Line 6 Spider V MKII 30W Modelling Guitar Amplifier Combo

I have been playing guitar for 25 years, and my genre stretches from hardcore metal in drop tunings to smooth clean blues riffs. I was running a Mesa Boogie Mark V35 combo for the versatility but that was a little too much amp to practice on, or be comfortable dragging around from house to house. I still needed something loud with punch to practice with at reasonable volumes when necessary. I looked at other competitive amp modelers on the market, however they didn't work for me due to software issues. I bought the smaller version of this and immediately stepped up to the bigger one because it was too good!! I was able to plug and play immediately and access all features WITHOUT a laptop, tablet or phone, although these can help, the built in interface on the front ... MoreI have been playing guitar for 25 years, and my genre stretches from hardcore metal in drop tunings to smooth clean blues riffs. I was running a Mesa Boogie Mark V35 combo for the versatility but that was a little too much amp to practice on, or be comfortable dragging around from house to house. I still needed something loud with punch to practice with at reasonable volumes when necessary. I looked at other competitive amp modelers on the market, however they didn't work for me due to software issues. I bought the smaller version of this and immediately stepped up to the bigger one because it was too good!! I was able to plug and play immediately and access all features WITHOUT a laptop, tablet or phone, although these can help, the built in interface on the front of the amp is intuitive enough to let me access and program all of my amps, effects and parameters without any extra gear. I love the fact if I'm doing acoustic sets, the full range speaker shimmers, however, classic speaker mode sounds no different than my Mesa did! I find myself going to this amp more frequently and playing more due to not having to mess with tubes warming up, pedalboards etc. The wireless feature on the upper models makes grabbing and playing even less of a hassle and the XLR outs make recording a breeze. I could not ask for a better amp, especially at the price point. Save your tubes for the gigs and get this amp. I have not felt any limitation to my sound at all which I was initially worried about. Don't forget to pick up the foot controller as well!

Awesome Tones

I was really surprised at how good this amp sounds. Years ago I tried Line 6 and was not at all happy with the tone; but this is another story. It does take me awhile to dial in a specific classic rock tone, but when I do, it sounds better than any other amp that I've tried. I have tried the Marshall Code, Blackstar id Core, Vox Valvetronix, Boss Katana; as well as some all tube amps. The only other amp that is a close 2nd is the Fender Mustang GTX; also a great amp.The Spider V is fairly easy to operate. It offers lots of choices for amp models and cabinets. I like that it has variations of a mic'd cabinet. The parametric eq is a plus. I haven't played around too much with the effects yet, so I can't comment on that. The only negative thing I could say is that ... MoreI was really surprised at how good this amp sounds. Years ago I tried Line 6 and was not at all happy with the tone; but this is another story. It does take me awhile to dial in a specific classic rock tone, but when I do, it sounds better than any other amp that I've tried. I have tried the Marshall Code, Blackstar id Core, Vox Valvetronix, Boss Katana; as well as some all tube amps. The only other amp that is a close 2nd is the Fender Mustang GTX; also a great amp.The Spider V is fairly easy to operate. It offers lots of choices for amp models and cabinets. I like that it has variations of a mic'd cabinet. The parametric eq is a plus. I haven't played around too much with the effects yet, so I can't comment on that. The only negative thing I could say is that when you're editing a preset and want to hear how it sounds before you save it, you only have a short time before it goes back to the Home Screen. This really is a small price to pay for the quality of the amp and all the versatility it has. I like the App too. Musicians Friend got me a great on this as well; and their agent is following up making sure that I'm satisfied.The funny thing is that I came across this by accident. I placed an order for a Peavey amp that was on back order. I called Peavey multiple times, but they never returned my call. I also emailed them, but they didn't respond to that either. As far as I'm concerned, Peavey doesn't have any customer support.

Great Little Amp

I had a Line 6 120w amp for years that I regrettably sold a while ago and was looking for another amp. I looked at all the amp reviews I could find and decided that the new Katana was the way to go. I got the Katana home and absolutely loved it but the second day I had it it started a really loud buzzing that I couldn't stop. It probably was an easy fix but the fact is the amp was way too powerful for my purposes and their software wasn't compatible with the new Catalina OS. I returned and started looking again. I saw the 60w Spider V and the price was excellent so I made an on the spot decision to buy another Line 6 and I'm really glad I did. The tones this amp can get are incredible. There are so many amp models and cabs that you can dial in pretty much any tone ... MoreI had a Line 6 120w amp for years that I regrettably sold a while ago and was looking for another amp. I looked at all the amp reviews I could find and decided that the new Katana was the way to go. I got the Katana home and absolutely loved it but the second day I had it it started a really loud buzzing that I couldn't stop. It probably was an easy fix but the fact is the amp was way too powerful for my purposes and their software wasn't compatible with the new Catalina OS. I returned and started looking again. I saw the 60w Spider V and the price was excellent so I made an on the spot decision to buy another Line 6 and I'm really glad I did. The tones this amp can get are incredible. There are so many amp models and cabs that you can dial in pretty much any tone you want from a crispy snapback country clean to the most vicious heavy metal and everything in between. You can use the presets as they are or you can use them as a baseline and tweak to your own liking or you can start from scratch and build your own rig from the ground up. The controls are intuitive and easy to use but there are some features where you'd have to be a professional to really know how to use or even care to use. The software and the mobile app are so easy to use and give you all the options at your fingertips. The amp comes with a lot of presets that I find are completely useless but there are a lot that are excellent as I already talked about. There are only four empty slots for your own custom presets and I wish there were more but if you use the mobile app you can have your own tone library on there. I bought the FBV3 foot controller so that gives me a lot of flexibility to have various effects. One of the limitations is the lack of good effects though. There's enough that if you work at it you can get a decent sound but there could be some better ones.Overall I would recommend the amp. Don't listen to the naysayers or the amp snobs, it's a quality amp and extremely versatile.

Great upgrade from the Spider IV 120

Started using an old Spider IV 120 (2 10's) last summer, when my HRD continued to have cap problems (still debugging). I dialed in a few patches and got it to do what I needed it to do for gigs in a new band. I bought this Spider V MKII 120 to allow me to leave my old amp at the rehearsal space AND to benefit with moving a lighter amp.I am very happy I did. The updated amp model choices are outstanding. At every turn, from hooking it up to my PC to dial in the settings, then to have the PC redirect its audio to the amp automatically (yup...I am old school). I am dialing in settings for tunes like a surgeon now.The 12" speaker is a huge improvement. And the balanced line outs, completely independent of the Master volume, makes playing in a full mixed band flawless. ... MoreStarted using an old Spider IV 120 (2 10's) last summer, when my HRD continued to have cap problems (still debugging). I dialed in a few patches and got it to do what I needed it to do for gigs in a new band. I bought this Spider V MKII 120 to allow me to leave my old amp at the rehearsal space AND to benefit with moving a lighter amp.I am very happy I did. The updated amp model choices are outstanding. At every turn, from hooking it up to my PC to dial in the settings, then to have the PC redirect its audio to the amp automatically (yup...I am old school). I am dialing in settings for tunes like a surgeon now.The 12" speaker is a huge improvement. And the balanced line outs, completely independent of the Master volume, makes playing in a full mixed band flawless. Saving a few minutes of set up time is a pretty big thing and being able to adjust my stage volume with zero affect on the sound board is great.So far, any negative settings that I encountered (through my own dialing) I am certain I can find what works with some investment in time on the editing software on my PC.Very happy woth this amp.

Landed back on eight legs…

After using a Helix for a good number of years, I came to realise that I was spending more time tweaking, trying to understand the software, getting to grips with IRs, Snapshots, FRFR and the infinite number of tweaks one can make on every effect and every aspect of tone… often I would end up (after hours of minor tweaks) either back where I started or at point where I had to start again as the tone was so adrift from anything acceptable. I want to play guitar not tweak. So I’ve returned to my previous set up - the latest Spider + FBV 3 foot control. I’m back at last, sound is ready for the function band I play in – the only real adjustment is to dial back on the reverb as you turn up- sorted firmly grounded on eight legs. Delighted to have this bit of kit again. ... MoreAfter using a Helix for a good number of years, I came to realise that I was spending more time tweaking, trying to understand the software, getting to grips with IRs, Snapshots, FRFR and the infinite number of tweaks one can make on every effect and every aspect of tone… often I would end up (after hours of minor tweaks) either back where I started or at point where I had to start again as the tone was so adrift from anything acceptable. I want to play guitar not tweak. So I’ve returned to my previous set up - the latest Spider + FBV 3 foot control. I’m back at last, sound is ready for the function band I play in – the only real adjustment is to dial back on the reverb as you turn up- sorted firmly grounded on eight legs. Delighted to have this bit of kit again. Just going to pick up my new Tele and I can focus on playing rather than kit.👍

Line 6 great as always

Absolutely hands down cannot beat the value for the price. Bought this for my son to start playing with his own equipment. Absolutely loved it. Tried all other amps in price range and he fell in love with this one. I personally have a line 6 spider v 240 and this little thing is still awesome. If you're new to playing or just need a small practice amp you can't go wrong here.

One Happy Guy!

Nothing but praise gor the V60 so far. I can't tell it's been used at all. Came in original packaging with sl the manuals and new cord. Only thing I found is that the screws holding the back of the cabinet weren't all tight enough to keep the washers from buzzing a bit on the lower notes. I tightened them up and the buzz is non existant. You do need to purchase the appropriate cables to hook up your Android device to use the Spider Remote app. I've included pics of what I purchased to make it work, and it works well. The large variety of tones and adjustments included in the amp itself are just the beginning once you start thinking through what's available in the cloud via the app. I was admittedly a bit skeptical of the 10" full range speaker and separate tweeter ... MoreNothing but praise gor the V60 so far. I can't tell it's been used at all. Came in original packaging with sl the manuals and new cord. Only thing I found is that the screws holding the back of the cabinet weren't all tight enough to keep the washers from buzzing a bit on the lower notes. I tightened them up and the buzz is non existant. You do need to purchase the appropriate cables to hook up your Android device to use the Spider Remote app. I've included pics of what I purchased to make it work, and it works well. The large variety of tones and adjustments included in the amp itself are just the beginning once you start thinking through what's available in the cloud via the app. I was admittedly a bit skeptical of the 10" full range speaker and separate tweeter (not the custom Celestion used in the Spider IV) but once I played a wide variety of tones my worries were laid to rest. For a newer player like me, it's more than I'd hoped for and has more than enough guts and versatility to piss the neighbors off while repetitively playing scales, Crazytrain, Ssnitarium, and the solo from Weezer's "Beverly Hills ". Seriously though, it's great for playing at home, and exploring different tones without endless strings of pedals on different amps and cabs with its wide range of modelsto choose from. You can find negative reviews on everything if you want, so this is just the opinion of a novice guitarist who's not experienced enough to be a brand snob yet. I personally really like this amp, and hope it holds up for many years to come. It's a win for me! Thanks Line 6!

Perfect practice amp

I've been using line 6 products for years, they really are fantastic. My first was a POD HD500 and then a small Spider IV 30w practice amp. They are great for what I need. I don't write a lot of songs or riffs, so I am mostly modeling someone else's sound for cover bands, or just practice. I took a break from playing a few years ago after a show using one of Line 6's 2x12 tube-hybrid, and just the sheer versatility of that amp was awesome. We played everything between country, rock and pop. I wish that amp had all the features this one has, because it would have saved me a lot of time dialing everything in. Using your phone or tablet 4 years ago would have blown my mind.Fast forward a few moves and years later, I need a new practice amp. I own a marshall and ... MoreI've been using line 6 products for years, they really are fantastic. My first was a POD HD500 and then a small Spider IV 30w practice amp. They are great for what I need. I don't write a lot of songs or riffs, so I am mostly modeling someone else's sound for cover bands, or just practice. I took a break from playing a few years ago after a show using one of Line 6's 2x12 tube-hybrid, and just the sheer versatility of that amp was awesome. We played everything between country, rock and pop. I wish that amp had all the features this one has, because it would have saved me a lot of time dialing everything in. Using your phone or tablet 4 years ago would have blown my mind.Fast forward a few moves and years later, I need a new practice amp. I own a marshall and peavey heads and marshall cab, but those are a little to big to fool around with, and I'm not interested in dialing in pedals. The pod has passed on after nearly a decade of vigorous use... I was tempted to get the new 2x12, but opted for the 1x10 60w for practical purposes. My biggest fear was if I needed to take this to a rehearsal or jam session that it wouldn't be enough amp. This amp is more than enough...I've cranked this thing up, but haven't really needed to go beyond 2, and its sounds great at low and high volume. I have no doubt the larger models sound even better. I will be purchasing a larger model in the future.I've always felt this way about lines 6, unless your audience are full of guitar purests, they won't know the difference if you dial it in right. Even if you just plug and play the presets, you will still be getting your moneys worth.

Pretty Awesome

These amps get a bad rap, probably because every teenager who wanted to play nu-metal covers in the early 2000s used a Spider. I was one of those teenagers, I had the Spider II 75 back in 2003. At the time I thought it was pretty great for what it was, and I actually kept that amp for about 7 years. Since then, I've owned a few tube amps and have played through a slew of them in various places. I've also owned Line 6's POD GO and a couple of other floor modelers that use IRs; I also own some software plugins that use IRs. Does this amp sound like a tube amp? Not quite. Does it sound as good as high-end modelers that use IRs? Not quite. That said, I've also owned a Boss Katana and a couple of Blackstar's modeling amps. I've demoed the most recent Fender Mustang ... MoreThese amps get a bad rap, probably because every teenager who wanted to play nu-metal covers in the early 2000s used a Spider. I was one of those teenagers, I had the Spider II 75 back in 2003. At the time I thought it was pretty great for what it was, and I actually kept that amp for about 7 years. Since then, I've owned a few tube amps and have played through a slew of them in various places. I've also owned Line 6's POD GO and a couple of other floor modelers that use IRs; I also own some software plugins that use IRs. Does this amp sound like a tube amp? Not quite. Does it sound as good as high-end modelers that use IRs? Not quite. That said, I've also owned a Boss Katana and a couple of Blackstar's modeling amps. I've demoed the most recent Fender Mustang series, as well as the Line 6 Catalyst and virtually every other current generation modeling amp. In my opinion, this thing absolutely blows the other modeling amps out of the water, including the company's own Catalyst series. The modulations and delays are absolutely pristine quality; I would say they are indiscernible from the Helix / HX series effects. The reverbs are decent - not the best I've ever heard and not quite as good as the HX series but definitely solid and the spring emulations are particularly good. The drive pedal emulations leave a bit to be desired but I'm more of an "amp drive" kind of guy and the sheer number of amp emulations built into this thing covers any possible gain setting you can imagine. A lot of folks have stated that they like the stock presets - I actually think most of them are terrible - but if you use the app and deep-dive into the settings you can get some pretty amazing tones. I've found the key is to roll off the treble frequencies as much as you can stand without getting things muddy, and boost the drive/volume settings on the amp. I've got a patch with a Vibrolux amp, spring reverb, optical tremolo and a bit of slapback delay from a Boss DM-2 emulation and it's shockingly close to the real thing. You can still tell that it doesn't have quite the same "oomph" or sparkle and dynamic feel as a real tube amp, but it's darn close. In a mix or live setting mic'd up, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference at all. I decided to sell the POD GO and move towards a modeling amp because I was getting "option paralysis" with that unit and wanted something a bit more "plug-and-play" for playing around the house. I don't play live much anymore and most of my guitar playing these days is through plugins within a DAW through headphones, but sometimes you still like to feel air move. This checks all of the boxes and can literally be plug-and-play once you have your patches set; the built-in tuner works great as well. The app is terrific and very intuitive, and definitely the way to coax the best tones out of this amp. I've literally never turned a knob on mine other than the volume knob. I actually was planning to sell the POD GO and swap to a Catalyst since those amps feature the HX technology, but I tried a few of them and found them to sound boxy and "woofy" compared to the Spider series; the Catalyst app is also clunkier and your options are very limited on that amp. I've enjoyed the Katanas that I've either owned or played through, but the app is terrible in comparison and to my ears they suffer from the same boxiness and "woofy" issue that plagues the Catalyst. Also, no built-in tuner on the Katana is a head-scratcher for me. The Katana has a huge following and seems to be almost the "default" solid state amp these days; your mileage may vary. I should mention that I only play this in "classic" speaker mode which makes a world of difference. The MKI series of this amp that only had the "full range" mode sounded disappointing to my ears. I really enjoy this amp. In my mind, it's like a compact, enhanced version of the old Vetta series - which was my dream amp at one point in time. If you are a tube purist to the core you may not like this amp because it's not quite there, but the pristine effects, deep tweakability and compact form factor push this one over the edge as far as I'm concerned. It's very nearly the perfect amp for me personally; I don't foresee getting rid of this unless Line 6 rolls out a 6th version that is markedly better than this one. I don't gig at the moment but would not hesitate to use this amp live; a footswitch and a Sennheiser 906 or 609 mic and you could pretty much play this anywhere.

Top Notch Amp

I live in an apartment where I cannot play super loud at any time I'd like. This amp doesn't lose sound quality when the volume is lowered. I love the headphones jack, I can just play in and play without bothering anyone if I so choose. The multiple preset knob is fantastic for quick easy playing.Negatives include: Complicated programs needed to download in order to use the amp to its full potential. It says "looper" effect, but it doesnt specify that you need an amp and phone in order to do that. If your phone or cable doesn't support Micro USB, you can't use that function. My specific phone is USB C style on both sides, so I cannot hook me phone up to this device without having to purchase an adaptor for my phones cord, all just so I can use a looper effect and ... MoreI live in an apartment where I cannot play super loud at any time I'd like. This amp doesn't lose sound quality when the volume is lowered. I love the headphones jack, I can just play in and play without bothering anyone if I so choose. The multiple preset knob is fantastic for quick easy playing.Negatives include: Complicated programs needed to download in order to use the amp to its full potential. It says "looper" effect, but it doesnt specify that you need an amp and phone in order to do that. If your phone or cable doesn't support Micro USB, you can't use that function. My specific phone is USB C style on both sides, so I cannot hook me phone up to this device without having to purchase an adaptor for my phones cord, all just so I can use a looper effect and play backing tracks through the amp while I play guitar over the top. Also the recording program that comes with this amp, seems like a nice program for recording and editing my music, but it didn't come with any form of tutorial in the program, (*That I can find) so I have yet to figure out how to connect it to the amp and actually record.,