmering clean sound of a compressed and EQ'ed raw guitar signal mixed with the warmth of the Fender clean.

I also did a little experiment to see how much power amp (crossover) distortion I could dial out of the Blackface Dbl without causing it to lose its desirable tonal nuances. You might still get a little distortion using the advice below, but the idea was to preserve tone more than completely dial out distortion. All starting values are the exact default settings when you select the amp.

1. Default Master Volume is 100%. Change that to 20%.

2. I found changing the Bias changed the tone too much. I was able to get good results from Bias X, though. I set it to 80% and that helped clean it up a little. I assume this means that the bias is changing to a colder setting when it would be pushed hard enough to exhibit the crossover distortion, but not for any notes softer than that. I changed Bias X from 50% to 80%.

3. Turn Drive from 37% to 60%.

4. It seems like this may change the dynamics just a little bit. I tried adding a Tube Comp before the amp. I set Level to 0% and Threshold to 95%. I think I prefer the tone without the Tube Comp - you may want to try it though.

Some general notes:

• For my setup, I put amp/channel volume at 50%. Any higher than this and I'd clip my DAW input. But I run via SPDIF and I think I boost the SPDIF output level. So you might be able to go higher.

• My mixer has channel 1 panned full left and channel 2 panned full right. Levels for both channels are 0 db.

• My input impedance is on auto. My input settings are input 1: guitar, input 2: same. Pad switch is turned off.

• Test guitar is EBMM JPM. Tested bridge pickup for dialing out crossover distortion by strumming as hard as I can. Tested tone using single notes and chords all over the neck for bridge, neck, and coil-tapped bridge+neck pickups.

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