Line 6 Spider Valve 212 Review
Line 6 Spider Valve 212 Feature
- It's 2x12-inch speaker configuration features a pair of premium Celestian Vintage 30 speakers.
Line 6 Spider Valve 212 Overview
Spider Valve fuses the versatility of amp and effects modeling with the performance and feel of a world-class tube amplifier. Combining award-winning Line 6 modeling technology with a genuine tube amplifier designed by legendary amp designer Reinhold Bogner, Spider Valve delivers unmatched performance, responsiveness and tonal flexibility on the stage and in the studio.
Line 6 Spider Valve 212 Specifications
Spider Valve is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Line 6 and Reinhold Bogner fusing the versatility of modeling with the performance and feel of a world-class tube amplifier. The Spider Valve 212 is a 40W Class AB tube combo amp through (2) 12AX7 preamp tubes and (2) 6L6 power tubes. It's 2x12-inch speaker configuration features a pair of premium Celestian Vintage 30 speakers. The Spider Valve 112 has 12 dialed in amp models (channel voices) that deliver a complete tonal range from shimmering clean to insane grind, and features 7 Smart Control FX (up to 3 simultaneous) including Tape Echo, Sweep Echo, Standard Delay (all with Tap Tempo) Chorus/Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, and Reverb. It also has a built-in front-panel tuner, 36 user programable channels, over 300 artist created presets, and a POD XLR direct outfor studio direct tone.
Just as we revolutionized the world of amps through our pioneering modeling technology, Spider Valve shatters the boundaries of tube amp performance by applying that same tonal range to Bogner’s all-tube amp design, boutique component selection and stellar voicing.
Spider Valve delivers 12 channels of amp modeling - combined with several flavors of built-in modulation, delay and reverb – driven by an all tube, all Bogner amplification design boasting 6L6 power tubes, 12AX7 preamp tubes and premium Celestion® Vintage 30 speakers.
Combining the performance, response and feel of a well crafted tube amp with the inspiring capabilities of amp and effect modeling - Spider Valve delivers the best of both worlds.
Modeling Flexibility with Tube Performance
The Spider Valve design combines 12AX7 preamp tubes with Line 6’s signature modeling front-end, a marriage that allows each part of the sonic equation to deliver what it does best: creamy, cascading distortion and enriched harmonics from the tubes, and 12 of the world’s finest amp models and seven stunning effects from the modeling front end. And, of course, perfectly matched 6L6 power tubes driving Celestion® Vintage 30 speakers to deliver unprecedented sonic impact and spatial imaging.
With the simple front-end controls and display, programmable patches and presets are instantly within reach. Tweak your tone even further with the front panel Presence, Drive, Bass, Mid and Treble controls: this is a true-blue tube amp, and it acts like one, responding and delivering all the analog detail, performance and warmth of every amp model and effect.
Here's the guide to your Spider Valve tone pallette
- Clean Amber Select this Amp Model and adjust the tone controls to get crisp clean tones, warm jazz timbres, and all the high-end shimmer you’ll need with a generous amount of bottom end.
- Clean Blue We developed this Amp Model to emulate* those classic late-’60s and early-’70s clean tones. It started off as an Amp Model based on* a 1973 Hiwatt® Custom 100. We extended the tone control range and tightened up the low end.
- Twang Amber This Amp Model draws on* our analysis of mid-’60’s Fender® amps, including the blackface ’65 Twin Reverb® and blackface ’64 Deluxe Reverb®. We wanted an Amp Model that has that vintage glassy high-end tone with some extra snap and bite.
- Twang Blue This Amp Model is based on* a number of vintage tweed amps. We evaluated a ’53 Fender® tweed Deluxe Reverb®, ’58 Fender® tweed Bassman® and a ’60 Gibson® Explorer® to create a swingin’ Rockabilly tone.
- Blues Amber Based on* a mix of a ’65 Marshall® JTM-45, a ’58 Fender® Bassman®, a ’63 Fender® Vibroverb and a Supro®, this Amp Model slides between gritty, swamp-infected cleans to syrupy smooth, walloping drive tones.
- Blues Blue This Amp Model is based on* a fawn Vox® AC-30 amplifier with an updated and expanded tone control circuit. We wanted to capture that early British pop rock tone made famous by the Beatles and the Stones.
- Crunch Amber This sound was crafted during our studies* of the '68 Marshall® Plexi 50 Watt. This type of Marshall® amp was used by a number of early metal bands. Crunch provides a wider range of tone control settings than the original Marshall® amp had.
- Crunch Blue This Amp Model is based on* a 1968 Marshall® Plexi 100 watt with a few added extras: the combination of a Variac and the jumped input channels creates that infamous brown sound.
- Metal Amber This Amp Model is based on* the Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier®. Use this Amp Model to get a tight and punchy high-gain metal sound.
- Metal Blue This sound was created to be an aggressive high-gain Amp Model with a unique Mid control that will sweep though an entire spectrum of tone on one knob. The Mid knob for this Amp Model changes the character of the distortion. When set to maximum, the distortion exhibits Fuzz pedal characteristics. When the Mid is set to noon, it mimics the creamy modern high-gain amp tones. And when the Mid knob is turned down to minimum, it's very much reminiscent of that Class A sound.
- Insane Amber This model is our "dialed in for shredding" version based on* the Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier® red channel. It combines the intensity and impact of Metal Amber, but delivers more midrange and teeth for that bone-crushing, brain piercing insane grind.
- Insane Blue Our goal with Insane was to provide you with as much input gain distortion as possible short of complete meltdown. You get an obscene helping of distortion, while still retaining tonal definition and character.
* All product names used in this webpage are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. These trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose tones and sounds were studied during Line 6’s sound model development.Unleash Your Effects Arsenal
From the DL4™ stompbox to the Echo Farm™ plug-in, Line 6 effects have achieved cult status in top studios and stage rigs of discerning guitarists. With Spider Valve, Line 6 delivers a palette of top grade integrated effects - easily accessed and tweaked from the front panel using the SmartControl FX knobs.
Here's the guide to your Spider Valve effects palette
- Modulation A choice of phaser, chorus or tremolo lets you tweak your tone from rich luscious modulations to dramatic orbital gyrations.
- Delay From the swirling feedback of the sweep echo to the organic decay of the tape echo, Spider Valve delays provide an unmatched level of dimension and depth.
- Reverb The Spider Valve effects arsenal is complete with a dedicated reverb control – allowing you to dial in anything from subtle ambiences to cavernous spaces.
- FBV Pedal Plug in one of our optional Line 6 FBV™ foot controllers for channel switching, tap tempo, effects on/off control, wah/volume pedals, access to 32 more channel memories, and tuner capabilities.
- Balanced Direct Out Provides dedicated POD® -quality tone output for studio-direct recording.
- Preamp Out This is a pre-tube amp output than can be used for all sorts of things. For one, you can drive a second amp from the Spider Valve modeling pre, or you can use it as an "effects send" to feed outboard effects. You can then use the Power Amp In as a "series effects return".
- Power Amp In This is a direct connection to the all-tube power amp, including the 12AX7 preamp tubes, matched 6L6 power amp tubes, Master, and Presence controls. Perfect for pairing your Bogner designed all tube power amp section with a front end modeler such as the POD® xt Live.
Speaker Outputs- Output A is for a 16 ohm speaker load and will let you hook up (1) 16 ohm speaker/cab.
- Output B is for an 8 ohm speaker load. You can either hook up (1) 8 ohm speaker/cab or (2) 16 ohm speakers/cabs.
- Output C is for a 4 ohm speaker load. You can either hook up (1) 4 ohm speaker/cab or (2) 8 ohm speakers/cabs.
The BOgner Story: The Modeling Experts Meet the Tube Amp Genius
Reinhold Bogner, the principal designer at Bogner Amplification, had been designing and building amplifiers long before leaving Germany in 1989. Moving to Los Angeles he quickly gained the trust of many influential players including Steve Stevens, Dan Huff, Allan Holdsworth, Mike Landau and Steve Vai who sought out his skill at modifying and custom building their amps.
But it was overhauling and revitalizing Eddie Van Halen’s legendary 1968 Marshall® Plexi in 1992 that propelled Bogner to legendary status and inspired him to launch his own high-end amp company, Bogner Amplification. Acclaimed for their rich, robust tones, channel-switching sophistication and sonic versatility - Bogner amps have earned a maniacally devoted following among discerning guitarists such as Jerry Cantrell, Lyle Workman, Wes Borland, Chris DeGarmo, Keith Urban, Richie Sambora and many others.
Using only premium components - in tandem with a level of craftsmanship that can only be referred to as "artistry"- Bogner amplifiers more than deserve their exalted reputation. Ever the restless creator, Bogner brought those same priorities, standards and sensibilities to bear on the Spider Valve design. Each Spider Valve amp—the 112, 212 and HD100— combines the talent and experience of Bogner, arguably the tube world’s leading light, with the know-how and technological savvy of the world’s leader in modeling, Line 6.
Line 6 And Bogner
There’s nothing like going right to the source to get the inside story. In this case, that would be our very own Darrell Smith – Line 6 amplifier product line manager.
You’ve got to be excited to be breaking new ground with tube amps...
Absolutely. Line 6 modeling changed the landscape for solid state amps - and now we’re doing it again for tube amps. So at this point, whatever you prefer, be it the lush complexity of a great tube amp, the transparency of a solid state amp, or the convenience of plugging a POD straight into a PA – you have access to the tonal range and flexibility of Line 6 modeling.
What was it was like designing these amps with Reinhold Bogner?
Reinhold brought a lot to the table. He has a tremendous working knowledge of vintage and modern amp designs, he's an inventor, a true craftsman, a brilliant engineer, and best of all he has a great set of ears. In an industry that cloaks itself in tube mojo and glowing magic, Reinhold is the real deal. His experience and craftsmanship are incredible - he very much deserves his legendary status. He was relentless in terms of tweaking and perfecting the feel and tone of the Spider Valve, and was fully involved with the design each step of the way. I think it’s really apparent in the results.
Any specific requirements or elements of his design that stood out for you?
It’s all the little things that add up to a great design. Bogner knows this and it led to everything from premium parts like Premium Celestion Vintage 30 speakers to boutique components such as Sprague Orange Drop and Wima capacitors in the tube section. He even specified which nuts and bolts to use. It all adds up.
Tell me about the selection and layout of the tubes?
The Line 6 modeler feeds a pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes. The first tube is set up as a cascading gain stage, with each stage contributing the harmonic complexity vintage amp players love. That feeds the master volume which hits the next 12AX7 configured as a phase splitter which is followed by Sovtek 5881WXT/6L6. There’s 2 6L6’s for 40 watts of class AB power in the combos and 4 6L6’s for 100 watts of class AB power in the head.
So the preamp and power amp tubes make for a complete tube amp as opposed to a "hybrid" amp that would use solid state for most of the amplification?
Exactly. This isn’t a hybrid that just uses a little 12AX7 preamp tube on the front end, or as part of a solid state power amp. It’s a full on tube amp – which gives you the complete tube amp experience, from the rich harmonics, to the feel and responsiveness of the power tubes.
Could you pair a POD with a Spider Valve?
It’s the perfect pair. We realize that some guys love running their POD in front of a tube amp so we went out of our way to make Spider Valve a tuned complement for a POD front end. To do so – you can plug the output of your POD into the power amp input jack on the back of the Spider Valve which lets you bypass the Spider Valve modeling but still use the tube amplification. It sounds awesome.
And the "flavor" of the tones in the general... similar to Spider III? Similar to a Bogner amp?
Neither really. The amp models cover the same names and styles as in a Spider III – you know, Clean, Crunch, Insane, etc. – but the tuning, voicing and experience is really unique to the Spider Valve design with particular emphasis on the mid-gain tones.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Apr 10, 2011 15:36:28
