On their official website Line 6 states that “Pocket POD® exhibits all the celebrated features and pro tone that makes POD a standard in recording studios everywhere”. I’m obviously skeptical of that statement since why would the release a lower end version if it has all the same features. So I decided to take a closer look.

Comparing the Pocket POD and the POD 2.0

• Both units include the same 32 amp models, 16 cabinet models, and 16 professional effects.
• Both units have an aux input (CD/MP3 player), an amp output, a direct/headphone output, a guitar input, and power a port for an AC adapter.
• Both units have Line 6’s A.I.R. Mode for recording mic simulation.
• Both units have a USB connection that can be used to edit effect/amp/cab presets on the POD.
• The POD 2.0 has MIDI inputs and outputs, the Pocket POD does not.
• The POD 2.0 has 8 dedicated control knobs for each of level, drive, bass, mid, treble, channel volume, reverb and effect tweak. The Pocket POD has 4 knobs. Two controls are shared per knob and an ALT button is used to switch between them.
• The POD 2.0 has 1 knob for amp models and 1 knob for effect selection. The Pocket POD uses a 4-way menu system.
• The POD 2.0 has a port for an external floor pedal. The Pocket POD does not.

All considered the Pocket POD really is a repackaged POD 2.0, they just added battery power, made the AC adapter optional, and dropped the MIDI external pedal ports. Oh, and the price also dropped about 60$. All of the effects are the same and you should get the same sound from a Pocket POD that you would get from a POD 2.0. It just comes down to how you interact with that sound.

This would be a really great tool for people who want portability. If you want to be able to play your electric guitar with effects through headphones where you have no power source, Line 6 has you covered. If you are never going to be in that position you might as well spend the extra bucks and get a full POD 2.0 because it comes with the AC adapter. If you want USB recording then the PODxt is what you should be looking at.

The Pocket POD is being presold at online guitar stores. If you order it now the expected arrival date is July 9th, 2007.

[Via Peter's Reviews]

For those of you not in the loop, NAMM used to stand for “National Association of Music Merchants”. These days they have dropped the full name and just go by the acronym. Basically they are a global organization for the musical equipment industry. Each year they hold a trade show that exhibits all the great new music making products from every company. It is not open to the public, you have to be a NAMM member to attend and to be a NAMM member you have to make, buy, and/or sell musical instruments and products. Right now I am just playing a little catch-up, so lets see what I can find about this years show.

On the official NAMM Show website they have a recap of each day including pictures.

Play Guitar Now has a load of great pictures from each day of the show.

Cary at Electric Guitar Review linked to another NAMM 2007 picture gallery at Modern Guitars Magazine that also has a whole bunch of great shots.

Line 6 unveiled the Floor POD Plus basically combining a POD 2.0 with a huge list of premium effects in a portable stomp box floor set.

Gibson announced 11 new guitar models including the digital HD.6X-Pro. Modern Guitars Magazine has all of the details.

Fender showed off the VG Stratocaster, a modeling guitar. It is equipped with a digital pickup, a modeling dial with 37 different models, and a tuning knob that allows you to select from 5 alternate tunings.

Eddie Van Halen and Fender announced a signature EVH Frankenstein replica. The replicas play like a dream but physically feature every nick and mark the original has.

Man, I could probably go all day reading up on all the great stuff to come out of the show… I guess I still have a lot of reading to do.

My first guitar was a gift from a family friend. It’s a Yamaha FG-450SA acoustic that he was storing at our house. While it was at our house I had decided I wanted to learn to play it. When he came back a month later he heard me playing and was impressed with how much I had picked up on my own, so he gave it to me.

That guitar has seen better days… I moved from BC to Alberta and did not pay attention to proper humidity and the guitar dried up and cracked. Currently there is a split in the soundboard and two nicks out of the back. Also the fretboard is in dire need of new frets. The guitar was probably $700 new and has been a great guitar. It does have some sentimental value, so I could see myself getting the repairs done for that reason despite the fact it is only an entry level acoustic.

My second guitar was an electric that I purchased almost 4 years after playing only acoustic. I got some money gifts for graduating high school and used them to buy the guitar. It is a bottom of the line Epiphone model and strangely enough it is a strat copy. I purchased it for $185CAD and a little 10-watt Traynor amp for $80.

My third and current favorite guitar is an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I had gone to the guitar store a few times when I was thinking about buying it. I had a white one picked out and was just going by on payday to pick it up. When I got there they had just received a new shipment of guitars and another LP caught my eye. First I noticed its honey-brown finish, which I love. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was the one, the body was at least 10% lighter than the others I had tried. Although I like the weight of the Les Paul, I have to admit, this one just feels right.

I was still playing the guitar through my little 10-watt Traynor amp with no gain (which was no fun). So I went to the local pawn shop and bought a BOSS Metal Zone MT-2 to spice it up. About a month later I was given a Line 6 Spider II 210 for my birthday. I really love this amp.

About 6 months after buying the Les Paul I upgraded the pickups from the stock ones to a set of EMG Zakk Wylde 81/85 pickups. Since my style was quickly changing from Classic Rock to Metal, the pickups gave me the extra noise I needed.

What the future Holds

I’m currently looking for adding to my instrument collection. I have a few ideas for what I would like to get. Since I play a lot of metal that is tuned down, I would like to get a second electric guitar that I can leave tuned a full step down, maybe a Jackson RR3 or an ESP. Lately I have also been lusting after a Line 6 PODXT Live as well. Although, I do not know how well it would go with my Spider II. I’m not sure how they interact or what happens when you put an amp modeling floor unit into an amp modeling amp. So I’ll have to read up on that. If I do not get either of those I have also been thinking about getting a phrase looper. Lately I have wanted to jam more and more, and this would be a great tool to help me improve my improvising techniques.

So that is my gear past, present, and future. What have you guys got?